This can be a friend or family member. The beauty of such relationships is that you are free to express your deepest fears and/or concerns without feeling you are going to be judged!

Part of the growth process includes allowing you to be free to say what's on your mind, knowing you are going to get support, encouragement, guidance at the right time.

Don't be afraid to utilise such relationships as it helps you to become a better person, thus encouraging positive growth! Being afraid of such things only prevents growth & stops you from missing out on moving forward. You just have to overcome that initial fear…so go ahead and take that first step.

If you quit, you will lose out on the blessings in store for you. Never give up when you know you are right! Believe that everything will work together for good if you persevere! Rise up against the odds and keep on going!

Don’t let anyone discourage you, intimidate you, are lead you away from your goals. All those before us faced defeat and adversity too and came through victorious!

Black is the color of dirty clothes,
of grimy hands and feet…
Black is the color of darkness,
of tired beaten streets…

Why did you give me thick lips,
A broad nose and kinky hair?
Why did you create someone
who receives the hated stare?

Black is the color of the bruised eye
When someone gets hurt…
Black is the color of darkness,
black is the color of dirt.

Why is my bone structure so thick,
my hips and cheeks so high?
Why are my eyes brown,
And not the color of the sky?

Why do people think I’m useless?
How come I feel so used?
Why do people see my skin
And think I should be abused?

Lord, I just don’t understand…
What is it about my skin?
Why is it some people want to hate me
And not know the person within?

Black is what people are “Labelled”
when others want to keep them away…
Black is the color of shadows cast…
Black is the end of the day.

Lord you know my own people mistreat me,
And you know this just ain’t right…
They don’t like my hair; they don’t like my
skin, as they say I’m too dark or too light!

Lord, don’t you think
it’s time to make a change?
Why don’t you redo creation
and make everyone the same?

God’s Reply…

Why did I make you black? Why did I make you black?

I made you in the color of coal
from which beautiful diamonds are formed…
I made you in the color of oil,
the black gold which keeps people warm.

Your color is the same as the rich dark soil
that grows the food you need…
Your color is the same as the black stallion and panther,
Oh what majestic creatures indeed!

All colors of the heavenly rainbow
can be found throughout every nation…
When all these colors are blended,
you become my greatest creation!

Your hair is the texture of lamb’s wool,
such a beautiful creature is he…
I am the shepherd who watches them,
I will ALWAYS watch over thee!

You are the color of the midnight sky;
I put star glitter in your eyes…
There’s a beautiful smile hidden behind your pain…
That’s why your cheeks are so high!

You are the color of dark clouds
from the hurricanes I create in September…
I made your lips so full and thick,
so when you kiss…they will remember!

Your stature is strong,
your bone structure thick to withstand the
burden of time…
The reflection you see in the mirror,
that image that looks back, that is MINE!

So get off your knees,
look in the mirror and tell me what you see?
I didn’t make you in the image of darkness…
I made you in the image of ME!

I do not believe that but I have heard many say “the majority of black women will proudly tell you that their natural hair is unmanageable…”. This is a terrible nonsense!

It suggests that, subconsciously, you believe that black people’s hair is ugly. Keeping your hair as natural as you can is not a retro-vision: but strong visual sign of your identity.

I have also met sistas who used to perm their hair a lot. They did not want to go out without a wig or permed hair. But they stopped doing that because they realised that it was another way of destroying part of themselves.

Some white fellows have suggested that I perm my hair in order to look “prettier” and I have honestly answered them: “I like my hair the way it is.”

I assume that they think that, as there are so many black girls with permed hair, our hair must be ugly and so there is no way to look pretty with it in its natural state. Of course, they will never recognise this fact in front of me.

I am an African Spanish girl who has lived her entire life among white people, and my parents, sisters and I have always kept our natural hair without worrying about what white folks might think.

Skin bleaching is terrible and quite widespread nowadays, so please do not dismiss the issue!

In my opinion it is another step forward in the process of alienation. It can be dedined as a complete rejection of blackness. People who commit this do not realise the danger of their actions, which could lead to serious health problems. While white girls try to get some skin colour, some of our sistas try to take some out. That is crazy!

All of us have an European touch. That is inevitable as we are living in a white society. But it seems to me that a lot of sistas are overly concerned with not looking African, even though all of us have African roots whether you like it or not.

To those sistas, I say “stop behaving like white girls copy-cats.”

Peace

By faith and by studying his word, you will begin to learn about how he thinks. In particular, the Old Testament gives an insight to how God thinks and does things. If he takes you through the long route, it is for a reason!

