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After Week 4’s first workshop, I was inspired to think further about the idea of how language plays a role in my life. Language I noticed doesn’t have to exactly be me writing in multiple different languages like in Dictee. Rather, “language” can be something that is related to a specific community and certain topics as well. For instance, there’s language in STEM spaces that may not be used in Literary Arts spaces and vice versa. Even in STEM spaces, based off whether you focus on mathematics, biology, or chemistry, there creates a specific community that births a language of it’s own. This idea I know isn’t new but it was an idea I that gave me an “a-ha!” moment that I don’t necessarily need to use certain words or dialects in my piece. I can just talk about something that relates to a space I’m a part of that has a language and understanding of it’s own.

For my upcoming workshop, I decided to write about my natural hair journey and what it means. As I was writing this piece, I was realizing that I was using words and phrases that are relative to those who have coily hair or have experienced texturism. Hair for Black women is something that has deep historical roots and biases which in itself is specific to what struggles comes with it. Thus, I started unveil a “language” of Black women hair care and fears caused by texturism. Which is something I believe is often ignored and most non-Black people know little about.

Writing something like this, I will not lie is something vulnerable to me. As therapeutic as it is to write something like this, I also know I’m writing this in a space with no Black individuals except me. I feel as if I may to explain myself more about issues related to texturism and how it’s relevant even today. Hair care in to Black women like I said before is a deeply historically important topic, thus I hope that my piece dealt with care. Even more so, I hope my piece can be an eye-opener for those who aren’t familiar with texturism and Black hair care.

Overall, I hope my first workshop goes well and that the “language” of Black women and hair can create some understanding and maybe even a learning experience. As I revise my piece, I will explore more of the topic of “language” being specific to certain topics within a community.