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Melony.
4
00:00:37,254 --> 00:00:38,255
Melony!
5
00:00:40,257 --> 00:00:41,693
Melony!
6
00:00:41,693 --> 00:00:43,652
Come on, now.
7
00:00:43,652 --> 00:00:49,049
Melony! Come on.
8
00:00:51,747 --> 00:00:53,444
You hear me calling you.
9
00:00:55,011 --> 00:00:56,578
GREAT-AUNT: Come on.
Come on, now.
10
00:00:56,578 --> 00:00:58,797
Let's get it, girl.
11
00:00:58,797 --> 00:01:02,453
Stop fidgeting, Melony.
But it hurts.
12
00:01:02,453 --> 00:01:05,021
I know it does, baby, but when
your mama's through with you,
13
00:01:05,021 --> 00:01:07,241
you're gonna look like
a pretty little angel
14
00:01:07,241 --> 00:01:09,373
and not like
some woolly old lion.
15
00:01:09,373 --> 00:01:12,724
Ow! Why?
I don't want to be an angel.
16
00:01:12,724 --> 00:01:14,683
I'd rather be a lion.
17
00:01:14,683 --> 00:01:17,120
Why can't I have
my hair like this?
18
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,210
Look at this. Look at this.
19
00:01:20,210 --> 00:01:22,995
Baby, you can't go nowhere
looking like that.
20
00:01:22,995 --> 00:01:24,954
Nowhere. Nowhere.
21
00:01:24,954 --> 00:01:27,130
Melony, sit down.
22
00:01:27,130 --> 00:01:29,132
Look. She's just free, honey.
23
00:01:29,132 --> 00:01:31,308
Look at her.
24
00:01:31,308 --> 00:01:35,007
Melony! Sit down.
25
00:01:35,007 --> 00:01:37,053
GREAT-AUNT:
She just free, ain't she?
26
00:01:45,061 --> 00:01:47,933
Ode to my hair.
27
00:01:47,933 --> 00:01:50,849
My hair defies gravity.
28
00:01:50,849 --> 00:01:53,025
She is rebellious
29
00:01:53,025 --> 00:01:55,245
and will never lay down
unless she wants to.
30
00:01:57,421 --> 00:02:02,296
She is soft as a sponge
and brutal as a Brillo pad.
31
00:02:02,296 --> 00:02:05,081
She can go from lyin' down
to Lion King
32
00:02:05,081 --> 00:02:08,824
with just three drops of rain.
33
00:02:08,824 --> 00:02:10,782
My hair--
Stop there, please.
34
00:02:12,610 --> 00:02:15,439
Miss Renshaw, would you tell me
35
00:02:15,439 --> 00:02:18,486
what you thought
this assignment was?
36
00:02:18,486 --> 00:02:23,447
Well, you asked us to explore
a part of our personal psyche
37
00:02:23,447 --> 00:02:25,971
that we considered to be--
Substantial.
38
00:02:25,971 --> 00:02:27,886
That's right. Identifying.
39
00:02:27,886 --> 00:02:29,888
And you chose your hair.
40
00:02:31,977 --> 00:02:33,457
Hair, Miss Renshaw.
41
00:02:33,457 --> 00:02:36,547
Perhaps next to toenails...
42
00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:39,855
...the most superficial and
transient aspect of a person.
43
00:02:39,855 --> 00:02:42,640
When the hippies grew
their hair long in the '70s,
44
00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,252
they were making a huge
social statement.
45
00:02:45,252 --> 00:02:47,645
And what statement
are you making?
46
00:02:50,779 --> 00:02:52,346
Do the assignment over.
47
00:02:52,346 --> 00:02:55,479
And this time, dig deeper.
48
00:02:55,479 --> 00:02:56,828
Next.
49
00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:01,050
Hair is a hallmark of beauty.
50
00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:03,705
Whole societies have put
great value on hair,
51
00:03:03,705 --> 00:03:06,055
from ancient Egyptians
to feudal Chinese.
52
00:03:06,055 --> 00:03:08,971
And for him to just dismiss me
like that--
53
00:03:08,971 --> 00:03:10,625
Ooh!
54
00:03:10,625 --> 00:03:12,061
Oh, God.
I'm so sorry.
55
00:03:12,061 --> 00:03:14,150
No harm done.
56
00:03:14,150 --> 00:03:16,674
Whoever you were telling off
sure had it coming to him.
57
00:03:16,674 --> 00:03:19,068
Oh, you heard me?
Kind of hard not to.
58
00:03:19,068 --> 00:03:21,244
It's just my professor. He--
59
00:03:21,244 --> 00:03:23,855
Can I ask you something?
Okay.
60
00:03:23,855 --> 00:03:25,640
Is hair a thing to you?
61
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,164
Like not your hair specifically.
Just hair in general.
62
00:03:28,164 --> 00:03:29,731
Like, does it mean
anything to you, or is it
63
00:03:29,731 --> 00:03:33,256
like a superficial thing,
like a toenail?
64
00:03:33,256 --> 00:03:37,173
Well, I don't think
I'd like to run my fingers
65
00:03:37,173 --> 00:03:38,435
through my lady's toenails.
66
00:03:43,048 --> 00:03:45,790
I've got to-- I've got to go.
67
00:03:47,879 --> 00:03:50,099
He was cute!
68
00:03:50,099 --> 00:03:52,536
He was just okay.
Well, he was into you.
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00:03:52,536 --> 00:03:54,277
He was talking about running
his fingers through your hair.
70
00:03:54,277 --> 00:03:56,410
Just stop trying to hook me up. Whatever.
71
00:03:56,410 --> 00:03:57,759
What do you think?
72
00:03:57,759 --> 00:04:00,327
You going out?
No. We're going out.
73
00:04:00,327 --> 00:04:02,329
It's the St. Patty's Day dance.
Remember?
74
00:04:02,329 --> 00:04:04,156
Ah. Yeah.
75
00:04:04,156 --> 00:04:07,334
Casey, I've had to make
a lot of cultural adjustments
76
00:04:07,334 --> 00:04:09,553
since coming to this campus.
77
00:04:09,553 --> 00:04:12,556
You know, with all the loud
music that I can't dance to
78
00:04:12,556 --> 00:04:15,124
and raisins in the potato salad.
79
00:04:15,124 --> 00:04:17,822
Hey! But St. Patty's Day?
80
00:04:17,822 --> 00:04:20,912
I'm thinking about how much
I don't want to spend tonight
81
00:04:20,912 --> 00:04:23,175
saying no
to every drunk sophomore
82
00:04:23,175 --> 00:04:26,222
who asks me
if I'm Black Irish.
83
00:04:26,222 --> 00:04:30,139
Get dressed.
Green for luck. No excuses.
84
00:04:34,448 --> 00:04:37,929
♪ Under the anvil
Of the sun... ♪
85
00:04:37,929 --> 00:04:40,410
So, where's your friend?
86
00:04:40,410 --> 00:04:43,065
♪ Like a train, I come
I come ♪
87
00:04:43,065 --> 00:04:46,764
♪ My body to dust ♪
88
00:04:46,764 --> 00:04:50,681
♪ Scorched by the might
Of the sun ♪
89
00:04:50,681 --> 00:04:54,729
♪ Burning light
Burning white heat ♪
90
00:04:54,729 --> 00:04:55,947
Hi.
91
00:04:57,775 --> 00:05:00,300
You... look stunning.
92
00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:02,998
No green for luck?
93
00:05:04,565 --> 00:05:07,176
I couldn't feel any luckier.
94
00:05:07,176 --> 00:05:11,963
♪ Our love is the flame ♪
95
00:05:11,963 --> 00:05:18,056
♪ That keeps on burning ♪
96
00:05:18,056 --> 00:05:21,799
♪ I love to feel the rain ♪
97
00:05:21,799 --> 00:05:25,412
♪ On my face ♪
98
00:05:25,412 --> 00:05:28,502
So, how long
are you here for?
99
00:05:29,807 --> 00:05:32,462
Just one more week. Oh.
100
00:05:32,462 --> 00:05:35,378
I came for an evangelism conference.
101
00:05:35,378 --> 00:05:37,598
You're an evangelist?
102
00:05:37,598 --> 00:05:39,208
No.
103
00:05:39,208 --> 00:05:42,298
I majored in philosophy
and religion, though.
104
00:05:42,298 --> 00:05:45,910
So I wanted to see and feel
what the evangelists do,
105
00:05:45,910 --> 00:05:47,521
how they move people.
