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I Am Not My Hair

I get told that I have "good" hair because of its texture and length etc... Now I think I'm supposed to gush pleasure at these compliments but to be honest it kind of annoys me. I don't see hair as being "good" or "bad". Hair is hair... I watched Chris Rocks "Good Hair" a while ago and I was a little sad at how much focus people put on the idea of "good" hair. Some people were going without paying rent so that they could attain "good" hair by any means... I don't really understand the whole focus on certain hair, skin and looks being seen as good or better...
Following are song lyrics for "I Am Not My Hair" by India Arie which I think say it brilliantly.

I Am Not My Hair
See I can kinda recall
Little ways back small tryin' to bawl
Always been black and my hair I tried it all
I even went flat, had a gumdee curly top and all the crap, now
Tryin' to be appreciated
Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies
Then I hit by the barber shop real quick
Had em give me little twist and it drove them crazy
And then I couldn't get no job
No corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks
Then I thought about my dogs on the block
Kinda understand why they chose a stealin' rock
Was it the hair that got me this far? (uh-huh)
All these girls these cribs these cars (uh-huh)
Hate to say it but it seem so flawed
Cause success didn't come 'till i cut it all off (uh-huh)

Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a jerry curl
Thirteen then I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
Fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and then I went all natural
February two thousand and two I
Went and did what I had to do
Cause it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
Looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that
Hey...

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your ex-pec-tations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

Good hair means curls and waves (Noooo)
Bad hair means you look like a slave (Noooo )
At the turn of the century
It's time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head
It's what's underneath and say
Hey....

Who cares if you don't like that
With nothin' to lose post it with a wave cap
When the cops tryin' to harass
Cause I got waves
But he's sayin' nothin' like that
Not in my days (noo...)
Now you gotta change all feeling's
Based on one another by their appearance
Yes, India I feel ya girl
Now go on and talk the rest of the world

Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? nooo...
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
I am expressing my creativity...

Breast cancer and chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh...
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like
Hey...

chy

@chy

Just TRYING to live the way God wants me to and give him all the Glory. KiK is tigger35 talk to me

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Comments & Feedback (5)

Hello stranger hope your ok😊

@sjw hello, I'm okay thank you. Just battling with life but very alive and kicking 😊😽 how are you? Did you enjoy your hols? Hope all is well with you and the family 💗

@MrsS Thanks for the repost hun 💗😽

@chy cool

We are all good thank you and the holiday was great 😊 glad your ok 😘💗

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