In Response to "What is Good Hair?"

Chishala's post "What is Good Hair?" reminded me of a song called "I Am Not My Hair" by India.Arie and Akon. I think the song also relates the documentary we watched in class about beauty in African American women. I will post both the lyrics and the youtube link--- let me know what you think. Based on what we saw in the video/your understanding, do you think it's an accurate representation or just the experience of one woman?

Link: I Am Not My Hair

[Akon]
Uh-huh
See I can kinda recall
(Little ways back)
Small tryin' to ball
(Always been black)
And my hair I tried it all
(I even went flat)
Had a Gumby curly top and all the crap, now (ohhh)
Was tryin' to be (appreciated)
Nappy headed brothers never had (no ladies) (no ladies)
Then I Hit by the barber shop (real quick )
had the mini little (twist) and it drove them crazy (drove 'em crazyyy)
And then I couldn't get (no job)
Cause corporate wasn't hiring (no dreadlocks) (oh-no)
Then I thought about my dogs (on the block)
Kinda understand why they chose to (steal and rob) (uh-huh)
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 (seems so flaw)
Success didn't come 'til I (cut it all off) (uh-huh)

[India.Arie]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen then I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
Fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen when I went all natural
February 2002 I
Went on and did what I had to do (oh)
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 ex-pec-tations no no (heyy)
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

[India.Arie]
Good hair means curls and waves (no)
Bad hair means you look like a slave (no)
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
Got it 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....

[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your ex-pec-tations no no (heyy)
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

[Akon]
Who cares if you don't like that
With nothin' to lose posted with the wave cap
When the cops tryin' to harass
Cause I got waves
Aint seen nothin' like that in all my days (noo...)
Man, you gotta change all these feelings
They be judging one another by their appearance
Yes, India I feel ya girl
Now ahead, talk to the rest of the world
Cause, cause, cause

[India.Arie][Bridge]
(oh, oh, oh)
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? nooo...
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity...

[India.Arie]
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crowning 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's]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your ex-pec-tations no no (heyy)
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

(source: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/i-am-not-my-hair-lyrics-india-arie/531ba18215ef78ce4825710b002a28b2)