1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,162
WWW.MY-SUBS.COM
1
00:00:00,104 --> 00:00:02,031
Today, the natural hair movement
2
00:00:02,070 --> 00:00:04,500
is a celebration
that allows women of color
3
00:00:04,547 --> 00:00:08,046
to wear their kinky tendrils
loudly and proudly.
4
00:00:08,092 --> 00:00:10,271
But we had to fight to get here,
5
00:00:10,355 --> 00:00:12,784
and our hair used to be
the tip of the spear.
6
00:00:12,863 --> 00:00:15,497
So, while the afros
of the '60s and the '70s
7
00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:18,567
became those decades' symbols
of revolution...
8
00:00:18,669 --> 00:00:21,770
hair in the '80s became
all about assimilation.
9
00:00:21,872 --> 00:00:24,906
See, once black people
found themselves in jobs
10
00:00:25,008 --> 00:00:27,409
that used to be only open
to white people,
11
00:00:27,511 --> 00:00:30,278
natural hair became
a symbol of otherness.
12
00:00:30,380 --> 00:00:33,782
So, to fit in, we dyed it,
tied it, and fried it.
13
00:00:33,884 --> 00:00:36,952
But me, I still hadn't gotten the memo.
14
00:00:37,054 --> 00:00:40,522
Excuse me, your hair
is making it hard to learn.
15
00:00:40,624 --> 00:00:43,291
- Oh. Sorry.
- So, Wednesday is...
16
00:00:43,393 --> 00:00:44,593
picture day!
17
00:00:44,661 --> 00:00:47,496
I know I say this every year,
but school pictures
18
00:00:47,564 --> 00:00:50,932
are how people will remember you
for the rest of your lives.
19
00:00:51,001 --> 00:00:53,001
If you want to learn that
the hard way, fine.
20
00:00:53,070 --> 00:00:55,670
They don't pay me enough
to argue with children.
21
00:00:55,739 --> 00:00:57,606
It's true. You should
take the pictures seriously.
22
00:00:57,708 --> 00:00:58,874
People still rag on me
23
00:00:58,976 --> 00:01:01,109
because my left eye
used to be a little lazy.
24
00:01:03,547 --> 00:01:05,947
- Well, now you can barely tell.
- What?
25
00:01:06,049 --> 00:01:07,249
It's supposed to be gone!
26
00:01:07,351 --> 00:01:08,950
That continues into adulthood.
27
00:01:08,986 --> 00:01:11,253
And because school pictures
are so important,
28
00:01:11,321 --> 00:01:15,157
we will not wear T-shirts
with bad words on them, Jeffrey.
29
00:01:15,225 --> 00:01:21,196
We will keep our tongues
inside of our mouths, Daniel.
30
00:01:21,298 --> 00:01:23,899
Our clothes will be pressed,
31
00:01:24,001 --> 00:01:26,001
and our hair will be neat.
32
00:01:26,103 --> 00:01:29,604
I repeat, our hair will be neat.
33
00:01:29,706 --> 00:01:32,574
So, while today, my hair is an emblem
34
00:01:32,676 --> 00:01:35,810
of my proud,
unapologetic black heritage,
35
00:01:35,913 --> 00:01:37,379
for 12-year-old me,
36
00:01:37,481 --> 00:01:40,549
it was just another way I was different.
37
00:01:40,651 --> 00:01:41,816
♪ In the mix ♪
38
00:01:41,919 --> 00:01:44,219
♪ Oh, oh, oh, they keep trying ♪
39
00:01:44,321 --> 00:01:46,521
♪ But they can't stop us ♪
40
00:01:46,623 --> 00:01:48,890
♪ 'Cause we got a love ♪
41
00:01:48,992 --> 00:01:51,226
♪ That keeps rising up ♪
42
00:01:51,328 --> 00:01:52,460
♪ In the mix ♪
43
00:01:52,563 --> 00:01:54,162
♪ Life turns around ♪
44
00:01:54,264 --> 00:01:55,730
♪ 'Round and 'round it goes ♪
45
00:01:55,832 --> 00:01:58,333
♪ Ooh, it's a mixed-up world ♪
♪ Ooh, it's a mixed-up ♪
46
00:01:58,435 --> 00:02:00,101
♪ And that's for sure ♪
♪ Mixed-up ♪
47
00:02:00,204 --> 00:02:01,836
♪ In the mix ♪
♪ Baby ♪
48
00:02:01,939 --> 00:02:03,605
♪ We're gonna get by ♪
49
00:02:03,674 --> 00:02:05,807
♪ We're gonna ♪
♪ On our own, side by side ♪
50
00:02:05,909 --> 00:02:08,577
♪ Love's all we need to be free ♪
♪ Lo-o-o-ve is all ♪
51
00:02:08,679 --> 00:02:10,712
♪ I got you, you got me ♪
52
00:02:10,814 --> 00:02:13,444
♪ Yaaaaay us! ♪
53
00:02:13,522 --> 00:02:15,050
♪ I-I-In the mix ♪
54
00:02:15,152 --> 00:02:17,928
♪ Yaaaaay us! ♪
55
00:02:17,999 --> 00:02:20,662
♪ I-I-In the mix-ish ♪
56
00:02:20,757 --> 00:02:22,157
Synced & corrected by kinglouisxx
www.MY-SUBS.com
57
00:02:22,258 --> 00:02:23,959
Hey, kids!