106
00:05:47,521 --> 00:05:50,480
I want to open
my own church someday.
107
00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,615
In Mississippi,
to be closer to my family.
108
00:05:54,615 --> 00:05:56,007
That's cool.
109
00:05:56,007 --> 00:05:58,488
I work construction
to pay my bills.
110
00:05:59,968 --> 00:06:01,056
What about you?
111
00:06:03,014 --> 00:06:05,234
Well, I'm-- I'm a psych major.
112
00:06:07,062 --> 00:06:10,065
At least I thought I was.
I'm...
113
00:06:10,065 --> 00:06:12,937
I'm not so sure.
114
00:06:12,937 --> 00:06:15,418
I'm starting to think maybe
there's something else for me.
115
00:06:18,029 --> 00:06:23,252
"Whatever you can do or dream,
you can begin.
116
00:06:23,252 --> 00:06:26,864
Boldness has genius, power,
and magic in it.
117
00:06:28,039 --> 00:06:30,215
Begin it now."
118
00:06:30,215 --> 00:06:32,000
That's beautiful.
119
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,654
No, that's Goethe.
120
00:06:34,959 --> 00:06:37,179
You're beautiful.
121
00:06:53,543 --> 00:06:55,545
Mississippi's a huge move.
122
00:06:55,545 --> 00:06:57,895
I really hope
you're ready for it.
123
00:06:57,895 --> 00:07:00,681
I have a Mississippi
in my mind that's warm
124
00:07:00,681 --> 00:07:04,380
and rich and Black and real.
125
00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:07,383
Maybe it's where
I'm supposed to be.
126
00:07:07,383 --> 00:07:11,169
♪ I don't want to be lonely ♪
127
00:07:11,169 --> 00:07:16,392
♪ I put every last penny
In the tank of this pickup ♪
128
00:07:16,392 --> 00:07:20,178
♪ Feels like
I'm finally home free ♪
129
00:07:20,178 --> 00:07:23,617
♪ I'm pointing this truck ♪
130
00:07:23,617 --> 00:07:28,099
♪ To Mississippi with love ♪
131
00:07:28,099 --> 00:07:31,538
I can't wait to chop it up
with your mom and G'Mom.
132
00:07:31,538 --> 00:07:34,105
Ooh. Do they play bid whist?
Seriously, Mel.
133
00:07:34,105 --> 00:07:36,934
My mom and G'Mom,
they're not warm and fuzzy.
134
00:07:36,934 --> 00:07:39,284
It takes them a while
to adjust to outsiders.
135
00:07:39,284 --> 00:07:41,330
Well, I'm not an outsider.
136
00:07:41,330 --> 00:07:43,332
I'm your wife.
Mm!
137
00:07:43,332 --> 00:07:45,856
Oh!
138
00:07:45,856 --> 00:07:47,945
Grab that doughnut
out of the trunk for me.
139
00:07:47,945 --> 00:07:49,469
The doughnut is the--
Yeah.
140
00:07:49,469 --> 00:07:51,253
I know what a doughnut is, Kevin.
141
00:07:51,253 --> 00:07:52,950
I'm sorry, city girl.
142
00:07:55,518 --> 00:07:56,867
Oh! Ooh!
143
00:07:56,867 --> 00:07:59,348
No! No, no, no!
It's fine.
144
00:07:59,348 --> 00:08:01,350
Oh. Come on. Come on.
Kevin!
145
00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:03,526
It's just water.
It's just mud. Relax.
146
00:08:03,526 --> 00:08:05,006
Oh, it's just mud?
Yeah.
147
00:08:05,006 --> 00:08:06,311
Oh, is that just mud?
Aah!
148
00:08:06,311 --> 00:08:09,010
Huh? Is that just mud?
Stop!
149
00:08:09,010 --> 00:08:10,490
You--
All right. All right!
150
00:08:10,490 --> 00:08:12,492
All right. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
151
00:08:12,492 --> 00:08:14,232
Oh, my God.
Come on.
152
00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,148
Come on.
Aah!
153
00:08:17,148 --> 00:08:18,933
Oh, they're here already!
154
00:08:18,933 --> 00:08:21,326
Dee, I told you
to move these toys!
155
00:08:21,326 --> 00:08:24,547
Don't worry. I'll get 'em.
156
00:08:24,547 --> 00:08:25,896
Hi!
157
00:08:25,896 --> 00:08:29,683
Lord, what in the world is this?
158
00:08:29,683 --> 00:08:32,207
Is that tire tracks
on her shirt?
159
00:08:32,207 --> 00:08:34,209
Ma Betty, G'Mom!
160
00:08:34,209 --> 00:08:37,038
I've heard so much about you!
161
00:08:37,038 --> 00:08:38,300
Mm.
162
00:08:38,300 --> 00:08:40,737
There's a sink and a towel
163
00:08:40,737 --> 00:08:42,826
just inside to your left.
164
00:08:42,826 --> 00:08:44,915
Come on, sis.
I'll show you.
165
00:08:44,915 --> 00:08:46,787
Oh, okay. Behave.
166
00:08:48,963 --> 00:08:51,661
I'm Dee, Kevin's sister.
Oh! Oh, there he is!
167
00:08:51,661 --> 00:08:54,098
There's my baby!
Still so handsome!
168
00:08:54,098 --> 00:08:56,623
Oh! Oh!
169
00:08:56,623 --> 00:08:58,494
Oh, come here!
G'Mom.
170
00:08:58,494 --> 00:09:01,584
Hey.
So, you met Melony.
171
00:09:01,584 --> 00:09:03,543
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
172
00:09:07,285 --> 00:09:08,809
I'm sorry, babe.
173
00:09:10,898 --> 00:09:13,944
I tried to warn you, but my mama
and grandmama are not exactly...
174
00:09:13,944 --> 00:09:16,381
That's fine.
175
00:09:16,381 --> 00:09:18,166
I'm fine.
176
00:09:20,821 --> 00:09:23,301
They don't know me.
177
00:09:23,301 --> 00:09:25,739
I was wrong to expect more.
178
00:09:30,134 --> 00:09:33,485
They just caught me
by surprise is all.
179
00:09:36,314 --> 00:09:40,057
But I'm not scared
of some little old ladies.
180
00:09:48,065 --> 00:09:50,764
Yeah.
Just a little more.
181
00:09:50,764 --> 00:09:52,592
Can I get it for you?
I got it, babe.
182
00:09:52,592 --> 00:09:54,594
Okay. Here you go.
A little bit of ham.
183
00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:55,638
Oh, no, thank you.
184
00:09:58,075 --> 00:09:59,250
You don't like to eat?
185
00:09:59,250 --> 00:10:01,513
I eat mostly vegetables.
186
00:10:03,472 --> 00:10:06,301
Okay.
187
00:10:06,301 --> 00:10:07,824
You don't eat pigs.
188
00:10:07,824 --> 00:10:10,522
You just roll around
in the mud like one.
189
00:10:10,522 --> 00:10:13,003
G'Mom, can I talk to you
in private, please?
190
00:10:34,198 --> 00:10:37,854
I was wondering how long
you'd last in there.
191
00:10:37,854 --> 00:10:40,944
Welcome to the family.
192
00:10:40,944 --> 00:10:45,035
I love my mama and my grandmama,
but you couldn't pay me
193
00:10:45,035 --> 00:10:46,907
to sit through one of those
family dinners again.
194
00:10:46,907 --> 00:10:47,864
Mnh-mnh.
195
00:10:51,128 --> 00:10:54,088
That's why I spend
so much time in there.
196
00:10:54,088 --> 00:10:56,743
Is that where you live?
197
00:10:58,614 --> 00:11:02,662
You must think
we are country sho' nuff.
198
00:11:02,662 --> 00:11:06,100
No.
Baby girl, that is my salon.
199
00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:07,492
Oh.
200
00:11:07,492 --> 00:11:09,233
You want to look inside?
201
00:11:11,758 --> 00:11:15,022
Sorry for the mess.
202
00:11:20,505 --> 00:11:23,726
Do you have customers this late?
203
00:11:23,726 --> 00:11:26,555
Lizzie works downtown till 7.
204
00:11:26,555 --> 00:11:30,298
By the time she's fed her crew
and gets the baby to bed,
205
00:11:30,298 --> 00:11:31,734
where else is she gonna go?
206
00:11:31,734 --> 00:11:33,344
Is it just you here?
207
00:11:33,344 --> 00:11:36,130
Mm. Today it was.
208
00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:40,003
My shampoo girl, Aquanetta,
is seven months pregnant.
209
00:11:40,003 --> 00:11:42,702
Has to rest her legs
every 20 minutes.
210
00:11:44,791 --> 00:11:48,795
I am gonna have to find me
somebody else pretty soon.
211
00:11:48,795 --> 00:11:52,581
Hm. Well, I can help.
212
00:11:53,582 --> 00:11:54,801
You?
213
00:11:54,801 --> 00:11:56,759
Yeah.
214
00:11:56,759 --> 00:11:58,979
What you know about hair?
215
00:11:58,979 --> 00:12:03,766
Not an awful lot,
but I can help you shampoo.
216
00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,775
I'm sorry again
about my ma and G'Mom.
217
00:12:12,775 --> 00:12:16,344
Huh. I don't know who
got cut worse, me or that ham.
218
00:12:16,344 --> 00:12:19,434
I love Dee, though.
She even gave me a job.
219
00:12:19,434 --> 00:12:21,915
Hey, that's great, babe.
220
00:12:33,143 --> 00:12:35,363
The movers will be here
with our stuff tomorrow.
221
00:12:35,363 --> 00:12:38,235
I'll be at the construction site
till 6.
222
00:12:38,235 --> 00:12:40,324
Have a good first day with Dee.
223
00:12:40,324 --> 00:12:41,891
I love you.
224
00:13:10,572 --> 00:13:12,008
Homemade peach?
225
00:13:12,008 --> 00:13:14,097
And some homemade
vanilla ice cream.
226
00:13:14,097 --> 00:13:18,449
Girl, I am so glad to see you.
'Netta didn't come in at all.
227
00:13:18,449 --> 00:13:21,061
I need you to use that
cream wash on Miss Cynthia there
228
00:13:21,061 --> 00:13:23,411
and the rinse
in the blue bottle.
229
00:13:23,411 --> 00:13:26,240
This is my sister-in-law Melony,
y'all.
230
00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,198
She's gonna take real good care
of you.
231
00:13:28,198 --> 00:13:29,765
Hi.
232
00:13:29,765 --> 00:13:33,334
Y'all act like
y'all can't speak.
233
00:13:33,334 --> 00:13:34,814
Hey.
Hi.
234
00:13:37,251 --> 00:13:41,124
Miss Cynthia, you've been
waiting for 30 minutes.
235
00:13:41,124 --> 00:13:43,561
Go on over there.
Mm-hmm. Okay.
236
00:13:47,217 --> 00:13:48,915
Whew! Um...
237
00:13:48,915 --> 00:13:50,568
Oh!
238
00:13:50,568 --> 00:13:53,441
Well, I like it hot.
239
00:13:53,441 --> 00:13:54,877
Okay.
But not too hot.
240
00:13:54,877 --> 00:13:57,532
Like warm but not too cool.
241
00:13:57,532 --> 00:13:58,925
Right.
You follow?
242
00:13:58,925 --> 00:14:00,491
Yes, ma'am.
243
00:14:00,491 --> 00:14:01,884
You got good hands?
244
00:14:01,884 --> 00:14:04,931
Um, I'm not--
I'm not too sure.
245
00:14:07,672 --> 00:14:09,500
Can I--
Can I get your...
246
00:14:09,500 --> 00:14:12,373
No. Mnh-mnh.
I keep this with me.
247
00:14:12,373 --> 00:14:14,592
Sure.
I'm just gonna...
248
00:14:17,291 --> 00:14:19,467
Is that o-- Is that okay?
249
00:14:19,467 --> 00:14:21,686
Mm-hmm.
250
00:14:22,644 --> 00:14:24,733
Oof.
251
00:14:24,733 --> 00:14:26,822
Oh.
252
00:14:26,822 --> 00:14:29,085
Mmm!
I'm just gonna...
253
00:14:30,652 --> 00:14:33,176
Oh, yes!
254
00:14:33,176 --> 00:14:35,309
Oh, that's good!
That's good.
255
00:14:35,309 --> 00:14:36,788
Ooh, yeah!
256
00:14:36,788 --> 00:14:38,747
That's good. Right there.
Right there.
257
00:14:38,747 --> 00:14:40,967
Ooh-hoo-hoo!
258
00:14:40,967 --> 00:14:42,620
And you're done, Miss Cynthia.
259
00:14:42,620 --> 00:14:44,361
Oh. What?
Yeah.
260
00:14:44,361 --> 00:14:46,102
I'm done? Ooh, Lord.
261
00:14:46,102 --> 00:14:47,756
So I'm just gonna
lift you up now.
262
00:14:47,756 --> 00:14:49,105
Ooh.
Just-- You good?
263
00:14:49,105 --> 00:14:50,846
Wow.
264
00:14:50,846 --> 00:14:53,501
Girl, I think I'm gonna need
a cigarette.
265
00:14:56,112 --> 00:14:59,811
Ooh! You know,
you got the hands of life!
266
00:14:59,811 --> 00:15:02,205
Whew!
Mm. I'm more than all right.
267
00:15:02,205 --> 00:15:06,340
Uh, so, uh, who's next?
268
00:15:10,779 --> 00:15:14,304
I really like working
in your shop, Dee.
269
00:15:14,304 --> 00:15:17,090
It's like this feeling
comes over me...
270
00:15:18,482 --> 00:15:22,573
...and my hands just know
what to do and...
271
00:15:22,573 --> 00:15:24,227
Mm.
...how to move.
272
00:15:24,227 --> 00:15:25,402
Yeah.
273
00:15:25,402 --> 00:15:28,188
When I was touching
their hair...
274
00:15:28,188 --> 00:15:32,105
...it felt like--
like I was healing them somehow.
275
00:15:32,105 --> 00:15:35,369
Like I could feel
all of their tension and worries
276
00:15:35,369 --> 00:15:37,719
just slide away.
277
00:15:37,719 --> 00:15:40,026
And we really need the money.
278
00:15:40,026 --> 00:15:42,115
Look, I know
it's just hair, but--
279
00:15:42,115 --> 00:15:44,769
There is no such thing
as just hair
280
00:15:44,769 --> 00:15:46,206
where Black ladies
are concerned.
281
00:15:46,206 --> 00:15:49,122
Hm.
We are all about the hair--
282
00:15:49,122 --> 00:15:52,038
What we do to it,
what it does to us.
283
00:15:52,038 --> 00:15:54,649
Wherever two or more
are gathered...
284
00:15:54,649 --> 00:15:56,781
we're talking about hair!
We are talking about hair!
285
00:15:56,781 --> 00:16:00,742
That's right!
286
00:16:00,742 --> 00:16:02,526
Maybe it shouldn't be that way.
287
00:16:04,093 --> 00:16:07,314
Well, the way I see it...
288
00:16:07,314 --> 00:16:10,447
the first thing people notice
about us is that we're Black.
289
00:16:10,447 --> 00:16:11,840
Mm-hmm.
290
00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,234
The next thing
is how we wear our hair.
291
00:16:14,234 --> 00:16:15,757
Then they judge us
on that, right?
292
00:16:15,757 --> 00:16:17,498
Mm.
Like...
293
00:16:17,498 --> 00:16:21,197
as if our hairstyle is gonna
tell them who we really are.
294
00:16:21,197 --> 00:16:23,852
Why you think
so many Black women wear wigs?
295
00:16:23,852 --> 00:16:27,508
Hmm?
Trying to fool 'em off, honey.
296
00:16:27,508 --> 00:16:29,510
I never thought of it like that.
297
00:16:29,510 --> 00:16:32,904
Ma Betty and G'Mom?
Oh, those are wigs?
298
00:16:32,904 --> 00:16:35,081
They trying to
fool you off too, honey.
299
00:16:35,081 --> 00:16:37,039
They trying. And failing.
300
00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:40,303
She's so disrespectful!
301
00:16:40,303 --> 00:16:41,870
I don't know
what Kevin sees in her.
302
00:16:41,870 --> 00:16:45,526
Mm.
She tried to cook dinner
303
00:16:45,526 --> 00:16:48,311
and tried to make some chicken.
304
00:16:48,311 --> 00:16:50,966
When I look at the chicken,
ain't no skin on it!
305
00:16:50,966 --> 00:16:52,185
She broiled it!
306
00:16:52,185 --> 00:16:53,795
Well, what-- what...
Wait.
307
00:16:53,795 --> 00:16:55,101
Where was the skin?
308
00:16:55,101 --> 00:16:57,103
She threw it out!
She what?!
309
00:16:57,103 --> 00:17:00,541
Oh!
Well, that's the best part.
310
00:17:00,541 --> 00:17:01,890
She's wasteful. Mm.
311
00:17:04,501 --> 00:17:06,329
Oh. Look there.
312
00:17:06,329 --> 00:17:08,723
Is that Miss Cynthia?
313
00:17:08,723 --> 00:17:10,768
Hey-- Hey there, Miss Cynthia!
314
00:17:10,768 --> 00:17:12,988
Good afternoon, ladies.
315
00:17:12,988 --> 00:17:14,642
I can't stop and talk,
you know.
316
00:17:14,642 --> 00:17:16,992
I got to go get a place in line.
317
00:17:16,992 --> 00:17:18,776
In line?
At Dee Dee's?
318
00:17:18,776 --> 00:17:22,780
Oh, yeah! Everybody is fired up
about that Melony.
319
00:17:22,780 --> 00:17:25,218
You know, she got good hands. Mm.
320
00:17:25,218 --> 00:17:28,264
I just might have to buy myself
a place in line.
321
00:17:28,264 --> 00:17:30,527
I got to go! Bye!
322
00:17:32,573 --> 00:17:34,183
She's selling seats?
323
00:17:39,188 --> 00:17:40,842
A hundred and twelve dollars?
324
00:17:40,842 --> 00:17:42,887
Mm-hmm.
Doing what, now?
325
00:17:42,887 --> 00:17:46,935
Hair. Shampooing hair.
326
00:17:46,935 --> 00:17:51,157
I did sixteen heads today
at seven bucks a head.
327
00:17:51,157 --> 00:17:53,681
Dee makes a killing
in that shop.
328
00:17:53,681 --> 00:17:55,465
Working there
has been a godsend.
329
00:18:02,342 --> 00:18:04,039
Hey.
330
00:18:04,039 --> 00:18:06,607
Where is everyone?
331
00:18:06,607 --> 00:18:08,304
Light day today?
332
00:18:10,089 --> 00:18:10,959
No day.
333
00:18:12,787 --> 00:18:14,876
Ain't got no water.
334
00:18:14,876 --> 00:18:17,096
Is it the bill?
No.
335
00:18:17,096 --> 00:18:18,793
It's G'Mom.
336
00:18:20,403 --> 00:18:22,318
The shack technically sits
on her land,
337
00:18:22,318 --> 00:18:24,451
and she owns the water rights.
338
00:18:26,496 --> 00:18:29,020
This morning,
she had the county cut me off.
339
00:18:30,457 --> 00:18:32,023
Why would she do that?
340
00:18:32,023 --> 00:18:33,938
She doesn't want you
working here, Melony.
341
00:18:36,419 --> 00:18:39,205
Says I got no water
until you're gone.
342
00:18:39,205 --> 00:18:40,684
Oh.
343
00:18:45,254 --> 00:18:46,908
Okay.
344
00:18:46,908 --> 00:18:49,737
It's okay.
It's not okay.
345
00:18:49,737 --> 00:18:52,566
G'Mom always pulls stunts like
this, just because she does--
346
00:18:52,566 --> 00:18:53,741
Look, Dee.
347
00:18:56,483 --> 00:18:58,137
Don't let her hurt
your business.
348
00:19:02,010 --> 00:19:03,577
Just tell her I'll leave.
349
00:19:12,020 --> 00:19:13,326
I'm just gonna miss you.
350
00:19:15,284 --> 00:19:18,157
Every head in this place
is gonna miss you.
351
00:19:25,076 --> 00:19:27,035
You're my family, Dee.
352
00:19:27,035 --> 00:19:29,516
And my friend.
353
00:19:34,260 --> 00:19:37,176
Don't let these healing hands
go to waste.
354
00:19:39,482 --> 00:19:40,570
I won't.
355
00:19:42,659 --> 00:19:43,747
I promise.
356
00:19:48,274 --> 00:19:50,319
We're really excited
357
00:19:50,319 --> 00:19:52,495
to have you starting with us,
Mrs. Armstrong.
358
00:19:52,495 --> 00:19:55,237
Psychology major, huh?
Yeah.
359
00:19:55,237 --> 00:19:58,588
But I see you didn't
finish college.
360
00:19:58,588 --> 00:20:00,721
Dropped out in your senior year?
361
00:20:00,721 --> 00:20:03,463
Yeah. I just felt like
I wasn't getting anywhere.
362
00:20:03,463 --> 00:20:07,467
I really want to make
a difference in this world.
363
00:20:07,467 --> 00:20:11,340
Well, the world starts
coming in here at 5 p.m.
364
00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:13,255
You'll be working
the night shift.
365
00:20:13,255 --> 00:20:15,866
Check the ladies in.
Get them settled.
366
00:20:15,866 --> 00:20:17,868
Okay.
367
00:20:17,868 --> 00:20:22,873
Make sure everybody gets
one food box and one cot set.
368
00:20:22,873 --> 00:20:25,615
It's your desk. Okay.
369
00:20:25,615 --> 00:20:29,140
Oh. A word of advice.
370
00:20:29,140 --> 00:20:30,968
All of these women have stories,
371
00:20:30,968 --> 00:20:34,363
and you do not have time
to hear them.
372
00:20:34,363 --> 00:20:37,671
Nobody comes here happy, Armstrong.
373
00:20:37,671 --> 00:20:40,717
And their misery will drown you.
374
00:20:44,373 --> 00:20:47,420
That's your coffee.
For you only.
375
00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:50,118
Can't afford
to feed the masses.
376
00:20:50,118 --> 00:20:52,512
Let's get
your paperwork done.
377
00:20:52,512 --> 00:20:53,295
Sure.
378
00:20:57,473 --> 00:21:01,782
Yeah. It's the graveyard shift--
8 to 6.
379
00:21:01,782 --> 00:21:04,350
Pay's not great,
but we need the money.
380
00:21:04,350 --> 00:21:06,003
And when will I see you?
381
00:21:06,003 --> 00:21:08,789
I guess we'll have to
get creative.
382
00:21:08,789 --> 00:21:10,747
I'm feeling creative right now.
383
00:21:10,747 --> 00:21:12,793
Oh, yeah?
384
00:21:14,229 --> 00:21:16,187
Wait. Right now?
385
00:21:16,187 --> 00:21:20,583
Oh, my gosh!
You're gonna mess up my hair!
386
00:21:32,726 --> 00:21:34,293
That bad?
387
00:21:35,903 --> 00:21:37,208
It's terrible.
388
00:21:37,208 --> 00:21:39,385
But it's hot.
389
00:21:39,385 --> 00:21:41,343
Yeah.
390
00:21:41,343 --> 00:21:42,997
That's what I said
about my husband.
391
00:21:47,654 --> 00:21:50,178
If you're not gonna drink it,
I will.
392
00:21:52,006 --> 00:21:54,051
Uh...
393
00:21:54,051 --> 00:21:56,532
Yeah. Sure.
Take it all.
394
00:21:58,404 --> 00:22:00,928
I miss coffee.
395
00:22:00,928 --> 00:22:04,714
I miss a lot of things,
but I really miss good coffee.
396
00:22:04,714 --> 00:22:08,065
Which this ain't,
but it's like you said.
397
00:22:08,065 --> 00:22:10,894
It's hot. Ah.
398
00:22:10,894 --> 00:22:12,548
I'm Melony.
399
00:22:12,548 --> 00:22:14,158
Leona.
400
00:22:14,158 --> 00:22:15,769
Have you been here long?
401
00:22:15,769 --> 00:22:17,901
Not here. Unh-unh.
402
00:22:17,901 --> 00:22:21,209
I was at, uh, Langforth,
and then Wesley before that.
403
00:22:21,209 --> 00:22:23,037
Lots of us,
we sort of run the circuit
404
00:22:23,037 --> 00:22:25,996
until Social finds us
a place to land.
405
00:22:25,996 --> 00:22:29,391
Some of the girls, they go back
to wherever they left.
406
00:22:29,391 --> 00:22:32,351
But most of us,
we can't do that.
407
00:22:36,790 --> 00:22:38,400
You have any lotion?
408
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,881
They never have any lotion
in this place.
409
00:22:40,881 --> 00:22:43,536
It's like they never
heard of ashy before.
410
00:22:43,536 --> 00:22:45,494
Don't they got lotion
in the showers?
411
00:22:47,714 --> 00:22:49,629
Ladies!
