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natiq — Good Hair 2
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Published: 2007-07-23 10:16:59 +0000 UTC; Views: 8975; Favourites: 177; Downloads: 83
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This is an 8 x 10 pastel on Canson paper. First off, I want to give love to all the queens who where their naturals proudly. You're beautiful and don't let anyone tell you differently. If someone wants to press the issue, send them to me. I'll straighten them out.This is the second piece in this series. It takes alot of stregnth for women to reject the perm and go natural, so I applaud the stregnth of those who are able to do it. I am not downing women who do straighten their hair. By all means, do you. If it makes you feel good, then go with it. Your hair doesn't define you. Just please don't clown those in their naturals. I hate when I see a group of women or men belittling the one natural person they see in the crowd. Show respect. Their leading a revolution that most can't understand.
Hotep,
Natiq...
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Comments: 51
Hello I live in San Jose Ca and I would like to represent some black out at this year Junetenth festival . Can I have your permission to use this image. I am launching a calendar,stationary and jewelry line called Postive Image of Positive Black Women. I would love to add this piece to the caendar and stationary line. If the community is interest in it and sells go well I'd like to work something out with you for an ongoing relationship. Pls contact me at queenhav@aol.com I am looking forward to your response.
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Thank you so muck for doing this piece! It's very powerful and I'm rocking a natural short cut and it's challenging for me but I keep going w/ my head held high...Natural Hair is back! Stand up!
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This is a beautiful piece of art. I am young in drawing, even though I have loved it mostly all my life. It is never too late to start. I'm a natural lady, doing it for 7 years now and loving it. Keep up the great work, pray I will be great some day.
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That is just really cool! Especially the gaze she has and ofcourse the hair
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Beautiful, both the work and the message. There's no problem with long, straight hair in and of itself. It's when people push this idea that a black woman HAS to have long, straight hair to be attractive -- that bothers me. I mean, it's just like the issue of light skin vs. dark skin. It promotes the idea that a black woman (or even a black person in general) can only be attractive by minimizing or eliminating their African features. It measures beauty by the standard of "how Caucasian you look." But it's not just the issue of Black & White; our whole culture has this attitude that the only way to be beautiful is to look like something else -- anything EXCEPT what you naturally are. I have no problem with long hair, but what's wrong with the simplicity of natural hair or the intricacy of braids?
Ok, I apologize for the rant the rant... lol Some things just get me a little fired up. Anyway, as I said, I love both this work and the message it sends.
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Give it up for Natural hair. 
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Thanks for showing natural is beautiful. We need more of this.
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Woooooooooow
Her hair is so pretty. Her eyes are amazing.
The whole pic is wonderful.
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Your comment is so great ; I love to read this, especially coming from a man and your soul sister series is just great!
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WOW! All the detail and color was worth your time, it came out to be lovely!! Definetly a fave of mine!
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Our good hair...Our soul hair.
Our hair is beautiful.
(.Yo.) This means a lot to me
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Everything about this image is beautiful, from the subject to the message behind it. The colors are absolutely gorgeous and I think you've perfectly captured her look of contentment. She looks as if she's truly at peace with herself, and it works so beautifully with the message you're delivering here.
I love everything about this piece.
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Thank you so much for that. I am glad that I was able to convey that contentment. It is amazing and attractive to see that in a woman.
Natiq...
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This is my favourite one, fantastic! work. I felt happy looking at it for the first time. She seems radiant.
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I really love this and the commentary.
Going to poetry spots and such, I actually received the opposite. I don't perm my hair or use chemicals, but because my hair is easier to blow dry straight & my natural hair looks like a dry loose jerry curl...lol..I wear mine straight, and that doesn't fit the idea of a "nubian poetic queen" so immediately people who don't know my work aka poetry assume I'm not as deep...then they hear me and are usually blown away...but that always boggles my mind. Like India Arie said...I am not my hair.
Wearing my hair straight is semi-natural for me and getting my hair to fro is a hard procedure that includes many a hairspray cans. I receive stereotypes and assumptions all the time because of it. Some even assume my hair is a weave because of it's length...and both my parents are black...they come from a long line of race mixing, but still they're black.
I'm all for being natural...if I could have a fro, I'd wear it proudly or get some dreds or something. I applaud people..all people who have pride and self-love, especially in a society who put great effort into trying to belittle our diverse beauty and divide us by turning us against US. (divide & conquer)
I really loathe the good hair/bad hair syndrome and I never use that language, and I'm known to school those who use it in my presence...this includes my own mama. I take great offense to someone who's basically saying that the closer your hair looks to white, the better it is. Forgive them for they do not know, and each one teach one. That's slave mentality, but the problem is that the descendants of the oppressors are still conciously & subconciously being oppressive through media and so forth and that makes it hard for these young ladies to remove the mental ball & chains. It's only been 142 yrs since slavery officially ended so it's no wonder we still have so far to go.
