Patricia is another friend of mine. The kind of friend who you can talk to for hours about everything under the sun that’s related to being a black woman, race in America, politics, Afro-Latin culture and travel. We originally met while in a MBA prep program for women. She’s now pursing a higher degree in Italy! I’m sending her hugs and strength from afar. Thank you for sharing with me, Patricia. 

“I had a perm for one year. My mother wanted me to get a perm before going to school because she didn’t know how my natural hair would be perceived  in college around white people.

Now that I’m going to Italy, I realize that as a darker skinned black woman with natural hair, a little bit is about the fear of the unknown. Going into another culture and figuring out how to insert myself. I did think about buying a wig, not necessarily to cover up my hair, but to save time.”