Defy the Odds

Isn’t it authentic beauty

That your hair defies gravity

All the laws saying what you can and cannot be

Your curls adorn your head

It doesn’t matter what naysayers have said

Even though their words have been responsible for many of the tears you’ve shed

Late nights you’ve cried

Many days you’ve tried

To understand why your crown of glory made your life story

Be judged by others who in actuality feared you

They couldn’t express in words what they never even knew

So they did what they did best, they looked down on you as if you were a hideous scenic view

Each strand of your hair is beautifully woven

Strategically placed, intricately clothed

As the oil nourishes each extension of who you are, luscious and golden

No matter what style you choose to rock

The natural elegance of your locs

Is enough to make even the most chaotic of rooms do a double take and stop

And take a moment to breathe

Some may hate but let me tell you what is guaranteed

They respect the artistry

Beautiful black person you are art you see

Rooted in a culture that excites beyond dreams

Some may not like your choices of how you wear your hair but underneath

They won’t admit that it is still captivating

You don’t have wear it tamed to fit in with where you’re at

Let it be free, let it fly high, don’t be ashamed of being black

Accept every coil, every kink, and every single nap

Your hair rises above because of what it is naturally born from

It grows out and up because it reaches towards the rays of the Son

The parts of your hair that are stubborn aren’t a bad thing

It’s a symbol of just how strong

You are

And how no one can make you do anything you do not want to do

You have your own identity and know that it is okay to

CHOOSE YOU