Monkey T-Shirts and Negative Stereotypes

I am an African American who loves monkey t-shirts. "Why?" you ask? Well, simply because I think they're cute. Despite the racial past and present history of the image of monkeys being used to degrade our race, I still wear t-shirts with them from time to time. I guess that's my big "so what" statement.
This past weekend I traveled to another state, and I was wearing one of my favorite monkey t-shirts when I arrived at the airport. When I reached one of the security check points, a Caucasian security guard asked me what was the name of the monkey on my t-shirt. At first, I was thinking to myself, "Why did he ask me that?" He must've noticed the look on my face. So, he asked me the question again and said that he was referring to my t-shirt. I told him the name, but he didn't believe me lol. Anyway, that little interrogation really made me think about how racist people often use monkeys to refer to African-American people. I wondered if I he would have asked me that question if I was Caucasian or any other race (other than Black). One of my friends said that she thought that it was the security guard's sorry attempt at flirting. I also have a friend who refuses to dress her baby or nursery in anything that has to do with animals because of the stereotype, and I can't blame her. I wonder if I am perpetuating the negative stereotype by wearing my shirts. But, there is a part of me that still screams "SO WHAT" lol . I would like to hear your view on this topic. Let me know what you think!

Aborigines and Melanesians: Naturally Blonde Hair and Dark Skin

Melanesia: Solomon Island girls (photo courtesy of the -cropped-Flickr- Australian Civil-Military Centre http://www.acmc.gov.au/ ) Naturally blonde hair is often associated with white or Caucasian people. However, there are groups of dark skin people who have naturally blonde hair also. Some of these groups include the Aboriginal Australians (Aborigines) and the Melanesians. I love this fact because it goes against the idea that one group or culture must look a certain way or stay in a certain category. The Aborigines have dark skin. Some of them also have blonde hair which tends to be straight, but can be curly. Scientists first believed they were descendants of Eurasians. In 2011, scientists found evidence against the theory from a sample of natural hair. The sample of hair, which was said to be more than 100 years old, helped scientists determine that Aborigines were descendants of Africans. The New York Times confirmed this finding: "The Abo...

Asian Hair Trend: Afro Perms

Asian afro perm (photo courtesy of www.afrohair.net) When we talk about the topic of natural hair, we often talk about African-Americans or Black people perming their hair to look more like Caucasian or straight hair. But, what about people of other races attempting to make their hair kinky or textured like that of African-Americans? Afro perms, along with other Black hairstyles have been a long time trend in Asia. Because Asian hair grows naturally straight, the afro perm gives the hair a textured look. The afro perm is not an actual relaxer or perm kit, it's the use of perm rods to make the hair curly. The beautypot.com says, " An afro perm is made by not straightening the hair. It is made by creating hair bonds that make the hair curl. The hair stylist makes the hair into a new shape, using perming rods or rollers, and allows the new shape to develop ." Preparation for afo: perm rods in Asian hair (photo courtesy of http://www.redefini...

Priscilla Shirer Shares Her Natural Hair Story and Tips on IG Live!

Actress and minister of Going Beyond Ministries Priscilla Shirer shared her natural hair story and secrets on IG Live today. After receiving numerous questions about her long thick natural hair, she decided it was time to do a video. Shirer said, "I've decided that sometimes, to a woman, hair = ministry." Shirer started getting a perm at about 13 years old. During previous years, her mother would use the hot comb to straighten her hair. When Shirer was 24 years old, she noticed a circular patch of hair that had broken off on the side of her head. After she visited a doctor and they plucked a few strands from different parts of her hair, the doctor concluded that Shirer's hair was growing in healthy. However, it was something that she was doing to her hair that was making it break off. As a result, her doctor told her to stop relaxing her hair for 6 months. While driving home, Shirer had a breakthrough. She originally had no intention of following the doctor...

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