Why Blaq?

Brunsli asked me once, why I use the name Blaqkofi? She felt it didn't fit me, interpreting the name from her own frame of reference, a dark 1949 Sarah Vaugan tune entitled, "Black Coffee." She says she'll bring it with her when she visits Dallas and we'll listen to it. Someone on LockItUp associated it with that cool Heavy D riff. We all have different frames of reference based on our experiences and environments.

My frame of reference for the name stems all the way back to my youth and being darker and (I thought) less attractive than my two sisters. I had my own up-close-and-personal interpretion of the word black, and not always a positive one. (Read the Jan 2 post for my thoughts on that subject.)

"Different don't mean deficit, it just means different" (A quote from Rickie Clark, my former spouse and still good friend.) - Check out, my baby sister, Teresa, we call her T, and me on Christmas Eve at her house party. (She hates it when I introduce her as my baby sister. She will forever be, so I'll keep doing it...hehehe) We have opposing features, but I have come to appreciate our individual uniqueness rather than our physical differences.

The name - There was a young, africancentric sister who worked for a minority paper in town. I loved her look and her spirit - so natural and proud. Her byline was Blaqkofe. I thought it was a cool, unique name. The more I read and learned about my culture and hair, the more I recognized my own black beauty, the more the name seemed to fit me personally. I modified it and made it mine. Through years of personal growth, reading, learning and living, the negative "black" association of my youth has evolved into a more conscious and positive woman who embraces her blackness in every respect from her naturally kinky hair, to her full lips,hershey chocolate skin to her own proud byline... Blaqkofi. I've always been black, now I'm Blaq and proud.

Why did you make me Black, Lord?

Lord why did you make me Black?

Why did you make me someone the world would hold back?

Black is the color of dirty clothes, of grimy hands and feet.

Black is the color of darkness, of tired beaten streets.

Why did you give me thick lips, a broad nose and kinky hair?

Why did you create someone who receives the hated stare?

God Replies

Why did I make you Black? Why did I make you Black?
I made you the color of coal from which beautiful diamonds are formed.
I made you in the color of oil, the black gold that keeps people warm.
All colors of the heavenly rainbow can be found throughout every nation.
When all these colors are blended, you become my greatest creation!
Your hair is the texture of lamb's wool, such a beautiful creature is he.
I am the shepherd who watches them, I will always watch over thee.
The reflection you see in the mirror, that image that looks back,
that is Mine!
So get off your knees, look in the mirror and tell me what you see?
I didn't make you in the image of darkness,
I made you in the image of Me!

Excerpts from "Why Black"
RuNett Nia Ebo, Poet

There you have it, Blaqkofi revealed, and the journey of natural awakenings continues. Stay tuned...

aaahhhhhh, relief!

For weeks my scalp and hair have felt dry and somewhat itchy. So I purchased some leave in conditioner, which left a residue.

I visited Aveda’s, but didn’t really know what to buy, despite the perky clerk’s attempts to educate me. I settled on Carol’s Daughter products and anxiously waited for my Tui Oil, Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Milk…only to get a backorder notice!

Now my head and scalp seemed to feel as disappointed as I was because it seemed even drier. I’m like a woman on a mission, what to buy, what to buy, gotta buy something…and I can't wait for it to arrive through the mail. I don't know where this urgency came from - perhaps my restless scalp.

I stopped by Whole Foods today and Avalon Organics were on sale. I spent time deciding between the Lavendar or Lemon Clarifying shampoos. I learned through reading and LockitUp that a clarifying shampoo truly cleanses the hair without stripping.

I purchased the Lemon w/shea butter & babassu oil clarifying shampoo and conditioner. Despite the shea butter, I thought if it's a clarifying shampoo then it must ok. In eight months these are the first shampoo products I’ve used other than the Sisterlocks brand. I hurry home to try my new products feeling as if I’m breaking some sacred oath by crossing over to non-Sisterlocks products. I guess that’s the rebel teenage stage of my locks in me :-) I b&b, shampooed and deep conditioned for 30 minutes covered by a plastic cap.

And gurrrrrl, let me tell ya, my hair and scalp feel and SMELL so wonderful! Now here’s the kicker for me, my hair is completely dry after the wash and I’m freestylin’ and LIKE IT! Instead of feeling unruly, my hair is softer, shiny and has nice body – now I can work with this!

I think it’s simply astonishing that our hair communicates its needs – our challenge is to determine what that need is and address it using nourishing products.

We have to educate ourselves about natural hair care through reading and study. No time to read or study? A fun way to learn - network with other locked sisters in groups such as LockItUp. These women have a wealth of knowledge and lock experience which they unselfishly share. I've made some wonderful friends through LockItUp and Sisterlocks. I consider the entire DFW Sisterlockers, including our honorary member, the Diva Brunsli, "my gurls." MAD SHOUT OUT TO DA DFW LADIES!!!!

Not only do they share, but lift, support, and encourage each other. Life’s everyday trials continue to surface, despite the fact we are locked. Our hair is just one less thing in our lives with which to deal. Thank God for Dr. Cornwell and Sisterlocks.

Sisterlocks & Sisterhood

I received the kindest gift today from one of my fellow locked sisters. Not only is the sister beautiful and kind, but creative as well. I'd like to share it with you.

She made this beautiful magazine cover for me.

Please visit Sister-In-Locks

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I love my Sisterlocks... I love this Sisterhood