58
00:02:23,984 --> 00:02:24,950
- Hey, Grandpa.
- Hey.
59
00:02:24,975 --> 00:02:26,004
- Hello.
- Grandpa!
60
00:02:26,029 --> 00:02:27,329
If you two hang out enough,
61
00:02:27,431 --> 00:02:29,764
maybe your cycles will sync up.
62
00:02:29,866 --> 00:02:31,066
That's very funny.
63
00:02:31,134 --> 00:02:32,678
But I'm actually pretty good
at this hair thing.
64
00:02:32,788 --> 00:02:34,725
- Right, Santamonica?
- Can I be honest?
65
00:02:35,806 --> 00:02:37,672
You're kind of a one-trick pony.
66
00:02:42,145 --> 00:02:44,446
Oh, that reminds me.
67
00:02:44,548 --> 00:02:46,741
Make sure it's a Mom hair day Wednesday.
68
00:02:46,811 --> 00:02:47,882
We're taking pictures at school.
69
00:02:47,985 --> 00:02:49,384
Got it.
70
00:02:49,486 --> 00:02:51,553
Guys, come on, I can bring
my A-game for picture day.
71
00:02:51,655 --> 00:02:54,122
My hair is not a game. I want Mommy!
72
00:02:54,224 --> 00:02:56,224
Baby, don't worry about picture day.
73
00:02:56,326 --> 00:02:58,593
All of you have perfect hair.
74
00:02:58,662 --> 00:03:00,362
Yeah, a lady at the grocery store
75
00:03:00,464 --> 00:03:01,496
asked who did my perm.
76
00:03:01,598 --> 00:03:03,898
But this picture thing
seems like a big deal.
77
00:03:04,001 --> 00:03:05,500
Ms. Collins said my hair
should look neat and...
78
00:03:05,602 --> 00:03:06,635
Excuse me?
79
00:03:06,737 --> 00:03:08,169
Neat?
80
00:03:08,272 --> 00:03:10,705
She said "neat"?
81
00:03:10,774 --> 00:03:13,592
Who are you to tell my daughter
how to wear her hair?
82
00:03:13,654 --> 00:03:14,948
How dare you?
83
00:03:15,037 --> 00:03:16,611
White people.
84
00:03:16,713 --> 00:03:20,348
If there's one thing
my parents loved more than us,
85
00:03:20,450 --> 00:03:23,051
it was tag-teaming ignorance.
86
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,588
I really didn't know that
looking neat was a bad thing.
87
00:03:26,657 --> 00:03:28,657
"Neat," "tame," "manageable"?
88
00:03:28,759 --> 00:03:30,759
That kind of language
will give our daughter a complex
89
00:03:30,861 --> 00:03:31,960
about her natural hair!
90
00:03:33,096 --> 00:03:35,196
I am really sorry.
91
00:03:35,299 --> 00:03:36,464
Could you explain to your wife...
92
00:03:36,566 --> 00:03:37,868
Don't look at me.
93
00:03:37,946 --> 00:03:39,441
- I am not your friend.
- Mm.
94
00:03:39,536 --> 00:03:42,804
Well, I truly didn't mean anything.
95
00:03:42,906 --> 00:03:45,340
Because I actually love
your daughter's hair.
96
00:03:45,442 --> 00:03:49,611
I can always find her so easily
in the hallway,
97
00:03:49,713 --> 00:03:54,482
and it is so big, and...
98
00:03:54,584 --> 00:03:55,542
furry.
99
00:03:55,585 --> 00:03:56,495
Like my Chia Pet.
100
00:03:56,566 --> 00:03:58,186
Oh.
101
00:03:58,288 --> 00:04:00,522
Saved by the bell.
102
00:04:02,092 --> 00:04:04,141
So, how did everyone
change the world today?
103
00:04:04,193 --> 00:04:05,225
I'll start.
104
00:04:05,297 --> 00:04:08,477
Today, your mother and I fixed racism.
105
00:04:08,555 --> 00:04:10,665
Well, we didn't fix it all.
106
00:04:10,767 --> 00:04:12,467
But we did set
a racist teacher straight.
107
00:04:12,569 --> 00:04:14,169
Ooh! You yelled at a white person?
108
00:04:14,271 --> 00:04:15,770
- Yes.
- Tell me everything.
109
00:04:15,872 --> 00:04:17,872
So, picture day is coming up,
110
00:04:17,941 --> 00:04:20,542
and this woman had the nerve
to tell Rainbow
111
00:04:20,644 --> 00:04:22,811
to make sure that her hair was neat.
112
00:04:22,913 --> 00:04:25,180
I never thought I'd say this,
113
00:04:25,282 --> 00:04:27,015
but you owe that white lady an apology.
114
00:04:27,117 --> 00:04:28,550
Your baby's hair should be neat.
115
00:04:28,652 --> 00:04:29,684
I'm confused.
116
00:04:29,786 --> 00:04:31,453
Is "neat" a racist word?
117
00:04:31,555 --> 00:04:32,454
- No!
- Yes.
118
00:04:32,556 --> 00:04:34,389
It's not racist, it's the truth.
119
00:04:34,491 --> 00:04:35,790
School pictures are forever,
120
00:04:35,892 --> 00:04:38,059
- so all y'all need to tame your hair.
- Thank you,
121
00:04:38,161 --> 00:04:40,829
but I'm raising my kids
to be proud of their hair.
122
00:04:40,931 --> 00:04:42,831
They can't look good and be proud?
