Amen Sukhera, Assoc. CIPD’s Post

"Every compliment about my big afro brought a smile to my face. Strangers noticed and appreciated it immediately, a testament to Mum's loving care. But as life progressed, the demands of school and responsibilities made it seem impractical to keep my hair natural. It felt too big, too hard, too expensive, and too time-consuming. Reflecting on those times now, I see how these challenges led me away from the deep-rooted love I once had for my natural hair. Although it was just as challenging in my younger days, my love for it was unwavering. My life changed drastically when I started embracing my hair from a place of knowledge. I've experienced the perceived "hardness" of natural hair but still prefer it over synthetic alternatives. This mindset shift wasn't automatic; I had to unlearn and relearn many things, some of which weren't even my fault. That's why we decided to write a book. At Melanitis, we're more than a natural hair care brand – we're on a mission to revolutionize mindsets and empower generations. With over 1000 Instagram followers and impacting 5000+ individuals, our community grows stronger daily. We've ignited crucial conversations and provided training at esteemed institutions like Gayaza High School and Nabisusa Girls, sparking a movement of change and acceptance. Our vision is to impact over 1 million Ugandans and empower generations to pass down essential skills, breaking the cycle of excessive expenses on weaves and wigs. Studies show that individuals spend about half a million dollars on black hair annually – it's time for a change. Let us equip you with practical skills for hair care and help you embrace your African heritage with pride. Every culture learns to address its hair needs as they grow – why should Africans be any different? We shed light on the stakeholders shaping perceptions about your hair. Get your copy today and embark on this transformative journey towards confidence, financial liberation, and cultural pride. Break free from costly hair routines and bask in the glow of your natural beauty. 🌟 #Melanitis #NaturalHairCare #AfricanHeritage #Empowerment #SelfLove"

Were you ever taught that confidence came in a specific shade? Many of us have witnessed family members, friends, and even public figures subtly (and openly) favour lighter skin. We weren’t born with this belief; it was gradually ingrained in us through media, music, and even casual conversations around us. And now, there’s a common narrative where some African beauty influencers only start promoting body positivity after they’ve gone 4 shades lighter and probably undergone cosmetic changes. 🤦 These biases don’t just impact how we see others but also how we see ourselves! Acceptance, beauty and confidence all come in a wide spectrum of human skin tones, with an estimated 36 to 110 shades. Each one with its own unique charm...including the darkest of shades. Colorism is a complex issue that has not just eaten skin-deep but soul-deep because of diligently older generations have passed this bias. If we’re serious about breaking biases, let’s start here. Let the false whisper, that "Confidence is light-skinned", end with you.🤎☘️ What are your thoughts on colorism, and how can we as a society work toward breaking these biases?” #BeautyStandards #Inclusivity #Africa #Colorism #LinkedInCommunity

Beauty is a social construct because society defines what is considered attractive, and these standards vary across cultures and time periods. Historically, different traits like body shape, skin tone, or facial features have been valued differently, shaped by cultural norms, media, and power dynamics. Diversity in representation is crucial because it challenges narrow beauty ideals and fosters inclusivity, allowing people from various backgrounds to feel seen and valued. This helps combat harmful stereotypes, improves self-esteem, and promotes a more equitable view of beauty that reflects the real variety of human experiences. Let's do this! www.diversecitymodels.com #RedefineBeauty #InclusiveRepresentation

📍SAVE for LATER📍 Some TRAITS of FEMININITY: ⬇️What RESONATES with YOU? 🌿NURTURING: At the core of the Feminine is love. It prioritizes compassion and caring for others. To create loving and enriching relationships in our lives, we need to meet others with empathy, kindness, and understanding. 🌿INTUITION: Intuition, becoming embodied, and emotional intelligence allow us to have deep relationships with our emotions and the ability to sense and understand the feelings of others. 🌿CREATIVITY: Artistic expression and storytelling reside in the realm of the Feminine. Connecting with yin energy is key to enhancing your creativity, imagination, and inspiration. 🌿RECEPTIVITY: The Feminine is receptive and open. It welcomes all the experiences and perspectives life offers and does not resist the natural flow of things. 🌿COLLABORATION: The feminine honors community over competition. Our survival depends on collaboration and creating harmonious relationships. Dedicating time and effort to building communities, fostering connections, and creating a sense of unity is paramount. 🌿HEALING: One of the feminine's most powerful traits is its ability to heal and transform. Healing nourishes emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. 🌿WISDOM: The Feminine is full of spiritual a-has, intuitive knowledge, and an understanding of the cycles of nature. Tapping into our innate wisdom takes practice but when mastered, provides a safety for yourself and those closest to you. 🌿SENSUALITY: The Feminine is linked with sensuality, pleasure, and enjoying ALL aspects of life. By opening your body to sexuality, you get to heighten pleasure and joy from moment to moment. 🌿CYCLICAL LIVING: The Feminine carries a deep reverence for the natural world. This includes respect for the cycles of the seasons, the life-death cycle, the menstrual cycle, the interconnectedness of all living things, and the importance of living in harmony with the earth and alignment with oneself. 📍SAVE for LATER📍 . . . #sakredshesisterhood #embodimentcoach #embodimentpractice #mountainmama #creativeintimacy #spiritualintimacy #proverbs31woman

