50 Countries And Counting: A Naturalista's Travel Adventures--First Stop Aruba!

When I graduated from Jamaica High School (which is now closed and I'm sad about that, which is another story for another time), in Queens, New York, it was an exciting time in my life. I had been accepted to college and would leave home in the fall. My graduation gift from my parents was a suitcase and a trip to Aruba with my best friend at the time, Valerie Wilson. We were so excited. It would be only my second trip out of the country as the first was to Canada, Montreal specifically, on a bus. That trip was also fun. It was just a bunch of folks from the neighborhood on an organized bus excursion, with tours and such but as I look back, it was not my ideal travel experience. However, I did have a wonderful time with my neighborhood friends on that trip. I'll give you the skinny on that story in a future post when I cover Canada, as I traveled there several times later in my life.

As I began this venture of writing about my travels, I decided to find pictures that my friend Valerie and I took in Aruba. It was so long ago, so I began an intense search, which took hours. After high school, Valerie and I stayed in touch. She organized, along with my mother, my bridal and baby showers and was in my wedding. Over the years, we moved and lost touch and I often wondered how she was doing. As I was rummaging through my house to find some of our pictures from Aruba, I also went online to see if I could find her, as I prepared to write this piece, and sadly I found her obituary along with her husband's on-line. They died three years apart, she in 2014 and he in 2011. I was devastated. I met him a few times, when they first met, and Valerie was very excited about him. They were a cool couple together and she later became Valerie Distant when they married. Valerie is so important to my travels because it was with her that I took my first international trip by air and when I realized that travel would become a key aspect of my life. My next trip, after Aruba, was to the Bahamas for my honeymoon with my husband. This trip (the subject of the next installment of this series) was also recommended by Valerie so stay tuned because you will not believe where we were planning to go before she intervened and advised us otherwise and what happened before my husband and I left for this trip. In any event, at the time that I traveled to Aruba, it was still part of the Netherlands Antilles. What I remember most are the trade winds and the Divi-divi trees, in which the wind was so strong that the trees seemed to be in a permanent sway. This tree is Aruba's trademark. Although I am a steadfast naturalista now, at that time, I had a perm and short hair, and it seemed that every time I came outside in Aruba, the wind would blow so hard that having any kind of do was not an option. I didn't care. The water was blue, the weather was warm, we were on the beach, having an international experience and I was thrilled. We took a boat ride where I went on jet skis for the first and last time in my life. That was a fun thing to do, but I was terrified after falling repeatedly, which Valerie found hilarious while I was a wreck. Nevertheless, Aruba was amazing and the travel bug bit me. My skin was already cocoa brown but when I returned home from Aruba, I was darker and I loved it. I was only there for a week but the sun had bathed my skin creating a darker shade that everyone, back at home, noticed immediately when I returned. There were so many questions about where I had been and excitement when I said Aruba, that I knew I had done something worthy of repeating, over and over again, namely travel.

I have since returned to Aruba, for a conference, and it's a bit different from when I went there the first time. It wasn't quite as touristy then as it was when I went for my return trip, although the hotels on the beach were lovely both times. Valerie and her family had vacationed there many times so she knew the exact hotel to pick and I trusted her judgment. We had a buffet breakfast every morning with an array of fresh fruit and choices of all kind of deliciousness. We joked about the pace of service as we felt it was a bit slow but then realized we were enjoying Caribbean time, which was more relaxed than the hustle and bustle that we had become accustomed to in New York. I was fascinated by the fact that the people spoke Papiamento. This language is comprised of Spanish Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, Arawakan and African languages, which was absolutely intriguing to me. I also loved that the cheese and milk were from goats rather than cows, which was a little nuance that, along with the language, was different from anything that I had ever experienced. Everything about the experience was enjoyable to my senses.

