Natural Beauty

Born into a world with the ‘installed logic’
That the next ‘white girl’s’ hair was better than mine
That my African-American hair was ‘incompetent’ and not ‘up to par’ with theirs
That in order for me to look ‘beautiful’
My hair had to be long and ‘nap-free’
People of every race, every color
Telling me that I should do ‘something’ with my hair
So I did
I flat-ironed it
I permed it
I relaxed it- you name it
All types of chemicals I put   in my hair

Thinking I’d finally have a peace of mind
Done 
Finished

Now my hair was just like everybody else
Moving along with the wind  
And being able to be combed with ease
Including the other black girls that ‘ran away’ from their naps.
Years and years passed
‘Till I realized the uttermost bittersweet truth
I wasn’t living my life
I was living a life based on general sayings of society
I wasn’t valuing my African roots
Filled with coarse, thick and black, but naturally beautiful and curly hair
So I cut it
Cut every single unnatural strand
‘Till, at last, my hair was the way it was meant to be
Beauty isn’t measured by how long or short a girl’s hair is

It’s measured by her intellect and the way she carries herself
My hair may be nappy and coarse as people say

But, at least, that’s me and all of me
I’m black and I’m proud
Best believe it too!