Presiana Dawson
Staff Writer
Jackson State University students gathered in the Student Center on Nov. 4 for the “Embrace U” seminar on natural hair. Speakers at the event encouraged young women to realize and accept their natural beauty.
For a few years now, hair trends have been changing in the African-American community. Many women are beginning to embrace their natural hair, whether fine or coarse, and leaving the ‘creamy crack’ on the shelves.
Melody Washington, a natural hair professional and the owner of Natural U Salon in Jackson, Miss., is one of these women. Washington began to embrace her natural hair at the age of 10 when her grandmother no longer had the luxury of sending her granddaughters to the salon to get their weekly treatments. Although Washington’s grandmother did not have the luxuries of salon treatments, Washington was still sent to the salon and instructed to pay attention to the women doing her hair because she could learn that way. Once Washington began learning the skills, she would practice styles and cuts on her sister’s hair.
“It feels uplifting, empowering because I am able to give back and I am able to uplift someone else,” said Washington.
Washington’s presentation educated those who were already natural and those who were contemplating going natural on the types of products that should be used for the various types of natural hair.
“I want to embrace individuals and let them know that there is someone else that has walked the same walk they are walking now,” said Washington.
Among the women learning to embrace natural hair was Shamekia Arterberry, a senior communicative disorders major from Jackson, Miss.
“The program was very inspirational and motivating for young women because it is very important that we have people that come in and talk to us. It helps build self-esteem,” said Arterberry.
Washington explained that embarking on the natural journey is important because it gives the travelers a chance to learn about themselves and have the opportunity to realize exactly what is underneath the chemical treatments.
Some who headed down the natural journey love it while others tried but decided the natural look was not for them.
JSU’s 2013-2014 Miss JSU, Deja Knight, is one of those who have embraced the natural hair journey. Knight stated that the “Embrace U” event sparked her own memories of becoming natural. Knight started her natural journey in the sixth grade. She remembers getting perms every six weeks and decided to go without a perm for two weeks. The two weeks she went without getting a perm, Knight could not handle the struggles of washing her natural hair and trying to detangle it. Eventually, Knight reached the stage of fully natural hair and is now embracing her natural hair to the fullest.
Natural hair was not the only thing discussed at the event. Speakers also urged students to have confidence and good self-esteem by embracing who they are internally.
Victoria Washington, sister of the keynote speaker, is also a natural haired woman. She gave each of ladies in the audience a slight view of her life and spoke about having confidence in yourself as a whole because your hair is only one tiny portion of your outward appearance.
“Natural means you know who you are because I began to recognize all of these things about me that I did not like. I was too busy trying to conform to what others wanted me to be; while forgetting about natural me,” she said.
Miss Freshman, Ruqayya Calmes, a chemistry major from Little Rock Ark. agrees with Washington.
“Be yourself at all times because if you don’t embrace yourself, no one will,” said Calmes.