Black people are still learning to be proud of who they are. Our self-esteem as a whole was reduced to almost nothing, so we are still building it and all the while they're still knocking it with subliminal messages every day. The more people who highlight their natural beauty, the better, and it's also important for non-black people to recognize their part in these matters.
Still black women with beautiful kinky hair need to ask themselves "Why would you want to chemically kill your hair just so you can look like what white society says is beautiful?!" BUMP THAT!
but as I said, everyone has reached their own levels of mental freedom from oppressive thinking. I just hope we continue to focus on not believing the lies and also telling the liar that we won't accept that mess anymore.
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I can understand what you're saying. Its sad that even those of us who are "conscious" do the exact same things. And as I frequent poetry spots too, I know exactly what you mean. "Fake Badu Syndrome" is just as bad. If people feel secure in themselves, they are not as inclined to pass those types of judgements on other people.
And I feel you on all that you are saying. This "Good Hair" mentality is not needed and all who perpetuate it need to open there eyes. We need to let Willie Lynch die so that we all feel beautiful again. We are at a point in time to where we can do it. We are at a point where things can change, but with images like "Maybe she's born with it. Maybe its Maybeline", it may be awhile before any true progress is made on this.
In the end, we all have to take responsibility for our own sense of beauty and worth. But that is a task easier said than done. All matters of self-love are. I am really glad that you posted this amazing comment. I really do feel you. And I'm glad you like the piece.
Natiq...
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Exactly, to me the fact that someone who looks the part could pass that kind of judgment on their own and assume I must not be conscious or I probably have a perm or a weave, without knowing, is just as bad because it tells me that they don't love themselves as much as they're trying to portray...cause they busy hatin on me for no reason! What?! That defeats the purpose and to me is a manifestation of the very self hate they claim not to have. But.off that topic. I agree with you fully...and "like the piece"...oh no..I love it!
I especially love the highlights or glow of the face, the angle and colors...all of it is truly beautiful.
oh and this is off topic, but like India Arie I cut off all of my hair about 5yrs ago and kept it short for a while...and if I might add...I was lookin' mighty fine like that.
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I feel you. And thanks again for the compliment. And I'm sure you looked wonderful and do look wonderful in whatever hair you wear.
Natiq...
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Thank you, Danee. Glad you dropped by. You should drop by more often.
Natiq...
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Thank you so much. Long time no see. I am wishing you the best.
Natiq...
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Gosh, I could have both of these pieces hanging up in my living room. The sense of depth you create is incredible. I really feel I could touch them and it'd really feel like skin.
I personally admire the other women with natural hair. I don't have the courage to do it again, 'though I really miss my afro.
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Thank you so much. It gives me great satisfaction that you like them so much. I don't really think I expected this series to be appreciated at all, considering the subject has so many taboos associated with it.
I can understand your dilemma. I'm glad you are able to appreciate the other person. It shows a strong sense of character. I hope that one day you find your afro again, but I can feel you on why you may not wear it. BTW, I like your quote. 
Natiq...
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I'm mainly too afraid to cut off the straight ends. I'm such a coward.
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whoa...HAIR PRIDE! lol i have EXTREMELY curly hair and people are always telling me to straighten it....curly nappy hair forever!
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No doubt. 
Natiq...
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heck yeah,....us wild haired individuals must unite to fight the evils of the collective groups will!...lol okey i had my moment ....however i always wondered how i can lose things in my hair...sometimes its not even funny!.I'll lose mechanical pencils, scrunchies and bobby pins...mainly lots and lots of bobby pins
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I'm really trying not to laugh. Oh, what the hell... 
Ok. Now that THAT's out of my system. Oh, you poor thing, That must be so terrible losing things in your hair. (pat on the back)
*walks around corner so you can't see.
Natiq...
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the mechanical pencils is partly my fault because i tend to lose things so i'll put pencils in my hair so i'll have them handy..but at the end of the day i'll forget they're there...and fall asleep and the next day find 3 mechanical pencils caught in my hair....getting them out is NOT fun XD
lol
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I'm sorry for laughing, but the visual is just hilarious.
Natiq...
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lol it is very hilarious go on and laugh...hehehe i get a kick out of it....as a matter of fact...it has just inspired me to do a piece on things that get stuck in my hair
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LOL. Can't wait to see it.
Natiq...
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Thank you so much.
Natiq...
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i love the colours and the beautiful, proud gaze in her eyes 
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Thank you. Such a wonderful compliment. And thank you for watching. I hope you enjoy my work in the future.
Natiq...
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I am sure I will. I am so happy I found you.
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