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In Latino communities, the phrase “pelo malo,” or "bad hair," has echoed through generations, shaping beauty standards and self-esteem in ways that are hard to ignore. Whether whispered at family gatherings or thrown around casually in salons, it carries weight, and it reveals how deeply internalized racism and colorism run within Latino culture.
But let’s be clear: there’s no such thing as bad hair. The real issue lies in the colonial beauty ideals that are pervasive in Latino culture to this day.
The Origins of "Pelo Malo"
The idea of pelo malo is rooted in Latin America’s colonial past, where European standards of beauty were forced upon indigenous and African populations. Straight, silky hair was seen as a symbol of status and respectability, while curls, kinks, and coils were deemed unkempt and undesirable. Tia Williams, a beauty expert, explains it best: "From birth, Latina and Black women are taught that the closer you are to white, the easier it is to succeed in life. The lighter, the better. The straighter, the better." That mindset didn't disappear; it just evolved.
Growing up, many of us were taught to “tame” our curls instead of embracing them. Relaxers, blowouts, and flat irons became a rite of passage, and conversations around hair often revolved around how to make it look "better,” which is code for straighter. The result? A cycle of shame and insecurity that starts in childhood and lasts well into adulthood. Oh, and it often leads to badly damaged hair.
The impact of pelo malo isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s also about identity. When you’re constantly told your natural hair is a problem that needs fixing, it chips away at your confidence. Instead of being taught how to keep hair healthy and managed by personal preference, curly hair types deemed “difficult” or “bad” are instead “fixed” rather than managed. There’s a clear, underlying message that gets internalized: our hair, and by extension, our heritage, is something to be ashamed of.
Colorism and Hair Politics in the Latino Community
Colorism ends up being a manifestation of internalized racism. The issue of pelo malo is deeply tied to skin tone, with lighter-skinned Latinos often enjoying more privilege and acceptance than their darker-skinned counterparts. A 2022 survey from the Pew Research Center shows that 41% of darker-skinned Latinos report experiencing discrimination from other Latinos, compared to 25% of lighter-skinned Latinos.
This disparity reveals how deeply ingrained Eurocentric beauty standards are within Latino culture. As a result, internalized racism leads many Latinos to hold negative stereotypes about their own communities, particularly through colorism. This phenomenon can be traced back to the Spanish conquest, colonization, and slavery, which established a racial hierarchy favoring white individuals and discriminating against Black and Indigenous people.
And it’s not just about beauty; it’s also about opportunity. The belief that straighter hair equals professionalism and respectability has real-world consequences, from job opportunities to social acceptance. Many Afro-Latinos feel pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards just to be taken seriously.
A Shift in Perspective
In recent years, the natural hair movement has gained momentum, with more Latinas embracing their curls and coils unapologetically and even as a form of cultural resistance. Social media has played a part in enabling this shift, with influencers and activists challenging the idea of pelo malo and replacing it with affirmations like “pelo bello,” translating to “beautiful hair,” as a way to reclaim the narrative and celebrate natural textures.
More and more women are sharing their hair journeys online, offering tips, support, and encouragement to others learning to love their natural hair. This movement has contributed to a gradual shift in beauty standards within Latino communities, with more individuals embracing their natural hair as a form of cultural pride and self-acceptance.
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The increased demand for natural hair products has also led to greater availability of specialized hair care items and information, making it easier for people to care for their curls and coils.
Shifting the Narrative
Breaking free from the pelo malo mentality takes time and effort. It starts with unlearning biases and having honest conversations within families and communities. It means teaching the next generation to love their hair from the start and showing them that beauty comes in all textures and styles.
The truth is, pelo malo isn't real, but the damage it’s caused is. By embracing natural hair and rejecting harmful beauty standards, the next time someone mentions pelo malo they can be reminded that bad hair doesn’t exist, only misinformed mindsets do.
