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@NubianFellowOK, we cool. @DelI was a wife, but i aint never worn one.

I am a little miffed that you would request an explanation for something that is so obvious. In spite of your opinion, head wraps are not my thing. I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one. They are what's comical to me. The wigs i wear replicate the way i wore my natural hair. But since i am now old and retired i don't spend a lot of time or money fussing with my hair and i take the easy way out. I am well aware of your fixation on the significance of black women wearing their hair natural in order to make a defiant statement to the white world but, as previously mentioned, i don't relate to Afro-centrism and feel no obligation to do so. To me, it's a superficial affectation. I prefer to debate white folks when it comes to black grievances, not parade around showing off my frizzy tresses expecting them to be be filled with respect. And , yes, rejecting natural hair is, indeed, about going with the flow - of manageable hair as opposed battling unruly kinks. If that offends you, sorry. I do me, because i am who i am; my own individual. Below are pictures of me in wigs. The color of my hair is now gray which is as natural, as i get. And if the way i look in my wigs offends you, well so be it.

@Delano Dear brother, I think anything that challenges popular views and culture is definitely 100 percent conscious! I am only presenting a viewpoint that is unpopular in the black community during this present time, but the conversation is only getting started. I get it. We are told to leave our women's hair alone and not mention it or bring it up. And many black women are determined to defend wearing weave. I understand the social behavior all too well. I still like presenting ideas that challenge people's thinking. Some of the things expressed to me may actually change my own perception further down the road. I may be able to reflect on this specific conversation and say to myself, "I get it now." I haven't reached that point yet but I am aware that I have not finished growing and learning. My reality changes daily based on how I choose to perceive the world around me. Black women have always been on the front line for black men and black men have always led. I believe that once that becomes compromised, then it is not a good sign. I also believe that at the end of the day, black women choose to be led. Before we engage in any war that doesn't involve us as a collective, we will lose any other war. Therefore, we have to choose our battles wisely. On the war about belief and ideology, the monster we call the internet is a powerful tool. I believe the internet alone is responsible for the new awakening that black people seem to be witnessing across the board and it's a beautiful thing. Today, black people are questioning things they wouldn't have known about nor had the opportunity to know about 20 years ago. There is so much information and ideas online that we feed each other. I believe it's a good thing though it can also be confusing at times because we are presented with so many contrasting viewpoints. I believe I am able to witness something that has never been witnessed before. I believe change is happening and I'm pretty sure it's for the best. Young kids are fed up with gangsta rap music. Finally, gang bangers are being referred to as the real sellouts. The democratic party is being challenged. Black people are talking about going to Africa and building and investing. Relations between Africans and African Americans along with other Diaspora Africans seem to be improving. I think we are in the middle chapters of an amazing book that will contain amazing history and I am happy to experience it and be apart of it. Belief and ideology are the principles that define black people. Our culture is what roots us. I believe it has always been about belief and ideology. I believe that these are the seeds planted that enable us to grow.

No, a man dresssed as a magician appearing on a stage is performing a trick. If everybody in the audience perceives this, then this is really happening.

@Troy I guess you missed this paragraph that appeared in my response to you in the "black woman are beautiful" thread. I wrote: "Excuse me, while I go look out the window at the pure snow that is inundating my environment as the temperatures plunge into record-breaking sub-zero degrees. They're talking about it on the TV, brainwashing the dumb audience with subliminal suggestions in order to make them think they need shovels."

Perception is real, whether what you perceive is accurate has to involve a consensus of other witnesses. The Wizard of Oz came out in 1939 at the end of The Depression, and it doesn't turn into technicolor until Dorothy wakes up in OZ where the tornado has blown her. The movie starts out in sepia color. I saw the first release of it in 1939 when i was a little girl.

@Delano I do respect everyone's choices. But if we don't challenge each other's opinions, critique views and gain different perspectives to form new insight, then there is no need for black people to ever talk about issues that we face collectively. Can I not respect someone while I challenge their ideas at the same time? We are adults here and not sensitive children who get triggered every time we disagree with someone else. That's why I feel comfortable engaging with my people about these kinds of issues and giving my opinion as well. Let's face it, brother, if I didn't feel comfortable engaging with my people in this manner, it would be because I felt that it was pointless and were doomed. But we are listening to each other's opinions and gathering information. In my book, that's very progressive. I can only hope that other's will be open minded as well as we attempt to understand more about our collective behavior. I have read all of your posts and comments on this subject and have reflected on every statement you have made as well and have been impacted by your views, regardless of whether or not I agree with them. Isn't this the beauty of us being able to shoot the breeze by engaging in these types of discussions? At the end of the day we are all mature and intelligent enough to have discourse as black adults with our own personal opinions on various topics. I think the bigger problem would be if we all agreed on everything. It would also make these types of engagements dull in my opinion, because we would not learn and would not be presented with new information and ideas, which is the beauty of when we engage.

I guess I am either not a guy or I disagree with this post. @NubianFellowWhy not respect and listen to other people's choices.

So i was brainwashed into buying a wig whose convenience has been well worth the purchase. Gullible me. Well, you are the one who decided to use a phone as an example. Choose your examples better and don't depend upon me to read your mind. I was speaking about this panel. Until Chevdove joined in, everybody who discussed and agreed upon this subject was a guy except me. And nobody said the subject wasn't important. But it is worth noting that no one came up with a viable solution. Just redundant conversation between people commiserating with each other. And i ask you, when has brainwashing not existed? It is interchangeable with exploitation, indoctrination, and propaganda. We are just being subjected to a version of it that is aligned with the times. Brainwashing is a consequence of living in a capitalistic consumer society. And i'm sure you will agree that it will be the source of our doom! But continue the dialogue. Since it's such a effective tool, maybe this brain trust can come up with a way to brainwash the people who are brainwashing the masses. Whatever. Excuse me, while I go look out the window at the pure snow that is inundating my environment as the temperatures plunge into record-breaking sub zero degrees. They're talking about it on the TV, brainwashing the dumb audience with subliminal suggestions in order to make them think they need shovels. I am leaving this discussion in Chevdove's hands. She is doing a good job of giving it a woman's perspective.