123
00:04:42,933 --> 00:04:44,733
So, should I get a haircut?
124
00:04:44,801 --> 00:04:45,934
- No!
- Yes!
125
00:04:46,036 --> 00:04:48,870
Honestly, I need to take you all
to a professional,
126
00:04:48,939 --> 00:04:51,573
because these home haircuts
and afro puffs
127
00:04:51,675 --> 00:04:53,041
are not working.
128
00:04:53,143 --> 00:04:54,242
Hold on!
129
00:04:54,344 --> 00:04:57,045
So there are people
who do hair for a living?
130
00:04:57,147 --> 00:05:00,152
- Yeah, but...
- And I trusted you!
131
00:05:00,177 --> 00:05:01,197
See?
132
00:05:01,222 --> 00:05:03,066
This is what I was trying to avoid.
133
00:05:03,153 --> 00:05:04,652
I don't want my kids getting caught up
134
00:05:04,755 --> 00:05:06,688
in mainstream standards of beauty.
135
00:05:06,790 --> 00:05:08,957
I don't remember you fighting
for "standards of beauty"
136
00:05:09,025 --> 00:05:10,158
in your wedding pictures.
137
00:05:10,260 --> 00:05:11,359
Look at this.
138
00:05:11,428 --> 00:05:13,261
Re... You...
139
00:05:14,297 --> 00:05:16,631
Mm-hmm. Look at that.
140
00:05:17,534 --> 00:05:18,767
Mm.
141
00:05:21,605 --> 00:05:23,705
Mom.
142
00:05:23,807 --> 00:05:24,806
You look so pretty.
143
00:05:24,875 --> 00:05:27,075
Oh, yeah, your hair looked really good.
144
00:05:28,578 --> 00:05:31,179
I mean, unless you...
you don't think it does.
145
00:05:31,281 --> 00:05:35,383
But... your... your hair
looks beautiful to me always.
146
00:05:35,485 --> 00:05:37,252
- Like a black Farrah Fawcett.
- Oh.
147
00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,388
No, you...
Farrah is, like, a white you...
148
00:05:40,490 --> 00:05:42,090
Uh, who wants dessert?
149
00:05:42,159 --> 00:05:43,091
I'm in.
150
00:05:43,193 --> 00:05:45,093
Well, I don't change it anymore.
151
00:05:46,396 --> 00:05:50,198
As proud as my mother was
of her natural hair...
152
00:05:50,267 --> 00:05:53,701
It didn't seem like she always was.
153
00:05:53,804 --> 00:05:55,837
And as I stared at her wedding photo,
154
00:05:55,872 --> 00:05:58,840
I realized that when it came
to special occasions,
155
00:05:58,909 --> 00:06:00,442
if you wanted to look great,
156
00:06:00,510 --> 00:06:03,011
you might just have to go straight.
157
00:06:03,113 --> 00:06:05,313
Dad?
158
00:06:05,415 --> 00:06:07,148
I've been thinking about
what Aunt Dee-Dee said,
159
00:06:07,217 --> 00:06:10,718
and maybe I do need a haircut
before picture day.
160
00:06:10,787 --> 00:06:12,402
All right! Yes!
161
00:06:12,464 --> 00:06:14,322
Hair bowl is clean and ready.
162
00:06:14,391 --> 00:06:17,792
Actually, I was thinking of
something a bit different.
163
00:06:17,894 --> 00:06:18,993
Maybe a flat top?
164
00:06:19,095 --> 00:06:20,328
A flat...
165
00:06:21,631 --> 00:06:22,722
I can try.
166
00:06:22,776 --> 00:06:25,300
Dad, I love your haircuts,
167
00:06:25,371 --> 00:06:28,203
but can I try a real barber shop?
168
00:06:29,206 --> 00:06:31,139
Sure, buddy. Yeah, whatever you want.
169
00:06:31,208 --> 00:06:32,774
Yes! That's bad.
170
00:06:32,843 --> 00:06:36,344
But not "bad" meaning bad,
but "bad" meaning good.
171
00:06:36,446 --> 00:06:38,246
Okay.
172
00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:51,426
If you're looking for Denise,
173
00:06:51,495 --> 00:06:53,528
she has unfortunately passed on
174
00:06:53,597 --> 00:06:55,797
and is unable to pay any debts.
175
00:06:55,866 --> 00:06:57,899
Aunt Dee-Dee, it's Rainbow.
176
00:06:57,968 --> 00:07:00,001
Oh, hey, girl, what's up?
177
00:07:00,103 --> 00:07:01,703
I was thinking about it,
178
00:07:01,805 --> 00:07:03,857
and I really want my hair
to get straightened
179
00:07:03,927 --> 00:07:05,076
for picture day.
180
00:07:05,138 --> 00:07:07,075
- Will you take me to the beauty salon?
- I'll do it.
181
00:07:07,177 --> 00:07:09,711
Do you think you're going
to a beauty salon without me?
182
00:07:09,779 --> 00:07:10,812
- Mommy!
- Shh!
183
00:07:10,914 --> 00:07:12,680
No, you can't come.
184
00:07:12,782 --> 00:07:15,517
I can't have that clown
messing up my crown anymore.
185
00:07:15,619 --> 00:07:16,751
- Mommy!
- Shh!
186
00:07:16,853 --> 00:07:19,387
Fine, fine, fine, fine.
You can come with us.
187
00:07:19,489 --> 00:07:21,890
You know, Dad really is trying.