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Since taking office for a second term on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump has signed a dizzying amount of executive orders. On his first day in office alone, Trump enacted an unprecedented 42 executive orders, memoranda, and proclamations. This flurry of activity set the tone for the aggressive use of executive power and testing of that power as legal experts confirmed that some orders, like birthright citizenship, for example, likely weren’t within his executive power to change.
The immigration-related orders address border security, asylum regulations, refugee admissions, birthright citizenship, and federal enforcement partnerships, causing much confusion about what’s next. Executive orders are a tool used by U.S. presidents to direct the operations of the federal government. While they carry the force of law, they don’t create new legislation, override existing laws, or change the constitution or constitutional rights. Instead, they instruct federal agencies on how to implement policies and enforce laws that are already in place.
How Executive Orders Work
When a president issues an executive order, it’s published in the Federal Register, the official daily journal of the U.S. government. While agencies are required to follow the directives in executive orders, the implementation of the orders isn’t always immediate. Some orders may require agencies to develop new regulations or procedures before they can be enforced, which can take time.
If an order requires funding, it may also depend on Congress to allocate the necessary resources. Additionally, executive orders are subject to legal scrutiny and can be challenged in court if they are believed to exceed presidential authority or conflict with the Constitution.
Executive orders are also not permanent. A future president can revoke or amend them, Congress can pass laws that override them, and courts can block them if they are deemed unconstitutional. All this explains why simply signing executive orders doesn’t change the law overnight.
Recent Executive Orders on Immigration, Explained
During the first couple of weeks of his second term, Trump has signed multiple executive orders focusing on immigration policy. These orders address border security, asylum regulations, refugee admissions, birthright citizenship, and federal enforcement partnerships:
The Laken Riley Act and Guantanamo Bay
On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law a week after Republicans, with the support of a minority of Democrats, voted to pass it. Afterward, Trump issued a separate executive order regarding Guantanamo Bay. This executive order instructs the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare Guantanamo Bay to detain up to 30,000 "criminal illegal aliens.".The order mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants who are arrested for specific crimes, including minor and non-violent offenses, such as theft and shoplifting.
Under this directive, the Department of Homeland Security is required to take custody of immigrants charged with these offenses. The order would expand an existing migrant detention center at the base, which has historically been used for those intercepted at sea, particularly immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.
The order also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government if they can demonstrate that immigration policies are not being enforced effectively. Additionally, state officials may take legal action against the U.S. State Department to block the issuance of visas to individuals from certain countries. While the order calls for increased detention efforts, it doesn’t allocate additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security for implementation, which could pose logistical and financial challenges.
While the administration has stated that the facility will be used for individuals deemed to pose security risks, the move has sparked legal and human rights concerns. Human rights organizations and legal experts have raised questions about the legal framework under which detainees will be held, given Guantanamo Bay's history of legal complexities regarding detainee rights and due process.
Given the lack of funding, logistical obstacles, and legal complexities of this order, the likelihood of this order moving forward remains unclear.
Border Security and Enforcement Orders
President Trump has also issued executive orders aimed at increasing security along the southern U.S. border. The order "Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States" declared a national emergency at the border, authorizing the deployment of military personnel to assist Border Patrol agents. It also directs the construction of additional physical barriers and the use of unmanned aerial systems for border surveillance.
Another executive order, "Securing Our Borders,” mandates the detention of all undocumented individuals until their immigration cases are resolved. It also calls for criminal charges against those who aid unauthorized migrants and ends parole programs for migrants from certain countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The administration has framed these measures as efforts to curb illegal immigration, though they’re expected to face legal challenges.
Refugee and Asylum Restrictions
Another set of executive orders has significantly restricted access to processes for those seeking asylum in the U.S. The executive order titled "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program" indefinitely suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) since January 27, 2025. The suspension will be reviewed every 90 days to determine if resuming admissions aligns with U.S. interests and there are case-by-case exceptions for those deemed to be in the national interest. The order has resulted in the immediate cancellation of refugee flights, affecting approximately 10,000 refugees who had already completed the vetting process and had travel scheduled.
