What is an afro? In the context of this blog, it is the ::magic:: that follows any “before.” It’s the discovery of something new about the world, or better yet, about yourself. An “afro”—be it a new lipstick or a new career—changes your perspective. It makes you think, walk, see and experience life differently.

There’s before. And then there’s afro.

I must mention here, the afro also happens to be an extremely important historical landmark. It’s a hairstyle rooted spiritually deep in black culture, symbolizing a renewed sense of identity after the African-American Civil Rights Movement of the fifties and sixties. The afro became a powerful political symbol for black pride, redefining personal style and making a stand for total integration, all in one. It became a booming pop-culture icon into the seventies thanks to legends like Billy Preston, Angela Davis, Jimi Hendrix and Diana Ross.

The afro is also a hairstyle that I’ve recently rendered part of my personal style repertoire. I originally got my fro for a Studio 54-themed costume party, and let’s just say the party has not ended. The afro changed my perspective; it made me think, walk, see and experience life differently. I wear it often. It’s not about feeling black… what I actually feel like is ME, understood more clearly. It’s not an alter ego. It’s an amplified ego.

After a summer racking my soul over what kind of blog to start, the afro was the catalyst. The catalyst to begin sharing this strange and wild journey of self-discovery. (Among other discoveries, so I have learned.) There was before, and now, this blog: the afro.

Fro-ever yours,

Xx Michelle Joni

@michellejoni