A Grounding Crown: How I Find Peace In Doek
Growing up in a household headed by my great-grandmother, I learned that she held many traditions in high esteem—one of them being that we must cover our heads during ceremonies. We would cover our heads during funerals, September thanksgiving, unveilings, and prayers or while visiting the grave site. This tradition was and is reserved for the women I believe in most cultures. Why? I never asked. I never felt the need to; in fact, I enjoyed it. It made me proud to be a part of the matriarchy. In 2021, when my sister came back from initiation school, I started reading the Bible. I don't know why, ask the Holy Spirit. And every time I did, I would wear a doek. Eventually, I started wearing it leisurely, using a "bad hair day" as an excuse, though I knew deep down I just loved how it felt. I'm not saying the tradition was forced on to me but little girls do look up to their grounded adults, Sarah(my great-grammy) helped my mom raise us with love and support. And I won...