Being black and British

I'm 2nd generation born and raised on this fair isle called Britain and growing up in London, in a leafy villagey type area I have to say I've had it pretty good for most of my life. I can't say I've ever really experienced overt racism - yep certain shopkeepers like to put my change down on the counter, but there have been a few times that the money I've meant to pay them has fallen in  between the sweet supply and I've said sorry with a glint in my eye as I've walked out of the shop. All in all, I can't complain I did well at school, went to uni,  have a career I enjoy etc - things aren't perfect by the least  but things have worked well for me. This doesn't mean that I'm unaware of the racism and discrimination that go on in this country but like I say I've been largely unaffected by these issues.

Yet although my head has been largely in the clouds I have begun to notice that there are a number of very concerning figures in the press of late (I think they are even more concerning as they are in the mainstream media):

• Black Britons least satisfied of UK population
• Black people more likely to be unemployed in the UK than US
• Half of the UK's black young males unemployed
• 60% of black undergrads don't expect to be in employment 6 months after graduating

I could go on but its depressing! So what I really want to know is what are we going to do about this situation? We are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn harder than any other ethnic group in this country and as we are all aware that there isn't a great black politician or community leader who is going to fly down from somewhere to resolve these issues?!?!  And it would appear that the powers that be really don't give a toss, so its up to us to do something about this situation!! I also implore people like Lee Jasper to stop tweeting that black people can't be racist and actually knock on the doors of the people who matter, and Diane Abbott to stand up and speak out about the issues that affect the black community.

I'm seriously worried about the generation of black kids coming through who:

•  have university fees of £27k to contend with
• even if highly educated are more likely to be unemployed than their white counterparts.

I'm usually an optimist but from where I'm sitting the future is looking bleak. High unemployment rates leads to many other concerns such as poor mental health and increase in criminal activity. Our young people need to be given a level playing field and to know they can strive for and achieve what they want. I have a teenage son and I talk to him about the need to work hard at school, to ensure that when he goes to uni (I'm of Nigerian descent so any career requires a university degree) he gets experience in his chosen career etc, but I wonder what more can be done to ensure that our children understand the added extra they'll need to compete when their starting blocks are just behind the starting line?

I'm going to think about how I can contribute to improving things.

The politics of black hair - who knew??!!

A few weeks ago I took part in a beauty round table, and during the discussion one of my fellow participants stated that we (black people) needed to think about the way we wear our hair as it is a political statement. Now as anyone who knows me personally will know I am quite an opinionated person and I have quite strong views about everything, but when this comment was aired I chose not to make my thoughts heard. One reason for this is since I've got older I've realised that debating every point is futile, and I knew this was going to be one of those we will agree to disagree conversations and secondly the round table discussion was focused on beauty and not hair and I didn't want to sideline it.

I always find the HAIR issue interesting, my thoughts may be summed up by quite succinctly by India Arie's I am not my hair because quite frankly I honestly believe there is more to life. But even though I say that I am currently following a hair regime as advocated in The Science of Black Hair and by others such as Julie Oli; so my hair and the way it looks is obviously quite important to me. I swear I have bored people to death with talk of sulphate free shampoos, clarifying and protein vs moisturising conditioners. However even though I am becoming a hair care and hair health enthusiast (aka a raving looney) and know that the healthiest state for my hair to be in would be to go natural; I know that I will not be making the transition back to my afro. So after reading a few articles and pondering on the 'political statement' comment I started to really question if there is a deep rooted reason why I prefer to have relaxed hair, or wear a weave rather than rock my natural fro.

I<3 Solange

Said friend getting make up done by me on a shoot.

I want to be clear I think natural, healthy well-cared for afro hair is beautiful, as you are all aware I have a major crush on Solange and her hair is just one reason for this. One of my closest friends is a natural hair devotee and I love the styles she rocks; but I know that my thick hair that has been known to break comb teeth isn't going to be easily manipulated on a day to day basis in to the chic hairdos I see her with. I also know I do not want to be wearing my hair in styles that I was wearing when I was in St Mary's Infants, and due to nearly 20 years (with periods of natural hair that is weaved or in extensions) of being a slave to the creamy crack I'm not sure that I would even know what products or hair care regime would be best for my 4/b hair (shameful I know).

What I do know is that I like the wash and go ability of my relaxed hair, yep sometimes I wash it and leave it to air dry; when I have a short style this is particularly useful. I really don't have to do anything to it at all. I also love the versatility of a weave, I've had a short bob, 14 inch long or longer hair with a fringe, brown hair, curly hair and browny blonde highlights all without damaging my hair (all within 6 months). I've been able to change my hair with my mood, with the season or just because I wanted to look different for a special occasion. I also love the fact that when I have a weave I can do my hair in less than 5 mins, I can get ready in 20 mins or so in the winter months when I'm trying to stay in bed for as long as possible; this is ideal.

Me biting my nails aged 4 - the pineapple was my go to hair style, 

if I didn't have plaits!

For me having relaxed hair or wearing a weave is all about convenience and being used to having my hair in a style that I'm so accustomed to that I don't want to change. In those infrequent times when I have had my fro out its taken me ages to get ready with the amount of tools and products I've used to make sure I look on point. Whether or not my hair is natural or relaxed isn't a political statement for me its more about me being quite lazy and not wanting to get up twenty minutes earlier to do my hair (sorry but its true). So here I will make my own political statement, see image below. Please note I love fros!

Fros are very welcome!!!!!!

Personally I hope that the black hair movement like feminism has reached a point where we are able choose how we wear our hair based on our own personal choice. I'm proud that I can choose to be relaxed,natural or weaved or whatever takes my fancy.

I'm off to start a 'Rock your hair however you want' petition xx

Essence's 30 most beautiful black women in history

Beauty is most definitely in the eye of the beholder but in honour of America's Womens History Month (who knew) Essence have pulled together a list of the 30 most beautiful black women in history See the list. Although I don't agree with all of them, it might have something to do with bias - if Susan L Taylor wasn't an Essence editor would she have made it!? I think it's an interesting concept and it made me think about my top 10 (in no particular order):

• My gran - although nearly 80 my gran is a very attractive woman, but when I look back at photos of her from the 50s I sometimes wonder if it's actually Dorothy Dandridge.
• Michelle Obama - not because she is the most attractive women in the world but generally because she oozes a warmth and strength that is beautiful.
• Marsha Hunt
• Lauryn Hill
• Dorothy Dandridge
• Dr Patricia E. Bath intelligent and beautiful - the first female black doctor to receive a patent for laser cataract removal surgery
• Dorothy West and Zora Neale Hurston - two of my favourite authors who I always imagine as being stunners, just because their writing is beautiful
• Cleopatra - she had men falling at her feet so I'm guessing she was amazeballs
• Nichelle Nichols