So my recommendation from my first international travel experience, by air, is to begin your travels as early in your life as possible. I wish I had started as a little girl rather than as a teenager because I felt I had so much catching up to do. Realizing this, when my husband and I had our two children, we started traveling the world with them when they were around ages 5 and 7, with their little knapsacks on their back and their small personal suitcases. They were worthy travel companions, which I will discuss as this series continues. As a young woman of 18 years old, I was fascinated by my trip to Aruba and it began my journey into culture and diversity and my insatiable love for travel. So, RIP Valerie Distant. I thank her for starting me on this journey and I hope that her journey beyond this world continues to be filled with adventure and excitement. I also thank my parents, who have also passed beyond this world (may they RIP) for giving me the gift of travel, which started beautiful travel experiences for my family, and me which continue.

Below are some tips on how you can begin your travel journey, if you have not already, which I hope you will find useful. Tips will follow throughout this travel series, with more detail each time. To see travel tips visit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-r-rose/50-countries-and-counting_b_8896258 Believe it and you will achieve it Naturalistas!

Natural Is Cool Enough for Chi-Raq's Teyonah Parris and a N.I.C.E. Review in Couplets!

Recently, I went, with my husband, to see the film Chi-Raq. I knew the film would be satirical, but beyond that, I had avoided reading all reviews, beyond headlines, which would enable me to watch the film with an open mind. Because much of the film was handled in couplets, I decided to use the same format for my review below. Perhaps my perspective will provide some insight about this film. There are some serious naturalistas in this film wearing fros and other natural styles. Kudos to Spike Lee for that! So Check out my review below, which was also published by Huffington Post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-r-rose/why-black-folks-must-see-_b_8855422

To read the full review, check it out here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-r-rose/why-black-folks-must-see-_b_8855422

Also check out this interesting piece where Chi-Rac's lead actress, Teyonah Parris, talks about her role in Chi-Raq: http://www.blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/interview-teyonah-parris-talks-chiraq-female-driven-stories-the-storm-surrounding-the-spike-lee-joint-20151123

Natural Hair In Review, 2015: Weave (Glue and Tracks), Creamy Crack and Wigs Are Being Left Behind

Happy Holiday Season naturalistas!

Sometimes I can't believe that I live in a reality where I felt the need to develop a website entitled Natural Is Cool Enough (N.I.C.E.) in an effort to be a part of what has come to be known as a natural hair movement. The fact that Black women are/were gluing and sewing hair into their scalps for a Eurocentric appearance is sadly understandable, given the history of slavery and ongoing racism that Black people experience for which the outcome of such is self-hatred. The weave, creamy crack and wig situation has become so extreme and intense that it prompted me to do something and say something. For the love of Black people, history, and posterity, when folks come to their senses, I just wanted to make sure that it is/was clear where I stand on this matter. So here is a link for an article that I wrote for Huffington Post that you don't want to miss (The above paragraph is the opening): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-r-rose/natural-hair-in-review-20_b_8806080

The conclusion of the article is: "So for the New Year (2016), I hope that the creamy crack, weaves (glue and tracks) and wigs will continue to be left behind for Black women. Also, departing from straightening combs, flat irons, and blow dryers will be an added move toward self-love, in terms of embracing natural hair. I continue to dream of a world, where for Black people, in terms of our hair, Natural IS Cool Enough." So check out the article at the link above. Within it, I have compiled a list of 10, recent, interesting pieces written about Black women (Taraji P, Henson, Victoria Secret's model Maria Borges, and beyond). You don't want to miss this!

Real Game Changing Insight For Naturalistas On College/University Campuses

Before the Thanksgiving Holiday begins, I wrote one more piece, published by Huffington Post, about Predominantly White Institutions, within the context of current Black student protests on college/university campuses.  You will find it here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-r-rose/the-real-game-changer-for_b_8612606.html and it is entitled:

"The Real Game Changer for PWI's: Racially Diversifying Boards of Trustees and Administration"

 

I discuss naturalistas in this article.  Here is a brief quote from it:

