i am not my hair lyrics

See I can kinda recall little ways back
Small tryin' to bawl always been black
And my hair I tried it all, I even went flat
Had a gumdee curly top and all the crap now

Just tryin' to be appreciated
Nappy headed brothers never had no latest
Then I hit the barber shop real quick
Had 'em gimme little twist and it drove them crazy

And then I couldn't get no job
This corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks
Then I thought about my dogs on the block
Kinda understand why they chose a stealin' rock

Was it the hair that got me this far?
All these girls, these cribs, these cars
I hate to say it but it seem so flaw
'Cause success didn't come 'til I cut it all off

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

And 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 woman that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that, hey

Hey, I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectations, no, no
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

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 be shaving it off like a South African beauty
Get in on lock like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head, it's what's underneath and say, hey

Hey, I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectation, no
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

Who cares if you don't like that
With nothin' to lose post it with a wave cap
When the cops wanna harass 'cause I got waves
Ain't seen nothin' like that, not in my days

Man, you gotta change all feelings
Steady judging one another by their appearance
Yes, India, I feel ya girl
Now go 'head talk the rest of the world

Does the way I wear my hair
Make me a better person?
Does the way I wear my hair
Make me a better friend?

Does the way I wear my hair
Determine my integrity?
I am expressing my creativity

Breast cancer and chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life

On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like, hey

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 a soul that lives within

I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am not your expectations, no, no
I am not my hair, I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within