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One of my favorite songs is Tweet’s Smoking Cigarettes. When I was in the single digits of age, I couldn’t wait to smoke. I understood I had to be an adult, but Joe Camel was so smooth and cool! I would pose, and hold my bubble gum cigarettes between my peace sign and prance around just like the did in the movies.
Through out middle school, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro made it her business to implement anti-smoking programs. By the time I went to high school I knew every statistic possible on WHY not to smoke.
* “More than 152,000 women died from smoking related diseases in 1994.”
* “Tobacco kills more than half a million women per year worldwide. This number is expected to double by 2020. Internationally, women are increasingly targeted by tobacco marketing.”
* African-American Smoking “Statistics”
African Americans - In 1997, about 6.7 million African American adults smoked cigarettes, accounting for approximately 14 percent of the 48 million adult smokers in the United States. The prevalence of current smoking among African Americans is 26.7 percent, compared with 25.3 percent for Caucasians.
* U.N. agency said nearly 95 percent of the global population is unprotected by laws banning smoking. Secondhand smoking kills about 600,000 people every year
* Although African Americans smoke fewer cigarettes, on average, they tend to smoke brands with higher nicotine and tar levels. African Americans are also more likely to smoke mentholated cigarettes.
* About 76 percent of African American cigarette smokers smoke menthol cigarettes as compared to 23 percent of Caucasians. These brands contain enough menthol to produce a cool sensation in the throat when smoke is inhaled. People who smoke menthol cigarettes can inhale more deeply or hold the smoke inside longer than smokers of non-menthol cigarettes. This may explain why African Americans, are more likely than Caucasians to die from smoking related diseases like lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. African Americans have higher lung cancer and oral cancer incidence, as well as higher mortality rates than whites.
Hearing all the statistics, I still smoked a few times as a youth. After choking, and feeling stupid, I decided smoking just wasn’t for me.
Now, living in Richmond, the home of Altria, aka big Tobacco, I see the wealth of the industry. The Tobacco industry supports local business, donates to non-profit organizations, and employees thousands of people in our area alone.
What is the root cause of why people smoke? This baffling question lead me to think,
There are always exceptions to the rule. Being natural can just be a hairstyle. For me, going natural is all about loving yourself. Once you love yourself, you appreciate yourself and try and do everything in your best interest. Unfortunately, smoking has serious negative health and cosmetic effects, not good for self-esteem. One can cause equal, maybe more damage than cigarettes through self doubt. I opened up the question to you…
It is a contradiction to smoke cigarettes and have Natural Hair?
From the book of Friends:
Tiffany: No, it’s just a choice. Do you use all natural products in every aspect of you life?
Yoni: I can see how some would make that connection. But, I agree with Tiffany - it is a choice…an unhealthy one…but a choice nonetheless. PS - I’m natural, and don’t smoke…but I do eat meat. Lol - some feel that all “Natural folks” should be Vegetarian as well. So many “boxes”...so little time. Lol. Peace & ♥
Jeanne: To me, if you want to have beautiful hair, you should have a good health. Plus, smoking is very bad for hair. It makes it drier.
Lynnette: It depends. Is your natural hair just a hair style or is it part of your life style?
Farah : I think it is because if you want healthy hair, you can’t pollute it with cigarettes. So it really doesn’t make sense to me.
Denise: I think its more of a contradiction to have natural hair and false eyelashes!!!!!
Chaunda NaturalsSalon: Ooooh… That’s a good one… Many times people focus on 1 aspect of their life at a time to change… Going natural may have been the 1st thing they decided to do… As they learn the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle they will begin to leave the not so healthy habits behind… With that said no I don’t think it’s a contradiction…. I think it’s a bad habit… One not having to do with the other.
From the Twitterverse
lifeispichey: @Kinnks I think #naturalhair or not, cigarettes is bad for you
But I must say, I do enjoy a cigar once in a while (I know, slap my hand) about
keish: whatever u let define u, is all up to u. my #naturalhair doesn’t define me&if I smoked, cigarettes wouldn’t either.@Kinnks
brwngldngodess: @Kinnks smoking is gross
keish: I don’t think its a contradiction, per sé...its ur world, squirrel! do what u want! *smile* @Kinnks
afrobella: @Kinnks some might say so (I don’t smoke cigarettes myself) but part of the beauty of #naturalhair is you can do and be whatever you want about
Having said that, cigarettes do diminish your beauty, IMO…been trying to tell my hubby that & get him to quit for so long now =(
Naturally_Flyy: RT @Kinnks: Is it a contradiction to have #NaturalHair and smoke cigarettes?< lol maybe they went natural 4 different reasons
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