I came across this photo of U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday. Apparently a black boy was invited to the White House and asked Obama if he could touch his hair to see if it was like his.
Actually, this little boy had just got a hair cut and told the President. The president said that he just had his hair cut as well and asked the boy to see if his (Obama’s) haircut was as nice as his (the little boy). In an interview Obama himself told this exact story and said how it was one of the best moments he’s had thus far. Beautiful picture in any event.
This picture is great because kids need to learn stop wanting to change themselves just to satisfy the masses. I met a little girl right before I was getting micro-braids put in my head. My hair is natural and she just kept staring at me finally she said, " you like your hair like that?" My response, " Like what?" " Like that," she said pointing. I knew that she meant natural but I felt like if she couldn't say what she meant, then she should learn to use her words. So i said, " What do you mean?" She was quiet for a moment as she struggled with her words and then she said, "Not like everyone else's." I then knew that she wanted to say 'nappy' but someone had taught her not to. I told her that yes, I like my hair like this particularly because it's not like everyone else. She didn't get it. She said that she would be mortified(yes she used to word 'mortified') to go to school and not look like everyone else. This broke my heart. It almost made me get up and not get my hair braided, but it was for a play and i had to. I hate that individualism in black society was once looked upon so shrewdly. it was 1991 when I first got rid of my Gheri Curl, I was twelve and I cut my hair short like Halle Berry… but because every other girl at my school had either naturally long hair, or a weave, I got called "bald-headed ho" everyday. And when I went natural a few years later, it was even worse. This particular story happened four or five years ago and I've noticed that things are getting better. Mostly because of artists like Estelle and Santigold who are not scared to flaunt their "off the wall" style. Kids are hopefully getting the idea that you don't have to adhere to society's ideals about fashion and morals. That its okay to have nappy, straight, curly or no hair at all. You can actually Be Yourself, like they taught in fourth grade…
My God what a beautiful statement this is making. It is so important that African Americans keep it natural for this very reason. Which is why I love the Obama children, it may not seem to others that it is a big deal but it is huge deal!!!! Our natural hair is what makes us so beautiful and we must begin to embrace it 🙂
Awww that's the cutest thing ever! He's probably heard so much about President Obama that he thinks he's some sort of superhero. My 5 year old niece thought so during the election because so many people were talking about him with such praise. Its no wonder he thought his hair was different!
I had a 3 year old little girl look at my hair and tell me that it was nappy. Needless to say, at the age of 3, I was surprised she had even hear that word before. But the tone in which she used it (there was no love in it at all yall), I told her that it was not a nice word and that we don't use that word. She looked at my hair again, touched it and then said, "I like your hair! It's soft and pretty." Then she gave me a hug.
cute picture…the little boy is a child and probably didn't think much when his asked to touch the hair… who knows maybe his parents had drilled him on it…lol
It's a shame that this psychological abuse has persisted for so long within our community…that even now after we have a black president we still can't manage to completely grasp the boundlessness of our true black beauty…I'm glad that the little boy knows that people who look just like him can do extraordinary things without altering their physical appearance…now it time for little black girls to feel the same way…(i.e. lets show some kinks professionals)
This picture is powerful. It's speaks a million words. I'm soo happy you posted this. I sent it to my family and friends.
Also I agree with Wanda Sykes, Michelle has to have big arms to beat the women away LOL. A gorgeous looking black man with power, intelligence, takes good care of his family! He's a dime. His only major flaw I can see is his smoking…. drop the cigarettes! heheh j/k.
Great post :o) I do hair and so many little girls with natural hair request me to do their hair 'like their mother's' – which are usually straight styles. For me this pic, although not of a girl, reinforces how we naturals should be examples for our daughters, little sisters etc.
This is an adorable moment…for whatever reason. Kids are unabashedly innocent and honest. This makes me think of something that happened when I was a kid. My parents were good friends with a white couple whose children all had the blondest, straightest hair you could imagine. One of their daughters, probably around 5 or 6 touched my dad's hair and said…"wow, feels like carpet". My dad and mom laughed and laughed about that for years. Now that I think about it, it probably did feel like that compared to hair that she was familiar with. The point I am making is that kids can be curious about many things, including hair.
I saw this a couple of weeks ago. There is something really profound about it. Something that maybe only Black people will feel. First, there's the idea that a little Black boy, probably the descendent of slaves is able to touch the head, a vulnerable part of the body, and the hair, something that has spiritual meaning, of the President! Second, the boy finding that the hair actually feels and looks like his when no other President has ever had the same hair. Its really something to stop and think about. This is definitely a first for history!
With the way race is defined in America black people come in all shades so there may be black people such as this child or President Obama who are lighter than many Europeans, Asians or Natives. So the only way for this child to know for sure that President Obama was black like him was to check his hair.
I saw this picture on the Evening News with Brian Williams one afternoon and fell even deeper on love with our President! How neat is it that this little boy wanted to compare how his cut hair felt as opposed to our President's hair! And they felt the same! This is something that this little boy will probably never forget. Very powerful!! This picture and the one with President Obama shaking the black Bobby's hand in England are two that I continually look back on. Our First Family have touched more people in more ways than they could ever imagine.
