Hey Mommas! I’m back! It’s a new month and time for another Momfession. In celebration of Black History, this month’s Momfession is dedicated to the rich history of African Americans. As a black mother with amazing black children, I would be remiss if I never talked about it. Make no mistake, I’m black everyday (PERIOD) From my skin color to flavor I bring everywhere I go. One thing about being a black mother that I enjoy the most is seeing my kids explore Black history and gleam with joy because of who they are.

This weekend, some of the Newsymoms gathered and took our girls to the Kent State University Museum to witness the TEXTURES exhibit. The exhibit is dedicated to black hair. Black hair is one of the most complex and lush topics to discuss. Black women are more than their hair and it’s always so hard to not feel singled out in spaces where people make jokes or stare as if it’s an anomaly.

This was one of my major concerns as my girls got older. With long, thick curly coils Jael made her way into school 1^st and I found myself worrying every morning. Was her hair, ok? Would it last all day? Are her edges intact? It was a constant worry over her hair. Growing up now, is not easy for kids. It’s not easy to ride the social waves. And we have had our share of “what someone said about my hair” conversations. So, this exhibit was extremely pivotal. For the girls to see paintings with hair that looks like theirs. And to see the history of how far our hair has come.

I loved seeing their eyes light up as they walked in and saw black women in their native tribal hairstyles, it was epic. I loved listening to Jael read the history of the pieces she was most attracted to. I loved seeing Shiloh my youngest daughter be mesmerized by black art. She was ecstatic to see pieces of young black girls that she could relate to. I was taken back at something watching Shiloh, she made several comments about liking straight hair better than the natural hair. At first, I felt bad because I didn’t want her to think that straight hair was better than curly hair. I didn’t want her to not appreciate her natural hair texture. But I bought this mug in the gift shop. (SIDENOTE: Ya’ll may not know this but I LOVE COFFEE  MUGS!!!) It has a young girl with straight on side and curly hair on the other side. On the ride home Shiloh mom “Me and Jael can do both, we can wear our hair straight and curly. We’re so AMAZING” And that did it for me. That was “Black Hair Unveiled”. Through this amazing exhibit she was able to gain an appreciation for the versatility that we carry as black women. Through this exhibit, Jael was able to appreciate the history of how black women adapted their hair to the transition of working as slaves and living as equals. And if you are thinking, there was nothing to adapt to, go to the exhibit read for yourself, the journey of black slave women and read up on Madam C.J. Walker. Go see it for yourself, the transformation of power that black men and women have come to experience just through the expression of their hair.

I leave you with this, as a black woman, with black sons and daughters, our beauty has never been attached to the mere appearance of our hair. But don’t get it twisted, our hair is amazing and rich in beauty. But this exhibit shows you that the beauty of our solidarity in mind, soul, and body is by far the greatest beauty we possess. I will forever, teach my kids to embrace and love their hair. I will never let them forget it’s versatile and a way to express themselves. If you have kids and want them to understand cultural differences, take them to this exhibit. If you have black sons and daughters take them to this exhibit-IT IS WORTH IT! Put together with some much visual vibrancy, you cannot help but leave educated and amazed. Please enjoy the pictures for our trip and support the artistry of exhibit by taking a tour for yourself. Until next time Mommas be blessed.