Wednesday, December 24, 2008

yes, dreadlocks


i'm dreading my hair, no I am not locking it, no I do not have a problem with calling them dreadlocks. I understand these days, people want to claim a new name for dreadlocks, because of the history. They want to call them african locks, they think it is more reverent, but see I want the history. And yes, in a way this goes against what I'm involved in, the institution, the establishment, but I've never been to into all of that. It's a way to an end though, and it has value. It has value in that it can give me the tools I need to navigate the world and all of its expectations, but my hair can be as dreadful as it wants to be, I think there is a lot of power in hair. Nobody but me knows what is twisted up in my locks, and thats powerful, the ability to choose a hairstyle that has a stigma attached is powerful to me, I am an artist navigating a world of materialists, I need a constant reminder of the empress I am inside of myself, and I need to hold on to me, despite what others may think and expect. I have no intentions of bowing to others expectations, I have no intention of not calling my hair dreadlocks, its an homage. Some say they can't be dreadlocks if they are formed, I respect that, it may be true, but judge what you will, mine are formed. As anti-establishment as I may want to be, obviously I've already admitted being tied up within it. I want to be free though, and I believe the ability to control my image is a stepping stone to being free. 

"Woe to the downpressors
They'll eat the bread of sorrow
Woe to the downpressors
They'll eat the bread of sad tomorrow
Woe to the downpressors 
They'll eat the bread of sorros
Oh yea, Oh yea-eah-eah-eah!

Guiltiness
Pressed on their conscience. Oh yeah, Oh yeah.
These are the big fish
Who always try to eat down the small fish,
just the small fish..."

Guiltiness
Bob