188
00:07:21,992 --> 00:07:24,025
He's a clown, Rainbow.
189
00:07:24,127 --> 00:07:27,562
And for the first time
since leaving the commune,
190
00:07:27,664 --> 00:07:29,288
I was trying to fit in.
191
00:07:30,539 --> 00:07:32,453
Hey, guys, how are ya?
192
00:07:32,542 --> 00:07:34,132
Tommy, I brought you a new customer.
193
00:07:34,193 --> 00:07:35,727
Thank you, Mr. Jackson.
194
00:07:35,762 --> 00:07:36,786
You sure you want
to go through with this?
195
00:07:36,833 --> 00:07:37,887
Not too late to change your mind.
196
00:07:37,927 --> 00:07:40,111
Oh, don't listen to him, Johan.
Come here.
197
00:07:40,196 --> 00:07:41,829
Hop right up there, buddy.
198
00:07:41,898 --> 00:07:43,809
Boy, I am so happy that you decided
199
00:07:43,864 --> 00:07:46,167
to come to my barber shop
for your first haircut.
200
00:07:46,235 --> 00:07:48,636
I've been coming here since...
201
00:07:48,704 --> 00:07:51,105
before you were
legally allowed to come here.
202
00:07:51,174 --> 00:07:53,274
Nice history lesson.
203
00:07:53,342 --> 00:07:55,643
So, what kind of style
do you have in mind today?
204
00:07:55,711 --> 00:07:58,479
Whatever makes me look the most fresh.
205
00:07:58,548 --> 00:07:59,613
"Fresh"?
206
00:07:59,682 --> 00:08:02,616
Uh, Lewis, you know how to cut fresh?
207
00:08:02,685 --> 00:08:04,351
No, he said he wants to look like
208
00:08:04,454 --> 00:08:05,920
that rapper Schoolly D.
209
00:08:06,022 --> 00:08:07,221
Yeah.
210
00:08:07,323 --> 00:08:09,323
Ohh, I see.
211
00:08:09,392 --> 00:08:12,560
Perhaps the young gentleman
might be more comfortable
212
00:08:12,628 --> 00:08:14,895
at that barbershop on MLK?
213
00:08:14,997 --> 00:08:16,063
Oh.
214
00:08:16,098 --> 00:08:18,899
Because it's a black barbershop?
This is unbelievable.
215
00:08:18,968 --> 00:08:20,884
- Johan, let's go.
- Okay. Okay, hang on, hang on.
216
00:08:20,947 --> 00:08:22,403
Listen, Tommy, I'm sure
217
00:08:22,472 --> 00:08:24,672
there's something you can do
with the kid's hair
218
00:08:24,740 --> 00:08:27,675
so we don't have to go
anywhere near MLK.
219
00:08:27,710 --> 00:08:30,244
Dad, come on.
220
00:08:31,981 --> 00:08:34,248
Fine, I'll go.
221
00:08:34,317 --> 00:08:36,050
But I'm leaving my camera here.
222
00:08:36,152 --> 00:08:37,885
And my Rolex.
223
00:08:39,088 --> 00:08:40,788
And my money clip.
224
00:08:40,890 --> 00:08:42,623
And my house keys.
225
00:08:43,926 --> 00:08:46,160
You have anything of value?
Just kidding. Let's go.
226
00:08:49,232 --> 00:08:51,799
I still remember everything
227
00:08:51,868 --> 00:08:56,036
about the first time
I walked into a salon.
228
00:08:57,740 --> 00:09:00,341
The sound of the hair
sizzling on the hot comb,
229
00:09:00,443 --> 00:09:03,677
the roar of the blow dryer,
the R&B oldies on the radio,
230
00:09:03,779 --> 00:09:06,380
and the sound of black women
yelling over it all.
231
00:09:06,449 --> 00:09:09,717
It might have been my first
time through those doors,
232
00:09:09,785 --> 00:09:11,571
but it felt like home.
233
00:09:11,634 --> 00:09:13,353
- Wow.
- Hey, Dee-Dee.
234
00:09:13,422 --> 00:09:14,555
Hey, Jaleesa girl.
235
00:09:14,624 --> 00:09:16,256
I thought your appointment
was next week.
236
00:09:16,359 --> 00:09:17,358
It is, but I was hoping
237
00:09:17,426 --> 00:09:19,059
you could squeeze my nieces in.
238
00:09:19,128 --> 00:09:21,328
School picture day
is coming up, and, well...
239
00:09:21,397 --> 00:09:22,429
you see them.
240
00:09:22,465 --> 00:09:24,365
They got Indian in them?
241
00:09:24,425 --> 00:09:25,443
Their daddy's white.
242
00:09:25,468 --> 00:09:26,667
Oh, well, it won't take me long.
243
00:09:26,769 --> 00:09:28,035
You both got that good hair.
244
00:09:28,104 --> 00:09:30,137
Thank you, but I got good everything.
245
00:09:31,307 --> 00:09:32,473
"Good hair" might have sounded
246
00:09:32,541 --> 00:09:34,341
like a compliment,
247
00:09:34,377 --> 00:09:35,409
but it's not.
248
00:09:35,511 --> 00:09:37,111
In America,
249
00:09:37,213 --> 00:09:40,147
white hair has always been
the standard of beauty.
