Dear Editor,

As we celebrate our national heroes we should, in paying homage to the first designated, Marcus Garvey, endeavour to have his teachings comprehensively presented throughout our schools/educational institutions and also tackle head-on colonial psychological legacies which continue to negatively shape our perceptions of beauty, self-worth, and what look is acceptable, and where.

Much too often issues and controversy arise as to how the hair of black students in Jamaica should be coiffed/presented for acceptance in our educational institutions. There is, of course, most unfortunately, skin bleaching which has been increasingly decried, but persists. Then there is the not-so-decried excessive and unwarranted wearing of wigs made of hair from other races, which our naturally beautiful and more than adequately hair-endowed black women lavish money on. Why?

The growing prevalence of such wigs has made too many of us, unnecessarily, into “mimic women”. The phenomenon underscores the pervasive influence of absorbed Eurocentric beauty standards.

Natural black hair is incredibly versatile and wonderfully unique. From afros to braids, locs to twists, cornrows to whatever, there are countless ways to style and celebrate black hair. As we honour our heroes, let us reclaim, manifest, and celebrate the natural beauty with which we are all blessed.

Remember, Garvey exhorted us to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. Hear him and let us try harder to achieve that as we celebrate him and our other national heroes.

Andrea Barnes

Gordon Town, St Andrew

barnesandrea433@gmail.com