Girl I'm going natural, I don't have time to do no hair every day. Ohhh what kind of perm you got? I wonder what kinda hair my baby gonna have? Girl he is so fine and he has that silky Indian hair. He looks so good in those dreads, but I hate when people have them and they are all dirty lookin'. If you don't stop shaking them beaded braids. I know you don't still wear no jheri curl. Yeah his father wants me to cut his hair but I like it in plaits.

You can tell she mixed, look at her hair. I wish she would get a perm, press her hair or something, she would look so much better. Is that a weave? That's your real hair? She can say what she wants but she has something in her hair. When you going to do your hair, it's lookin' raggedy. Man I need to get a shape up. His cut is tight. She think she cute with her bald head self. Who you think you are Michael Jordan or something?

If you are an African-American male or female, it is almost certain that from the time that you left the womb you have heard one or all of the phrases written above. Why do we as black people go through so much with our hair? How is it that such a small thing can define us as a person, even as a race? Despite the revolution in hair care moving strongly back to natural, there remains so many who still do whatever it takes (even at the risk of permanently damaging their hair) to get a more "relaxed" European look. Our hair is still undeniably linked to our self-esteem.

If this is an issue that you are passionate about or you want to educate your children on the history of black hair and it's effect on African Americans as a whole, you won't want to miss Nappy A Short Film by Lydia Douglas. The screening takes place on Saturday Jan. 27 as Exodus ministries presents "What's Head--Is On The Head" at St. Stephen's Community Center (1525 Newton St. NW). Admission is free. A discussion with the film's director follows the screening. Also included in this night will be yoga and spoken word. For more information call IntoAfrika at 202-797-9127.