Mi cyaa believe mi eyes. (I can't believe what I am seeing.) A letter to the Editor of the Daily Observer in Jamaica, written by Michelle McDonald and published on September 5, 2011, voiced concern about new police force orders in relation to police deportment. According to Ms McDonald's letter, black women on the police force are being told that they can wear extensions but not locks. I am disturbed and hurt at the fact that there are clearly still mentally enslaved people in Jamaica who have not learned how to accept black people as they naturally are.
Miss McDonald, you are totally right. If sloppiness is an issues, it should be dealt with. Sloppiness, however, has nothing to do with locs. I've seen as much dry untidy relaxed hair and I have locs. Yes, Miss McDonald. It is indeed "archaic."
Please read Ms McDonald's letter here. Don't forget to share your thoughts here and on the Daily Observer's website.
This article is very very interesting. It almost feel like the police force was waiting for the moment to enforce such a rule. This is really sad. It almost feel like they are saying that Locs are the reason why people are sloppy, instead of people being the reason why their Locs are maintained. It is a better way to handle this situation.
ReplyDeleteI'm always caught off guard by the conservatism in many of our islands. There is still a lot of stigma around wearing locs in St. Kitts too. I don't recall ever seeing a police officer with locs, so it is probably an unspoken rule there as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Economy of Style.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. The Caribbean is generally very conservative contrary to it;s carefree do-as-you-please-when-you're-there reputation.
Hi KeeKeeAllNatural
I think a lot of people are still in the dark about certain things. And yes, it's really sad.
I can't believe in this day and age of diversity, that this is really happening. Shame! I can believe though because when I was in high school, in Jamaica, we were not allowed to wear braided extensions. I mean one can definitely look professional in locks, I have seen it many of times. What is their beef though really, I mean our colonial past should free us of the stigma attached to wearing our hair a certain way....Thanks for posting Diedre!
ReplyDeleteHey Nicky,
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. People have their priorities twisted and sometimes they simply aren't thinking right. Now kids can wear braids but to me fake hair is unnecessary for a schoolgirl... sigh. I won't even start with that. lol. It's really like taking a step back though. Thanks for reading and commenting though.
That is so blatantly simple minded. You can wear extensions but not locs? 2 hairstyles that look so similar, one is forbidden and the other not? Give me a break. Agreed, sometimes I think we in the Caribbean have a hard time accepting ourselves and our people.
ReplyDelete