Article in the Miami Herald

Leonard Pitts Jr., who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2004, wrote a wonderful article in response to the movie “Good Hair”

Here is the article, but my favorite quote is below:

So go on, sister, do what you do. I ain’t mad at’cha. But neither am I fooled by your chemicals and weaves.

I am your brother, your father, your husband and your son. I’ve seen you in church with big hats on, giving children the evil eye. And at the jail on visiting day, shoring up that wayward man. And at the bus stop in the rain on your way to work. And at the dining table with pen and paper, working miracles of money. When I was a baby, you nursed me, when we were children, I chased you through the house; when we were dating, I missed half the movie, stealing sugar from you. I saw you born; I took you to your prom; I glowed with pride when you went off to school. I have married you and buried you. I love your smile. A million times, you took my breath away.

You are the rock and salvation of our people, the faith that remains when all hope is gone. So if it’s about the need to be beautiful, maybe it’s time somebody told you:

You already are. You always were.

Thank you, Mr. Pitts, for your beautiful words. I hope more African American women will know that they can be beautiful without the weaves and relaxers.