Afrolicious vs Buckwheat....who will win, depends on who the judge is...

Last month, I was going through one of my many, many natural hair funks. I’m always going through something with my hair these days. “It’s not big enough”. “It’s not fluffy enough”. “It’s frizzy today” blah, blah, blah! Well this particular week, I was simply tired of having to do something to it every other day. Washing, twisting, rod-setting, deep-conditioning, coloring, trimming….Sheesh!! It can be a bit much at times, especially since I co-wash my hair twice a week! So, instead of going back to the creamy white crack, I decided that I would get my hair braided and give my poor arms and fingertips a two-week break.

Could you believe that after one week I was going through HIF (Hand in Fro) withdrawals? I know, I know, I’m such a pain! But, I had gotten used to playing in my hair and that was not an option with cornrows! I stuck it out for another two weeks and was very happy to have my fro back last Monday. I was all set to have a wonderful HIF day with my braid-out!

I don’t think I was at work for more than an hour when one of my co-workers came up to me and asked me, “What the hell did you do to your hair” as he shook his head in disgust. In shock I replied, “Wait, what did you just ask me?” He then pointed to my hair and said, “Well, your hair….it’s all over the place!” After telling him that I took it out, I was curious to know why he was so concerned with MY hair?! I knew this conversation was heading to a point of no return, but hey, he opened the door for it and I wasn’t backing down! My co-worker then told me, “Well, you better hope that people outside don’t confuse you for Buckwheat!”


I’ll take a few seconds to wait for you to pick your jaw up from the keyboard………






I ranted and raved for a good two minutes and he took off running to the CEO’s office. I’m sure that you could’ve fried an egg on my head at that point! Talk about being pissed! I sat there for about five minutes, trying to piece together what had just taken place. I really could not believe that he basically said that I looked like Buckwheat!


Hmmm what comes to your mind when you think about Buckwheat? Well, for me, it would depend on which episode I was watching. I guess it REALLY wouldn’t make a difference, he was either in a dress with ridiculous bows in his matted hair or he was just looking like a crazy and deranged homeless child! And I spend TOO much time on my hair, to be compared to Buckwheat! My co-worker minus well have asked me to put on a banana skirt around my waist and start shucking and jiving! Although, I was happy that I stood my ground and defended myself without allowing him to see a bead of sweat or a single tear drop from my eye, internally I was in turmoil.


Thankfully, my co-worker was addressed and has been reprimanded! But it still bothers me. Every other ethnic group is able to live freely with what they were naturally born with without being insulted or thought to be a “rebel”.


Why is that?