The Tignon Law

Head wraps have always been an expression of culture and style throughout the diaspora of black women. The beautiful colors and artistic design enhances the natural beauty of any woman who wears it. Did you know at one time in the late 1700’s there was a law in Louisiana that prevent black women from uncovering their hair due to the attention the African and creole women were getting from European men?  It was called the Tignon Law, pronounced tiyon.

A Tignon is a head covering made from a large cloth material and is tied around the head, resembling the African Gele. The Law was created under the administration of Governor Esteban Rodriguez Miró and required women of African descent, Creole, slave or free to cover their head and hair with a scarf and tone down how they dressed, so as not to attract a white man’s attention, as well as maintain class distinction. 

However, the women took their style to a whole new level by designing elaborate colorful tignons that got them more attention than before.

Today head wraps are becoming more popular as women of color are embracing their natural hair and styles that define their originality.

Kudos to the au’naturale movement!

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder......

Through The Eyes Of A Child

A woman is blessed to bring into existence one of the most beautiful miracles known to man:

The birth of a child

The Most High has created a woman's body to go through the changes necessary to adapt and nurture her child after birth, and with wisdom then teach unto a young adult. It is a huge responsibility to undertake because as a mother she will literally have the well-being of that child in her hands/arms. Therefore, it is the obligation of a woman to be the mirror of perfection in the eyes of her child. Of course, no one is perfect, but she can strive to be the perception of what a child believes her to be. A child's perception of that need is the security of knowing a parental presence is in their life, the understanding of unconditional love measured with values, discipline and the emotional stability of self-confidence that will instill in them a self-worth that will follow them for the rest of their life. Believe it or not a child has the innate ability to know this without foreknowledge. This is why they exhibit anger when one or both parents are not present in their life. No one is born with the tools of parenting automatically, some fall short in getting the knowledge to be the best parent necessary for a child. However, the one thing that is universal is a natural love and sense of protection for a child. We were all children at one point that gives us an advantage on how to raise our own children because there is a reference point to start with.

In other words, at one time we thought, also felt emotions and experiences as a child. It is these reference points that can be used to establish how a parent chooses to do better in implementing guidance to a child. For example, if a person came from a dysfunctional childhood of abuse, being aware of that abuse and getting the proper counseling will improve the chances of not passing that same abuse onto their child. The same with alcoholism, drug addiction, etc., these are all conditions that will most certainly have an adverse effects on the mental and social stability of a child. There are many reasons why a child's well-being isn't considered when engaging in these behaviors. It is very important as the guardian of children/child to comprehend what the consequences of a reckless lifestyle will do to the child. In understanding this they can work on/or recognize their pain and choose not to inflict that same damage to their child.

To give birth to a child makes a person responsible for the life of another human being; it is not to be taken lightly. A child is not a doll or an inanimate object to be tossed aside and forgotten when the responsibility gets too difficult to deal with or the pleasures of life becomes more important. Children are the product of their parenting good or bad, (there are exceptions to the rule) and as a parent it must be understood that what a child is taught so shall they become.

As a woman, the blessing given by The Most High to bring a life into this world is a responsibility that needs to be thought out, planned financially and with a mature knowledge to understand everything that it entails.

When you have given birth to a child and look down into those innocent eyes, peering lovingly back at you, understand that the freedom of having no responsibility of a life other than your own has now changed. You are now dedicated to a baby who will depend on you to give him/her love, values, integrity, security and guidance that will follow him/her for the rest of their life. Ultimately, it is a responsibility that will mean life or death in their future.

…….it is that serious.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

*note: Although I address this issue from the standpoint of a woman, it does not negate the responsibility of the man’s part in the equation of a child’s well-being. It is just as important! 

My Spiritual Awakening

Psalms 143:10

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

My quest for spiritual understanding began in my early twenties I started off in the Church of God denomination. I was put off by so much hypocrisy, after two years I left the church, pursued other interests, eventually I got married, and had my children. Although I still had my beliefs and spiritual foundation in the church it would be many years before I sought to connect again with my spiritual roots. It came from a different direction; my youngest son began talking to me about the scriptures and his new found knowledge, but it was not what I had always been taught in the church. This time it was in conjunction to our history beginning with Deuteronomy chapter 28 in the bible specifically, Deuteronomy 28:68 KJV which reads:

68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

This passage was obviously describing the Transatlantic Slave Trade!

From that point on I began a journey into our history that revealed levels of understanding and knowledge that I had never heard or experienced before. With each new discovery, my research led me back to bible passages that correlated with events prophesied in the bible as it related to our people in the past and the present. What I discovered is we are the Hebrew Israelites of the scriptures, not only did this give me a heritage to connect to, it also established a nation of people that I am linked to that had an origin, a beginning. Our heritage didn't begin when we stepped off the slave ships in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 as we were meant to believe according to the US history books.

It began when The Most High told Abraham....

Genesis 17:4 ESV

“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.

In a deep sleep The Most High prophesied to Abram/Abraham about a catastrophe that would befall his descendants: (The transatlantic slave trade)

Genesis 15:12-13 KJV

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

I continued to read the bible with fervor, the spirit of The Most High opened up a spiritual understanding that I had never experienced before. I was on fire with wanting to know more and the more I sought to learn, every question I had, The Set Apart Spirit (Spirit of The Most High) led me to all understanding of each matter. I am still seeking....

Soon, I came to realize I was no longer bound or defined by bywords or descriptions given by other nationalities. I was a descendant of an ancient people, a lineage of royalty, righteous men and esteemed women who had significant importance, a people chosen by The Most High of the bible.

Empowered with this relevant information, I read any book that would substantiate this truth.

I watched you tube videos that supported everything I read and discovered to be the truth. I searched the internet that led me to sources that proved that every omission of our history was the truth and almost every perception of a truth I had been spoon-fed about history was a lie. I went from overwhelming pride of the triumphs, majestic history and accomplishments of my people, to disbelief of things I didn't know and finally rage behind all the lies we were told deliberately.

I was suddenly awaken to facts that challenged my very perception of a reality that I had known my entire life, a reality that was filled with deceit, untruths, misconceptions and deliberate hidden agendas to keep the true history of my people from being discovered. If not for my own research and visual confirmation I would still be asleep in this matrix. Since I have learned the truth of my ancestry I no longer define myself as African American, I am a Hebrew Israelite, it is not a religion, it is not a cult, it is a nation of people spoken of in the bible who follow the laws and commandments set forth in the scriptures of the bible. I am simply returning to my heritage, my culture and my belief in the only true Heavenly Father, Yah and His son, Yahoshua....

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This is what The Most High Commands of us as His people. You will see and hear different proclamations from various Hebrew Israelites, some professing to be of the spirit and many who are of the spirit. You will know the spirit of The Most High by their fruits. (Galations 5:19-23)

In any quest for the truth you will come across many untruths, diversions and self-serving doctrines, The Most High warns us of this....

Matthew 24:5KJV

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Do not allow this to deter you from seeking the spiritual knowledge of your heritage. Be vigilante and allow the spirit to guide you.

If you are truly seeking righteousness and your heart is sincere of faith, just a mustard seed of faith, YOU WILL find the spirit of truth.

This is my spiritual journey; everyone has to find that journey in their season where ever it may lead. This is where The Most High has led me. I would hope that in sharing this with you, it will inspire you to seek your own journey into the knowledge of your history and how it relates to your own personal spiritual journey. Knowledge IS power and the archway to that door will lead to a wealth of information and history that you may have never known without researching the unknown! Do the research; I promise you, you WILL NOT be disappointed. Shalom!

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Proverbs 3:6 ESV

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32