The throw pillow I spiked toward Breyonna landed in her lap. “You’re hopeless. I also think you like white and light boys. Uncle Corey is only two shades darker than Bobby.”
“No, I like fine men of all ethnicities and cultures. Now stop acting like you don’t want to see your man and come check out his Instagram.” Breyonna tossed the pillow back to me and reached for her phone.
Breyonna and I hugged goodbye at the side door to the salon. The family door. I found Uncle Corey in the living room reading a book while some live jazz streamed on the television. His foot bopped to the beat. He seemed so content I turned around to go back to my room.
“What you need, JeShaun?”
I stopped walking. Beads of sweat formed on my top lip. “Hi, Uncle Corey. Is that the same book from Tuesday?”
“Nope.” Uncle Corey slid a slip of paper between the pages. “How is Breyonna?”
I rocked from side to side. “She’s fine. We were just discussing the topic for this week’s takeover.”
“Those seem to be going well. Need another ear?” Uncle Corey motioned for me to come sit and talk to him.
I sat on the ottoman near my favorite stack of pillows. The victory pile where I beat him, Keylisa, and Aunt Tanya playing video games on the regular. “Can’t hurt. Right?”
“We’ll see.”
I took in a deep breath. “These girls at the school were talking about straightening my hair being a problem because it’s assimilating to European culture. We live in America. I’ve never seen an episode of Downtown Libby or any other shows from the UK. So I told them they were crazy. But they made some good points about the health risks of chemically straightening my hair.”
“Assimilating into European… Okay.” Uncle Corey leaned toward me. “They’re not saying you want to move to London. More about the desire to be accepted by people of European descent or what Americans have coined as ‘white people’. She’s saying you want to look like them and be like them to be successful.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s stupid. Not wanting to spend hours on my hair is a decision based on not wanting to waste my time on something unimportant. They were saying I was trying to be like the reality television family that only dates black men. Breyonna told me there are some guys who only date white girls or light skinned girls with relaxers or straighter hair like the reality tv family.”
Uncle Corey chuckled. He closed his eyes. “The woke crew?”
I nodded.
“The woke crew leader--”
“Knowledge is the name of the girl who did all the talking.”
Uncle Corey’s eyes lit up. “Knowledge Steele. I know her family. They are a bit intense in how they present their views. However, she isn’t too far off. You’re both right. Some black men prefer women with lighter skin and straight hair. Unaware of the impact of media and having European beauty forced upon them from birth, they develop a preference.”
“What?” I dropped my head in shame. Knowledge was right about me? “You didn’t. Aunt Tanya has had locs for as long as I remember. When you started dating, her hair hung down her back.”
Uncle Corey chuckled again. “I won’t lie to you, JeShaun. Your Aunt Tanya’s hair did attract me. So did her beautiful skin and smile.”
“Oh.” I turned my head away. Which relaxer had the least toxic ingredients?
Uncle Corey tapped my knee. “I fell in love with her as a person. She changed her hair before we were engaged. Without asking me. I didn’t care.”
“Really?”
“Most men are visual. We’re attracted to and like what we like. You can’t control that and shouldn’t make it personal. If you’re not some guy’s preference, that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him. Women have preferences, too. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you like and who you’re attracted to.”
I shook my head. “So what do you do when your preference doesn’t prefer you or how you look?”
“You respect their choice as an individual, work through your feelings and move on. Who they’re attracted to is not about you, it’s about them. Don’t get with someone you have to change to keep interested in you. Be with someone who appreciates you for who you are and doesn’t want to change you. Attraction is what leads to love. It’s the beginning, not the relationship.”
I nodded. “Well, that’s good to know. Even though changing my hair isn’t about some guy, I’m glad you brought it up. Thanks, Uncle Corey.”
“Anytime. Don’t change your hair, clothes, how you talk, or what you’re interested in to attract a guy. Those things will change over time. Because we’re always evolving and growing as people. The essence of who you are doesn’t change. You want someone who can see beyond all the temporary things and love you for just being Je.”
“You’re not going to like all the effort it takes to keep it straight.” Aunt Tanya said.
I felt my shoulders drop. “Okay.”
“I’m saying yes. Just warning you that having your hair silkened will be more trouble than you think hair is worth.”
My arms wrapped around Aunt Tanya’s shoulders. I planted a big kiss on her cheek. After one more quick squeeze, I let her go. “Thank you, Aunt Tanya.”
“You’re welcome.”
I enjoyed the moment where we felt like us again. Us pre-IG rant.
“So that’s a yes?” Brielle said.
Aunt Tanya nodded.
“Let’s do this.” I clapped my hands together with my version of a squeal. “We haven’t silkened my hair in years.”
I reached into my locker for my tryout gear. Coach Chandra made everyone tryout every year. Elected captain or not, I had to get out there and prove my value to the team like everyone else. Then if I made the cut, I’d be able to lead the volleyball team. My hair swished and panic covered every inch
