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Melissa Harris-Perry talks with the same sense of urgency about this issue as Aunt Jackie’s P.S.A. raised awareness about. Melissa Harris-Perry is an African-American woman, who is a television host of the Melissa Harris-Perry Maddox Show on MSNBC. Ms. Perry is also a writer and a political commentator, who focuses on the politics of African-Americans and lastly but not least she is a professor. Melissa Perry decided to dedicate a segment of her show to the social rejection of certain hair types. Melissa Perry opens the video with a statement that was made by Sheryl Underwood who is an African-American comedian, actress, and talk show host (CBS The Talk). "OK, I'm sorry, but why would you save Afro hair?" “You can’t weave afro hair. You never see us at the hair place going ‘Look, here, what I need here is, I need those curly, nappy beads.' That just seems nasty.” The statement made by Ms. Underwood was taken harshly by women nationally especially by African-American women. This type of judgment against our own culture is what gives people of other races the motivation and courage to discriminate against one another. Furthermore, if a Black woman can belittle another Black woman’s hair what does it matter to a White woman to say the same thing and why should she be looked at any differently? Sheryl Underwood soon after retracted her statement, apologized, and claimed it was a joke.

 

Sheryl Underwood’s negative commentary is an example of social rejection for people who may have hair that is different from what society thinks is ideal. This social rejection is prevalent in our day-to-day lives and unfortunately this type of ignorance is done on to our youth. Tiana Parker a 7-year-old girl who of Tulsa, Oklahoma, goes to Deborah Brown Community School, was sent home after being told her hair was unacceptable. The hairstyle in which was deemed unacceptable was short dreadlocks pinned back with a bow.

 

Melissa Perry discovered the story of Tiana Parker and was baffled. Therefore, she wrote an open letter to this young lady telling her to not let anyone judge her hair because it is beautiful no matter how she rocks her hair. This video was created for anyone and everyone to see. No matter what your race, age, or beliefs are, it was intended to shed light on this growing issue in hopes of support. It was made popular by being aired on her show and then was posted on YouTube where it was viewed by thousands more.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.