250
00:09:40,216 --> 00:09:42,650
Maybe this is why
our first black millionaire
251
00:09:42,718 --> 00:09:45,185
was Madam C.J. Walker...
a woman who made a fortune
252
00:09:45,254 --> 00:09:47,421
by developing a way
to straighten black hair.
253
00:09:47,523 --> 00:09:49,123
No matter how you spun it,
254
00:09:49,191 --> 00:09:52,993
the term "good hair"
was bad for black self-esteem.
255
00:09:59,902 --> 00:10:01,201
All right.
256
00:10:04,974 --> 00:10:07,007
Hey, we're just looking
to get my son's hair cut.
257
00:10:07,076 --> 00:10:09,743
Uh, I don't see color,
but he is half black.
258
00:10:09,845 --> 00:10:11,879
- You married a sister?
- Yeah.
259
00:10:11,981 --> 00:10:13,681
I see you, white flash.
260
00:10:13,783 --> 00:10:15,516
Just give me a minute.
261
00:10:19,055 --> 00:10:20,721
You like boxing?
262
00:10:20,823 --> 00:10:22,656
Oh, love boxing.
263
00:10:22,758 --> 00:10:24,124
Which fighter you got?
264
00:10:25,127 --> 00:10:26,760
_
265
00:10:26,829 --> 00:10:28,749
This feels like a trick.
266
00:10:28,781 --> 00:10:29,797
There it is.
267
00:10:29,874 --> 00:10:31,773
- That's the one.
- That is the one.
268
00:10:31,867 --> 00:10:33,267
Just not for you.
269
00:10:33,335 --> 00:10:35,069
- Why not?
- It won't work.
270
00:10:35,137 --> 00:10:36,570
Your hair's not black enough for it.
271
00:10:36,639 --> 00:10:38,706
Then how about that?
272
00:10:38,774 --> 00:10:40,373
Definitely not that one.
273
00:10:40,428 --> 00:10:41,460
I'm sorry, young blood.
274
00:10:41,514 --> 00:10:43,711
Is there a cut you can give my son?
275
00:10:43,813 --> 00:10:45,879
I mean, I could cut it all off.
276
00:10:45,948 --> 00:10:47,114
Come on, let's just go.
277
00:10:47,183 --> 00:10:49,349
- Whoa, whoa, hold on.
- I want to go home.
278
00:10:50,352 --> 00:10:52,386
We should listen to the boy.
279
00:10:52,455 --> 00:10:54,188
I haven't said anything offensive yet,
280
00:10:54,256 --> 00:10:56,167
but I can feel it bubbling up.
281
00:10:58,327 --> 00:10:59,927
Thank you.
282
00:11:02,198 --> 00:11:04,198
I like O'Malley in seven.
283
00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:05,766
'Course you do.
284
00:11:07,903 --> 00:11:11,872
They say time heals all wounds,
but in a black salon,
285
00:11:11,907 --> 00:11:13,507
it seemed like
the longer you were there,
286
00:11:13,609 --> 00:11:15,342
the more painful it became.
287
00:11:21,617 --> 00:11:22,916
But in the end,
288
00:11:23,018 --> 00:11:25,853
it felt like it was all worth it.
289
00:11:25,921 --> 00:11:26,987
You like it?
290
00:11:27,089 --> 00:11:28,722
I didn't like it.
291
00:11:28,824 --> 00:11:30,791
I love it.
292
00:11:32,928 --> 00:11:35,395
- How was the mall?
- You tell me.
293
00:11:38,157 --> 00:11:39,166
I'm sorry.
294
00:11:39,268 --> 00:11:40,968
Are you mad?
295
00:11:41,070 --> 00:11:42,736
I'm not mad at you.
296
00:11:42,805 --> 00:11:44,071
You're just a child.
297
00:11:44,106 --> 00:11:46,340
But an adult
should've asked my permission
298
00:11:46,408 --> 00:11:48,408
before she touched my babies' heads.
299
00:11:48,477 --> 00:11:50,210
They asked me to take them.
300
00:11:50,279 --> 00:11:51,912
You know I didn't want
to change their hair.
301
00:11:51,981 --> 00:11:55,182
So is this a bad time
to ask for the $45 I just spent?
302
00:11:55,217 --> 00:11:57,050
- So you do hate it?
- It's not up to me.
303
00:11:57,153 --> 00:11:58,685
Do you like it?
304
00:11:58,754 --> 00:12:00,754
Honestly,
305
00:12:00,856 --> 00:12:02,189
I really like it.
306
00:12:03,058 --> 00:12:05,325
Okay.
307
00:12:05,427 --> 00:12:07,928
Well, if you like it,
308
00:12:08,030 --> 00:12:09,429
I love it.
309
00:12:09,532 --> 00:12:11,331
Hey, Santi.
310
00:12:11,433 --> 00:12:12,432
Yes?
311
00:12:12,501 --> 00:12:14,368
Hey, Santi.
312
00:12:14,470 --> 00:12:15,469
Yes?
313
00:12:15,538 --> 00:12:18,071
Who's that girl looking beautiful?
314
00:12:18,174 --> 00:12:20,040
Oh, it's just Santi!
315
00:12:21,610 --> 00:12:23,343
Thanks.
316
00:12:23,445 --> 00:12:25,579
That's money well-spent.
317
00:12:28,651 --> 00:12:32,653
Another reason black women
internalize Eurocentrism?
318
00:12:34,824 --> 00:12:36,924
It seems like
no one ever notices your hair
319
00:12:37,026 --> 00:12:38,062
until you straighten it.
