#2: Why Do We Put on Lotion Daily?

In part 2 of this series, I'd like to touch on something that I've personally been asked several hundred times, dating back from the first time I ever had a sleepover at a white kid's house when I was little: "why do you have to put lotion on?" Well, for those of you who were curious and asking that very same question, let me explain...

Black people are fearful of many things. These include the NYPD, getting turned down for a loan, all white juries, a worldwide watermelon shortage, and the states of Texas, Mississippi, and central Pennsylvania. One thing we also fear no less than the previously mentioned things, unbeknown to non-Black (and Brown) people, is being ashy out in public.

Why are we so afraid to go out in public if we're ashy? Because we'll get clowned! (Aside: being "clowned" means to be ridiculed endlessly.) An example of something one could say to us would be:

"Your feet look like you've been kickboxing a sack of flour"

among others. Please see image #1 for an example of an ashy black man. Notice how unattractive this is?

Now, how do we Black folks remedy this problem? That's right, lotion! There are many kinds of lotion, you really can't go wrong with any of them. Check out image #2 to appreciate a sista with some well-moisturized skin. Notice the beautiful glow on that mahogany-complexioned skin!

Aside from the avoidance of being clowned, lotion serves a long-term, practical purpose. Daily moisturizing can curb the natural aging process of the skin. This is why, say, a 75-year-old Black woman can look like she's 60 while a 75-year-old white woman looks, well, 75.

I hope you have all learned something new about Black people. Til next time...

#1: Why Do We Wear Du Rags?

It has recently come to my attention that I have done you all a huge disservice. Despite the fact that it is 2009, I was dismayed to find that people still don't understand some basic things about Black people, aside from the fact that we have an affinity for fried chicken or Kool-aid, or that we're generally good at basketball. But then I realized that I should not pass judgement; instead, I will do my part to educate and enlighten you. So, I am beginning this series entitled, "Why We Do What We Do." Lesson one is about why Black men wear du-rags. I hope that you all find this educational and informative!

Black people wear du rags (or alternatively, wave caps) in order to avoid having nappy hair. Now, what is nappy hair? Urban dictionary defines nappy hair as: "Tightly coiled / curled unaltered hair. Coiled hair in its natural state". Now, this is not to say that nappy hair is necessarily a bad thing, however, not everyone wants to walk around with nappy hair.

So what is the proper way to avoid nappy hair for a Black man? Well, there are three basic steps:

1. Apply hair grease. it's not actually grease, we don't go get crisco from the grocery store and put it in our hair. Rather, it is a hair conditioner made especially for hair of our type.
2. Brush hair. Yes, Black people do need to brush their hair! We do this to"train" the hair to lay down and get out of its tightened, curly state.
3. Put on du rag. For best effects, it is best to leave the du-rag on for an appreciable amount of time, overnight for example.

Please take a look at the pictures below for a visual representation of the difference between a gentleman who wears a du rag, and one who does not.