Sonya McCoy Wilson

Very well said, Tiffany. These are all issues and...

2012-03-28T15:38:52.127-04:00

Very well said, Tiffany. These are all issues and variables that our society has either not considered or simply have disavowed. We must face the reality that we live in a racist society. The predictions that Thomas Jefferson made 300 years ago about the inability of the once enslaved coexisting with the once enslaver have come to pass. It's just not working. The center cannot hold...

I tucked that recommendation in my memory bank unt...

2012-03-28T15:34:53.198-04:00

I tucked that recommendation in my memory bank until I got out of the TWA stage. Back then, I needed hold and more hold. Now that my needs have changed, my new "go-to" is the smoothie. I totally hate Miss Jessie's stuff. All that petrolatum makes the hair hard. And the stuff is outrageously priced. The Shea Moisture products are definitely "the answer."

Thank you! I love locs on you. Very becoming indeed. I was just thinking how I ended one journey and began another as you ended one journey and began another. That's pretty cool.

Wasn't this the product I recommended to you??...

2012-03-28T15:19:30.817-04:00

Wasn't this the product I recommended to you??? Yeah, when I found this two years ago (in TARGET!), I was in heaven. To have such a cheaply priced product for natural hair that works just as well, if not better, than Miss Jessie's is awesome. They do work well for twist outs but I now use this on my sisterlocks for moisturizing. It's just as good on locked hair, in my opinion. I love it! And I STILL have my jar from my original purchase! So you are absolutely right: a little goes a loooong way.

PS: LOVE THE NATURAL STYLES ON YOU! Now you're loose and I'm locked. We've exchanged places...how amazing. :)

(continued...) “This is not a black problem. Thi...

2012-03-27T10:18:15.222-04:00

(continued...)

“This is not a black problem. This is an American problem. This is a human problem. So, if you are not a racist, and you do not believe that all black men are simply criminals and monsters waiting to attack the "good white people" of America, you should be just as outraged, just as heart-broken, just as sad, just as afraid to live in a country that would not only allow this to happen…”

I am so glad to see that so many people align with this statement. Having participated in the rally in D.C. this past weekend, it was chilling to see Blacks, Whites, Asians, Latinos; young people, old people, babies, even dogs; mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends; colegiates, politicians, disc jockeys; and everything else in between come together and show their intolerance of what has happened to THIS young boy. As we all held hands and chanted “I am Trayvon Martin,” I had to fight back the tears. It was very moving to see everyone take this on as ALL our problems. The blatant disregard shown toward this issue, this family’s loss, Zimmerman’s racists motives and the lack of due diligence from investigators/police should haunt and prompt everyone to think about the ruse of what “justice for all” really means.

I think of my 8 yr. old god-son, and what the response to Trayvon’s means for him now and for his future. It breaks my heart that I cannot be more hopeful that he will grow up in a world that will accept him for his potential to be a contribution to this world in place of seeing him as a threat. I would love to feel optimistic about the world that awaits him, but it’s disheartening when Black males are fast becoming an “endangered species.” To see my people having to continuously march as an outcry against societal prejudices that plague our people, I’m slowly losing the energy it takes to proceed positively. I pray that my heart, and the hearts of all those who allowed this to go unresolved so long and those who believe as Zimmerman does (that his actions are justifiable), will change. Until then, I join the cry of those who bond together despite race, creed, color, or sex: “I am Trayvon Martin!” … “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!”

--Marquise

Two comments on two very poignant thoughts: "...

2012-03-27T10:17:36.757-04:00

Two comments on two very poignant thoughts:

"Zimmerman (even if he isn't white) was motivated by the persistent white rage and white racism that has scarred and plagued America since its inception."

I find it interesting HOW race is factored into the equation; it's not just about Trayvon's race--which we already know was the one quality that made him a target of Zimmerman's rage and that makes equal protection by the justice system null and void. However, Zimmerman's race is also debated in the media, as if whether or not he's latino/Hispanic or White will determine how mad as a people, as a country, we should be. I find it just as disturbing that "journalists" are marketing the idea that we should focus on Zimmerman also being a person of color, just so we can swerve around the obvious racial barricade that is always present in our society. I COULD CARE LESS about Zimmerman's color. Because no matter what, it is clear that Trayvon's color made a young male walking in the rain with a hoodie (something I thought was marketed to ALL for protection against the elements) as a dangerous and "suspicious" character. SMH!

Now IF Zimmerman's heritage should play a factor, and he is indeed of enough ethnic ancestry to garner attention, I then also find it interesting that this “person of color” has also bought into the notion that black males = criminal. But I think the fact that the law can justify Zimmerman's right to protect himself in the event of feeling "threatened" and not do the same for the person who was unarmed and is now DEAD shows a slanted reality for Blacks in this country. Let's face it, we are used to it. But I think the hilarity of the situations like these is that we STILL have to come behind these incidents and participate in ridiculous discussions about how race is no longer an issue today. I think the very utterance of this idea is insulting. As annoying as this is for African Americans, I totally agree with Sonya.

