N.I.C.E.

N.I.C.E.

Friday, April 13, 2012

N.I.C.E Salutes Sabrina Fulton: A Woman of Natural Grace and Courage

    So I am able to come up for air, in terms of Trayvon Martin, now that an Initial step toward justice has been accomplished which is no small measure.  It is now possible to return, as the potential for trial looms ahead, to the discussion of hair, which is the true purpose of N.I.C.E.  I want to take this time to pay homage to Sabrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin.  She has exhibited tremendous grace in the face of losing her son.  She has stood strong, with great warrior men beside her, fighting for justice for her child.  In looking at her, I see a woman of faith, strength and confidence and her hair, yes her hair, no matter how trivial it may seem to some that I am focusing on it, lends to the notion of her commitment to her true self even though she is under the proverbial microscope.  As I look at her beautiful braids, a crown of strength as she goes through this tremendous ordeal, I feel proud to see her and to acknowledge her as a woman of confidence adorned by the wearing of braids as a true African tradition which is central to identity.  Throughout African culture hair has served as an identity factor in terms of whether one was single, courting, mourning, etc.  This is documented in Hair Story: Untangling The Roots of Black Hair In America, among other works.  Indicated in this book is the fact that  hair to Africans, is far more than just aesthetics.

Sabrina Fulton will go down in history as the brave mother who fought for her son.  Images of her will remain in existence in perpetuity.  Seeing her adorning a natural style, namely braids, which harks back to her African ancestry, highlights this lineage that has always been indicative of strength and courage. Natural Is Cool Enough is committed to recognizing the beauty of natural hair, even in the face of tremendous adversity.  N.I.C.E. salutes you Sabrina Fulton in your natural grace and strength and as you  continue to seek justice! She is a living, breathing example of a strong African American woman.

No comments: