My Nappiness A course in blackness. Black courseness. Tendrils woven as thick as ropes. Hair that was as hard-headed as I. When I was a little girl, it was thick. Thick and nappy. Yes, nappy. Not kinky. There is a difference. But I loved my nappiness because it allowed my Afro puffs to stay perfectly plopped on both sides of my head. At times, my nappiness preferred to Sit atop my head in a single extra- Large puff. Like a satellite. And my nappiness was the perfect texture for my braids who adorned themselves in beads. Glass beads. Plastic beads. Beads galore. My nappiness was just what my plaits called for. You know plaits--those things that pitifully substituted for the braids. My nappiness was at times a bit too much. Sometimes it would become too overbearing, and get itself all tangled in those wrap-arounds with the 2 large and hard balls at each end. My nappiness was bi-polar. Schizophrenic. It divided into 6 parts. Six rectangles. Three on the right side and three on the Left. Three equal pair. Each schizophrenic part would be plaited Into thick cords. Sometimes the parts would simply Be twisted Twisted like the red, white, and blue Of a barbershop pole. And a pink or blue or yellow Beret would be affixed to each cords or each twists end. My nappiness was never dull. It always shone. It was always healthy. I guess it was the grease. You see, my nappiness got a daily bathing of Blue Magic. Green or blue. Either worked. I dont know why there were two colors. Its not like its a flavor or anything. As My nappiness and I grew older, my nappiness got an attitude and it just wanted to do what it wanted to do. Wouldnt listen to my mama or me So, my mama took Blue Magic, My nappiness, and me to my Grandmothers house. Mama Queenie would plug up her Hot comb and as I watched the smoke Float from the comb, I knew That I inevitably was gonna be burned. And I did get burned. No amount of grandmothers blowing would cool my scalp. The cool fresh air that seeped from Her lips was no match for the Pain of the press. The Blue Magic that she scooped out and onto my kitchen only made the heat hotter. My neck sizzled. Id always liked my nappiness. But now nappiness attitude was costing me! Damned nappiness. After grandmother, Blue Magic, and hot comb did their dance, my nappiness got mad at me and left. My tresses stepped in. But only for a while because after About a week or so, my nappiness Came back to me. Unhampered silk was replaced with Unmanageable stuff once more. But thats alright. Cuz I loved my nappiness... Schizophrenia and all.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 00:46:07 +0000
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