I Am Not My Hair

Is that India. Arie? What happened to her hair?

Little girl with the press and curl

Age eight I got a Jheri curl

Thirteen and I got a relaxer

I was a source of so much laughter

At fifteen when it all broke off

Eighteen and I went all natural

February two thousand and two

I went on and did

What I had to do

Because it was time to change my life

To become the women that I am inside

Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone

I 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

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am the soul that lives within

What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy

I like it. I might do that

Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know.. Ha ha ha ha

Good hair means curls and waves

Bad hair means you look like a slave

At the turn of the century

It's time for us to redefine who we be

You can shave it off

Like a South African beauty

Or get in on lock

Like Bob Marley

You can rock it straight

Like Oprah Winfrey

If it's not what's on your head

It's what's underneath and say HEY

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, 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)

Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

I am expressing my creativity

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy

Took away her crowning glory

She promised God if she was to survive

She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh

On national television

Her diamond eyes are sparkling

Bald headed like a full Moon shining

Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your expectations, no

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, no

I am not my hair

I am the soul that lives within

If I wanna shave it close

Or if I wanna rock locks

That don't take a bit away

From the soul that I got

Dat da da dat da

If I wanna wear it braided

All down my back

I don't see nothing wrong with that

Dat da da dat da

Is that India. Arie?

Ooh look she cut her hair!

I like that, its kinda PHAT

I don't know if I could do it

But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her

She got a nice shaped head

She got an apple head

I know right?

It's perfect