The Takeaway

The Pandemic Prevents White Preoccupation With My Hair

Working from home has an unintended benefit: White co-workers can’t get close enough to me to reach out and touch my tresses

My natural hairstyle changes frequently, and pre-pandemic, I wore it in a short, tight, coily wash-and-go style or, other times, in small twists or flat-ironed. The style that elicited the most attention was my Afro, which was larger than Angela Davis’ signature hairstyle.

I was accustomed to inquiries about my…

Fatso, Big Head and Other Names My Parents Called Me

It was a miracle I didn’t have body image issues growing up

Black mother talking to her daughter outside. — Photo: digitalskillet/Getty Images

I’ve called my son “Big Head” twice in public. The first time was at his pediatrician’s office while he was being examined. His pediatrician looked at me horrified. I was outwardly embarrassed, but slightly amused internally. The second time was with a friend and her child, and she had the…

My Parents Are Married, But My Dad Has a Mistress

It’s complicated

A Black woman assists her elder father with his collar as they prepare for a party. — Photo: Cavan Images/Getty Images

My parents met at a party in New York City during a double date in the early ’70s. The couples switched partners because my mother and father had better chemistry. Less than a year later, they married.

They are technically still married, but have been separated for over two decades…