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Mom Writes Bilingual Book, ‘Bad Hair Does Not Exist!’ For Daughters

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By Maya Chung, NBC News

 

Bad Hair Does Not Exist!” is a new bilingual book that encourages young Black, Afro-Latina, and multi-racial girls to see themselves, and their hair, as beautiful.

 

Sulma Arzu-Brown, who calls herself a “Garifuna” woman or Afro-Latina from Honduras, was inspired to write the book after her three-year-old daughter’s babysitter commented that little Bella Victoria had “pelo malo,” which is a Spanish term for “bad hair.”

 

She knew then that she could either be angry or be a part of the solution, so she chose to write a book.

 

“The book is a tool of cultural solidarity and a tool of empowerment for all of our little girls,” said Arzu-Brown whose daughters are now 4 and 11. “The term ‘Bad hair’ or ‘Pelo Malo’ is divisive to both community and family, and can contribute to low self-esteem.”

 

Arzu-Brown said her older daughter, Suleni, began telling her that she wanted straight hair after seeing so many images of girls that don’t look like her on TV. She would tell her daughter that her hair was beautiful while at the same time getting her own hair chemically straightened.

 

“One day I went and cut it all off. I came home and this little girl took a sigh of relief and said, ‘Mommy we finally look alike.’ I didn’t realize what a power of influence I was in my daughter’s life until I found out that she struggled to look like me.”

 

For women with kinky-curly hair, sporting a natural hairdo can bring backlash — even within their own cultural communities.

 

“I walk into a Dominican hair salon and the employees are talking about me. I can hear them talk about my pelo malo,” Mirna Martinez-Santiago, 43, and host of The Opinion Talk Show told NBC Latino. “I tell them there is nothing wrong with my hair, and they are shocked that I can understand them. I try to educate people, but the best way to educate people is just by being.”

 

Arzu-Brown hopes to prevent instances like this and hopes that her book will help educate people and promote high self-esteem for girls.

 

“When the book is in their hands it takes the power away from media and they start to take ownership of the beauty they see in the mirror,” said Arzu-Brown.

 

Arzu-Brown explained that it’s not only the Hispanic community that struggles with this issue, but since the book release she has realized other cultures use the term. She is also working to have the book translated into Portuguese so she can reach the Afro-Brazilian community.

 

“I think it’s important to highlight that Latinos and other people of color both share common challenges. I am Black, but I happen to be born in Honduras so I’m also Hispanic. I just wanted to let both communities know that we are one. We deal with the same challenges.”

 

Verizon gave $10,000 to help fund the making of an app for “Bad Hair Does Not Exist” through the StartUp Box, an organization that focuses on growing the tech ecosystem in underserved communities, starting with the South Bronx.

 

Majora Carter, the founder of StartUp Box, said she got on board when she heard Arzu-Brown’s vision and it was a just question of how she could help to “ramp it up.”

 

“It’s really important to have the ability [to produce] positive images for young women to feel good about themselves, especially in this country where little girls are valued according to what they look like in spite of many of our best efforts,” said Carter. “It’s important to say things like ‘bad hair doesn’t exist’ and that everyone is beautiful.”

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Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

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Bay Area

Love Life Organization Shows Love

As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

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Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.
Members of the 1975 NBA championship team, Charles Dudley (left) and Clifford Ray (right) embrace Love Life Foundation leader Donald Lacy for his antiviolence mission. Courtesy photo.

City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team 

By Donald Lacy

Special to The Post

 As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.

It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.

The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.

The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.

Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.

The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..

There will be a celebration of life event Nov. 9 honoring Attles’ legacy at Alameda College.

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Oakland Post: Week of October 23 – 29, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of October 23 – 29, 2024

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