I Am Not My Hair

Is that India? What happened to her hair? Little girl with the press and curl Age eight, I got a Jheri curl 13 and I got a relaxer I was a source of so much laughter At 15 when it all broke off 18 and I went all natural February 2002, 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 '97 dreadlocks all gone I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that 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 What'd she do to her hair? I don't know, it look crazy I like it, I might do that Uh, I wouldn't go that far 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 can shave it off like a South African beauty Or get in on lock like Bob Marley You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey If it's not what's on your head It's what's underneath and say, 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 (Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person? (Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh (Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity? (Whoa, whoa, whoa) 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 every day of her life, oh On national television Her diamond eyes are sparkling Bald headed like a full moon shining Singing out to the whole wide world like, hey I am not my hair (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 a soul that lives within I am a soul that lives within Oh, if I wanna shave it close or I wanna rock the locks That'll take a bit away from the soul that I got If I wanna wear it braided all down my back I don't see nothing wrong with that