A Twist of Fate

A few days ago, my hair stylist was unavailable to twist my hair, so one of her friends stepped in for her. Her name is Lucinda and she's from Cameroon.

It wasn't until two hours after Lucinda started twisting my hair (which is a six-hour process) that we started our conversation. As we watched the ABC7 middday news, Chicago mayoral candidates appeared on the screen and briefly discussed their "platforms". At this time, Lucinda asked me who I supported. I told her I was undecided because I needed to do more research on the candidates. This sparked our intriguing conversation for the duration of my time in the chair.

During our convo, Lucinda told me about her country, which included the similarities and differences in Cameroon's and the U.S.'s government (I love how she loves Barack & Michelle!). I was shocked to hear how many people from other parts of the world know just as much (if not more) about what's happening on U.S. soil, yet she says we only see a fraction of what's going on over there. Six years ago, Lucinda made the decision to leave ALL of her family to come to the U.S. She hasn't seen them since she left. My heart broke for her because although she can speak to them on the phone and email them, I can't fathom not being able to see my family...for years!

And it's not by choice.

Lucinda experienced difficulties coming to the U.S. and maintaining her VISA status, and she explained her family would endure it as well.

While she talked about the history of her country and schooled me on other little-known facts about Africa in general, we discussed the African-American community in the U.S. She recounted how some black people treated her here, as if she wasn't human, which is why she tends to keep to herself. She proclaimed to me how her personality (much like many Africans, according to her) speaks the truth...LOUD AND PROUD! She said she either speaks the truth or doesn't speak at all (that's an idea I believe many should learn to follow). It was interesting to hear how people from her country refer to her and people like her who move to the U.S. as "white", much like people referred me as "white" because of how I spoke, the clothes I wore, the music I listened to, etc.

It was refreshing to find a common thread in this young lady from the other side of the world. It was also yet another reminder how much we as human beings have more in common with one another than we realize.