320
00:12:38,133 --> 00:12:39,426
Hey, nice hair.
321
00:12:39,528 --> 00:12:40,928
Somebody got their hair done.
322
00:12:41,030 --> 00:12:43,096
I really like your hair.
323
00:12:43,165 --> 00:12:46,633
Having straight hair was magical.
324
00:12:46,702 --> 00:12:48,969
For the first time in my new life,
325
00:12:49,071 --> 00:12:51,505
I felt seen by everyone...
326
00:12:51,574 --> 00:12:55,776
white girls, black girls, even boys.
327
00:12:57,680 --> 00:12:59,746
But for Johan, suddenly,
328
00:12:59,815 --> 00:13:02,583
his hair became a symbol
of how different he was.
329
00:13:02,618 --> 00:13:05,118
So, he and my father set out to fix it.
330
00:13:13,495 --> 00:13:15,095
Huh?
331
00:13:15,197 --> 00:13:17,164
Hmm. Okay, I'll be right back.
332
00:13:17,266 --> 00:13:18,298
Huh?
333
00:13:32,748 --> 00:13:33,981
Hey, babe. Where's your comb?
334
00:13:34,083 --> 00:13:35,616
On the sink.
335
00:13:35,718 --> 00:13:38,752
Hey, what do you think
about Rainbow's new look?
336
00:13:38,821 --> 00:13:39,920
I mean...
337
00:13:40,022 --> 00:13:41,021
it's beautiful.
338
00:13:42,057 --> 00:13:44,825
But unnecessary.
339
00:13:44,927 --> 00:13:47,307
But as the African goddess Oshun
once said...
340
00:13:47,362 --> 00:13:48,929
Stop trying to be politically correct.
341
00:13:48,964 --> 00:13:50,731
What do you really think?
342
00:13:50,833 --> 00:13:52,729
All I know is that today,
343
00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:54,701
it took half the time it usually takes
344
00:13:54,770 --> 00:13:56,036
to get the girls ready for school,
345
00:13:56,105 --> 00:13:58,906
and it seems that Rainbow
has a lot more confidence.
346
00:13:59,008 --> 00:14:00,274
Isn't that a good thing?
347
00:14:01,510 --> 00:14:04,789
I just don't want our kids
to equate straight hair
348
00:14:04,835 --> 00:14:06,220
with confidence.
349
00:14:06,282 --> 00:14:08,248
I want them to be proud
of their natural hair
350
00:14:08,350 --> 00:14:09,549
like I am with mine.
351
00:14:09,652 --> 00:14:10,584
Mm.
352
00:14:10,653 --> 00:14:12,920
You know I love your hair,
353
00:14:12,988 --> 00:14:14,755
but were you born with that confidence,
354
00:14:14,857 --> 00:14:16,623
or did you have to learn it?
355
00:14:16,659 --> 00:14:20,861
I don't know.
356
00:14:20,930 --> 00:14:22,963
I don't know where it came from.
357
00:14:23,966 --> 00:14:25,599
They'll get there.
358
00:14:25,668 --> 00:14:26,833
It just takes time.
359
00:14:30,739 --> 00:14:32,205
But is it good or bad
that I'm about to try
360
00:14:32,274 --> 00:14:34,574
to give Johan
something called "corn rolls"?
361
00:14:37,179 --> 00:14:38,679
Bad.
362
00:14:41,784 --> 00:14:43,817
Johan's identity
as a black boy was threatened
363
00:14:43,852 --> 00:14:45,185
when his hair wasn't "black enough"
364
00:14:45,287 --> 00:14:46,787
for any of the popular styles.
365
00:14:46,889 --> 00:14:49,423
But today, he didn't have that problem.
366
00:14:55,097 --> 00:14:56,930
Hey, Johan!
367
00:15:00,736 --> 00:15:03,737
Hey, everyone, look at
Ebony and Ivory over here!
368
00:15:05,474 --> 00:15:07,708
- Yeah, isn't she lovely?
- Aww.
369
00:15:07,776 --> 00:15:11,144
But when his hair couldn't
follow in Stevie's footsteps,
370
00:15:11,180 --> 00:15:13,780
Johan followed the path
of many mixed boys
371
00:15:13,882 --> 00:15:15,615
who don't feel black enough.
372
00:15:15,651 --> 00:15:18,118
They overcompensate.
373
00:15:19,989 --> 00:15:21,705
And on the other side of school,
374
00:15:21,783 --> 00:15:24,057
I was having my own hair problems.
375
00:15:24,127 --> 00:15:25,692
You going to gym like that?
376
00:15:25,794 --> 00:15:27,227
Yeah. Thank you.
377
00:15:28,364 --> 00:15:30,797
Unfortunately, that wasn't a compliment.
378
00:15:30,899 --> 00:15:32,432
It was a warning.
379
00:15:32,534 --> 00:15:34,267
Because my hair wasn't wrapped up,
380
00:15:34,370 --> 00:15:36,103
I was about to sweat it out.
381
00:15:36,205 --> 00:15:39,906
White people,
allow Dr. Johnson to explain.
382
00:15:39,975 --> 00:15:41,541
When straightened hair gets wet,
383
00:15:41,643 --> 00:15:43,944
hydrogen bonds form
between water molecules
384
00:15:44,046 --> 00:15:45,779
and the proteins in your hair.
385
00:15:45,881 --> 00:15:48,882
This causes the hair to revert
to its natural curl.
