I Am Not My Hair (feat. 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 and then I went all natural
February two thousand and two I
Went on and did what I had to do
Cause it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
Looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that
Hey
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectations, no no
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am the soul that lives within
(Oh my God, is that Pink? Why is her hair brown?)
(She must call herself Brown now)
I don't think I'll ever buy another comb
If it means I'll be pigeon-holed
Hair grows no matter what you do
Don't you wish that people did too?
Black or pink or blue and green
Change is scary, but worth it believe me
Never really even gave it much thought
I'm sorry it's so important to y'all
But, hey
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectations, no no
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am the soul that lives within
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
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?
Oooh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Short or long, no brown is wrong
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity
Breast cancer and chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life
On national television her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like hey
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectations
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am the soul that lives within
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectations
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am the soul that lives within
If I wanna shave it close or I wanna rock locs
That don't take a bit away from this soul that I got
If I wanna wear it braided all down my back
I don't see nothing wrong with that