I remember it like it was yesterday. Nine-year-old me was sitting in my 4th grade classroom when a classmate came up to me and made fun of my long hair, calling it ugly. I started to cry, and as soon as I got home I begged my mom to take me to the nearest haircut place. After about a week of persistence, she reluctantly agreed. Within a few minutes, my waist-length hair was cut to chin-length. I still think about the pain I saw in my mom’s eyes as those 14 inches of locks were falling to the floor. A piece of my culture, and a piece of me, was being removed simply because I didn’t fit the mold of how someone perceived me to be.

To all the young girls reading this: I hope you know who you are, and I hope you can learn from my mistake. Every part of you is beautiful, and your uniqueness is a story of your ancestry. Wear it proudly. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise