I don't even know where to begin. I had my day at Maryvale yesterday with the girls. It was the first time that we started working on canvas. And all I can say is that I had to hold back the tears and emotions that welled inside me. Their work was so powerful and strong. It was a dawning that after many weeks of teaching and then letting them go to see what they created and the depth and feeling was so soulful, courageous and truthful. I had asked them to write about what their hands hold ... what they want the world to know about them. The real them. We started our session listening to the India.Arie song " I am not my hair"
Is that India? What happened to her hair?
Da da da da da
(Verse 1)
Little girl with the press and curls
Age 8 I got a jerry curl
13 and I got a relaxer
I was the source of so much laughter
15 when it all broke off
18 when I went all natural
February 2002
I went on and did what I had to do
Cuz it was time to change my life
To become the woman that I am inside
97 dread locs all grown
I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that (hey)
(Chorus)
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 the soul that lives within
(Spoken)
What she do to her?
I don’t know; it look crazy!
I like it.
I might do that.
I wouldn’t go that far.
(Verse 2)
Good hair means curls and waves.
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off like an African beauty
Got in on “loc” like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey
It’s not what’s on your head, it’s what’s underneath (say hey)
(Chorus)
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 the soul that lives within
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity
Expressing my creativity
(Verse 3)
Breast cancer and chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life
On national television her diamond eyes are sparkling
Baldheaded like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like hey
(Chorus)
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 the soul that lives within
(Repeat)
If I wanna shave it close or I wanna rock locs
That don’t take a bit away from this soul that I got
If I wanna wear it braided all down my back
I don’t see nothing wrong with that
and then they shared what they had written over the week. They used b/w photo images of their own hands in the pieces. I am so proud of them that they were willing to share their pain, sorrows, and hopes - that they were not afraid - when these are souls who have known real fear. The human spirit is so strong. I read them passages from my sine on Artful Purpose - that of Nina's, Deb's and Juliana's. They got it - the proof is in the pudding or in this case the painting.
This is a poem by one of the girls that I asked to share with all of you.
In My Hands
In my hands I hold the world
I hold both your future and mine
I hold so much power on the inside
but on the outside there's no sign
In my hands is the future
bright and clear
everyone is safe
and there is nothing to fear
In my hands is the past
filled with misery and pain
experiences that have scarred me
and left a bloody stain
In my hands I hold my life
dangling by a thread
torn between a nightmare and a wish
and a fantasy and horrific dread
In my hands I hold your life
by which in anger I may consume
or when I excel and change the world
may help you blossom, flourish and bloom
In my hands I hold the world
I hold both your future and mine
I hold so much pwer on the inside
but on the outside there's no sign.
It is clear that in YOUR hands these girls are blossoming & emerging from the shadows that have hidden their pain. What a lovely, lovely post this was. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. You are just what these girls need, and they are lucky to have you in their lives.
Deb
Posted by: debtrotter | July 26, 2007 at 10:51 AM
This made me cry. It is so true, why do we judge others by the way they look? I am so happy the girls have you. Nita
Posted by: Nita | July 26, 2007 at 12:59 PM
i echo deb's sentiments word for word. gina, i am SO proud of you, and of the girls as well - what a grand, fine example you set of hope, of beauty, of grace. i love you!
Posted by: nina | July 26, 2007 at 02:37 PM
WOW! What an absolutely wonderful, generous gift you are giving these girls...the poem "In My Hands" blew me away. In your hands these girls will grow and flourish and hopefully in time share the gift with others. Thank you for sharing with us.
Posted by: Annette Rousso | July 28, 2007 at 09:12 AM
You are amazing and inspiring... these girls will be better people because of it!
Posted by: Maija Lepore | July 31, 2007 at 09:46 AM
This is so totally wonderfully cool!
Posted by: Catherine Witherell | August 04, 2007 at 10:46 PM
This is so totally wonderfully cool!
Posted by: Catherine Witherell | August 04, 2007 at 10:46 PM