BLACKWOOL

By Eubha Akilade

Naomi is a black girl facing her first day at school in Scotland. Laying her edges on the bus, she quietly sketches in class. Teacher Miss Wilson is welcoming, but soon betrays her lack of interest in defending Naomi against Johnny, who mocks her afro as "sheep-like". After a hopeful encounter with 2 fellow classmates, who assure her he's just a bit of a twat, buoyed, she heads home via a chip shop, where she meets Tahira, who extends an offer of friendship. Going home, she runs into Johnny and his friends, who continue their racially motivated sheep taunts, and escalate to grabbing her afro. Arriving home, she considers straightening or tying back her hair, as Miss Wilson says, but ultimately, admiring her punk style icons, she defiantly decides to make her hair as big as she humanly can.