(continued...)

Of course, you know I agree with you. Black folks ...

2012-01-22T15:34:01.223-05:00

Of course, you know I agree with you. Black folks tend to particularly guarded with hard conversations that engage "intraracial" issues. It's as if we're afraid to "air our dirty laundry" in mixed company.

I'm sure it might, but that doesn't mean w...

2012-01-22T15:14:17.071-05:00

I'm sure it might, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have the conversations. I think our fear of having the hard convos or hurting feelings is a big part of the reason why our country is in the situation we're currently in. We can't talk about the issues only with the groups who experience it and expect real change to take place. We have to be able to discuss them with everyone.

That's cool. I always worry that these type of...

2012-01-22T15:13:08.377-05:00

That's cool. I always worry that these type of topics will cause raw wounds to open in black women. I think that light skinned women may interpret this as yet another assertion of divisive hair politics. I hope that is not the way it comes off.

It's funny that you texted me about this today...

2012-01-22T15:11:14.201-05:00

It's funny that you texted me about this today, because I just said it was time to give my hair a break from the flat iron which I usually do in the summer, but I miss my curls. Plus, I want to make sure my son sees both styles on me growing up, so he recognizes the beauty in my natural curls too.

I'm glad you confirmed this for me. After all,...

2012-01-22T15:07:06.230-05:00

I'm glad you confirmed this for me. After all, there aren't enough naturals to choose from who actually wear their hair curly and not straightened.

This is an awesome post and it's the first tim...

2012-01-22T15:05:24.657-05:00

This is an awesome post and it's the first time I've even thought about the fact that people are asking me how I got my hair like that because of my skin tone. I don't know why I haven't made the connection before especially since it's usually followed up later by inquiries on my ethnic makeup.

I really enjoyed the story. I guess I was expecti...

2012-01-09T14:12:56.737-05:00

I really enjoyed the story. I guess I was expecting a different ending.

What a wonderful, inspirational post! I am so hap...

2012-01-04T15:10:29.472-05:00

What a wonderful, inspirational post! I am so happy to hear that I was instrumental in your decision to big chop. So many Black women want to go natural, but there has been so much mystery and so many questions until now: How do I do it? What products do I use? Will I still be cute? Is my hair "too nappy"? (whatever that means.

Thank you so much for reading!

I will keep discussing hair as well as race, class, gender, and literature.

Hi Sonya, I ran across your blog during the sprin...

2012-01-04T14:52:12.315-05:00

Hi Sonya,

I ran across your blog during the spring when I was considering cutting the perm out of my hair and wanted some info from others who had done the “big chop.” I bookmarked your site and visited it occasionally as I slowly cut a bit of perm out each time I washed my hair. I wore my hair in a curly afro look from September through the end of the year with a goal to cut all remaining chemicals out and get gel coils --- always keeping in mind your “big chop” picture from a year ago. Well, I did it on December 31st and I now have almost an identical look to your picture from a year ago. I decided a few minutes ago to visit your site and was happy to see your full head of natural curly hair. It was very encouraging and I look forward to my continued transformation 

I hope you will keep your pictures from 2011 on your site. It may help others, as it helped me while transitioning back to natural hair.

Also, your site is an excellent resource for writers.
Have a very happy, blessed and prosperous New Year!

Yolanda
Takoma Park, MD

Hi Sonya, I ran across your blog during the sprin...

2012-01-04T14:47:24.355-05:00

Thanks for sharing. I hope you're in total con...

2012-01-04T01:20:54.209-05:00

Thanks for sharing. I hope you're in total control of your diet and health. People need to know the nutritional truths.

It's a good thing you at least have that littl...

2011-11-26T22:30:06.098-05:00

It's a good thing you at least have that little kernel nudging you towards a change. The one suggestion I have fore everyone thinking about a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is to find a physician who supports your decision. Surprisingly, finding a doctor who has been educated in nutrition is not as easy as one might think.

I have found some wonderful websites for vegan and vegetarian cooking:

My favorite is Post Punk Kitchen http://www.theppk.com/recipes/

I also love The Gluten-Free Goddess http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/p/vegan-veg-index.html

And of course VegWeb http://vegweb.com/

My husband recently challenged me to watch "F...

2011-11-26T20:09:54.695-05:00

My husband recently challenged me to watch "Forks over Knives". It had me thinking. I reflected over the health issues my family has faced, and the loved ones I lost too soon to "cancer". Determined not to walk in those shoes I must make a change. Where do you get your recipes?

Thanks, Danny! Living in Georgia, I so seldom hear...

2011-10-31T19:00:33.231-04:00

Thanks, Danny! Living in Georgia, I so seldom hear positive comments about the President Obama. This is so refreshing and validating. Re: "Eve" and the "First" in "First Lady" - that's interesting. I see how you could have interpreted my irony that way at first. "FOUR MORE YEARS!" indeed.