412
00:22:49,629 --> 00:22:51,979
Is there any lotion
in the showers?
413
00:22:53,284 --> 00:22:55,809
You know ain't no lotion
in them showers.
414
00:22:55,809 --> 00:22:58,681
No.
415
00:22:58,681 --> 00:23:02,816
What they do have, though,
is some cheap-ass soap
416
00:23:02,816 --> 00:23:04,208
and some paper towels.
417
00:23:04,208 --> 00:23:05,819
Paper towels.
418
00:23:05,819 --> 00:23:08,865
How you supposed to dry
your hair on paper towels?
419
00:23:08,865 --> 00:23:10,519
Your hair?
420
00:23:10,519 --> 00:23:12,086
Ain't no real shampoo
in this joint anyway.
421
00:23:12,086 --> 00:23:13,696
I know that's right.
422
00:23:13,696 --> 00:23:16,351
I tried putting
that green stuff in my hair.
423
00:23:16,351 --> 00:23:18,658
Made it all stick together.
Clumped up like dreadlocks.
424
00:23:18,658 --> 00:23:20,094
Nappy hair.
425
00:23:20,094 --> 00:23:22,139
When I pass my reflection
in a store window,
426
00:23:22,139 --> 00:23:24,098
I say, "Ooh!"
Ooh!
427
00:23:24,098 --> 00:23:28,407
"Who is that scary, messy woman?
That's not--"
428
00:23:28,407 --> 00:23:30,931
"It can't be me!"
"It can't be me!"
429
00:23:30,931 --> 00:23:32,585
Ooh! Girls!
430
00:23:32,585 --> 00:23:34,021
Unh.
431
00:23:34,021 --> 00:23:37,807
Um, can I get a freshen-up
on the coffee?
432
00:23:37,807 --> 00:23:39,592
Me-- Me too?
433
00:23:39,592 --> 00:23:42,246
I feel like if you're doing
them, you might as well do me.
434
00:23:42,246 --> 00:23:45,598
Ple-e-e-ase?
435
00:23:45,598 --> 00:23:50,211
When I left my house,
I was running for my life.
436
00:23:50,211 --> 00:23:53,736
I didn't pack nothing.
437
00:23:53,736 --> 00:23:56,173
My hair ain't seen a brush
for two months.
438
00:23:56,173 --> 00:23:57,697
Wow.
439
00:23:57,697 --> 00:24:00,047
Those little brushes
they give you? Heh.
440
00:24:00,047 --> 00:24:01,918
They must be
for Barbie doll heads.
441
00:24:01,918 --> 00:24:04,573
I just want some grease.
442
00:24:04,573 --> 00:24:07,141
Any kind of grease.
My hair is so thirsty.
443
00:24:07,141 --> 00:24:08,838
Girl, pshh.
444
00:24:08,838 --> 00:24:10,840
I'm about to sell mine
as Brillo pads, okay?
445
00:24:13,103 --> 00:24:17,238
When my hair doesn't feel
like my hair,
446
00:24:17,238 --> 00:24:19,545
I just don't feel like myself.
447
00:24:19,545 --> 00:24:21,198
You know?
448
00:24:21,198 --> 00:24:23,810
That's why I keep my hat on.
449
00:24:23,810 --> 00:24:26,508
But we can still see
your kitchen back there.
450
00:24:26,508 --> 00:24:27,901
Aah!
451
00:24:30,730 --> 00:24:32,906
You're supposed to be
my friend!
452
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,955
Are you sure this is okay?
453
00:24:38,955 --> 00:24:40,609
Oh, it's fine.
454
00:24:40,609 --> 00:24:43,525
They left for a two-day
revival meeting last night.
455
00:24:43,525 --> 00:24:46,397
I'm meeting them
at the hotel in Jackson.
456
00:24:46,397 --> 00:24:50,227
You've got all day
and all night.
457
00:24:50,227 --> 00:24:52,142
Thank you.
Try not to burn it down.
458
00:24:55,363 --> 00:24:56,756
Have fun.
Thank you, Dee.
459
00:24:56,756 --> 00:24:58,540
All right. Take care. Bye.
460
00:25:04,372 --> 00:25:06,896
Hey!
Hey!
461
00:25:06,896 --> 00:25:09,333
Thank you!
Hey, how are you doing?
462
00:25:09,333 --> 00:25:10,813
What is this?
463
00:25:10,813 --> 00:25:13,163
Well, you're gonna find out.
464
00:25:13,163 --> 00:25:15,601
Okay.
Follow me.
465
00:25:17,472 --> 00:25:19,866
Come on, come on, come on!
466
00:25:19,866 --> 00:25:21,694
Okay.
467
00:25:22,825 --> 00:25:24,261
Right this way, ladies.
468
00:25:24,261 --> 00:25:26,394
Oh, my goodness.
Y'all.
469
00:25:26,394 --> 00:25:28,875
Ooh!
I smell real coffee.
470
00:25:28,875 --> 00:25:30,485
Yes.
471
00:25:30,485 --> 00:25:32,705
A real brush!
Wow.
472
00:25:32,705 --> 00:25:36,273
It's my sister-in-law's,
but today it's ours.
473
00:25:36,273 --> 00:25:38,188
Oh, my...
474
00:25:38,188 --> 00:25:40,451
I can do shampoo,
press and curl,
475
00:25:40,451 --> 00:25:42,410
but nothing too fancy, okay?
476
00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:46,109
Oh, girl, I know my way around
a hot comb and curlers, okay?
477
00:25:46,109 --> 00:25:47,850
You got grease!
478
00:25:47,850 --> 00:25:49,156
Yes!
479
00:25:49,156 --> 00:25:50,505
This coffee. Oh!
480
00:25:50,505 --> 00:25:52,725
Enjoy, ladies.
Ooh!
481
00:25:52,725 --> 00:25:55,075
Yes.
Thank you!
482
00:25:56,642 --> 00:26:00,515
And, Miss Leona,
you're first up at the sink.
483
00:26:00,515 --> 00:26:02,299
Oh!
Right over there.
484
00:26:02,299 --> 00:26:04,127
No.
Somebody else can go first.
485
00:26:04,127 --> 00:26:05,607
Unh-unh.
No, girl.
486
00:26:05,607 --> 00:26:07,957
Age before beauty.
Go ahead.
487
00:26:07,957 --> 00:26:09,393
Stop.
Screw you, chicky.
488
00:26:09,393 --> 00:26:10,786
- I'm just saying.
- You...
489
00:26:10,786 --> 00:26:12,962
Just gonna put this over you.
490
00:26:14,355 --> 00:26:15,443
Okay?
491
00:26:17,140 --> 00:26:19,012
There.
492
00:26:19,012 --> 00:26:20,579
All right.
493
00:26:20,579 --> 00:26:21,580
Hm.
494
00:26:24,844 --> 00:26:26,846
Hey.
495
00:26:26,846 --> 00:26:30,458
I'm gonna have to
take your hat off now, okay?
496
00:26:30,458 --> 00:26:32,242
Yeah?
Mm.
497
00:26:32,242 --> 00:26:33,679
All right.
498
00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:36,116
Just gonna...
499
00:26:36,116 --> 00:26:38,248
Just gonna take it off.
500
00:26:38,248 --> 00:26:40,990
There we go.
501
00:26:40,990 --> 00:26:45,081
Oh. I'm sorry.
I hope it doesn't smell bad.
502
00:26:45,081 --> 00:26:47,997
No. Of course not!
You're fine.
503
00:26:47,997 --> 00:26:49,782
It's fine.
504
00:26:49,782 --> 00:26:53,263
Come on. I got you.
505
00:26:55,744 --> 00:26:59,269
Okay. There we go.
506
00:27:07,495 --> 00:27:09,497
Miss Leona?
507
00:27:09,497 --> 00:27:11,281
Are you okay?
508
00:27:11,281 --> 00:27:12,587
Did I hurt you?
509
00:27:12,587 --> 00:27:14,894
No. It's-- It's just...
510
00:27:14,894 --> 00:27:19,159
I just haven't been touched
in so... long.
511
00:27:19,159 --> 00:27:20,639
Go ahead, Miss Melony.
512
00:27:20,639 --> 00:27:23,163
She'll be fine.
513
00:27:23,163 --> 00:27:24,686
You got this, girl.
514
00:27:24,686 --> 00:27:27,515
This is a healing, Miss Lee Lee.
515
00:27:27,515 --> 00:27:29,691
We're all gonna get
a healing.
