I walked into the store and they just kept staring at me. I felt an surge of anger rise in me as they followed me like I was about to steal some cheap glasses on the display case. Where was I? In the local hair store found in every neighborhood. I loathed the fact that I even have to go in these places to get my hair care products, even more because the store is owned and operated by people of a different persuasion. That means it is a non-black establishment. Let me say this, I AM NOT A RACIST. I love people of all races and ethnicity's. I am a woman of color and understand that I have several blood lines running thru my veins. Regardless of this fact, I have major issues with supporting other races while they get rich off of our money. Yes, I am speaking about non-blacks, who own and operate hair stores. A interesting fact that should not go unnoticed is that the hair care industry is a 87 million dollar business ( that's major $$$). Black people, who make up 20% of the population, buy more than half of the hair care products in the hair stores. Yes, we buy more than 50 % of hair care products and most of our hair is still damaged ( A future post about hair care ingredients will open your eyes to why our hair is so damaged). Sadly, this fact played a major role in me going natural. In my own way, I am lashing out at the establishment that has hindered our people from moving forward. Meanwhile, our communities are falling apart, we have a high unemployment rates and our children do not have the resources to get a decent education. It would be nice if we could own and operate our own hair stores and recycle that money into our communities, but we do not have the willingness nor the strength to demand this injustice to be made right. Instead, we continue to shop at these stores, while the owners sit behind the counter and look down on us (literally and physically). We are so giddy with excitement while prancing around, trying on Tara weaves and wigs, looking at the lead filled jewelry, while the young sales girl is praying she makes a sale. It is so sad and we only have ourselves to blame. Listen, I would not be so upset if the money was being funneled back into our community, but it is not being used to build up our communities or evoke change in the lives of our youth. Instead, it is being used to send their children to college, their families to better neighborhoods and used to purchase their new laundromats and corner stores. But change begins with one person and if your up to the challenge, you can be that one person who make a ripple effect. There is a good documentary by Aron Ranen on the web that is a absolute must see. I suggest that you wake up and smell the power of black hair.
