Diary of an Honest Naturalista: Week 151

So I've decided to take Tonya up on her offer to visit her, although I carefully ignored the part where she asked that she sponsor Dimeji also.

I don't know if I will get the visa though since I'm not exactly sponsoring myself and I've never been out of the country before. I heard of how it's difficult to get an American visa, especially if one has no travel history. But at least, I’d have tried. As long as the rejection is not because of my hair, then we are fine.

Another reason I am sceptical is because I might not be able to fully prove that I can take care of myself, and therefore coming back, since my bank account is not bursting at the seams. And Tonya, who is sponsoring me, is a rich girl who doesn’t really pay any bills or earn such serious money. Maybe I should request that her mother does the invitation, and not her. But then, what affiliation would I tell the embassy that I have with her mum? Thinking about the whole thing is just tiring. In fact, I can feel the rejection coming already. Or maybe I’m just courting a negative mind set.

This got me wondering? How do Americans see our hair? Yes, I know there are blacks in the US, and many of them have natural hair, but I believe it is a different case for Americans in Nigeria, especially seeing that many Nigerian women don’t take the issue of hair lightly. We are always on weaves, wigs, straightened hair, and the likes. So when they come across one or two ladies with natural hair, either on afro, short twists, bantu knots, and the likes, how do we come across to them?

So I started imagining different scenarios of my interview at the embassy, such as

“Anna, looking at all your documents,” The interview officer starts in his American accent, “You are qualified for an American visa, but I just can’t risk giving it to you because of your hair. You look like someone who would cause a political uprising when you get to America.”

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“I’m sorry you do not qualify for an American visa this time. Look at the hair of every lady applying for a visa here today, and then take a look at your own hair. We don’t need another cleaner or homeless person in the United States.” He then lifts his right hand to hit my passport with the rejection stamp.

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“We would not be giving you an American visa today. You can apply a few years from now.” I then look confused, and ask “why.” She responds “Well, when I look at your hair, I get confused as to your true intentions. You strike me as someone who would not return to Nigeria after your visit.”

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Well, don’t blame my wild imaginations. After all, I have heard that the American embassy refuses Nigerians their visa for the weirdest reasons on earth.