Consider this, the long way could be used as preparation for you; during this time, you may face obstacles, disappointments, setbacks etc but during that time, he is guiding you through making you stronger, wiser and getting you ready for action. The other consideration is that he is leading you through unseen circumstances that you are unable to deal with yet.

Once at your destination, you will then see your true purpose. You have also been prepared to fulfill your purpose!

Please support the forum by posting to it regularly. Posts can be sent to me direct by using the email address listed below. Enjoy the flava!
e-mail: zema@blackmag.org

Today, the weaving of three strands of hair together in intricate patterns and designs is more like a work of art to the braider and the wearer. Even men are saying no to bald heads and yes to zigzag designs of cornrows.

Braids are wonderful for children as well because they are long-lasting and do not require the use of chemicals. The styles and patterns are endless. Braids are also a good way to grow out a perm or relaxer and return to the natural.

Braids put in correctly should be able to withstand a biweekly shampooing. Braids should not be left in for months on end without ever being washed. This is not healthy for the scalp or the hair.

The key to washing braids is to do it gently. Starting with a gentle stream of water as you wet your hair will minimize the stress put on your braids. Then lather with a natural shampoo and rub the lather throughout the braids in the direction the braids are going. Use your fingertips to massage the scalp and remove any dirt from single braids.

Rub the scalp with a finger in the direction of the rows with cornrows. Then with that same gentle stream of water rinse the lather from the braids again in the direction the braids are going. This is most easily achieved if you groom your hair while you are in the shower.

You can follow with a hot oil treatment and if so, additional oiling will not be needed. Pat the hair as opposed to rubbing the hair with a towel. The ends of longer braids can be pressed in a towel to remove excess water. Then oil the scalp and allow to air dry or sit under a dryer.

To minimize the frizziness of braids and cornrows after washing, use a small mixture of gel and natural/essential oils. Use the mixture very lightly to rub on the braids in the direction they are braided to keep them neat and frizz-free. If you use too much of this mixture however it can flake once dry so beware and use sparingly.

Braid Tip: Do not use leave-in conditioners after you wash your braided styles. Leave-in conditioners soften the hair and loosen braids. Reserve the use of this to aid in the removal of your braids. Saturate the braids with a leave-in conditioner prior to removal. Also, creamy conditioners can be very hard to wash out and residue can remain, causing dryness and flaking.

Cover braids with a cotton, silk or satin scarf. No doubt you have heard silk and satin are always best. But this is not necessarily true. If you have oily hair or if you oil your hair at night you may want to wear cotton. Cotton allows the hair to breathe and it will absorb any excess oil in the hair. Silk and satins will not absorb the oil but instead allow it to sit on top of the hair.

If oil is not an issue for you then silk or satin scarves are fine. They also do not pull the hair as cotton can do. This is one of those instances where you would choose for yourself. If you tend to sweat in your hair at night you may want to also consider cotton so that your style does not have that sweated-out look in the morning.

Ingredients:-

1/2 lb. Saltfish (codfish)
1 dozen ackees or 1 tin of ackee
1 small onion
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 slices scotch bonnet pepper
1 small red sweet pepper
cooking oil

Method 1: Using fresh ackee

Soak saltfish in warm water to taste. After soaking saltfish, place it in cold water and boil. For If you use tin ackee then open then tin.

Perhaps if you are fortunate to get fresh ackee then clean the ackee. Remove the seeds and all traces of interior red pit from the ackees and wash five times. Put in a pot of water, cover and boil until moderately soft. Drain, cover, and put aside. Pick up (flake) the saltfish and remove all bones. SautT thinly sliced onions and sweet pepper rings. Remove half of the fried onions and peppers. Add saltfish and the ackees, and turn the fire/stove up slightly. Add black pepper. Pour in to serving plate and garnish with remaining onions and pepper slices.

Method 1: Using ackee from a tin

1 Can of Ackee, drained
1/2 lb boneless salt cod
2 tablespoons butter
2 onions, sliced
1 sprig thyme
4 thin slices
scotch bonnet pepper
1 small tomato, chopped
1 sweet pepper chopped
Black pepper

Soak the salt cod in a pot of water overnight to remove most of the salt. If the cod is still very salty, boil in water for 20 minutes. Drain cod and cut into small pieces.

Heat oil and butter in a frying pan. Add the onions, thyme and scotch bonnet pepper, tomato and green peppers.

Stir for a few minutes. Then add the can of drained ackee. Do not stir because this will cause the ackees to break up. Cook for a few more minutes then sprinkle with black pepper.

Best served with bammies, roast breadfruit, dumplings, or fried plantains.