Literary Works of Dena Tyson, Aurora, IL
As a girl growing up down in Memphis Tennessee, I never knew much about my kinky –coily – springy –curly –natural hair and apparently my mother didn’t either, but she did know about the straightening comb heating those strands and pulling them out! My hair would be so straight and just blow with the wind. After a day of playing in the hot sun it would revert right back to kinky and coily and the little boys would tease me saying I had “kuckabugs” in the back of my head. Sometimes the elders would speak in my defense and call out to them - “boy get in the house and comb your head –got a circle around every knott! I’d stand by and watch with great joy when I’d hear that.
For those that don’t understand “kuckabugs “ were those little tight curly knots formed in the back of your head at the nape, which brought great shame anguish and anger to most –especially myself. I hated every moment of getting my hair straightened though.
Later when I became an adult I learned my own natural hair –even though it was a part of who I am –was something that was not completely embraced by society and unless I continued to straighten it or braid it in most cases, I would never be able to “fit in”. I’ve never been one to try and “fit in” any way.
I learned about my own kinky-coily-springy-curly-natural hair, embraced the beauty behind the negative (and we are all beautiful) and created dolls that represent the beauty in which Kuckabugs are formed -hence my own loc’s. I realized there was a market for African American dolls with dread-locks/natural hair and I dived right in creating my first set of Kuckabug Collection Dolls in 2002. On May 7, 2011 one of the dolls from my collection was placed on permanent exhibit in the Kankakee County Cultural Museum- a great honor indeed.
I enjoy pieces that are very unique -especially when I find they’re one of a kind - I aspire to continue to create and share my one of a kind beauties with the orld. To learn more about myself and some of the books I write go to www.denatyson.com
