tirije Cljarlotte
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1996
LIFESTYLES
Dilemma
weighs on
his head
Ask
Gwendolyn |
Baines
IDear Gwendolyn:
I got a divorce after being
marked for 18 years. The
marriage was not happy
and T made a promise to
myself to never marry
again.
However, that changed
two years ago when I met
my fiancee. She means the
world to me, although I
now have a problem.
About six months ago, I
started losing my hair. I
paid thousands of dollars
On hair replacement. My
dermatologist told me last
week that I have a scalp
infection. He advised me
to remove the hair at once.
My fiancee does not know
that I am losing my hair.
One night when we were
double dating she made
remarks to the fkct she did
not like bald men. I am 45
and she is 26. 1 was going
to keep the hair and tell
her after the wedding. The
doctor says due to the seri
ousness of the infection, it
should be removed now.
What do you think I should
do?
Jason
Dear Jason:
Follow your doctor's advice.
Remove the implants before
they cause serious damage to
your scalp.
In the meantime, talk to
your fiancee about your prob
lem. Her comments at dinner
may not be indicative of her
true feelings. Often people
say things that they don't
mean in casual conversation.
Give your fiancee an opportu
nity to show her support and
maturity by telling her the
truth about your hair loss and
the medical condition that
arose.
Chances are when you tell
her, her reaction will surprise
you. Recent surveys show
that "bald is in." Michael
Jordam and Charles Barkley's
bald styles have made the
clean-shaven look popular
among both men and women.
Baldness has lost a lot of the
stigma that it once carried.
Your fiancee obviously cares
for you. Don't let insecurity
about the age difference and
your previous marriage affect
your current relationship.
Hair loss is a hereditary cpn-
dition that affects many men
and women. It is not a gauge
of your attractiveness or mas
culinity, nor should it be. If
she is not supportive, there
are many women who will be.
Just remember that thin
ning hair and baldness are a
natural process of life.
Features
Around Charlotte 9A
Church News 11A
Sunday School 10A
Stroke deaths
on rise...
Healthy
Body/Healthy
Mind
Page 15 A
Hair raising
heritage from
motherland
Seminar on cornrows extols
African-inspired styles’ virtues
By Andrea R. Richards
THE CHARLOTTE POST
B
lack women are quite versatile, especially when it
comes to hairstyles.
Buns, hair wraps, spiral curls and shag are all
current trendy styles. However, braids and corn-
rows are classics'. They are always in style.
Aaronita Caldwell of Monroe attended a lecture
titled “Braids, Cornrows, Hair Wraps and Dreads:
A History of Black Personal Adornment in
Coiffure” Feb. 8 at the Main Library. About 50 people attended.
Caldwell, 49, said she has never had a perm and has worn
braids all of her life.
"I like my heritage," she said as her natural hair styled in
braids flowed over her shoulders down her back. "It's quick. It's
easier. It takes care of the hair, and it's better. Keeping it nat
ural is very good for the hair. Keep the chemicals out."
Fana Chisholm, a veteran hair braider, conducted the two-hour
slide lecture and demonstration. Chisholm hopes women attend- :
ing her workshop see honor and tradition in the styles.
"I try to raise their self-esteem in terms of loving yourself and '
loving your own hair and not feeling like you have to change to '
depict what other people say beauty is,'' said Chisholm, who has '
styled actress Angela Bassett's locks. "Love your own hair. Try '
to work vrith what you have, and use your own hair. Understand '
that the beauty lies within you without trying to emulate anoth-' ;
er culture."
Some novices, like Georgina Belk, also attended the lecture
hoping to learn the history of the Afrocentric style and how to
maintain it.
"This is my first time getting my hair braided," she said.
"There are some things I like about it. I'm having to get used to
the initial pain, which I did not expect — the itching, which I
understand can be controlled, but I haven't qui^e mastered it
yet, and finding styles. So, I've gotten a book from the library to
help with that." - ' '
Aaronita Caldwell of Monroe attended a lecture, titled “Braids,
Cornrows, Hair Wraps and Dreads: A History of Black Personal
Adornment in Coiffure” Feb. 8 at the Main Library
PHOTOS/ JAMES BROWN
Minorities happy, but isolated in Rhode Island
By Joann Loviglio
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
■ PROVIDENCE, R.I. - '
C ompanies have dif
ficulty recruiting and
retaining minority
professionals because
they feel isolated and
lack social outlets, according
to a survey by the Rhode
Island Urban League.
The study of 58 minority
professionals new to the state
found that most like the area
but seek more avenues for get
ting to know their surround
ings.
To address the concerns
raised in its survey, the Urban
League plans to help busi
nesses develop programs so
minorities can easily find
social and cultural connec
tions.
Horoscopes
AREES: (March 21-Aprflf
2e)Ju»t Whi^ ypliWere^Sit a /
roll, your mqmejlttmS.'sfe'iv's'
down and everything sputters
to S, snail's pace. Plan a few oiit-.
ih^ to spicethings iip; Ifyoo've v:'
been holding your feelings back,
don't go to the other littreme .
and express affetions intense-.
TAIIKUS: (April 21 - May
21}You may feel on top of the
vrorld, both physically and emo
tionally - don't take unneces
sary risks. Use a dose friend as
a sounding board for those ideas
that have been churning within
you for some time. If practical,
your ideas wiH be goo4
GEMINI: (May 22 - June
21) Just being yourself will be a
big asset in the workplace and
at horae. Yoor personal finance .
situation is rosy, he aware of
The group also wants to ease
the. relocation process by
preparing an overview of what
the state has to offer and
making it available to newly
arrived professionals.