The executive order "Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion" effectively blocks asylum claims at the southern border, invoking Article IV of the Constitution as justification. The order suspends entry and eliminates the right to seek asylum for migrants "engaged in the invasion across the southern border.” "Invasion” isn’t defined but implies that the border is overrun with impermissible entries. Courts have consistently ruled that immigration, even in large numbers, does not constitute an "invasion" under the Constitution. Additionally, while numbers increased significantly in some years, recent data shows a substantial decrease in encounters, contradicting the notion of an ongoing "invasion."
This executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security to immediately repel, repatriate, and remove illegal aliens across the southern border. It has led to a near-total restriction on asylum claims at ports of entry, with U.S. border agents instructed to summarily deport migrants crossing into the country unlawfully without allowing them to request legal protection.
Birthright Citizenship Redefinition
President Trump also signed an order redefining the criteria for birthright citizenship. The directive states that automatic citizenship will no longer be granted to children born in the U.S. unless at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
This order directly challenges the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and has already been met with legal opposition. Civil rights organizations and immigration advocates have filed lawsuits arguing that the order is unconstitutional and could create uncertainty for children born to parents with temporary legal status, such as those on student or work visas.
Judge John C. Coughenour has temporarily blocked this executive order from moving forward. Judge Coughenour’s ruling is part of a broader legal challenge to Trump's executive order, with at least five separate lawsuits filed by 22 states and various immigrant rights organizations nationwide.
Enhanced Vetting and Travel Restrictions
President Trump's executive order titled "Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats" has reinstated and expanded extreme vetting measures for some visa applicants. The order directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with other agencies, to identify all resources that can be used to vet and screen foreign nationals seeking admission to the U.S. or already present in the country "to the maximum degree possible." It also orders these agencies to re-establish a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards, consistent with what existed on January 19, 2021.
Moreover, it mandates evaluations and adjustments to existing regulations, policies, and procedures related to grounds of inadmissibility. This order is likely to face legal challenges, similar to previous travel ban attempts. Courts may scrutinize whether the order exceeds presidential authority or conflicts with existing laws and constitutional protections.
Federal-State Enforcement Partnerships
The "Protecting the American People Against Invasion” order focuses on increasing cooperation between federal immigration authorities and state and local law enforcement agencies. This directive withholds federal funding from jurisdictions that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
It also expands the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement officers to act as immigration agents. Critics of this approach have raised concerns that it could lead to racial profiling and diminished trust in law enforcement among immigrant communities.
The Legal and Practical Challenges
Many of these executive orders are expected to face significant legal challenges. Efforts to redefine birthright citizenship, for instance, directly conflict with constitutional protections, while expanded federal enforcement partnerships could strain relationships between local and federal authorities. Additionally, funding remains a major obstacle, as several initiatives—such as increased detention and border security measures—require congressional approval for full implementation and are coming in with hefty price tags.
The broader impact of these executive orders will depend on how they’re enforced and whether they withstand judicial scrutiny. While executive orders provide a president with the ability to enact policy changes without congressional approval, their long-term effectiveness is often shaped by legal, political, and financial constraints.
While executive orders are an essential tool in shaping federal policy, they operate within limits. They allow presidents to act quickly on pressing issues, but they’re subject to checks and balances from Congress and the courts.
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In 2025, the Lunar New Year festivities begin on January 29, marking the start of the Year of the Wood Snake. This year brings a special energy rooted in transformation, wisdom, and growth. The practice of feng shui instructs us how to direct the energies that come our way, and understanding the annual energies can provide clarity and direction.
Whether you celebrate with family traditions or just take inspiration from the themes of the Chinese zodiac, this is a powerful time to embrace change and align with your deepest goals.
The Snake, often misunderstood in Western traditions, is a revered symbol in Chinese culture. Known for its wisdom and ability to shed its skin, the Snake represents renewal and transformation. The Wood element of this year adds to that by representing creativity, adaptability, and personal growth, making 2025 the perfect time to pursue new opportunities and expand your horizons.