This is adorable and makes me think of my niece. She is mixed with Black and Mexican and is naturally a bronzy tan color. My mom called her for her birthday and was so excited about her new doll. She exclaimed, "Grandma!!! My new doll looks just like me." I def don't think it's sad. I think its great when kids want to see ppl physical traits like their own.
@MzBush, I guess it touched me for diff't reasons. I have 2 nephews. One has light skin and very soft, semi-blonde, wavy/curly hair (& no he's not mixed). The other has the most gorgeous brown skin and dark, coarser hair. Both are incredibly handsome boys, full of humor and charm. When I take them out together, almost 90% of the time, the lighter one will be complimented for how handsome he is and on quite a few occassions, the person offering the compliment has touched his hair (to my irritation) and said "Oh he got good hair." I make sure to respond in a way that includes both of them in a compliment. Something like "Yes, my boys are so handsome." or some equally corny expression. Children learn about hair and such at an early age becase adults, unconciously, pass the message onto them that it matters. I guess I thought of my babies when I saw this photo.
@anonymous–I guess I just chalked it up to him being a curious kid. They ask and say all kinds of craziness. If the boy was like 12I'd def see it a little differently. I didn't think much of it. Plus, this is just one photo. The hair-touching request might've been only one of a series of questions he had for the President. I never really would've thought of it as being sad.
I like this. Hair is very powerful and it is one of the factors that distinguish black people from others. I think the boy wanted to know for sure that there really was no difference between he and the president and he saw that proof in his hair. I love it!
BTW…I don't see it as sad at all that he is interested in touching the president's hair. For the first time ever, someone like him can see part of himself in the President of the US. That's dope!
44 Responses
what a great photo!
Actually, this little boy had just got a hair cut and told the President. The president said that he just had his hair cut as well and asked the boy to see if his (Obama’s) haircut was as nice as his (the little boy). In an interview Obama himself told this exact story and said how it was one of the best moments he’s had thus far. Beautiful picture in any event.
This picture is great because kids need to learn stop wanting to change themselves just to satisfy the masses. I met a little girl right before I was getting micro-braids put in my head. My hair is natural and she just kept staring at me finally she said, " you like your hair like that?" My response, " Like what?"
" Like that," she said pointing. I knew that she meant natural but I felt like if she couldn't say what she meant, then she should learn to use her words. So i said, " What do you mean?" She was quiet for a moment as she struggled with her words and then she said, "Not like everyone else's." I then knew that she wanted to say 'nappy' but someone had taught her not to. I told her that yes, I like my hair like this particularly because it's not like everyone else. She didn't get it. She said that she would be mortified(yes she used to word 'mortified') to go to school and not look like everyone else. This broke my heart. It almost made me get up and not get my hair braided, but it was for a play and i had to. I hate that individualism in black society was once looked upon so shrewdly. it was 1991 when I first got rid of my Gheri Curl, I was twelve and I cut my hair short like Halle Berry… but because every other girl at my school had either naturally long hair, or a weave, I got called "bald-headed ho" everyday. And when I went natural a few years later, it was even worse. This particular story happened four or five years ago and I've noticed that things are getting better. Mostly because of artists like Estelle and Santigold who are not scared to flaunt their "off the wall" style. Kids are hopefully getting the idea that you don't have to adhere to society's ideals about fashion and morals. That its okay to have nappy, straight, curly or no hair at all. You can actually Be Yourself, like they taught in fourth grade…
Michelle Obama IS natural..just not napptural. She stated that she doesnt have a relaxer.
maybe he's just getting some lint off.:)
everything does not have to be a profound statement..
Be Blessed
You are loved
Brother Frankie
Now, just imagine if Michelle went natural?
http://blackcommentator.com/328/328_ftf_colonization_off_crown_michelle.html
Interesting..How I wish we have such a leader here…
My God what a beautiful statement this is making. It is so important that African Americans keep it natural for this very reason. Which is why I love the Obama children, it may not seem to others that it is a big deal but it is huge deal!!!! Our natural hair is what makes us so beautiful and we must begin to embrace it 🙂
That's beautiful.
Aww this really brought a smile to my face! Wonderful photo!
awwww!!!
Oh, thank you for this picture! Precious! It says so much. Wow!
Awww that's the cutest thing ever! He's probably heard so much about President Obama that he thinks he's some sort of superhero. My 5 year old niece thought so during the election because so many people were talking about him with such praise. Its no wonder he thought his hair was different!
la photo d'Obama et le petit garcon est magnifique et emouvante .Les cheveux naturels sont demandes de nos jours
Oh my, I may cry too!!!
This picture definitely touched me.
I had a 3 year old little girl look at my hair and tell me that it was nappy. Needless to say, at the age of 3, I was surprised she had even hear that word before. But the tone in which she used it (there was no love in it at all yall), I told her that it was not a nice word and that we don't use that word. She looked at my hair again, touched it and then said, "I like your hair! It's soft and pretty." Then she gave me a hug.
cute picture…the little boy is a child and probably didn't think much when his asked to touch the hair… who knows maybe his parents had drilled him on it…lol
I just have to throw in there… THAT LITTLE BOY IS SO CUTE!!!
