She shook her head, setting in motion the tiny, blond braids that hung down to the middle of her back. Tomika liked more hair than she could grow, so she bought what she needed and wove it in. The colors she chose had little to do with what nature had given her, so I learned to think of her extensions like ribbons. The color wasn’t there to blend in. It was there to celebrate.
-- Joyce, from Pearl Cleage’s “I Wish I Had a Red Dress”

We are certainly colorful – sun-kissed and ginger blond updos, chocolate brown Shirley Temple curls, Persian mahogany tresses with caramel tints, platinum fades, reddish-lemon locs adorned in beads and cowrie shells! Whether your hair is short, long, or somewhere in between, its color and style shine brightly.

And, of course, it’s not just our hair that we decorate in color – our clothes are colorful. We’re wearing shades of red radiance, green of nature, and gold lemay or purple passion, magic magenta, blushing burgundy, or orange blossom – colors of energy and spiritedness.

And why not? Our outside colors should match our colorful personalities! We are vibrant and resilient! Marvelous! Fanciful and brilliant! Noble, fabulous, charming, spirit-filled, and outgoing! Certainly those characteristics say COLOR and plenty of it! So wear it – in your hair, on your body, and in your spirit!

This International Women’s Day, what’s your color?

Sadiqqa © 2007