386
00:15:48,984 --> 00:15:52,019
But if you keep your hair
wrapped up until it's dry,
387
00:15:52,121 --> 00:15:53,453
what you manage to do
388
00:15:53,555 --> 00:15:55,555
is physically hold your hair
in the shape you want.
389
00:15:55,657 --> 00:15:58,258
This way, it can't snap back.
390
00:15:59,795 --> 00:16:01,995
But nobody told me to do that.
391
00:16:02,097 --> 00:16:03,830
Ooh.
392
00:16:03,932 --> 00:16:06,233
I tried to tell you.
393
00:16:06,301 --> 00:16:08,847
And just like that, it was like
the clock struck midnight
394
00:16:08,917 --> 00:16:10,504
and my hair had pumpkin'd,
395
00:16:10,606 --> 00:16:13,073
and the person in the mirror
was a curly-headed weirdo
396
00:16:13,175 --> 00:16:14,908
that mainstream standards of beauty
397
00:16:15,010 --> 00:16:16,943
had taught me to be ashamed of.
398
00:16:17,046 --> 00:16:18,545
I couldn't look at her,
399
00:16:18,614 --> 00:16:21,824
and I knew I had to find
another glass slipper, stat.
400
00:16:22,279 --> 00:16:25,263
A fight? You got in a fight in school?
401
00:16:25,349 --> 00:16:27,248
You didn't happen to pick up
any of those beads, did you?
402
00:16:27,310 --> 00:16:29,852
- Paul.
- Son, in this family,
403
00:16:29,921 --> 00:16:32,035
we don't fight with fists.
404
00:16:32,113 --> 00:16:33,579
And we don't leave beads on the ground.
405
00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:34,939
Sorry, they weren't cheap.
406
00:16:35,016 --> 00:16:37,450
But they were making fun of my hair.
407
00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:38,751
If they were making fun of you,
408
00:16:38,820 --> 00:16:41,387
they were probably just jealous.
409
00:16:41,456 --> 00:16:43,623
I'm sorry, baby, I can't lie to you.
410
00:16:43,691 --> 00:16:45,424
Hi, B...
411
00:16:45,527 --> 00:16:47,927
Oh! What happened to your head?
412
00:16:48,029 --> 00:16:51,230
Not to be petty,
but I did just pay $45 for it.
413
00:16:51,299 --> 00:16:52,732
Yes, I know it's messed up,
414
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,066
but picture day is tomorrow.
415
00:16:54,102 --> 00:16:55,601
Can someone please help me fix this?
416
00:16:55,670 --> 00:16:57,253
- Yes, I'm on it...
- Not you, clown.
417
00:16:57,278 --> 00:16:58,240
Hey!
418
00:16:58,265 --> 00:16:59,965
- Okay, but the real problem here is my hair.
- Whoa!
419
00:17:00,036 --> 00:17:02,028
- You heard the clown!
- But you can't talk to me like that.
420
00:17:02,934 --> 00:17:04,710
Everybody stop!
421
00:17:04,779 --> 00:17:06,179
It's finally time to talk about this.
422
00:17:06,247 --> 00:17:08,114
Living room. Now.
423
00:17:08,183 --> 00:17:10,683
You guys are free
to do whatever you want.
424
00:17:10,785 --> 00:17:12,518
But I'll be honest.
425
00:17:12,587 --> 00:17:14,187
When you change your hair,
it makes me feel like
426
00:17:14,289 --> 00:17:15,721
I didn't raise you to love yourself.
427
00:17:15,790 --> 00:17:17,390
When we left for the commune,
428
00:17:17,458 --> 00:17:21,327
everything was loud,
proud, and natural, and now...
429
00:17:21,362 --> 00:17:22,595
Now we have jobs.
430
00:17:22,664 --> 00:17:25,665
The revolution is not
paying my car note, PanAm is.
431
00:17:25,767 --> 00:17:29,035
I'm just kidding.
I am not paying my car note.
432
00:17:29,137 --> 00:17:30,102
Seems like everyone
433
00:17:30,138 --> 00:17:32,471
was so caught up in trying to fit in
434
00:17:32,540 --> 00:17:33,806
that they forgot to try and be
435
00:17:33,841 --> 00:17:35,775
the good black people they already were.
436
00:17:35,843 --> 00:17:37,543
So I'm not a good black person
437
00:17:37,612 --> 00:17:39,212
if my hair is straight?
438
00:17:44,152 --> 00:17:46,052
Baby...
439
00:17:46,154 --> 00:17:47,620
I'm sorry.
440
00:17:47,722 --> 00:17:50,122
I was so big on this natural hair thing
441
00:17:50,225 --> 00:17:52,625
because I know how hard it was
442
00:17:52,694 --> 00:17:54,827
for me to get back to it.
443
00:17:54,896 --> 00:17:57,296
And I didn't want you
to go through that.
444
00:17:57,398 --> 00:17:59,799
But the truth is
445
00:17:59,867 --> 00:18:03,336
I change my hair every day
when I go to work.
446
00:18:03,404 --> 00:18:05,838
So, it's not my place to tell anyone
447
00:18:05,907 --> 00:18:07,840
what to do with their hair.
448
00:18:07,942 --> 00:18:09,809
Especially since we fought
449
00:18:09,877 --> 00:18:12,912
so they couldn't tell us
what to do with ours.
450
00:18:12,981 --> 00:18:15,147
"They" is white people.