I thought that you may have meant in your initial ...

2011-10-31T18:10:59.011-04:00

I thought that you may have meant in your initial post that she was "full black", with no white parents at the very least, but I was unwilling to expound on that simply out of the fear of seeming ignorant. Plus, I don't know her ancestral lineage beyond both her parents being black, so ignorance in that aspect is a tough one for me to avoid. That said, I have often "wished" both of Obama's parents were "full black" pretty much for the "unambiguous" reasons you stated. Am I racist for wishing our first black president had no cream in his coffee, simply for what it represents to black Americans? I certainly don't want to "return" Obama in any way because I like him the way he is, but yeah, your unambiguous "revelations" are thoughts I have considered myself (especially when he actually became the Democratic candidate) more for the statement it makes about America rather than anything against the individuals being considered.

I did get thrown by the "irony" of the "first black first lady" concept, because then I got caught up in the historical basis of where the first humans came from and the DNA analyses that state every human has a common female ancestor that lived in a population found in central Africa, aka "Eve". Glad to know it wasn't ignorance that confused me (it was the concept of "first"), but I'm not necessarily proud that it was fear of looking ignorant that kept me from seeing your point clearly.

Either way, I want to go on record saying "FOUR MORE YEARS!" I'm just incredibly proud to be able to say that our current first lady is someone as admirable as Michelle Obama, and after the nightmare that was most of the 2000's, I'm glad to be able to look at my president and be proud to be an American once again. Couldn't say that for the last guy.See More

Fair enough :)

2011-09-05T10:17:11.692-04:00

Fair enough :)

I do realize that student resistance springs from ...

2011-09-05T10:14:56.922-04:00

I do realize that student resistance springs from many factors - not all of which have to do with a generalized problem with authority.But at this early stage in my career, I have to resist playing psychoanalyst (because believe me - I DO... psychoanalyze the MESS out of our students!) For the sake of their educations as well as for the sake of their classmates', I would have to encourage any student who can't lower their defenses enough to get through my class to take it with whoever makes them feel comfortable enough to sit back, open their minds, and learn a little.

I don't know if I agree that the root of stude...

2011-09-05T09:38:01.676-04:00

I don't know if I agree that the root of student resistance may be an overall problem with any type of authority. It has been my experience that even though many students have a "problem" with authority in general, there are those who are only resistant to authority when it comes in the wrong package. Don't get me wrong, overall I have wonderful students, and I have a wonderful rapport with them. But if you're an academic long enough, you will encounter at least one or two squeaky wheels. And we always focus on the squeaky wheels.

As for abuse of power - I agree. Abuse of power is a problem regardless of gender or race. And you are correct - students know who they can trust right away. However, many black students have been fighting for so long, they don't know when to stop fighting. It becomes a knee jerk reaction. And often times, we fight each other more than not.

In my limited experience in front of the classroom...

2011-09-05T09:22:46.503-04:00

In my limited experience in front of the classroom, I have to revert to the famous saying, "With great power comes great responsibility"(attributed to either Spiderman or Voltaire - take your pick).

When we face our students for the first time, we are doing so from a position of authority which gives us the power to either help them or hurt them. Being the ethical educators who we are, neither of us would ever use our power to do either - advance a student who has not earned it through their own hard work- OR hold a student back for any reason other than a legitimate academic one.

Those of us who use our power to advocate for the student are assets. We wield our power in the classroom to demonstrate that we are there to facilitate our students' success in the learning process. Once the resistant male and female students understand that we are on their side, then not only do they eat out of our hands, they learn a thing or two as well. While some students may still perceive us as a threat - I'm inclined to believe that their levels of resistance stem not from a problem with race or gender but from a problem with any type of authority.

Outside of the classroom, power struggles tend to become much more sinister. I would still argue that women in power are an asset provided that the power structure itself is an ethical one. I think that within an ethical power structure, both women and men who seek positions of authority in order to advance the mission of the institution will earn those position; those who are seeking only the title or the power or the huge office space with the view will be shut down. Reality of course is tricky. Women in power might be a threat to others who seek positions of power but for reasons of ethics (or just lack of experience) shouldn't attain them - but those women are not a threat to the institution itself. Likewise, women who misuse their authority are threats - not just to the institution - but to the structural integrity of our precarious perch on equality.

In some instances, education is a robe worn to dis...

2011-08-24T17:06:41.288-04:00

In some instances, education is a robe worn to disguise self-importance. And one may hide this attitude because as you say, they know what the listener wants to hear, or the interviewer. And in the instance of the last three personality groups, while their self-importance is initially hidden, it slowly comes to light and creates, as you described, havoc in the workplace.

What is the real purpose of education: to make people more productive in a society or make people more open, engaging, and respectable as human beings? If the former, one can hardly help to have self-importance, if the latter, we still may have work to do.