Being Black in Taos
I haven’t always been a proud black Queen. Growing up in a predominantly white family, I felt like an outcast. I spent my childhood trying to look “whiter.” I’d attempt to bleach my skin, and I would straighten my hair every day. I so badly wanted to look like every other member in our family. By the age of 8, I had made myself sick with the number of chemicals I was putting on my skin and scalp. I continued to struggle with loving myself for the next 19 years. Once I moved to Taos, I noticed how much I stood out everywhere I went.
A few people asked me what I was mixed with, which made me super uncomfortable. Two people even touched my hair without asking. It was the weirdest experience. I had to learn how to speak up for myself in those situations. Being here has given me a lot of time to be alone with myself. I started watching YouTube videos on how to properly take care of my natural hair. Any time my hair would become too much for me to handle, I’d go bald and be done with it. Wigs became second nature to me, but being in the desert, my head couldn’t handle the added heat. I decided that I no longer wanted to shun my beautiful locks. Once I started this last hair growth process, I knew it was going to be challenging. To this day, there are still times during the detangling process that I want to chop it all off. I began to go out in public with my afro, and at first, it was extremely uncomfortable. I could feel people’s eyes piercing into my hair. I wasn’t ready to answer their questions or ask them to keep their hands to themselves.
I wanted to educate people but wasn’t brave enough yet. After a long 6 months of embracing my natural beauty, I learned I was also not properly taking care of my skin. I had to find natural skincare products made for people of color. This gave me more opportunity to venture out and see if there were any black-owned businesses in town. That is where my adventures truly began. I started to meet black entrepreneurs right here in this little town of Taos.
They welcomed me with open arms, taught me about my culture, and embraced me like I was one of their own. They encouraged me to dress colorfully, speak with purpose, and pursue my dreams as if there were no obstacles. I started to get my hair done in protective hairstyles. I learned that hair care for me was different in the summer than in the winter. I started to eat foods I had never even heard of before. Because of the beautiful black women in this town, I am able to say I am a proud black Queen!”
EMAIL:
rmonsey@icloud.com
PHONE:
(575) 495-0898
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