"To make matters worse, the day-to-day experience may be disheartening for black faculty at PWI's. As an example, I have actually served as a faculty member at a PWI in which black faculty members, mainly women, felt that they could not wear their hair in natural styles because white colleagues/administrators might find it offensive/unprofessional. I mention this because I have a natural hair blog entitled Natural is Cool Enough (N.I.C.E.)--http://naturaliscoolenough.blogspot.com/. This blog led to formulation of a campus group, which advocated student empowerment and comfort in knowing that Natural IS Cool Enough on campus or anywhere. Black faculty members would also attend N.I.C.E. meetings, which were essentially support group sessions, and lament about their feelings of disempowerment on campus regarding their hair. It was as much of a problem for black faculty as it was for black students!"

Naturalistas, although our hair is a key focus of on this blog, as part of our discussion, we must also raise our voices and spread the word about other issues, with our hair in context.  I remain strong in my conviction, ass always, that Natural IS Cool Enough, on college/university campuses too--as Board members, Administrators, Staff and students.  Always!

Paris, College/University Protests and Beyond--What In the World Is Going Down?: A Naturalistas Brief Reflections

     Naturalistas!  I have so much to say that I do not know where to begin, but I will be brief.  First, I just returned from Paris where I celebrated my 30th Wedding Anniversary.  I returned home one week before the awful events transpired there so I am still shocked that such a beautiful city has been so traumatized, given our recent joyous, wonderfully romantic time there.  I am deeply saddened in seeing the trauma experienced by so many people in Paris. There have been devastating events in other nations as well, namely Beirut, Nigeria and Kenya, without the same degree of coverage I might add, but my mind is on Paris, because I was just there and what we are hearing about every day, all day, just happened. This in no way means lack of concern for the people in the other cities. In fact, here is an interesingt article questioning the difference in focus on the other cities: http://fusion.net/story/233218/beirut-paris-kenya-media/.

    Regarding Paris, I keep thinking, what if we had arrived just one week later or just stayed a little longer, but then I realize that did not happen. We arrived home safely and my memories of our 30th wedding anniversary, a fantastic and memorable milestone, are actually beautiful, not personally tragic. So, in the midst of my sadness for the people of Paris and other cities where tragedy has occurred, below are some pictures and a video from our time in Paris, where we celebrated one of the most meaningful times of our lives, which perhaps provides a moment of positive reflection on such a glorious city.  This naturalista truly enjoyed Paris and I have deep compassion for all of the people who are suffering through this now. My prayers and thoughts remain with the people of Paris and anywhere on earth where tragedy and fear is present.

     Additionally and seriously important are the events associated with Black students at Predominantly White Colleges (PWI's).  I had to sort through my feelings and reflections on this issue also as I attended all PWI's and I love and adore Black students.  I love teaching them, talking with them, advising them and every aspect of their journey. So to that end naturalistas, here is an article that I wrote about Black students and their current concerns entitled: 

A Love Letter To Black College/University Students in Struggle: Is Ignorant Racism a Distraction?

Check it out here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patti-r-rose/a-love-letter-to-black-co_b_8563486.html 

     I will be writing again soon as there have been some naturalista hair atrocities that I have read about of late, so stay tuned.  In the meantime I hope these positive photos and a video of  our time in Paris will enable a moment of reflection on the beauty of this great city and the joy of long lasting love.

Paris: A Naturalista's Visual Reflections

In the cellar of the Charles Heidseick Champagne Vineyard in Reims

 

Little Naturalistas and their Mommies: Including Beyonce and Blue, My Sister, My Nieces, My Daughter and Me!

     Recently, I gave a talk for the Yellow Rose Society, a campus, community service organization, comprised of Black women, at the University of Miami.  I mentioned this talk in my previous post (http://naturaliscoolenough.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-nice-shout-out-to-beauty-of-black.html).

