But it would be a mistake to ascribe all this to low racial awareness among West Africans.
Ayo
I invite you to follow me on Twitter @naijama
On 25 Jan 2012, at 03:25, La Vonda <lrstaples@gmail.com> wrote:
> New Medical Condition Among African Diaspora Women: Traction Alopecia
>
> by La Vonda R. Staples
>
> http://lavondastaples.blogspot.com/
>
> Since I have embarked on the study of Africans in America I've been
> shocked on rare occasions. As Moms Mabley once said, "if you ever
> catch folks acting nice they're probably just not feeling well." Very
> little amazes me. I've recently been shocked to find out that there
> is a new condition among African Diaspora women. It's called traction
> alopecia and it is caused by the combined use of chemical relaxers and
> braiding/weaves as the ONLY style of coiffure maintenance. In this
> condition, women in their 20's are reporting to medical professionals
> with patterns of baldness seen in much older adults and those
> suffering from healthcare emergencies such as cancer. The condition
> is permanent. It is not reversible.
>
> The purveyors of this condition are Black American hairstylists who
> have yet to demand national certifications in natural hair care. As
> of yet, there is no national training school for the care of African
> hair. There really is no standard in the FDA for the regulation of
> products for African hair. Additionally, we have yet to see a
> standard on age at time of application of relaxers etc. If it is
> against the law to get a tattoo before the age of 18 surely there must
> be an eye and skin test for the application of the caustic chemicals
> involved in relaxing hair. Concurrently, there must also be a
> standard for West African immigrants who engage in the styling of
> hair. Again, persons who braid her are NOT required to obtain a
> cosmetology license or education in skin conditions. They just open
> up shop and start braiding.
>
> I've developed a background in beauty standards and applications from
> the gamut of the African Diaspora. From the black soap to the shea
> to the neem oil, I have sat down, shut up and let those women teach me
> their customs and cultures. More and more, the indigenous cultures
> are supplanted by Eurocentric ideology of health and beauty.
>
> How can a medical condition be produced in a mere decade? Ignorance.
> Plain and simple. Traction alopecia is a condition of ignorance, low
> self-esteem of gender and low racial awareness. Makes me crazy just
> to think about it.
>
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