It's a shame that this psychological abuse has persisted for so long within our community…that even now after we have a black president we still can't manage to completely grasp the boundlessness of our true black beauty…I'm glad that the little boy knows that people who look just like him can do extraordinary things without altering their physical appearance…now it time for little black girls to feel the same way…(i.e. lets show some kinks professionals)
Thanks for posting this photo! It is remarkable.
This picture is powerful. It's speaks a million words. I'm soo happy you posted this. I sent it to my family and friends.
Also I agree with Wanda Sykes, Michelle has to have big arms to beat the women away LOL. A gorgeous looking black man with power, intelligence, takes good care of his family! He's a dime. His only major flaw I can see is his smoking…. drop the cigarettes! heheh j/k.
Awww, this is cute! I love Barack Obama (no seriously, I do)
Poor baby.I wonder what Obama was thinking, when all of this was going on? Was he flattered or disturbed?
http://curlyluv.blogspot.com
Great post :o) I do hair and so many little girls with natural hair request me to do their hair 'like their mother's' – which are usually straight styles. For me this pic, although not of a girl, reinforces how we naturals should be examples for our daughters, little sisters etc.
This is an adorable moment…for whatever reason. Kids are unabashedly innocent and honest. This makes me think of something that happened when I was a kid. My parents were good friends with a white couple whose children all had the blondest, straightest hair you could imagine. One of their daughters, probably around 5 or 6 touched my dad's hair and said…"wow, feels like carpet". My dad and mom laughed and laughed about that for years. Now that I think about it, it probably did feel like that compared to hair that she was familiar with. The point I am making is that kids can be curious about many things, including hair.
I saw this a couple of weeks ago. There is something really profound about it. Something that maybe only Black people will feel. First, there's the idea that a little Black boy, probably the descendent of slaves is able to touch the head, a vulnerable part of the body, and the hair, something that has spiritual meaning, of the President! Second, the boy finding that the hair actually feels and looks like his when no other President has ever had the same hair. Its really something to stop and think about. This is definitely a first for history!
CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!!!
With the way race is defined in America black people come in all shades so there may be black people such as this child or President Obama who are lighter than many Europeans, Asians or Natives. So the only way for this child to know for sure that President Obama was black like him was to check his hair.
I saw this picture on the Evening News with Brian Williams one afternoon and fell even deeper on love with our President! How neat is it that this little boy wanted to compare how his cut hair felt as opposed to our President's hair! And they felt the same! This is something that this little boy will probably never forget. Very powerful!!
This picture and the one with President Obama shaking the black Bobby's hand in England are two that I continually look back on. Our First Family have touched more people in more ways than they could ever imagine.
I thought this was weird but after reading "Mzbush" and "Sunshinelovespeace", I understand a little more (and I'm blk)
This is adorable and makes me think of my niece. She is mixed with Black and Mexican and is naturally a bronzy tan color. My mom called her for her birthday and was so excited about her new doll. She exclaimed, "Grandma!!! My new doll looks just like me." I def don't think it's sad. I think its great when kids want to see ppl physical traits like their own.
@MzBush, I guess it touched me for diff't reasons. I have 2 nephews. One has light skin and very soft, semi-blonde, wavy/curly hair (& no he's not mixed). The other has the most gorgeous brown skin and dark, coarser hair. Both are incredibly handsome boys, full of humor and charm. When I take them out together, almost 90% of the time, the lighter one will be complimented for how handsome he is and on quite a few occassions, the person offering the compliment has touched his hair (to my irritation) and said "Oh he got good hair." I make sure to respond in a way that includes both of them in a compliment. Something like "Yes, my boys are so handsome." or some equally corny expression. Children learn about hair and such at an early age becase adults, unconciously, pass the message onto them that it matters. I guess I thought of my babies when I saw this photo.
@anonymous–I guess I just chalked it up to him being a curious kid. They ask and say all kinds of craziness. If the boy was like 12I'd def see it a little differently. I didn't think much of it. Plus, this is just one photo. The hair-touching request might've been only one of a series of questions he had for the President. I never really would've thought of it as being sad.
This is a powerful photo.
I like this. Hair is very powerful and it is one of the factors that distinguish black people from others. I think the boy wanted to know for sure that there really was no difference between he and the president and he saw that proof in his hair. I love it!
It is nice that he can see a President who looks like him, but don't you find it odd that he chose to touch his hair?
BTW…I don't see it as sad at all that he is interested in touching the president's hair. For the first time ever, someone like him can see part of himself in the President of the US. That's dope!
I was actually JUST going to send you this to see if you'd be interested in posting it. I love it! It says so much. Definitely tear-worthy!
I saw this and wondered @ the back story. This picture is too cute and the imagery is very powerful to my mind.
I'm in love with the President…don't tell my husband!
very touching photo. I love President O.
Wow, powerful stuff.
He is adorable. How odd that Obama's hair would be the thing he'd be curious about. Odd and kinda sad.
🙂 What a cutie!