Dreads

This is a book that I have had for the last 3 months or so and I highly recommend it!No review of this book says it as well as this one from 3 black chics.....

look. i don't mind
that you don't find
my locs divine--
they're mine.
yes, mine.
yes. mine.
not fine,
but--mine.
-Excerpt from "no dread", by /bams tha poetik
BETWEEN THE SHEETS
As someone who's been Happy I'm Nappy for most of my life, and a proud wearer of a dreadlocked mane for six years, I'm always pleased to find a book that celebrates natural hair. Doubly so, when I find those few that don't do so in a defensive, almost apologetic, way. Thankfully, Dreads neither apologizes for, nor tries to defend, the hair it describes; like that hair itself, Dreads just lets it all hang out.
Dreads is a beautifully-photographed black-and-white pictorial by photographers Francesco Mastalia and Alfonse Pagano (with a wonderful intro by the nattily-dreaded Alice Walker) that captures the essence of Why We Wear Dreads - told in the words of some who do.
Walker's spot-on verbal illustration of what led her to wear dreads, sparked an amen or two from me - especially when she spoke of the "how do you wash it?" question. Following Walker's intro is a brief, but informative, history of natural hair ("Sacred Rites of the Natural Hair Revolution"). From there, Mastalia and Pagano's beautiful pictures from cultures around the world, take center stage, with those being photographed, telling their Whys in their own words. As you might guess, there are as many reasons why one decides to wear dreads - jatta, ndiagne, palu, if you will - as there are wearers.
But if you come for the pretty pictures, stay for the substance - as this book provides both. For example, American Blacks have long bemoaned the tendency of American Whites to co-opt many of "our" cultural artifacts for the sake of fashion, without having an inkling of the heritage and meaning behind those artifacts. And in many instances, they would be right. But I wonder how many of those same Blacks would be surprised to learn that their chosen matted hairstyle didn't originate with Bob Marley? Or that many Rastafarians denounce the cutting and salon pampering to which many American dreadheads subject their hair? Or, indeed, that the term "dreadlocks" was originally a derogatory term, created by those who would oppress the wearing of the same?
Me, I was delighted to learn as much as I did, and the learning didn't take away from my enjoyment one bit. If my knee jerked a bit at the sight of a dreadlocked White man (and the memory of one who once told me he caked his hair with mud, to make the matting stick), I at least had the opportunity to learn why he chose the path of nappiness. A book that educates as well as entertains...gotta love it.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Though I've had this book for months, a fairly traumatic event happened earlier this month, that moved me to finally do this review: Yet Another White woman thought it was okay to run her hands through my dreads without my permission.
[Before you start foaming at the mouth by my inclusion of the term "White woman", note the term I used before it: "Yet Another". I've had my hair in dreads since September of 1997, and from then till now, it has only been White women - note the plural form - who have had the audacity, the nerve, the outright gall, to do such a thing to me. Multiple times. So keep your cries of "you racist" to yourselves; I ain't hearin' it].
I won't regale all and sundry with the sad, sad tale of this latest incident; email me if you want The Rest Of The Story. But let me go on record with this: the next person (most likely White, most likely a woman; but if the shoe fits...) who puts their hands in my hair, uninvited - will draw back a stub where there was once an arm.
BAMMER'S BOTTOM LINE
For those who were always curious about the nature and origin of dreadlocks, but were afraid to ask, Dreads is a great addition to your reference shelf. Even if you think you know everything about Rastas, ndiagne, Baye Fall, and the like - and you probably don't - Dreads makes for a fine work of art to display on your coffee table.

It's a great book and what I am going to do is share some pages from it.Enjoy.....


The forward by Alice Walker, just click for a larger readable image






I'm going to share many images from the book.Don't have the time to scan all the text



Don't these peeps look familiar?













More familiar peeps!



Ladies, I know you'll have alot to say about this pic!

More coming!