📍SAVE for LATER📍 Some TRAITS of FEMININITY: ⬇️What RESONATES with YOU? 🌿NURTURING: At the core of the Feminine is LOVE. It prioritizes compassion and caring for others. To create loving and enriching relationships in our lives, we need to meet others with empathy, kindness, and understanding. 🌿INTUITION: Intuition, becoming embodied, and emotional intelligence allow us to have deep relationships with our emotions and the ability to sense and understand the emotions of others. 🌿CREATIVITY: Artistic expression and storytelling reside in the realm of the Feminine. Connecting with yin energy is key to enhancing your creativity, imagination, and inspiration. 🌿RECEPTIVITY: The Feminine is receptive and open. It welcomes all experiences and perspectives life offers and does not resist the natural flow of things. 🌿COLLABORATION: The feminine honors community over competition. Our survival depends on collaboration and creating harmonious relationships. Dedicating time and effort to building communities, fostering connections, and creating a sense of unity is paramount. 🌿HEALING: One of the feminine's most powerful traits is its ability to heal and transform. Healing nourishes emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. 🌿WISDOM: The Feminine is full of spiritual a-has, intuitive knowledge, and an understanding of the cycles of nature. Tapping into our innate wisdom takes practice but when mastered, provides a safety for yourself and those closest to you. 🌿SENSUALITY: The Feminine is linked with sensuality, pleasure, and enjoying ALL aspects of life. By opening your body to sexuality, you get to heighten pleasure and joy from moment to moment. 🌿CYCLICAL LIVING: The Feminine carries a deep reverence for the natural world. This includes respect for the cycles of the seasons, the life-death cycle, the menstrual cycle, the interconnectedness of all living things, and the importance of living in harmony with the earth and alignment with oneself. 📍SAVE for LATER📍 . . . #sakredshesisterhood #embodimentcoach #embodimentpractice #mountainmama #creativeintimacy #spiritualintimacy #proverbs31woman

Embracing Diversity: Breaking Down Skin Color Stereotypes In this powerful video, we discuss the foolishness of judging people based on their skin color. We emphasize that we have no control over our skin and highlight that we all bleed and excrete the same color. Join us in celebrating diversity and unity. #EmbraceDiversity #BreakStereotypes #UnityOverSkinColor #CelebratingDifferences #InclusivityMatters #OneHumanRace #NoToSkinColorBias #EqualityForAll #EmbracingOurDifferences #WeAreOne

I enjoy learning how conditioning impacts soul expression within different cultures. Here are my observations about the effects of chromophobia on southern African American women’s personal style. White supremacy has refined and polished black women’s expression for so long that some of us are literally afraid of color. We don’t embrace color, see it as a vital component of our identity, or deem it necessary to incorporate it into our outfits regularly because that goes against the safety we’ve created through assimilation. Color doesn’t “protect” us the way neutrals would, and color doesn’t allow us to shrink and blend into spaces that discourage our joy. There are so many rules and contradictions around wearing color as African American women that make it hard to fully appreciate and embrace our true soul expression. For instance: You can’t wear too many neutrals because you’ll look too frumpy or motherly. Yet, if you wear too much color, you’ll be infantilized and/or ridiculed because “you’re too old for that”. You can’t wear red lipstick before a certain age because that’s “too fast, grown, and sexy”. Yet, girls in other cultures can wear various styles of makeup, “inappropriate” or not, from a young age without the same social consequences and criticisms. You can’t dress in ways that reflect your interests if it delineates from the expected or general cultural expression; ie. going through an “emo phase” and wearing all black because that’s “white people stuff”. Yet, if you wear too much color you look tacky and “want to be seen” by attention seeking. The constant policing of how and when color is worn by some southern African American women is what happens when we sacrifice our joy for perceived safety. African American girls and women of ALL ages and regions deserve to make color a safe haven and tool for unlimited freedom of expression without criticism or questioning. To dive more into deconditioning and defining your identity, sign up for my FREE masterclass called “True Style Recovery” where you’ll learn to decondition your mind, define your identity, and express yourself in a way that mirrors the soul. 🧠🪪 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gtRX6Xvu

