Natural Inclination

I'm inclined to believe Black natural hair care digital spaces critique media representations of Black womanhood. Let's collectively use this space to consciously construct our true identity.

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CDHS Students for Community from Destroy the Hate on Vimeo.

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[CLASS OF 2019] Here’s to the end of the most difficult year of my career! Yet, I’m so grateful for the kids and staff that demonstrated RAMS Pride: Resilience, Acceptance, Motivation, and Strength! I’ll miss these amazing students, but I know that many of them are entering into adulthood with a renewed purpose and conviction to challenge our current ways of being and knowing! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾. . #corporatecurly #blackidentity #representationmatters #blackeducators #blackgirlfly #blackvoices #blackandhooded #naturalnerd #blackscholar #becauseofthemwecan #blackschoolpsychologist #womensvoices #dreamcrazy #phinished #blackherstory #beingblack #supportherhustle #morethanmomma #graduates #graduationpics #gradselfie #wellwateredwomen #younggiftedandblack #blackandproud #teammelanin #workprayslay #washngo #femininelyfaded #commencement #graduation2019 (at Giant Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByWll_9HHaS/?igshid=11sttf1vodw2i

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[MONOLGUE MONDAY] Today, was a day that demonstrated the fullness of my work, and I am forever grateful to @dr.hollinssims from PaTTAN for giving us space to share how we work toward equity and inclusion in our suburban high school. . Last week, I was able to meet with many members of my student dream team to help organize our presentation for this afternoon’s mini webinar. It was so energizing, as we spoke freely about the work we have done and the work that we must continue to push toward full realization. My graduates took copious notes and put together an outline—all without any prompting! It showed me how much I missed working with them on facilitating difficult conversations about race and the various ways in which people are othered. . Overall, the experience was a much-needed demonstration of my purpose and the power that comes from creating space for students to be heard and valued, especially those who are in the margins. . I’m eternally grateful for these kids. As they continue the work on their college campuses, in their communities, and in our school. They are not future change agents. They are PRESENT DAY change agents! My heart is full! 🥰🥰🥰. . #teachingtolerance #blackschoolpsychologist #schoolpsychologist #blackwomenlead #changeagent #blackeducator #supportherhustle #blackscholarsmatter #melanated #teammelanin #naturalnerd #blackscholars #destroythehate #socialcommentary #blackeducators #blackvoices #blackscholars #equityandinclusion #equityinPAschools #passingthetorch #futureleaders #younggiftedandblack #representationmatters #speakyourtruth #speaktruth #socialjusticeeducation #culturallyresponsiveteaching #courageousconversations #speakup https://www.instagram.com/p/ByQ4RnrHT7R/?igshid=lcxhu0m26bmf

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[NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE] Today, our high school’s African American Heritage Club sponsored a trip to the @smithsonian @nmaahc. Instead of presenting the narrow scope of our origin in America as “free laborers,” NMAAHC tells our history through the lens of the African American experience, as one exhibit states: . “The lives and labor of enslaved African Americans transformed the United States into a world power. Yet they received no recognition or payment for what they created. By 1860 four million enslaved people produced well over 60 percent of the nation’s wealth, and the slave trade valued them at $27 billion. Selling an enslaved person provided ready cash, explaining in part why roughly 600,000 people were sold in the domestic slave trade. This vast wealth, in human form, affected the entire nation.”. . The juxtaposition of this quote with the grandiose museum exterior and the unmatched display of artifacts and historical story-telling help shape the story of how an oppressed people grew to more than 40 million (13% of nation’s population). Imagine, African-Americans make up such a small percentage of the population, but we have contributed tenfold to the American culture. Such contributions are carefully curated on the above ground level floors, which focus on community and culture. These floors are a beautiful display of redemption, resilience, and determination. They define us as creators who use our talents to challenge the status quo, while shaping a nation that can often leave us feeling invisible. . Today, our Black students were seen. They were celebrated in their fullness. They were elevated because the sheer presence of this museum is life-affirming. It is the ultimate counternarrative to the narrow scope of our American history that limits us to being descendants of slaves. This museum destigmatizes the origin of our beginnings on this soil because it is a clear demonstration of how we “made a way out of no way” and thrived. Kids, continue to thrive and bridge the divide. I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to experience this together. ❤️❤️❤️ (at Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxls4DYHBKp/?igshid=1o27blce6ril8

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[MUST SEE] “Martin Luther King Jr. was imperfect. But his love was unchallengeable." Follow the last 18 months of Dr. King’s life. King in the Wilderness @hbo #mlk50 #destroythehate #nonviolence #love #humanity

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Two meetings down and the inspiration flows! Today, students discussed microaggressions, identified the ways in which such causally degrading language has impacted them, and then they literally destroyed the hate and replaced it by having each student write positive affirmations about one another! #RAMSPride #destroythehate #positiveaffirmations #REpresent

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Maya's dance recital at the Hershey Theatre on May 26, 2017. (at Hershey Theatre)

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Hey , you followed me on disqus a few weeks ago about a few interviews that you're conducting. I just wanted to see how that's going

Thank you so much for contacting me! I am actually in need of some more participants. I'd really appreciate an interview!

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Come on @artsyollie, admit I was your muse! 😂😂😂 (at The Clubs At Colonial Ridge)

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Are you writing a dissertation on black hair? Yes or no.

Hi! It's on the Black natural hair care bloggers and their followers. Did I reach out to you for an interview?

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Are you at Penn State ask the BGLH for interviews via email because you are doing a dissertation and need to interview readers?

Yes! Are you one of the people I reached out to?

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwXbzsYieZc)

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5G8EJ5UCM)

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Standing in solidarity with my sisters! We have much work to do! Use the energy from today to get involved! Demand change! Demand to be heard, valued, and respected! We cannot make progress without dignity. True dignity comes with true equality, which can be accomplished by giving those from marginalized groups a voice. Don't discount our experience and perspective! Today, women/feminists took a stand to say that we cannot simply be erased. We cannot be silenced. Our needs and equality must be deeply valued and protected, and such protection and fearless advocacy must, in part, come from officials that are willing to surround themselves with people who are diverse and have diverse thoughts. You can't say you want to unite us when you surround yourself with people who want to mansplain or whitesplain in a condescending/paternalistic fashion in an attempt to suggest that someone from the margins can't possibly articulate her/his own experience! #womensmarch #checkyourprivilege #resistance #boybye #thewomenhavespoken

[jessehimself]

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Thoughts on social blanching and the distinction between progress and dignity.

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THANK YOU PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA for personifying love and compassion in the most unlikely of forms! You truly are a public servant, and due to your service, you have made this nation more just for ALL citizens.  Thank you for surrounding yourself with diverse people with diverse perspectives. This demonstration of multicultural competence and responsiblity formed the foundation for policies and initiatives that were inclusive. You are hope personified, and through the gift that is you, you helped us tap into our own power to organize and stand up for change.  Yes, we can.  Yes, we did.  Yes, we will!

On Thursday, January 19, 2017, President Barack Obama published a thank you letter to the American people, his last day in office:

“I’ve seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I’ve seen our future unfolding.

All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work — the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there’s an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.

I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.

And when the arc of progress seems slow, remember: America is not the project of any one person. The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We the People.’ ‘We shall overcome.’

Yes, we can.”