"From as long as I can remember I've always wanted to write. My mother taught me to read and write very well before I started school. My birthday gifts were always books and I was always thrilled to receive them. I didn't grow up watching a lot of television so even today I'm still behind on shows that people my age group grew up watching.  Like others, during my teenage years I wanted to fit in and I wanted to be seen. Looking back at it now I can just smile at it because of the growth that has brought me to the woman I am now. We all have things that we are passionate about and mine happens to be poetry. It isn't the most glamorous nor is it filled with expensive accolades but it is what I want to do. In the darkest of times in my life poetry has always been there and I can honestly say that if I didn't have my poetry I wouldn't be here today. We live in a world where people do just about anything to be noticed but I rather have my words be memorable and

I for one am all for the natural hair movement. I have never sewn in any hair in my head but I occasionally wear braids. At the present moment my hair is relaxed and Imam contemplating going back to my natural texture. The problem however that I do have is those natural ladies who try to let other women who choose to keep their hair relaxed or wear false hair feel bad about themselves. These are the same ladies who often speak of how they are ridiculed and made to feel unattractive with their natural hair. The constant hate that we as women show towards those who differ from us in taste and character is what will continually bring us down as women. Also, for women who advocate for women to embrace their natural hair because that is how we were made and  we shouldn't alter our natural bodies please explain to me why you pierce your flesh and tattoo your skin. When you do these things are you not altering the natural state of your flesh? How different is this from altering the natura