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Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

News, Events, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Inspiration and yes... Gossip! *Wink*

Navy discharges black sailor for refusing to cut off her natural hair
8/22/2014 7:48:00 PM

This week, the U.S Navy announced that it was discharging Jessica Sims, an Africa American woman who has been a sailor for 12-years, for "failing to obey an order to cut off her natural hairstyle."

The military has been under scrutiny for guidelines issued in March that critics believe were discriminatory toward African-American women. Those regulations "specifically forbid several hairstyles popular for black women who keep their hair natural, including twists, headbands, dreadlocks, or multiple braids that are larger than a quarter-inch." A former U.S. Army Major, sharply criticized the regulations, noting they targeted "natural styles African American service women have been wearing for years." Continue..

Sims had been wearing her hair in the same way since 2005, without any apparent issues.

In response to the criticism, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered the regulations to be relaxed earlier this month to "allow female service members to have a wider range of hairstyles." But the Navy found that Sims hair still violated their guidelines.

Sims rejected repeated calls from the Navy to change her hair style, saying "I don't think I should be told that I have to straighten my hair in order to be within what they think the regulations are, and I don't think I should have to cover it up with a wig."

The Navy said her hairstyle made it difficult for her to wear a gas mask. Sims said that her hair conformed to regulations requiring it protrude less than two inches from her head and that she "never had a problem wearing safety helmets or gas masks."

After her discharge, Sims had no regrets: "I still stand by it. I would do it again if I had to."

Source: Think Progess

 

Meet the 3 week old Nigerian baby who can already feed herself
8/22/2014 7:49:00 PM

At just 3 weeks old, baby Amara Chiedozie can hold her feeding bottle...and her mum, 20 year old student Onyi Chiedozie, claims she's been doing this since was just three days old. How is this even possible? Her mum explains;

'When we were feeding, she started shaking, then she just grabbed the bottle. She was holding it by herself. We couldn't believe it because babies don't normally do it that young. I'm so shocked that I have been documenting it every day. It's unbelievable.

"When she doesn't want it she will push it away. She isn't strong enough to throw it away, but she does push it, like she does with her dummy. If she is really hungry, she starts shaking. Then she will just grab the bottle as you give it to her.' Continue...

Onyi, who is a single mother and lives in Essex, UK, says she makes sure she is always watching her daughter when she is feeding herself.

'Sometimes I hold her or sometimes you can prop her up with a pillow and give her the bottle. I'm always watching her – I don't let her out of my sight.' she said

According to UK Daily Mail, Amara weighed 6lbs 3oz when she was born on August 3 at Queen's Hospital in Romford. Onyi said her baby's progress astounded medical professionals. 

'Even nurses are really surprised. When my health support nurse came, she was shocked as well. She couldn't believe that this could happen. Whenever we go to appointments, we take pictures of her doing it. The midwife and even the doctor we had an appointment with on Saturday were actually amazed. They couldn't believe it.

Onyi, who also breastfeeds Amara regularly, said: 

'The breastfeeding is better now – it's comfortable. It used to be painful and sore before but it's good now. When she breastfeeds she is touching and holding on to me. It's a really nice experience and way to bond.' Babies are usually able to hold a bottle unaided from around six months.

Meanwhile there's a warning against letting babies feed themselves. Parents' charity NCT warns;

'If you give your baby a bottle, always hold the bottle and your baby whilst feeding. It's not safe to leave babies to feed themselves or to prop up a bottle; if they choke they won't be able to push the bottle away.'

The charity also warns that babies can choke on something as small as a grape and should not be left alone while feeding or eating.

 

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