“Once companies recruit
folks, they think it ends there.
What happens is that people
stay three to five years and
leave because they're missing
a connectedness to the com
munity," said B. Jae Clanton,
executive director of the
Urban League of Providence.
The study was prompted by
companies that reported diffi
culty in obtaining and keeping
minority employees.
Rhode Island recruitment
firms and relocation special-
- ists are not very effective in
promoting the state's attract,
tions for minorities, according
to the Urban League.
Clanton cited a suburban
Providence company that
recently tried to recruit an
out-of-state black woman.
When she asked about the
kinds of professional organiza
tions available to single black
women, the company had to
call Clanton for information.
Despite that, half of the 58
survey respondents said
Rhode Island is a good place
for minorities to live and
would recommend it to others.
Forty of the respondents, or
69 percent, said they knew Ht-
tle about Rhode Island when
they moved. Upon their
arrival, most were unaware of
the cultural organizations', '
churches, or social groups
available to the state's
110,000 minorities, who make
lip roughly 11 percent of the
population.
“The groups are here for peo
ple, but they're not used by
companies and real estate
agencies" to draw minorities
to the state, Clanton said.
The respondents suggested
community orientation,
minority professional organi
zations and mentor programs
to help minorities and their
families better adjust to the
state.
The respondents came to
Rhode Island from every part
of the country, and most have
lived in the state for one to
three years. Blacks and
Asians inade up the majority
-81 percent - of those
answering the survey.
When asked what they
found most attractive about
their new community, the top
replies were opportunity.
beaches, aesthetics and
scenery.
Some respondents said they
found Rhode Islanders to be
friendly and welcoming, but
several cited a sense of
detachment from social, eco
nomic and political activities.
The Rhode Island Urban
Project is a group of business
and individuals who work to
foster minority access to busi
ness opportunities. It includes
R.I. Hospital Trust National
Bank, Brown University,
Citizen’s Bank, Cookson
America,Inc.,.Davnl Inc., Fleet
Bank, Johnson & Wales'
University, Miriam Hospital,
Narragansett Electric Co.,
Providence Gas Co., The
Providence Journal Co.,
Raytheon Co., Textron Inc.
and the University of Rhode
Island.
. get Ueh quick aohetne^ and ' '
:inalT6sui6ifrftlis&;tljm^.i/.Y
through con^letely, Ac^jst #: T,
, whatwer it is thatis-t^tiherihg/ /
CANCER: (June 22 - July
. 23)Doora will open which will ■
. lead to ■wonderfifl: family , prd^, >
eriy or household develop- -
csents, Staii the week with ,
your eye fixed on ahimportant. v
,, tmgeV.Ify^
and stick to your iresdlTO, a ..'
n-umberoEimssible distractions:
will send you off course,
LEO: (July 24- August
23)Your romantic prospects are
likely to enjoy a lively upswing
during the weeks ahead, as well
as life in general. You will no
doubt have more free time for: .
pleasures. The romahee theme ■
vrill continue for some time, but
you now have a more realistic ^
■view about love..
VIRGO: (August 24
September 23) A bri^ter
tutu re conn ruing career activi-
!:cs, will noA he m pl'an view
Main ill t'orn ai11 ho loluod to
yo'ur income, sty plan eareftiUy.^'
1 hi rt n a fio in ijt> ki o.nr on
•.■our home .md propi.rty iiiU'rr
o.-!s ihi- woi'k, :ind vi-ur poraon-
al mill- .uo su|iiH.r1ed by all.
1.IKIL4: (September 24-
October 23)Don't push your
luck eoneeming a job or career
opportunity. Confidence is good,
b.:’ ■ih.it .1)11 n..i, b. h.inkmg
on now is not a sure thing. Your
efficiency on the job will be
noted by asuperior. You will
receive answers tosomc ques-
tiohs today.
SCORPIO: (October 24 -
November 22)Cantion is the
k. >. -.1M .1 Tr. not to w.unil ofi in
the heat of the moment; yon
will no doubt^iMQgs'ybhi':.:: fSi
will later regret. .Be careful Y-
regarding any,trahaportaiaou , ;
, plana. Too have ideas which
will eventually come to frui-
tation, butbe'macticid,
SAGITTARIUS: (November
23 - Decejuber 21)Ix)vc and
mamage is defimU'Iv in the air
If you are already marnod you
and vour partner will share and
communicate even more, which
within your relationsMp. If vou
are presently on the sidelines,
you may soon fall in love!
to spe.ik out and i'..l ict ni-go-
tive tcilingo fi-tr-r ir.o.de Work
on your ^.miiuo ipcnd-.lup- Ihi-.
- January 20)This week
y seem long and unduly
drawn ou There is trouble
everywheie you look, so bo
aware of what you say and what
you do; of hers may be overl v
sensitive. Concentrate on doing
your best at work, instead of
PISCES: tFebnmiy 20-
March 20)A f.imiiv member or
friend could use some of your’
l^ek,: Yimia toBS
{fre appreciated for this fact.
tain ties.
AQUARIUS: (January 21-
‘ 'son
BIRTHDAY: You don't make
it easy for other people to
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