​Owning my value implies that I embrace all of me.
I have struggled for most of my life with the false narrative that my hair in its natural state isn’t enough! I am sick and tired of that narrative, so I have created a new one. Repeat after me, "My hair is beautiful in whatever state it is in." This affirmation did not stick easily and to be quite honest I remind myself daily that my organic hair is beautiful. These constant reminders bring into question why I feel this way at all. My natural black hair was deemed unacceptable by white society long before I was born and from that, an unfair toxic norm was created and accepted by society and my culture.
My culture, society, and corporate America told me my hair was not good enough and that is was unprofessional. I must pause here for a moment to ponder on how absurd this notion is and the fact that we have accepted this notion for far too long. Ok. Pause over. My family established this unhealthy belief system in me as a little girl. I was taught that straight hair was beautiful, and my kinky curly hair was not. Yes, I said kinky curly because we must stop using words like nappy and frizzy that carry a negative connotation. As a culture we should embrace our beautiful kinky curls and coils, they are majestic and magical!
 Owning my value insinuates that I must welcome all of me. If we do not know that my worth is not based on my hair type or style, then I may need to do some self-image work.
Learning to love my natural hair has been a journey and a painful one at that. However, now I embrace my hair just as it is and if you do not like it, that is not my concern. You will be the one who misses out on me and my beautiful journey. I am not my hair, I am me, and my hair is a part of who I am. My intellect, personality, character, integrity, and love should not be assessed merely by the way a class or social group portray my hair.
Love your hair, I know I will love mine!
#itismyhair