As football season rolls in, I’m reminded of how strongly people felt, on both sides, when some NFL players took a knee during the national anthem. I remember the feelings and opinions being so intense that it ruined friendships, dominated social media and gave the impression that these highly paid athletes, mostly Black men, were unpatriotic.
I have a different view of that.
There’s more than what meets the eyes regarding Black hair. It’s an expression, it’s pride, and it’s a showing of our culture. Most of us aren’t born with the silky texture that blows in the wind like those shampoo commercials on television. What we have, we wear with pride; through it, we display the heritage and roots we were born with.
It was about seven years ago when Deta and Nancy Wilms, of Wentworth, adopted 7-year-old Tavari. During their first phone conversation – well before the adoption was finalized – Tavari, who is Black, had two pressing questions to ask of her soon-to-be mothers.
“One of her first questions was: What’s your color?” said Deta, who, along with her wife, is white. “And then she asked: ‘Can you take care of my hair?’ And I said: ‘sure.’”
