From the late 1970's through the early 1990's I wore dreadlocks. Those of you who remember me from that time would also remember that I was one of, if not the first Black male from East Oakland with dreads and facial piercings (my nose was pierced twice and both of my ears were pierced) who was not homosexual. I remember being the butt of many jokes about my hair. I had to, on several occasions, defend my and my family's honor (my daughters did not have their hair combed or straightened until they were nearly 12 years old) almost to the point of violence because of the ridicule most people leveled at me and mine because of our hair. To us it wasn't a fashion statement - it held intense value and meaning for us as it represented our committment to the "cultural imperative" and all that that meant during those times of struggle for the African american under Reagan, Bush I, etc. What do dreads mean now? It means that you fit the standard description of the urban savage who exists mostly as a predator in the community from which they come and a target for the police. People used to tease me and offer to pay for me to get a haircut. I would love to take clippers in masse to the majority of these young Black men in Oakland. I wonder if they have an inkling as to how much they have bastardized something that meant so much to so many people not too long ago? I believe that one of the first things that needs to happen if we are to regain ourselves is a rededication to that clean-cut look that many in the first resurrection were required to wear. What do you think about that? Free quo vadis for any youngster who wants to rid himself of the onus of that now-filthy-looking hairstyle...