If given the profound choice between a world without colors or a world without music, I would choose a world without color. This decision is not made lightly, for colors bring vibrancy and beauty to our lives. However, the absence of color would usher in a new era of perception and understanding that transcends superficial judgments. Imagine a world where the rich tapestry of human diversity is no longer overshadowed by biases tied to skin color, attire, or appearance. In such a world, we would see each other for who we truly are—our character, our actions, our thoughts, and our emotions. The lack of color would strip away the layers of prejudice that often cloud our vision, allowing us to connect on a more profound and authentic level. Without the distraction of color, we would learn to appreciate the essence of individuals. We would celebrate the beauty of diversity in its purest form—diversity of ideas, experiences, and perspectives. This newfound clarity would foster empathy and understanding, breaking down the barriers that divide us and building bridges of unity and respect. A world without color would challenge us to look beyond the surface and recognize the intrinsic value in every person. It would be a world where the richness of human experience is measured not by the hues of our skin or the shades of our clothing, but by the depth of our kindness, the strength of our integrity, and the warmth of our compassion. Choosing a world without color is choosing a path towards a more inclusive and equitable society. It is a commitment to seeing with the heart and understanding with the soul. In such a world, we would create a tapestry woven from the threads of mutual respect and shared humanity, a world where the true colors of our spirit shine brightest. In essence, a world without color would be a world where our focus shifts to what truly matters—the content of our character and the quality of our interactions. It is a vision of a future where we rise above prejudice and embrace the boundless potential of every human being. This is the world I would choose, a world illuminated by the light of understanding and the warmth of human connection. #Inclusion #Empathy #Equality #Humanity #BeyondColor #Diversity #Understanding #Connection #CharacterMatters

The Implications of Using Ritual Asian Hair Extensions in African Culture: A Biblical Perspective. by Larry Jones-Esan In the quest for beauty, many African women use hair extensions from ritual practices in Asian cultures. These extensions, known as Ritual Asian Hair Extensions, carry significant cultural and spiritual implications that may conflict with African traditions and biblical teachings. Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Hair in Africa 1. Cultural Identity: Hair symbolizes age, marital status, and social standing in African societies. Traditional hairstyles are deeply rooted in cultural expression. 2. Spiritual Beliefs: Hair is seen as a conduit of spiritual energy. Rituals involving hair reflect profound spiritual significance. Historical and Societal Influences 1. Legacy of Slavery: The preference for long hair can be traced back to slavery when African features were devalued (Byrd & Tharps, 2014). Long, straight hair became associated with acceptance. 2. Societal Pressure: Western beauty standards influence many African women to adopt long hair extensions, aligning with perceived ideals of beauty (Patton, 2006). Biblical Teachings on Hair 1. Hair as Glory: 1 Corinthians 11:15 states, "But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory." 2. Avoiding Foreign Practices: Leviticus 19:28 advises against practices incongruent with one's faith. 3. Spiritual Purity: 2 Corinthians 6:17 emphasizes maintaining spiritual purity. Embracing Natural Beauty and Cultural Heritage 1. Natural Hair Movement: Encourages embracing natural hair texture and styles, promoting self-acceptance. 2. Education and Awareness: Understanding the origins and implications of hair extensions leads to informed choices. 3. Community Support: Engage with local natural hair communities and support groups. Conclusion Hair is a powerful symbol in African culture and biblical teachings. African women are encouraged to reconsider using Ritual Asian Hair Extensions, which may carry unintended spiritual implications. Embrace natural hair to preserve cultural heritage and align with biblical teachings, promoting spiritual purity and well-being. #NaturalHair #CulturalHeritage #SpiritualWellBeing #AfricanBeauty #BiblicalTeachings #SelfAcceptance #CulturalPride

World Afro Day 2024 It’s the seventh anniversary of #WorldAfroDay – a day to celebrate not just your hair but your relationship with it and acknowledge hair discrimination and the different behaviours and microaggressions that can come with wearing hair naturally whether with an afro, braids, dreadlocks, fades or locs. The vision of the founder is a global day of celebration and liberation for Afro hair and identity. But what does that mean and why is it necessary? Some of our Black members gave examples of micro-aggressions that they have faced working on the railway – 🤔 Wore a headscarf to work and was asked “Am I bringing ghetto into the workplace?” 🙄 Can I touch your hair? 😔 Is that a wig or extensions? 😶 You’ve changed your hair again! 😡 I understand why you use extensions now 😭 😩 Having a conversation with a colleague about next hair appointment – a line manager told me to go for straight hair than curly as it’s more professional rather than fluffy. 👷🏾♀️ Have you faced hair discrimination at work? 🎒 Have your children faced hair discrimination at school? ⛑ Can you fit your locs under the hard hat? We would love to hear your thoughts or your lived experience below. #belonging #haircare #understanding #change #microaggressions