July 10, 2011, marks the eighth annual Poets in the Park/ Happy Nappy Day celebration. The event, created by Malaika
-Tamu Cooper, owner/operator of Dreadz-n-Headz natural
hair care center in Baltimore, MD, is always held during the
second weekend in July.
I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Malaika about
the origins of the event, what to expect this year and her
thoughts on natural hair/locing.
Initially, Poets in the Park and Happy Nappy Day were held as
separate events. Malaika began to notice that the two events
brought out the same audience, so she decided to combine them. The intent of the event is to get people who desire to live a more holistic lifestyle away from the grind of everyday life, which “smothers creativity”, and back to poetry and enjoying the beauty and simplicity of the green energy around us.
Over the years since it’s inception, Malaika has seen the event “grow into it’s consciousness” – going from 50 attendees to 6000. Despite this phenomenal growth, Malaika
is determined to maintain the grassroots elements of the event
– continuing to utilize small business vendors to encourage “buying Black.” Poets in the Park/Happy Nappy Day is free to
the public and Malaika wishes to keep it that way. Donations are welcome and appreciated onsite or via the event website to help offset the costs incurred in holding the event.
I asked the visionary behind this event, as well as the Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo, her thoughts on what people should know about natural hair. “When you decide to go natural, it’s a choice. When you get locs, it’s a commitment.” Likening the stages of going natural to the stages of education, Malaika stated that initially cutting your hair = middle school, growing your hair = high school, and locing your hair = college. During our conversation, Malaika recollected that people who initially questioned her decision to transition back to natural in 1993 are now coming to her for assistance with their hair issues.
Performers, Black
business vendors, 1000s of poetry loving, holistically inclined
individuals…Poets in the Park/Happy Nappy Day promises to
be an event you won’t want to miss!
-Tamara Rasberry
for vending information please email ohnappy1@gmail.com