516
00:27:32,085 --> 00:27:34,043
Okay.
517
00:27:34,043 --> 00:27:35,697
All right.
518
00:27:38,613 --> 00:27:40,702
All right.
Here we go.
519
00:27:41,703 --> 00:27:42,704
Is that okay?
520
00:27:46,403 --> 00:27:49,102
Wow. Just...
521
00:27:49,102 --> 00:27:50,494
Wow!
522
00:27:52,322 --> 00:27:55,935
Look at you!
523
00:27:59,678 --> 00:28:02,942
I'mma get this throne.
524
00:28:04,334 --> 00:28:06,859
Girl, you look good!
Thank you!
525
00:28:06,859 --> 00:28:11,428
God bless you, Miss Mel.
526
00:28:11,428 --> 00:28:13,735
You have a gift. Truly.
527
00:28:13,735 --> 00:28:15,911
You look so beautiful.
528
00:28:15,911 --> 00:28:18,087
Thank you.
All of you.
529
00:28:26,269 --> 00:28:27,183
Kevin.
530
00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:30,317
Hey.
Mm.
531
00:28:35,148 --> 00:28:36,410
Kevin.
Mm.
532
00:28:36,410 --> 00:28:38,542
What's wrong? What's wrong?
Wake up.
533
00:28:38,542 --> 00:28:40,414
You know how you said
534
00:28:40,414 --> 00:28:43,199
you want to start
your own ministry one day,
535
00:28:43,199 --> 00:28:46,550
when the time is right
and you hear God call you?
536
00:28:46,550 --> 00:28:48,901
Yeah.
537
00:28:48,901 --> 00:28:50,119
That's right.
538
00:28:50,119 --> 00:28:51,207
Well...
539
00:28:52,992 --> 00:28:57,823
...I think...
I think I hear God calling me.
540
00:28:57,823 --> 00:29:00,739
I think I know my purpose.
541
00:29:00,739 --> 00:29:02,697
It's something about hair.
542
00:29:02,697 --> 00:29:05,569
God wants you
to be a hairdresser?
543
00:29:05,569 --> 00:29:08,355
I don't know. Maybe.
544
00:29:08,355 --> 00:29:13,534
I can't help feeling like
I should... do something.
545
00:29:15,797 --> 00:29:18,017
I get that.
You do?
546
00:29:18,017 --> 00:29:21,847
Yeah. Maybe you could start
a hair church.
547
00:29:21,847 --> 00:29:24,675
Folks could tithe
their combs and brushes.
548
00:29:24,675 --> 00:29:26,547
You could have
a special roped-off area
549
00:29:26,547 --> 00:29:27,983
for folks with Jheri curls
550
00:29:27,983 --> 00:29:30,072
so they don't drip juice
on everybody.
551
00:29:30,072 --> 00:29:31,334
I'm being serious.
Okay! Okay.
552
00:29:31,334 --> 00:29:32,945
Okay.
553
00:29:34,468 --> 00:29:36,992
Whatever you're being called
to do, babe,
554
00:29:36,992 --> 00:29:38,341
I support it.
555
00:29:38,341 --> 00:29:40,604
Thank you.
556
00:29:40,604 --> 00:29:44,086
Just as long
as you scratch my head
557
00:29:44,086 --> 00:29:46,523
and keep me far away
from the weave choir, okay?
558
00:29:46,523 --> 00:29:48,395
All right. Yeah. Yeah.
Scratch your head?
559
00:29:48,395 --> 00:29:49,613
Mm-hmm.
What, like this?
560
00:29:49,613 --> 00:29:50,789
Huh?
Stop. Stop.
561
00:29:50,789 --> 00:29:52,442
Give me a kiss.
562
00:29:52,442 --> 00:29:53,835
Give me a kiss. No.
563
00:29:53,835 --> 00:29:55,489
Give me a kiss.
You don't deserve it!
564
00:29:57,665 --> 00:29:59,928
Who's calling this late?
565
00:30:01,451 --> 00:30:03,323
Hello?
566
00:30:05,238 --> 00:30:07,631
Oh, my God.
567
00:30:07,631 --> 00:30:10,417
Oh, that's terrible.
568
00:30:10,417 --> 00:30:13,681
I'll be right there.
What is it?
569
00:30:13,681 --> 00:30:15,901
The pipes burst at the shelter.
570
00:30:15,901 --> 00:30:18,991
The whole place is flooded.
They're moving the women out.
571
00:30:18,991 --> 00:30:21,123
So, what are you gonna do?
Where are you going?
572
00:30:21,123 --> 00:30:23,343
Those are my ladies, Kev.
573
00:30:23,343 --> 00:30:25,780
I got to be there for them.
574
00:30:31,917 --> 00:30:35,268
I'll notify you
when we can reopen.
575
00:30:35,268 --> 00:30:37,139
You should go dry off.
576
00:30:37,139 --> 00:30:40,447
Yeah.
Good night.
577
00:30:40,447 --> 00:30:41,709
Good night.
578
00:30:46,366 --> 00:30:47,933
Where's Lydia and Rudy?
579
00:30:47,933 --> 00:30:50,457
Both of them shipped
to other shelters.
580
00:30:50,457 --> 00:30:52,633
Just waiting
on my play brother Garvin.
581
00:30:52,633 --> 00:30:55,027
I'll stay with him a while.
582
00:30:55,027 --> 00:30:56,637
We're all split up now.
583
00:30:58,682 --> 00:31:01,555
I know.
It sucks, right?
584
00:31:01,555 --> 00:31:03,687
You see Lydia, though?
585
00:31:03,687 --> 00:31:05,951
She gave 'em hell for making her
stand out here in the rain
586
00:31:05,951 --> 00:31:09,345
with her hair freshly did.
587
00:31:09,345 --> 00:31:12,087
She was madder about that
than having to move again.
588
00:31:12,087 --> 00:31:14,394
I told her, "Calm down.
589
00:31:14,394 --> 00:31:16,352
All our hair got wrecked."
590
00:31:22,315 --> 00:31:24,404
I'm sorry.
591
00:31:24,404 --> 00:31:26,493
Hey.
592
00:31:26,493 --> 00:31:28,147
It's not your fault.
593
00:31:28,147 --> 00:31:31,846
Hell, we all got to be
princesses for a whole night.
594
00:31:31,846 --> 00:31:33,804
Yeah.
All four of us.
595
00:31:33,804 --> 00:31:36,633
Couldn't nobody tell us nothing.
596
00:31:36,633 --> 00:31:39,941
It's just, you know,
water and nature
597
00:31:39,941 --> 00:31:42,509
got the last word, as always.
598
00:31:45,599 --> 00:31:48,819
I think that's him.
That's him?
599
00:31:48,819 --> 00:31:51,344
Take care of yourself.
You too.
600
00:32:01,441 --> 00:32:03,182
I'll see you again.
601
00:32:05,097 --> 00:32:06,837
I just wish
602
00:32:06,837 --> 00:32:09,318
there was something more
I could do for them.
603
00:32:09,318 --> 00:32:11,712
You were there, baby.
That's enough.
604
00:32:20,068 --> 00:32:21,374
Freedom hair.
605
00:32:21,374 --> 00:32:23,593
What's that?
606
00:32:23,593 --> 00:32:26,422
It's what I used to call this,
607
00:32:26,422 --> 00:32:31,036
when my hair was just itself
and wild and free.
608
00:32:34,691 --> 00:32:38,695
My grandmother, she let me wear
it out like this one weekend
609
00:32:38,695 --> 00:32:40,219
when my mom was away.
610
00:32:42,438 --> 00:32:46,181
One weekend of freedom
in 25 years.
611
00:32:52,971 --> 00:32:56,409
Split ends, breakage,
612
00:32:56,409 --> 00:33:00,108
pain, relaxer burns, and...
613
00:33:00,108 --> 00:33:02,284
who knows
what other kind of damage
614
00:33:02,284 --> 00:33:04,417
from more home perms
than I can count.
615
00:33:06,027 --> 00:33:07,855
And for what, Kevin?
616
00:33:07,855 --> 00:33:09,161
Straightness?
617
00:33:10,989 --> 00:33:12,947
Why?
You're shaking.
618
00:33:12,947 --> 00:33:15,341
Here's some soup.
Your favorite.
619
00:33:20,128 --> 00:33:21,825
I think I'm gonna be sick!
620
00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:26,613
All right. All right.
I got you.
621
00:33:26,613 --> 00:33:29,964
All right. I'm here.
