Sarah has hair that isn’t easily managed, and after seeing another young girl with silky blond hair in pretty ribbons, she wants her hair to look the same way. She is convinced that her hair is ugly because it isn’t as fair and flowing.
Noticing how silky and light the material hanging from the corn cobs is, she pulls out some of the silk and pretends it’s her hair. Shortly after, she shares her dissatisfaction with her aunt who agrees to try fixing her hair in several different styles until Sarah is happy with the results. After quite a few tries, Sarah is pleased when her hair is braided into beautiful cornrows.
During the next outing, she runs into the same little girl who admires Sarah’s braids and tells her about the problems she has with her own hair. Sarah is shocked that such pretty hair can be a problem, but she learns that beautiful things come in
various colors, textures, and styles.
Dealing with issues of self-esteem, feminine beauty, and cultural awareness, OF CORN SILK AND BLACK BRAIDS is not only a beautiful book and story, but also a much needed message for young girls trying to fit in. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to mothers, aunts, and even big sisters to help ease the fears of young girls regarding their outer appearance.
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
