I am Afro

Afro is a symbol of determination and expression and also a tool of cultural promotion. African American Men have been trying to find ways to express themselves in this vast country full of challenges. The daily life was completly different from the one we are living now in the 20th century.
Nowadays, there are many hair styles around the globe without meanings.Some  hair style only show the cool side of the person not the cultural representation. Afro or Afro hair was not the case in the 60's, 70's and still going on to present. Most activist such as Angela and the Black Panthers used Afro has their hair style because it represents their attachment to Africa and also shows reclaim their identity. Afro hair was not limited to Men. Women with their natural hair also adopt the Afro style but they have different ways of cutting them and maintaining them. Most Men keep their Afro thick and junky while others cut it sharp and neat like Michael Jackson hair in his childhood. Women used hot comb, oil, and other hair product to keep their hair neat and sraight.
       There were alot politics behind the Afro hair. Human right Activists thought that Afro was the best hair style that will make them proud of who they are and also shows the Black beauty and they feel good about themselves. When we look in UMBC 1960's year book, We noticed that students at that period have different culture when it comes to fashion and hair style. Most students were dressed like today's business Men. Some white students hair was close to Afro hair style especially the art students.
   In conclusion, Afro, derived from the word "African American" was and still the hair style of most African American and African. It was a symbol of human right and cultural promotion. The Afro comb is made with the "Black Power" hand and now few are made differently.

Yo! Got Afro Comb?

      Afro is one of the African American traits that links to their roots and represents their political status and promotes their beauty. It also represents their identity and power in this controversial and multi-racial country.

During the 1960s and 70s, disco music, rap and rocks’ Roll took over the country. During these years, tight Jeans, high heel boots, and especially afro Hair were the mode or style during that period of time. Everybody had their own style when it comes to fashion and hair style. Most African-Americans had Afro hair which is derived from the term “Afro-American”. The style had a cultural and political means.  In the 60s and 70s, the civil rights movement made most African-Americans “reborn” their personal style especially the appreciation of Black beauty. The Afro became a very powerful symbol of Black Pride and a rejection of the notion of assimilation and Integration. It was very popular among the Black Panther Party, the Supreme and the Jackson 5.

                In other hands, most people feel that Afro hair makes them feel connected to Africa. Most artists and political activist such as Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Angela Davis, Pam Grier and more had Afro hair to promote their identity.  As years passed and human right was in place, some white folks joined the afro hair style. The Afro comb made with a Black powerful hand is used to straighten and comb their hair and was carried everywhere.  In UMBC year’s book, there were not that much Black men with Afro but we see a different type of fashion and way people used to dress. Most men were in suits and when they are not wearing suits; their shirts were always tucked in. Most students were mature and few of them had glasses and now people wear lenses. Comparatively to the year book, present students are more liberal than the conservative 1970s students. Hair style has nothing to do their personal or political views as it did in the 70s. Some white artists grew hair that look like afro. It’s called Jewfro. There are few hair style that resemble to Afro such as Fuzzy-Wussy and Jewfro .

                Today, Afro is becoming more popular in various forms, braids, beads or twists. For few decades, some artist such as Ludacris, Ben Wallace, Eryka Badu still wear Afro which give a  great credit to the hair style.

                http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=afro+hair&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Adieu Tout Passe :C

I started my childhood in my mother’s village in the south.  I was raised by grandparents because my parents were still in University. My grandparents had never been to school because of their opposition to the western culture. Growing up, I used to spend my  day in the farm with them. I remember when I first started going to the forest looking for firewood and my grandfather gave me a dog as a companion. Having my own dog was the best gift in the whole world.  I called my dog ”Tout Passe” meaning “Everything Goes By”. I felt no fear when I was with my dog. As a tradition, a dog should carry something on his neck that makes sound so that he will not get lost in the forest(GPS). It’s made of tiny metal and two or three bullets in it. It took me a week to make mine because I wanted the make the best for Tout Passe. I couldn’t make the best but did work for someone to make me one.

Usually, dogs don’t sleep in the hut in my village. They stay outside to secure the village. I used to hide to go to sleep outside with my dog and when my grandparents found it out, they let him in  every night. My whole life changed when it was time for me to go to school in another city. They didn’t let me bring Tout Passe with me. It was a heart break and I cried during the whole trip. I kept asking people about my dog until one day they told me that my dog had die. My whole life turned upside down and I am still feeling the pain.

gr1@umbc.edu

A Child was born in March

I am Kpokpa”Popa” Grovogui. Born and raised in Guinea, West Africa. It’s a tropical country with a lot mountains and beautiful vegetations. The south side has a rain forest and the tallest mountain in the country. Traditional dances and music made the people happy. Our official language is French. We have more than 65 dialects and I speak five of them. My birth date is Saint Patrick’s Day. I came to the U.S in 2000 to learn English and get my University degree. I now live in Baltimore with my family. I feel better when there’s music and gym around. Restaurant and foods markets make my love stronger for foods.

I live on one philosophy. Freedom and human right is what we all deserve.