Dr. Leahcim Semaj
Psychologist | Author | Quantum Transformation Facilitator
The Semaj MindSpa — Where Mind, Spirit, and Science Meet
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.”
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
In 1973, when I chose dreadlocks, the statement was clear. It had one meaning: Rastafari. Afrocentric. Revolutionary.
There was no ambiguity. Dreadlocks were a conscious, spiritual, cultural, and political decision. A declaration of identity. A rebellion against colonial norms and a re-rooting in ancestral wisdom.
For thirty years, I wore my hair in locs – through academia and corporate corridors, across the USA, South America, Europe, and throughout the Caribbean. I wore them with pride, purpose, and poise.
But here’s the paradox.
All my negative experiences came from people who also had African ancestry.
It wasn’t Europe or America that dealt the harshest blows – it was the Caribbean.
My own people.
“Rasta Can’t Teach Me Nuttin”
One moment is forever etched in my memory.
I was teaching Consumer Psychology at the Extramural Department on Camp Road. On the first night of class, as I introduced the course, Director Ken Carter stepped into the room. A senior civil servant – upon discovering that I was the lecturer – had gone to him, demanding a refund.
Her words?
“Rasta can’t teach har nottin.”
Ken calmly shared her request with the class, then extended a standing invitation:
“If anyone else feels the same, you are welcome to collect a refund at the office. But let me be clear – Dr. Semaj is the most qualified person in Jamaica to teach this course. In fact, there’s a waiting list of people hoping to get in.”
Not one person got up.
Not even the senior civil servant.
But the wound lingered. Because the root of the resistance wasn’t academic – it was cultural. My appearance – my crown – was too much for some to accept, regardless of credentials, experience, or expertise.
Deported for Dreadlocks
And that was just one example.
I have been arrested, refused entry or deported while on UWI or government business – not for my actions, but for my appearance; in British Virgin Island, Dominica, St. Kitts and Antigua. The assumption: Dreadlocks meant deviance. Even when I carried credentials, contracts, and contribution.
A New Crown, A New Perspective
Today, dreadlocks mean “everything.” Which, by logic, means… nothing.
Anyone can wear them now – spiritual, fashionable, or for shock value.
There’s no longer a clear message attached.
So I shaved my head.
Not in surrender. Not in shame.
But as a symbol of personal repositioning.
Because what’s in my head has always mattered more than what’s on it.
The Stages of Man
As seen in the image accompanying this post, I have worn many crowns – locs, salt-and-pepper beard, clean-shaven clarity.
Each stage, a reflection of transformation, not conformity.
And as I’ve evolved, so has my understanding of power, perception, and prejudice.
The lesson?
Our appearance may provoke assumptions, but it is our character that rewrites the narrative.
Even when the system resists, even when our own people don’t yet see us clearly – we press forward.
Reflection Prompt:
- Have you ever been judged because of your appearance – by those you least expected?
- How do you define your own transformation?
Drop your thoughts below or share this story with someone who needs to remember that we are more than what we wear—we are who we become.
“No Crown Required: My Mind Is My Message”
A Note to My Readers
If this message speaks to where you are in life, let’s talk. Book a 1-on-1 MindSpa consultation and begin your transformation journey today. You’re also invited to subscribe to my newsletter and share it with those who may benefit.
I’m available to bring this message to your organization or audience through keynotes, workshops, or customized seminars.
I don’t write to convince or convert — only to share insights gained from years of observation, study, and experience. These are simply perspectives, offered to inspire thought, not debate.
If my words resonate with you, I welcome that. If not, I invite you to take what serves you and leave the rest.
My MindSpa consultation sessions are different. They are sacred spaces where I partner with individuals who are seeking clarity, transformation, and growth. If that’s what you desire, I would be honored to support your journey.
Until then, may you continue forward with curiosity and grace