Tag Archives: Diversity

Race and Hair: Do You Wear Your Hair Natural?

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Appreciating Our Natural Hair

I am so happy to soon be witnessing a beautiful example of unity in diversity as demonstrated in my niece’s upcoming nuptials.   I was heartened by the unique respect for diversity that she and her fiance both live and breathe.  He is Indian and Hindu; she is Christian and African-American.  Yes, this is the same couple that is donating their wedding gifts to charity.  So it’s not their diversity alone that make them special, but their character.  I sat in awe at a recent dinner as my niece’s fiance expressed his knowledge of the plight of African American’s in history, his love for the natural texture of my niece’s hair, and his love and respect for both my niece and sister.

He was the one she explained that encouraged her to “go back natural.” She commented that while “going natural” that she had more challenges with people from within our own culture than from the outside.

What Does Hair Mean to You?

Last month I spoke to an audience in Florida at an event organized by 100 Concerned Black Women and the topic of hair came up.  My co-presenter Iris Cooper had cut off her hair and a lady in the audience who self reportedly had worn wigs most of her life challenged why she did it.  The next day the older lady came to a followup session dawning her own hair.  She recounted how freeing it was.  She somehow had felt she needed validation, permission, and acceptance to free herself.  She explained how all her life she was called ugly because of her short hair.  And, now there is another trend, cutting off our hair that we’ve taken so long to grow and  letting go of what “long hair” means.  How do you feel about cutting your hair off?   It appears that we’ve still got a lot of work to do before we get to the point that we realize that we don’t all have to look the same and can see our own naturalness as beautiful.  What does your hair mean to you? Does it represent beauty, culture, image, or identity.  Is it your crown or crowning glory?  Please comment and share “your hair story.”

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

Race and Marriage: The Final Frontier

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Baha’ullah writes, ” Glory not that you love your country, but that you love your kind for the earth is one country and mankind its citizens.” 

So many people now of late are speaking of assimilation (melting pot) as the only way to live together in harmony.  Instead of welcoming diversity and learning about it, far too many fear what is different and seek to subjugate or annihilate that which they refuse to try to understand.  The same sun warms us all.  The same light gives us vision. The same red blood runs through our veins.  We truly are one people living on one planet and our strength is in our vision of seeing and acknowledging our unity and our diversity.  That will probably happen when we finally learn that there is only one human race and allow it to play out in our language, conversations, and beliefs.

We Must Create a New Language of Oneness

We’ve got to get rid of terms like “race” , “inter-racial” and “mixed” and create a new language of oneness.  Science has already proved that we are one human race and the “divisive terms of races as we live them now” are not real.  Many people profess to believe in equality and oneness, until it comes to marriage.  Perhaps marriage is the final frontier to traverse to prove to the skeptics, doubters, and racists, that in reality we are all the same specie. What do you think?  How do you view marriages between people of different ethnicities?  Would you marry someone of a different ethnicity, color, or religion than you?  What about if it were your children?  Since there is ONLY ONE HUMAN race, how do you feel about getting rid of man-made, divisive, and erroneous terms?  And what are your suggestions for bringing about the oneness and conciliation that our world is literally dying for lack of?

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

We Don’t Want Any Wedding Gifts

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Last night I had dinner with two of my sisters, my niece and her fiance.  Both my niece and her fiance are lawyers that have graduated from Georgetown.  They are both such unique young people, so much so that I awoke this morning and had to take some time to reflect on my thoughts especially their request to not give them any wedding gifts, but to instead give the money to charity.  And, they are not wealthy.  They are just starting out, have very few material trappings, and their share of college loans to repay and yet their thoughts are not on themselves but on the less fortunate.  In a sea of materialism,  and “me” mentality, they did NOT want gifts.  They wanted a simple ceremony so that their friends and family from around the world could share in their union.  And if it weren’t for respecting families and traditions, they wouldn’t have done a big wedding at all.  If the future has more young folks like them, then we have a bright future ahead of us indeed.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

Memorial Day: To Remember or Forget?

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Memorial Day: A time to remember, “Lest we forget!”  Each year most people happily look forward to the Memorial Day weekend, not necessarily because of what it stands for but because it represents a day off from work or school.  The majority look forward to Memorial Day because it’s an opportunity for a longer weekend to relax, to go to the beach, or to have a cook-out with family and friends.  It’s a chance to forget about homework, the job, the bills, the pressures, and the everyday grind.  That sounds more like Labor Day. So, what is the true meaning of Memorial Day, to remember or to forget?

The meaning of Memorial Day has expanded and changed with time. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and its purpose was to commemorate those who had died in service to the United States, initially the Civil war, then World War 1, and finally for all wars.  Officially many remember the dead by flying flags at half-staff, visiting cemeteries, enjoying fireworks or a National concert on the Capitol lawn, and suspending work. The Holiday got its official name by law in 1967 and took effect in 1971 which changed the date from May 30th to the last Monday in May.  By the 20th century the meaning had evolved or expanded as an occasion for more general expressions of memory, a time to remember those who have died whether they were in military service or not.  Part 2: Befittingly Remembering.

Source: Wikipedia

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.

Part 3: What Are You On?

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We Are All Necessary!

(continued from part 2: http://wp.me/ppImQ-n8)

Find a Place Where You Naturally Fit!

I’m excited about life because I am using my natural capabilities to my advantage. I’m not wasting priceless energy trying to justify being “me.” I’m on purpose and am driven to inspire others to “get excited about their lives and find a place where they “naturally fit.”  The Diversity work gives me the opportunity to help people see “differences in a positive light.”  One of my favorite anonymous quotes is, “If two people were exactly alike, one would be unnecessary.” We are all necessary and when those we work with don’t see that, it causes problems in the workplace.

Find Out What Gives You Meaning, I Did!

What could be more meaningful than to help bring about more harmony, understanding, and respect in the world. It is meaningful work and feeling valued that generates and recharges my energy.   Meaningful work gets me excited about getting up in the morning.  I love the Ah-ha moments that my Speakout, Crossworlds, Climate Assessment Surveys, and Diversity Coping Styles exercises inspire.  In my signature workshop, ‘Superwoman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ women (and men) learn that their needs matter too.  They learn to “Say No’ and that “No” is a good answer too!   ‘On Track On Fire On Purpose’, well the title says it all.

When we don’t understand, we’re likely to…

Click to continue reading Part 4: http://wp.me/ppImQ-nF

Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author of six books, and trainer on value-based living themes.  She also offers Effective Communication, Diversity, Leadership, Time Management, and Goal Setting workshops.  Visit her at www.thepoetspeaks.com or contact her at 301-428-4831.  You may email her at Barbara@ThePoetSpeaks.com