Enjoy.
As a young black girl, growing up watching Disney channel, all I saw was teenage girls with straight hair. Even when I saw black girls on TV, they had their hair straight.
Seeing these characters I looked up to, I wanted to be like them.
I used to put blankets, shirts, and capes on my head to make my hair "long and straight".
I always thought that we as young black girls were supposed to have straight hair.
Now imagine, a 9 year old little girl with her two-strand twist, running around the house with her pink cape wrapped around her head.
Not realizing that she was conforming to the standards of European beauty.
Not realizing that she was covering her natural curls.
She didn't realize that she was hiding herself.
Now at 15, She has come to realize her true identity.
Now She realizes the power and aura she carries with her temple.
Embracing her natural curls, She now realizes who she is.
A young black woman in the making.
- SJ
