#lochistory

I’m a physician in Brooklyn, NY and I’ve been locing my hair for the past 19 years (since 1996). My reason for this is family more than fashion since every male in my immediate family wears locs. I’m the youngest male in my family and resisted this trend until it was time for college. I must say it was one of the best decisions ever and I have never been happier with any other hairstyle. In the medical field you don’t find many of us and I was pretty much discourage every step of the way. I was constantly told that I would not get accepted into medical school with my hair…then it changed to I would not make it out of medical school into a good residency with my hair…and then it changed to I would not make it out of residency training into the real world medical community with my hair…etc.

I’m happy to say that I am a medical residency trained doctor with long locs and proud of my hair, family and heritage.”

I started the process of locing my hair in June 2010. That particular time in my life I was at a crossroad and really didn't know if whether or not I wanted to cut my hair off or loc it but what I did know however was that I was reaching an age and level of maturity where I honestly felt that having my hair in braids did not suit me any longer. My son was an infant at the time, I was struggling to find steady work and felt pressure from some of my friends and family to have a traditional haircut to conform with what they thought was the proper "look" for corporate America, which is where I aspired to be. However personally I felt otherwise. I never felt the need to conform. I never was interested in fitting in. I had a burning desire rather to dominate my field of choice and become a trailblazer for others. It wouldn't be truthful to say that I didn't have doubts. What the naysayers of keeping my hair were saying was absolutely logical. I have experienced first hand discrimination in the work force because of my hair being braided. I then decided that I would speak with a slew of individuals that identified with various beliefs ranging from members of the Nation of 5 percenters to black Hebrew Israelites to Rastafarians etc. about the process of and what it means to them about locing ones hair. From everything I learned during those conversations the common denominator used to describe the process was strength. Not strength in the sense of the durability of my hair but rather the strength needed from inside to go on the journey of being loc'd. The perseverance needed to overcome that initial stage of locing is immense. At first I had doubts of continuing the process and my self esteem and confidence took a blow because my hair was very unruly in the beginning and feared I made the wrong choice. Thru persevering however I learned another great ideal that has guided me in life. I have found to be successful it is imperative to silence the voice of fear and doubt in your head and instead work on increasing your faith. It wasn't until then that I started to realize what the bigger picture of my life was really about. For me it's all about the journey and the strength needed to push thru when times get hard. The rewards we seek most times lie within the journey itself not the results. It's funny often times I think back to the biblical tale of Samson and Delilah because it resonates with me very deeply. I can relate with what Samson went thru and was feeling. My locs are truly a source of strength for me and the process of locing my hair has shown me that whatever obstacles life presents in front of me I have no doubt that my perseverance and faith will allow me to overcome and be victorious.

I have had my locs for eight years, and I wanted them ever since I was a child. I took the leap of faith in undergrad.

I accomplished becoming an educator,  poet, emcee, and servant to my community. I want to earn a PhD and publish various literary works.