When Is Time for Change?
Phi Beta Sigma pin on one lapel, Masonic pin on the other, and a crown of (pauses, checks watch) 14 years, 11 months, 26 days, and 22 and 1 half hours old locs of dedication at center.
You would think he might have been his fraternity’s timekeeper, but Timothy’s extreme mindfulness of the length of his loc’s existence is just one the ways he demonstrates his belief that locs are part of a lifestyle, not just a style.
Timothy keeps the particular event that inspired him to loc private. The desire to perform a gesture of thanks to African ancestors who legendarily chose not to groom their hair while engaging in the physical fight against colonialism factors into his dedication.
In that spirit, Timothy usually does not twist his hair outside of special occasions. (On this day he was attending a highly influential board meeting.) When asked, if he had any feelings of conflict over taking a departure from his beliefs for the sake of others, Tim acknowledges it is not ideal, but necessary because sometimes we have to meet people at the (mental) place that they are.
That is to say, in his loc’ed life, Tim finds that sometimes the end result in the board room is greater than the aesthetic means by which you get it.
In Tim’s case, twisting his hair in compromise is not a detrimental to his locs. Do you ever face situations (in your workplace or in the job market) where you feel pressured to change your locs to be respected?