      Of course, natural hair was one of the areas of dialogue and I used an article that I found written by the renowned Scholar, Social Activist and Author, Bell Hooks, to inform my presentation. See this compelling piece here entitled "Straightening Our Hair:"
 http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/straightening-our-hair-by-bell-hooks.pdf

     So interesting was our dialogue, following the talk, that I thought of members of my own family and how this generation is going about caring for the hair of their children. One of my sisters, who is younger than me by many years, has two adorable children, a boy and a girl. Recently, they, along with my sister, visited me, and were treated by my immediately family, to a trip to Disney World.  It was a wonderful time! The night before we left for our road trip to Disney, I put a henna in my sisters hair, washed it and twisted her locks and then washed and cornrowed my little niece's hair.

Me and My Sister and Her Little Naturalista

 

      How wonderful that was.  As described by Bell Hooks in her paper mentioned above: "These feelings remind me of the pleasure and comfort I felt as a child sitting between my mother's legs feeling the warmth of her body and being as she combed and braided my hair."  She points out further that "In a culture of domination, one that is essentially anti-intimacy, we must struggle daily to remain in touch with ourselves, our bodies and one another."  I am so proud of my sister for serving as an example to her daughter by keeping her hair in its natural state, her choice being beautiful locks to do so. She has no intention of straightening her daughter's hair or to use a dreadful kiddie perm. From time to time, she said she blow drys her daughter's hair to help with manageability but we discussed ways of getting around that by keeping her daughter's hair moisturized, naturally, and braided, or free flowing with easy, manageable styles, without the need for blow drying and the resulting damaging effects. I praise her for sending her beautiful little daughter, a cute little naturalista, and her handsome young son, the message that Black women's hair is acceptable in its natural state as mother's are indeed role models for their daughters in practically every way.

     On another note, I recently saw pictures of Beyonce with her husband and daughter and just with her daughter and I wonder if she understands how much her predominant hairstyle choices, for the most part (although she does wear braids from time to time), as stated in Bell Hooks article "appear white or ... embody aspects of white style"by dying her hair blonde and wearing weave.  Nevertheless, she has endeavored to keep and maintain her daughter's hair, another lovely little naturalista, in a kinky style, which is absolutely wonderful, so she deserves praise for that.

Beyonce and Her Little Naturalista!

     I also have a niece who recently had a child who is now a walking, busy, beautiful toddler.  My niece has chosen also, to keep her little daughter's hair naturally free, which is wonderful because my niece always looks radiant when her beautiful hair is in its natural curly state. Seeing her little baby's curls, wild and unfettered and naturally free, is absolutely wonderful.  Another lovely little naturalista...

 My Niece and her little Naturalista!

 

     Sometimes, mothers allow their little girls to be what they are not ready to be themselves...naturally free with no perming or pressing or weaving and other measures with professed justification for wearing straight hair.  Bell Hooks points out in her piece that: 

"It hurts to realize connection between racist oppression and the arguments that we use to convince ourselves and others that we are not beautiful or acceptable as we are."  

     I am definitely not judging mothers who struggle with this because when my  daughter was a little girl, I always kept her gorgeous hair natural, even though I was in turmoil about my own hair, hating every moment of it being permed, but not fully ready to make that change, until the day I cut off all of my hair and never looked back and have been natural ever since.  I had that strength and courage while my daughter was young and hence, for most of her life, she saw me with natural hair.

Me and My Little Naturalista (Now an Adult Naturalista)!

     I will close with one more comment from Bell Hook's paper, which, by the way, was published in1989 in her book entitled Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Back, and is as relevant today as it was then:

     "There are times when I think of straightening my hair just to change my style, just for fun.  

Then I remind myself that even though such a gesture could be simply playful on my part, and individual expression of desire, I know that such a desire would carry other implications beyond my control. The reality is: straightened hair is linked historically and currently to a system of racial domination that impresses upon Black people, and especially Black women that we are not acceptable as we are, that we are not beautiful. To make such a gesture as an expression of individual freedom and choice would make me complicit with a politic of domination that hurts us." 

    In essence, I believe that Hooks is right.  At all times, no matter where we are, including our work spaces and as mothers, wives, daughters and beyond, Natural Is Cool Enough:  That's Nice!