Great Bay, St. Martin (February 23, 2014)—“Hard Hair: St. Martin Women and the Culture of
Natural Hair” is a panel discussion set for International Women’s Day, March 8,
at 7:30 PM, at Philipsburg Jubilee Library, said organizer Rochelle Ward.
The
lifestyle discussion of natural hair stories by St. Martin women is the first
program in 2014 from Don’t Break the Comb (DBC), the island’s first natural
hair group, said co-founder Ward.
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| Ayana Tyrell |
The
panelists are Dr. Nilda Arduin, ombudsman, Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, linguist,
educator, Robin Boasman, author of Lizzy Lizard, the ACT Award
book of the year, and two poetry-writing attorneys, Patricia
Chance-Duzant and Ayana Tyrell.
“Robin
Boasman, who is also a kindergarten teacher and mother of one son, is delighted
to tell her story. Ayana Tyrell, a practicing lawyer at Alex Richardson and
Associates in Anguilla, will speak about natural hair perceptions; and Attorney
Patricia Chance-Duzant will share her fascinating childhood hair stories,” said
Ward.
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| Rhoda Arrindell |
“Nature is
beautiful,” said Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, “and if your hair is natural by design,
though it may be adjusted to fit your moods and phases in life, it is already
created perfect.” A former minister of education and culture, Dr. Rhoda
Arrindell, will share her thoughts on hair and identity.
“The panel
will create greater awareness and appreciation for afro hair as a way of
‘being’ and accepting oneself,” said Dr. Nilda Arduin, whose “Aha! Moment”
about her hair occurred at age 16.
“It is
fitting for us St. Martin women to tell our own natural hair stories as many
women from the Americas, Europe, other parts of the Caribbean, Africa and the
South Pacific are returning to or taking this natural hair pilgrimage toward
self-acceptance,” said Ward.
And as if
hair stories will not produce a lively enough discussion, a table of books by
St. Martin women will be added as a unique centerpiece of the program. “I think
people will be surprised to see how many St. Martin women have written books
within a short period of time,” said Ward, herself a leading new generation
published poet, blogger, and high school teacher.
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| Rosally Kamperveen |
DBC is
inviting all interested women authors of St. Martin who would like to
participate in the book table exhibition to email DBC atcontact@dontbreakthecomb.com. “It’s a perfect International
Women’s Day feature. Attendees of the panel discussion are invited to purchase
books by Ruby Bute, the first St. Martin woman to publish a book in the 1980s;
and books by drs. Gracita Arrindell, Felicita Williams, Esther Gumbs, Robin
Boasman, Janice James, and others, including newly published women writers
in Where I See The Sun – Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin. A
number of the authors will be present to socialize and autograph copies after
the discussion,” said Ward.
The panel
discussion, “Hard Hair: St. Martin Women and the Culture of Natural Hair,” is
sponsored by the Philipsburg Jubilee Library, SOS radio, and Ital
Shack.
The March 8
discussion is also a follow-up to last year’s hair workshop attended by over
200 persons,” said Ward. “That workshop was called ‘Natural Hair Mixology: How
to make your own homemade hair products,’ and hosted by DBC at the 11th annual
St. Martin Book Fair.”
