In light of the Navy discharging Black sailor Jessica Sims after she refused to shave off her locs or cover them with a wig, it’s more evident than ever that Black children everywhere need to be fully stocked with affirmations that help them to embrace their natural tresses. Countless Black women can surely recall childhood moments in which they ran around with towels covering their heads, pretending to have straight and wispy hair, not yet realizing that the thick afros that sprouted defiantly upwards from their scalps displayed their very own unique beauty.
As messages that encourage Black children to accept and love the beauty of their natural crowns become more widespread, hopefully the instances of self-esteem issues linked to natural hair texture will begin to dissipate. Fortunately, several authors like Ariane Roberts have recognized the need for customized messages that promote self-esteem amongst Black children, particularly when it comes to embracing their natural hair.
Here are 10 children’s books that help embrace natural hair:
I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley: The story of a young girl named Keyana encourages Black children to love their hair and their heritage.
Big Hair Don’t Care by Crystal Swain-Bates: This story is an excellent example of a young child who loves her big hair and aims to teach children to embrace their differences.
Happy to Be Nappy by bell hooks: hooks’ celebration of all types of hair aims to help children love what’s on top of their heads, whether it’s plaited, twisted or accessorized with barrettes.
My Hair is Beautiful: Because It’s Mine by Paula Dejoie: The beauty of natural hair is depicted through photographs and rhymes that provide emphasize on the often-overlooked African-American beauty standards.
Of Corn Silk and Black Braids by Vincent L. Johnson: Sarah prefers to cover her thick, coarse mane with corn silk, until her mother shows her that her hair should be a source of pride instead of embarrassment.
Miya’s Hair Day by Erika Parker-Smith: Four-year-old Miya would gladly rock a wild ‘n free afro in place of going through the hair motions, but for her mother, that idea will take some convincing.
Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron: Herron weaves the topics of God, Africa, slavery and family into this tale of a little girl whose wild hair makes her the focus of everyone at the family picnic.
I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont: “I’m me!” is more than enough reason for this story’s curly-coiffed central character to love herself, and her infectious enthusiasm will definitely encourage children to accept and love themselves just the way they are.
Haircuts at Sleepy Sam’s by Michael R. Strickland: Their mother’s money and strict instructions on how to have the barber shape their afros doesn’t stop three little boys from deviating from the plan in this story that highlights the Black barber shop experience.
Cornrows by Camille Yarbrough: This Coretta Scott King award-winning tale will bring back those cherished memories of being next up in your grandmother’s assembly line of heads to braid.
The post The Crown and The Glory: 10 Books to Help Children Embrace Natural Hair appeared first on Clutch Magazine.