One of my favorite songs is "I Am Not My Hair" by the soulful India Arie. It just expresses exactly how I feel about the whole hair issue: my hair does not define me. It is only an extension of me and my beauty is determined not by what I do with it but rather how I view what I have done with it. PERCEPTION is key here. If your self worth is dictated by a physical change to your image then your set of evaluation tools definitely need to be reexamined.
Don't get me wrong, of course we want to feel beautiful…and our hair can play a large role in that…but don't let your standard for that beauty be dictated by what has been deemed acceptable and conventional in our society. Set your own standards. Don't feel like you aren't pretty just because what you have doesn't look like what is paraded and celebrated in media or even in the majority. Our differences are what make us unique; our uniqueness is what makes us special; and without that, you just blend in to the blasé palette of a colorless life. I know I don't want that…
So, that is why I wanted to share this song today. Many of you have most likely already heard it before, but just let the lyrics and the message permeate your life today. If you're feeling any kind of doubts about your decisions to embrace who you are naturally, then hopefully this can bring a little inspirational uplift to your confidences to guide you back onto the right path.
"I Am Not My Hair"
(feat. Akon)
[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha
Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh
[Verse 1]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen and I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February 2002
I went on and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the woman that I am inside
'97 dreadlocks all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY....
[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within
[Talking:]
What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy
I like it. I might do that.
Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know .. ha ha ha ha
[Verse 2]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get it on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
It's not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say HEY....
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity..
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[Verse 3]
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...
[Chorus 2x]
[Ad lib]
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got
Dat da da dat da [4x]
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don't see what's wrong with that
Dat da da dat da [4x]
[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, its kinda PHAT
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect
Is that India.Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha
Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh
[Verse 1]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen and I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February 2002
I went on and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the woman that I am inside
'97 dreadlocks all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY....
[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within
[Talking:]
What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy
I like it. I might do that.
Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know .. ha ha ha ha
[Verse 2]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get it on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
It's not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say HEY....
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity..
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
[Verse 3]
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...
[Chorus 2x]
[Ad lib]
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got
Dat da da dat da [4x]
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don't see what's wrong with that
Dat da da dat da [4x]
[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, its kinda PHAT
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect
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