622
00:33:29,964 --> 00:33:33,098
Well, folks, it is not the flu.
623
00:33:33,098 --> 00:33:36,275
And, Mrs. Armstrong,
you're gonna have a baby.
624
00:33:37,493 --> 00:33:39,539
Uh, I'm...
625
00:33:39,539 --> 00:33:41,280
You're pregnant.
626
00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:42,672
W-- I'm pregnant?
627
00:33:44,326 --> 00:33:46,328
Baby, we're pregnant!
Oh, my--
628
00:33:46,328 --> 00:33:48,809
Congratulations.
Oh, my God!
629
00:33:48,809 --> 00:33:52,117
We're pregnant!
Oh, my God!
630
00:33:52,117 --> 00:33:55,294
So I've got to learn to breathe?
631
00:33:55,294 --> 00:33:58,732
Also here's a sample
of the vitamins you'll need.
632
00:33:58,732 --> 00:34:00,908
Vitamins?
Sweetheart!
633
00:34:00,908 --> 00:34:03,824
Pregnancy takes
all of the strength
634
00:34:03,824 --> 00:34:05,434
and vitamins out of you.
635
00:34:05,434 --> 00:34:06,957
Okay.
But--
636
00:34:06,957 --> 00:34:11,658
Excuse me,
but your hair is magnificent.
637
00:34:11,658 --> 00:34:12,920
Oh, my goodness.
638
00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:14,095
I've never seen
anything like it.
639
00:34:14,095 --> 00:34:17,881
How did you...
Where did you...
640
00:34:17,881 --> 00:34:20,580
It's a little shop
called Bernetta's.
641
00:34:20,580 --> 00:34:24,062
I found it passing by
in Memphis.
642
00:34:24,062 --> 00:34:26,934
She's pretty pricy. Heh.
643
00:34:26,934 --> 00:34:30,198
But, girl,
she can change your life.
644
00:34:30,198 --> 00:34:33,810
There's nothing stronger
than the braid.
645
00:34:35,377 --> 00:34:36,944
I can't believe
646
00:34:36,944 --> 00:34:38,728
it took five months
to get this appointment.
647
00:34:38,728 --> 00:34:40,904
Well, I can't believe
we drove to Tennessee
648
00:34:40,904 --> 00:34:42,515
to get your hair done.
649
00:34:44,517 --> 00:34:45,779
Melony, right?
650
00:34:45,779 --> 00:34:47,737
Yeah.
Hello. I'm Bernetta.
651
00:34:47,737 --> 00:34:48,825
Hi.
Look at you!
652
00:34:48,825 --> 00:34:51,132
Come in! Sit down!
Okay.
653
00:34:51,132 --> 00:34:52,568
And I'm gonna wash your hair myself
654
00:34:52,568 --> 00:34:53,917
so I can learn your textures.
655
00:34:53,917 --> 00:34:55,832
My textures?
Your textures.
656
00:35:02,665 --> 00:35:05,103
Let me know
if that's too cold or hot.
657
00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:07,322
No. It's perfect.
Thank you.
658
00:35:08,845 --> 00:35:10,717
Wow.
659
00:35:12,893 --> 00:35:15,069
Okay.
660
00:35:15,069 --> 00:35:17,637
Is this your first time,
Melony?
661
00:35:17,637 --> 00:35:19,639
Yeah, it is.
I've--
662
00:35:19,639 --> 00:35:21,728
Oh.
Thank you.
663
00:35:21,728 --> 00:35:24,557
I've never done anything
like this before.
664
00:35:24,557 --> 00:35:26,863
Do you know what kind
of style you like?
665
00:35:26,863 --> 00:35:28,343
Oh. I do.
666
00:35:28,343 --> 00:35:32,304
I saw this woman,
and she had like...
667
00:35:32,304 --> 00:35:35,002
like a hundred
or two hundred braids
668
00:35:35,002 --> 00:35:38,092
all in her hair
just crisscrossing all the way.
669
00:35:38,092 --> 00:35:40,486
Just swept up like a crown.
670
00:35:40,486 --> 00:35:42,183
An up-do.
671
00:35:42,183 --> 00:35:43,706
Is this for a special occasion?
672
00:35:43,706 --> 00:35:46,187
Just my life.
673
00:35:46,187 --> 00:35:47,971
I'm-- I'm five months pregnant, though.
674
00:35:47,971 --> 00:35:49,799
Oh. I see!
675
00:35:49,799 --> 00:35:51,584
Well, let's make
676
00:35:51,584 --> 00:35:54,674
the next four months
of that journey beautiful, okay?
677
00:35:54,674 --> 00:35:55,805
Okay.
All right, now.
678
00:35:55,805 --> 00:35:57,807
Then let's get started!
679
00:35:57,807 --> 00:35:59,548
Here we go.
680
00:35:59,548 --> 00:36:01,420
No peeking until we're done.
681
00:36:01,420 --> 00:36:02,769
Oh.
Okay.
682
00:36:02,769 --> 00:36:04,031
Here you go.
683
00:36:04,031 --> 00:36:08,818
Oh. Close your eyes and relax.
684
00:36:10,951 --> 00:36:12,866
Okay.
685
00:36:52,775 --> 00:36:54,037
Melony.
686
00:36:55,082 --> 00:36:57,040
Melony.
687
00:36:58,825 --> 00:37:01,871
Take a look, honey.
We're done.
688
00:37:06,963 --> 00:37:09,227
Excuse me, miss.
That's my--
689
00:37:11,141 --> 00:37:12,795
Oh, my God.
690
00:37:14,797 --> 00:37:16,756
Oh, my God.
691
00:37:19,324 --> 00:37:20,977
Do you like it?
692
00:37:20,977 --> 00:37:22,762
I love it. Oh.
693
00:37:22,762 --> 00:37:25,417
Can I...
Can I touch it?
694
00:37:25,417 --> 00:37:27,810
Oh, you can do
anything you want with it.
695
00:37:27,810 --> 00:37:30,030
It's indestructible.
696
00:37:30,030 --> 00:37:31,684
Oh, oh.
697
00:37:36,906 --> 00:37:43,739
Your hair is as beautiful
as you are.
698
00:37:43,739 --> 00:37:45,872
It's like what's always been
inside of you
699
00:37:45,872 --> 00:37:48,178
has finally got set free.
700
00:37:48,178 --> 00:37:51,399
That's exactly
how I feel, Kevin.
701
00:37:51,399 --> 00:37:56,274
It's like... everything's
all coming together.
702
00:37:56,274 --> 00:37:58,232
This... Aah!
703
00:37:58,232 --> 00:38:00,974
This transformation that I feel!
704
00:38:00,974 --> 00:38:03,324
It's-- It's a healing, Kev.
705
00:38:05,413 --> 00:38:07,241
Like what if--
706
00:38:07,241 --> 00:38:11,158
What if every Black woman
in Mississippi felt this way?
707
00:38:12,420 --> 00:38:15,205
Like, when we start feeling good
708
00:38:15,205 --> 00:38:17,164
and beautiful and powerful...
709
00:38:17,164 --> 00:38:19,775
...that's a revolution, Kev!
710
00:38:19,775 --> 00:38:24,127
And, God, I just want to...
I want to free women up!
711
00:38:24,127 --> 00:38:28,828
I want-- And-- And I'm gonna
start by braiding hair.
712
00:38:28,828 --> 00:38:32,440
Okay. But...
you don't know how to braid.
713
00:38:34,834 --> 00:38:38,011
Be real. When in your life
have you ever braided hair?
714
00:38:38,011 --> 00:38:39,839
But that's not the point.
715
00:38:39,839 --> 00:38:42,755
If I know what I want to do,
I can learn how to do it.
716
00:38:42,755 --> 00:38:44,322
Melony...
Look.
717
00:38:44,322 --> 00:38:46,498
Bernetta told me
about a huge hair show
718
00:38:46,498 --> 00:38:48,630
coming to Atlanta
in a couple of months.
719
00:38:48,630 --> 00:38:50,806
They do a class
on African hair braiding.
720
00:38:52,634 --> 00:38:56,159
I...Look. It's not cheap,
but it's an investment.
721
00:38:56,159 --> 00:38:58,292
How large an investment?
722
00:38:58,292 --> 00:39:00,947
Twelve hundred dollars
plus hotel and travel.
723
00:39:00,947 --> 00:39:02,818
Twelve hundred dollars?
724
00:39:02,818 --> 00:39:05,168
I'm not asking you
for permission or for money.
