#Speak: He asked, "So when is her hair going to be long?" I sat in a few seconds of stillness wondering from which position should I respond to this question. Should I answer from the perspective of a woman who is burdened by the measurement that her woman is defined by the length of her hair? Should I respond as a mother who spends every opportunity given to instill self-values, to build a healthy self-esteem for her daughter, and to give tools for a healthy self-image so that she would not be fettered by such question? Or maybe I should respond as a Black woman who had to endure statements of whose hair is longer than the other or why my hair didn't grow at the same rate and pattern as white girls? Should I excuse the ignorance and just shake my head and then turn around and say something different when he's not around? Do I say 'I don't know' when I really know the answer and hope that my daughter would ignore it and do the same? I had to be direct and I wanted to affirm the truth, but say it in a way that he would never part his lips to ask that question and that he will walk away with the wisdom to respond similarly should he ever be placed in my shoes. It's funny. Skye loves #donttouchmyhair by @saintrecords. She sings that song with conviction and will drop her toys when the song comes on. I have to sing loudly over "...this hair is my s—" so that she doesn't sing "that" lyric (I know she will catch me slipping one day). But when @samphaaa comes through, she does this little dance and shouts, "What you say to me? What you say to me?" I knew what I had to say. "Her hair is long and long enough at this point. It will not grow straight like a white girl's hair. Skye is biracial. Skye has curly hair like her brothers. Her hair is beautiful and well-taken care of. There's nothing wrong with her hair and don't ask that again." End of conversation. #lessons #healthygirlpower #psalm139v14 #selfesteem #blackhaircare #respectmyhair #iambeautiful #freedom #empowered #iamnotmyhair