The Meaning Behind the Snake in Chinese Astrology
The Snake is seen as a creature of elegance, intuition, and strategy in Chinese culture. Its ability to shed its skin symbolizes transformation, an idea that influences the energy of 2025. If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure of your next steps, the Year of the Wood Snake offers the perfect environment for change.
In Chinese astrology, people born in a Snake year are often described as intelligent, resourceful, and charming. They’re said to have a quiet strength, capable of navigating life’s challenges with grace and foresight. These qualities define the energy of 2025 from a Chinese astrology perspective, encouraging everyone to think carefully, act deliberately, and embrace opportunities for growth.
Lunar New Year: What 2025 Will Bring
The Chinese horoscope establishes 2025 as a year of transformation and growth, both on personal and collective levels. The Snake’s energy inspires strategic thinking, making it a time to plan carefully and move forward with confidence. If you’ve been working hard in your career, 2025 could bring long-awaited breakthroughs. Many may see opportunities for financial growth as well, but it’s important to remain patient and avoid impulsive decisions.
The introspective nature of the Snake also encourages spiritual development. You might find yourself drawn to activities like meditation, journaling, or spending quiet time in nature. These practices can help you connect with your inner wisdom and navigate the year’s challenges with clarity and purpose.
However, not every sign will experience the Year of the Snake in the same way. For some, this will be a time of great fortune, while others may need to approach the year with extra caution and resilience. It’s forecasted that those born in the year of the Tiger will face the most significant challenges, with potential setbacks in various areas of life, while the Snake, as the ruling sign of the year, is expected to have the most favorable experiences overall, with opportunities for growth and transformation.
Making the Most of the Snake’s Energy
While each sign will have their own unique energies to navigate, overall, the Year of the Wood Snake is favorable if approached correctly. The Wood Snake energy isn’t about rushing toward your goals or forcing outcomes. Instead, it’s about aligning with your inner wisdom and trusting the process. Just as the Snake moves deliberately, so should we. This is a year to shed old habits, embrace new opportunities, and approach life with patience and intention.
Transformation takes time, but it also takes courage. If there are parts of your life that no longer serve you—whether it’s a job, a relationship, or even a mindset—this might be the year to let them go. In their place, Chinese astrology encourages people to create space for something new and trust that the changes they make now will set the foundation for future growth.
At the same time, it encourages us to think strategically. Rather than diving into decisions headfirst, take the time to reflect, research, and plan. Whether you’re pursuing a new career path, starting a creative project, or deepening your relationships, careful preparation will ensure lasting success.
Spiritual growth is another key theme of this Lunar New Year. The Snake’s introspective nature is an invitation to slow down and connect with ourselves on a deeper level. Activities like mindfulness, yoga, or simply taking quiet moments to reflect can help you tune into your intuition and make decisions that truly align with your values.
2025: A Time of Renewal and Growth
Lunar New Year is often celebrated with joy and gratitude, and it’s no different this year. The traditions that define the Lunar New Year are all reminders of renewal and the importance of community. In many households, elders pass down red envelopes filled with money to younger generations, symbolizing blessings for the year ahead.
For those who don’t celebrate Lunar New Year traditionally, there’s still much to learn and embrace from the themes of the Wood Snake. This is a year to reflect on your growth, honor your resilience, and move forward with intention. Even small changes can lead to profound transformations, just as a snake sheds its skin to grow stronger.
The Year of the Wood Snake reminds us that transformation isn’t always dramatic. Instead, it can be subtle, quiet, and deeply personal. It’s about trusting the process, honoring your intuition, and moving through life with grace and purpose. Whether you’re starting a new chapter, deepening existing commitments, or simply seeking clarity, this year offers the perfect opportunity to align with your true self and embrace the possibilities ahead.
As you step into the Year of the Snake, take a moment to reflect on what you want to leave behind and what you’re ready to embrace. Transformation, after all, begins with a single, intentional step.
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