By Jacquelyn Benford
Valley Voices Staff Writer
When Mercedes Johnson let her hair grow natural, she felt closer to herself.
"I feel like I have become stronger on the inside," she said. "Once I got my dreads, everybody had something to say, but that made me a stronger person because now I couldn't care less what people think about me."
Mercedes, a senior at Tyner High Academy, stopped getting her hair chemically relaxed two years ago.
"Many women go through this transition because they have undergone hair loss and breakage from relaxers," said Lonetta Dixon, owner of Unique and Personal Styles, a salon on Bonny Oaks Drive.
For Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences senior Briana Williams, the decision to go natural wasn't just about the breakage.
"My mom told me I was about 6 when I got my first relaxer," said Briana. "I was shocked. I don't want my kids getting their hair relaxed that young. In my opinion, that's too much responsibility placed in the hands of such a young child."
She said that she will not let her initial apprehension stop her from physically celebrating her heritage by allowing her hair to revert back to its natural coarse and wavy state.
Mercedes is in agreement. Going back to their roots reflected both an internal and external journey. Embracing her kinky hair made her not only more self-assured but helps her to honor her heritage, especially during Black History Month.
Neil Prigmore, African American Studies teacher at Tyner High Academy, said that a true commemoration of black history isn't limited to one month.
"We just need to be aware daily," he said, "and do what we can to honor the memory of our heritage and history by making positive contributions to our society."
Mr. Prigmore, who previously taught at Howard School of Academics and Technology, developed the curriculum for the first African American Studies classes that were taught in Hamilton County. He wants his students to walk away with a better understanding of both the past and the future.
"African American Studies is American history," he said. "We've been here since the beginning, and it's important that our stories be told. You cannot teach American history without African-American history."
Mercedes laments what she sees as a negative image of naturally styled hair in popular media.
"I already knew that I wanted to be that girl that stands out from the crowd," she said. "I think that the media makes natural hair seem dirty, nasty and for people who are lazy. Some media portrays this image that girls should have the long extensions and straight hair, which is not the only style or type of hair that is beautiful. Anything a person does with their style and hair can be beautiful as long as they wear it well."
Jacquelyn Benford is a student at Tyner High Academy.
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