I AM NOT MY HAIR

My afro stands out and tall amongst others

But I am not my hair.

My afro gets compliments as I strut down the halls

But I am not my hair.

Suddenly, I am told my afro isn’t neat or professional

They say it is the school rules

But I am not my hair.

Filled with rage and desperation for change, I tell them  

I am not my hair.

I challenge their judgement and tell them this is the way I was born

Different from the majority doesn’t make it unpresentable

They finally understand

 I am not my hair.

Although change has been made, everyone needs to know

I am not my hair.

Fear sits within me before I speak to hundreds of my peers

I stood out as a minority and feared being outnumbered by negative feedback

I put my fear aside because it must be said

I am not my hair.

My knees were quivering with anxiety, but it stopped as the standing ovation started

The ovation let me know that everyone understood my message

I AM NOT MY HAIR.

WE ARE NOT OUR HAIR.