451
00:18:16,985 --> 00:18:18,618
I can go.
452
00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:20,720
No, you need to hear this.
453
00:18:20,822 --> 00:18:23,789
We need to understand
every part of their hair
454
00:18:23,891 --> 00:18:26,192
so we can be proud
of whatever choice they make...
455
00:18:26,261 --> 00:18:30,196
natural, straight, fake, or real.
456
00:18:30,265 --> 00:18:31,564
I know that's right.
457
00:18:31,666 --> 00:18:33,733
And right now, I choose to stop itching.
458
00:18:33,835 --> 00:18:35,601
- Whoa.
- Whoo.
459
00:18:35,703 --> 00:18:37,703
Oh, my. Huh.
460
00:18:37,772 --> 00:18:39,939
So, none of that is your hair.
461
00:18:40,008 --> 00:18:41,574
It's all mine because I paid for it.
462
00:18:41,676 --> 00:18:43,509
- Paid for it.
- Yes.
463
00:18:43,611 --> 00:18:45,778
And no matter how you wear it, baby,
464
00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,648
you'll always be a good black person.
465
00:18:48,716 --> 00:18:50,082
You hear me?
466
00:18:51,419 --> 00:18:54,287
Love circle.
467
00:18:56,024 --> 00:18:57,857
Mm.
468
00:18:57,959 --> 00:18:59,558
Smile.
469
00:19:00,862 --> 00:19:02,495
Next.
470
00:19:02,597 --> 00:19:04,530
I know this looks like a victory,
471
00:19:04,599 --> 00:19:06,065
but the truth is
472
00:19:06,134 --> 00:19:08,576
I tried to straighten
my hair that morning,
473
00:19:08,647 --> 00:19:09,678
and I failed.
474
00:19:09,748 --> 00:19:11,170
Okay, next.
475
00:19:11,205 --> 00:19:12,371
Aunt Denise was right.
476
00:19:13,775 --> 00:19:16,108
School pictures were forever.
477
00:19:19,314 --> 00:19:21,113
But that didn't mean
our hair journey stopped
478
00:19:21,182 --> 00:19:24,250
when the bell rang and school let out.
479
00:19:24,319 --> 00:19:28,487
No, those would follow us
for the rest of our lives
480
00:19:28,589 --> 00:19:31,791
and change over and over.
481
00:19:31,893 --> 00:19:35,094
Even if we only
married into the culture.
482
00:19:35,163 --> 00:19:36,962
But as a 12-year-old girl,
483
00:19:37,031 --> 00:19:39,899
I didn't understand
how complicated it all was.
484
00:19:40,001 --> 00:19:41,734
I was just a kid who let society
485
00:19:41,836 --> 00:19:44,737
make her embarrassed
by her natural hair.
486
00:19:44,806 --> 00:19:47,707
Little did I know,
this would be the hair
487
00:19:47,775 --> 00:19:49,241
that I would spend the rest of my life
488
00:19:49,310 --> 00:19:50,843
trying to get back to,
489
00:19:50,878 --> 00:19:54,513
that would one day be my source
of power and strength.
490
00:19:54,615 --> 00:19:57,717
But the process of self-love
never happens overnight.
491
00:19:57,819 --> 00:20:00,186
And while the same can be said
for our country,
492
00:20:00,288 --> 00:20:02,521
the process has to start somewhere.
493
00:20:02,590 --> 00:20:04,357
On July 3rd of this year,
494
00:20:04,459 --> 00:20:06,525
California governor Gavin Newsom
495
00:20:06,627 --> 00:20:07,893
passed the CROWN Act,
496
00:20:07,995 --> 00:20:09,595
making California the first state
497
00:20:09,697 --> 00:20:10,930
to ban discrimination
498
00:20:11,032 --> 00:20:12,264
against black employees
499
00:20:12,367 --> 00:20:13,432
and students
500
00:20:13,534 --> 00:20:15,334
over their natural hairstyles.
501
00:20:15,436 --> 00:20:17,336
So, while the laws are catching up,
502
00:20:17,438 --> 00:20:19,105
black women express themselves
503
00:20:19,207 --> 00:20:21,640
in a variety of different hairstyles,
504
00:20:21,743 --> 00:20:24,944
and one thing has been
and will always be true...
505
00:20:25,046 --> 00:20:27,480
all hair is good hair.
506
00:20:30,130 --> 00:20:33,403
Not trying to rush you,
but the kid has places to be.
507
00:20:33,466 --> 00:20:35,132
One day, you'll look back and realize
508
00:20:35,234 --> 00:20:36,200
how amazing it was
509
00:20:36,268 --> 00:20:38,569
that your white father
was able to do this.
510
00:20:38,671 --> 00:20:39,770
Not that I see color.
511
00:20:39,872 --> 00:20:42,239
And... ah!
512
00:20:42,307 --> 00:20:44,257
Whoa, 10 minutes! New record.
513
00:20:44,343 --> 00:20:46,664
- Mirror.
- Oh.
514
00:20:46,767 --> 00:20:48,566
Not bad!
515
00:20:48,635 --> 00:20:51,136
But next time,
I'll need to hear some gossip.
516
00:20:51,238 --> 00:20:53,148
I could tell you about the Coopers,
517
00:20:53,218 --> 00:20:54,806
but don't you have places to be?
518
00:20:54,908 --> 00:20:57,320
I can be late.
519
00:20:57,411 --> 00:20:59,444
Awesome.