Ophelia Wynter, Contributor

Braiding, locking and other natural styles are becoming more popular among some women in Jamaica and other parts of the world. Since the 1990s, the number of hair salons specialising in natural styles - braids, dreadlocks, extensions and other styles that eschew chemical straighteners - has been steadily rising, today making up about half the market.

This reclamation of the natural hairstyles conveys a large step forward to the discovery of self-love and understanding of our culture and people, but as we step forward to the light there are always obstacles trying to push us back.

Shocked and appalled

I've recently come to the realisation that, just as it was in the '70s, there has been some discrimination against natural styles today. I was shocked and appalled when a friend of mine who works at a prominent hotel in Kingston told me that braiding was prohibited at work. When I asked why, the reply was that management did not give an explanation, but a good guess was that they thought it was just plain unprofessional and incorporate-like.

I felt myself step back in time. I don't know why I was so shocked, maybe because I didn't expect this kind of discrimination in Kingston, as I have seen and heard of similar things like this a lot of times before, especially in the western and northern parts of Jamaica. There, some resorts give the impression that they would prefer to hire light-skinned and naturally straight or perm-hair girls as first impression personnel (front desk agents, receptionist and concierge).

Plain discrimination

This selfish act is plain discrimination, and people need to wake up and start standing against discrimination like this, especially since we have just began to smell the coffee. We need to realise that our young girls are victimised mentally by these culprits in the business world, where they are forced to change their physical features and are given the impression that their natural hair is unprofessional and ugly.

If corporate Jamaica sends these messages, how are we to encourage young black girls not to be drawn in the bleaching syndrome? How are we to convince them that they are originally beautiful, just the way God made them, and as a nation, how are we to love ourselves if every day we are told in so many subtle ways that we are ugly?

Braiding, a weaving technique of the hair, originated in Africa where it was mostly worn for spiritual purposes instead of a fashion statement, as is today. And dreadlocks, contrary to popular beliefs, was not originated in Jamaica but that historiography proves dreadlocks, braids, etc, were, in fact, worn by the Africans in the BC era who built the pyramids in ancient Egypt. Regardless of the history, dreadlocks have made their

Ain't nothing barbaric 'bout mi braids way into popular mainstream culture, largely due to legendary reggae singer Bob Marley.

In the '70s and '80s locking or braiding of the hair was considered to be nasty, vulgar and barbaric and in those days neither men nor women who wore locks or braids would be considered for a job in corporate Jamaica.

Now, in our current society and overseas, things have changed that even the most prominent, successful and respected women are doing the do, such as: Beverley Anderson Manley - radio talk show host and former wife of the former prime minister, the late Michael Manley; Alise Kelly - radio host, Susan Taylor - editorial director, Essence magazine, popular singers like Nadine Sutherland, Judy Mowatt, Etana, and many others ... through this steady trend of change from chemical straighteners to the natural.

It is clear that some women are recognising and learning the greatest love of all, self-love and true beauty, that they are becoming more aware and in tune with their true culture and ancestry, that they are not afraid or ashamed of their naturalness, and through these prominent women mentioned above, young black girls will learn to appreciate and recognise that natural is beautiful.

Sad and distasteful

The Chinese, Europeans and Indians do not have to pretend to be black because it is OK for them to be themselves. So why should we not be who we are naturally? It is sad and distasteful that some businesses still carry this absurd concept of what beauty and professionalism should look like. Shame on you corporate Jamaica! And we wonder why some of our black Jamaican women are bleaching left, right and centre and walking around in those fake European extensions.

This is just to be noticed and accepted because our society has given them the impression that they are originally ugly. The thick woolly hair of the black women can only be tamed and styled through twisting braiding and locking, therefore, asking a woman not to braid her hair is blatantly asking her not to be black.

Women should not walk in anyone else's shadow but their own, it should be their choice whether they want to straighten, lock, twist or braid their mane. They should not be asked to discredit the very thing that they are because of a job. We have to stand against discrimination because if we don't we are a lost nation and our people diluted. In these trying times, let us all move forward as one proud ethnic class of Jamaicans and have respect for each other, regardless of hairstyle.