725
00:39:05,168 --> 00:39:08,346
I'm asking for your support.
726
00:39:15,396 --> 00:39:16,919
Okay.
727
00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:19,574
You have it.
728
00:39:29,889 --> 00:39:31,673
♪ If I cut my hair
Hope I grow it long ♪
729
00:39:31,673 --> 00:39:34,067
♪ Back long, back time
Like way before ♪
730
00:39:34,067 --> 00:39:36,243
♪ If I wear it straight
Would they like me more? ♪
731
00:39:36,243 --> 00:39:38,680
♪ Like those girls
On front covers ♪
732
00:39:38,680 --> 00:39:40,987
♪ Long hair
Make 'em stay little longer ♪
733
00:39:40,987 --> 00:39:43,119
♪ Stay hair, stay straight
Though we feel ashamed ♪
734
00:39:43,119 --> 00:39:45,557
♪ By the curls, waves
And natural things ♪
735
00:39:45,557 --> 00:39:47,559
♪ Curls, waves
And natural things ♪
736
00:39:47,559 --> 00:39:50,257
♪ Okay, one time
If I grow it long... ♪
737
00:39:50,257 --> 00:39:53,565
The keys to successful
professional microbraiding
738
00:39:53,565 --> 00:39:56,959
are patience, precision,
and efficiency.
739
00:39:56,959 --> 00:39:59,005
Move too fast,
740
00:39:59,005 --> 00:40:02,574
and you'll make mistakes
that can cost you hours to fix.
741
00:40:02,574 --> 00:40:07,535
Move too slowly and you'll lose
customers, money, and time.
742
00:40:07,535 --> 00:40:11,583
This is an advanced class,
and I'm assuming you all have
743
00:40:11,583 --> 00:40:14,412
at least three years
of prior braiding experience.
744
00:40:14,412 --> 00:40:15,674
Yes?
745
00:40:15,674 --> 00:40:16,631
Yes.
746
00:40:24,465 --> 00:40:27,903
Today we're using Caucasian-
grade wigs as subjects.
747
00:40:27,903 --> 00:40:31,690
Now, the straightness will
deliver its own set of problems.
748
00:40:31,690 --> 00:40:34,475
Take your parting combs,
and let's use the mannequins
749
00:40:34,475 --> 00:40:37,043
to begin with a basic feed-in.
750
00:41:24,394 --> 00:41:25,961
You'll never fix this.
751
00:41:25,961 --> 00:41:27,746
Take that out and start over.
752
00:41:34,796 --> 00:41:39,018
I'm the slowest,
dumbest person there.
753
00:41:39,018 --> 00:41:41,542
I'm so behind.
754
00:41:41,542 --> 00:41:44,414
And tomorrow is gonna be
even harder.
755
00:41:46,547 --> 00:41:49,681
It's just impossible.
756
00:41:49,681 --> 00:41:51,378
Cool.
757
00:41:51,378 --> 00:41:52,988
Then let's jump in the car
and get out of here
758
00:41:52,988 --> 00:41:55,164
before they charge
another day's parking fee.
759
00:41:55,164 --> 00:41:57,036
Wait. What?
760
00:41:57,036 --> 00:41:59,386
Well, you're saying
you just can't do it, right?
761
00:41:59,386 --> 00:42:02,041
You didn't know it was gonna be
this hard, so let's go.
762
00:42:02,041 --> 00:42:03,999
Come on.
763
00:42:03,999 --> 00:42:05,305
I hate you.
764
00:42:07,220 --> 00:42:08,700
You don't want to...
You sure?
765
00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:09,788
I love you.
766
00:42:09,788 --> 00:42:11,137
You love me now?
Yeah.
767
00:42:11,137 --> 00:42:12,704
We're chillin'?
We're chillin'.
768
00:42:12,704 --> 00:42:13,966
Okay.
769
00:42:13,966 --> 00:42:15,881
Thank you.
770
00:42:15,881 --> 00:42:19,449
The hair you work on
may be heat damaged,
771
00:42:19,449 --> 00:42:23,802
broken off, fragile,
or chemically stripped.
772
00:42:23,802 --> 00:42:27,936
The extension should support
the existing hair,
773
00:42:27,936 --> 00:42:29,808
not just enhance it.
774
00:42:29,808 --> 00:42:33,463
I want to see three different
styles today, people,
775
00:42:33,463 --> 00:42:36,728
for three completely
different women.
776
00:42:36,728 --> 00:42:38,773
Extensions are on the table.
777
00:42:38,773 --> 00:42:40,340
You have two hours.
778
00:42:40,340 --> 00:42:41,776
Go.
779
00:43:04,494 --> 00:43:05,974
Mm-hmm.
780
00:43:07,976 --> 00:43:09,412
Do you understand
the assignment?
781
00:43:11,066 --> 00:43:12,851
Oh. Y-Yes.
782
00:43:12,851 --> 00:43:15,854
I just-- I just have to
get to know them first.
783
00:43:17,464 --> 00:43:18,421
Know them?
784
00:43:18,421 --> 00:43:20,075
Mm-hmm.
785
00:43:20,075 --> 00:43:22,861
Okay. Who are they?
786
00:43:26,299 --> 00:43:27,517
This one...
787
00:43:27,517 --> 00:43:28,954
...is...
788
00:43:30,738 --> 00:43:32,610
Leona.
789
00:43:32,610 --> 00:43:34,699
She's not fancy, but she--
790
00:43:34,699 --> 00:43:39,355
She wants to feel pretty
and respected.
791
00:43:39,355 --> 00:43:41,706
Keep going.
Everyone else, gather around.
792
00:43:41,706 --> 00:43:46,667
This one here, this is Lydia.
793
00:43:46,667 --> 00:43:50,105
She's all about fashion
and glamour.
794
00:43:50,105 --> 00:43:52,020
But she's also really smart.
795
00:43:54,109 --> 00:43:58,113
And this last one here is Tiny.
796
00:43:58,113 --> 00:44:03,815
She's young and wild,
but her hair controls her.
797
00:44:03,815 --> 00:44:06,644
She wants to control it.
798
00:44:16,436 --> 00:44:17,611
Excellent, Melony.
799
00:44:17,611 --> 00:44:18,873
Oh.
800
00:44:18,873 --> 00:44:20,483
Keep working.
801
00:44:20,483 --> 00:44:22,181
The rest of you,
802
00:44:22,181 --> 00:44:25,053
if you haven't had
a conversation with your client
803
00:44:25,053 --> 00:44:28,491
and gotten a better insight
into who they are,
804
00:44:28,491 --> 00:44:31,364
rip out what you've started
and start again.
805
00:44:31,364 --> 00:44:34,193
This is about people first,
then hair,
806
00:44:34,193 --> 00:44:35,977
not the other way around.
807
00:44:35,977 --> 00:44:37,413
Let's go.
808
00:44:39,851 --> 00:44:42,941
Good job. Thanks.
809
00:44:47,249 --> 00:44:48,773
For the baby.
810
00:44:48,773 --> 00:44:50,775
Oh.
811
00:44:53,212 --> 00:44:55,040
Thank you.
812
00:44:55,040 --> 00:45:00,001
You have some nerve
coming in here with no skills.
813
00:45:00,001 --> 00:45:03,352
Nerves or... maybe courage.
814
00:45:05,746 --> 00:45:07,269
I just had to learn.
815
00:45:07,269 --> 00:45:09,184
I can't explain it.
816
00:45:09,184 --> 00:45:10,795
Melony, you have a gift.
817
00:45:10,795 --> 00:45:13,188
You braid from the heart.
818
00:45:13,188 --> 00:45:15,582
And once your speed
and your technique
819
00:45:15,582 --> 00:45:17,410
is where your heart is,
820
00:45:17,410 --> 00:45:19,978
you're going to be unstoppable.
821
00:45:23,285 --> 00:45:26,419
Are there any more classes
I can take?
822
00:45:26,419 --> 00:45:28,900
Just so I can keep practicing.
823
00:45:28,900 --> 00:45:32,120
You're from Mississippi, right?
Mm-hmm.
824
00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:35,689
Well, Melony, the cosmetology
schools in Mississippi
825
00:45:35,689 --> 00:45:37,735
don't even teach braiding.
826
00:45:37,735 --> 00:45:40,912
After today,
you learn by doing.
827
00:45:42,609 --> 00:45:44,306
Braid everything.
828
00:45:44,306 --> 00:45:46,352
Get strong.
829
00:45:46,352 --> 00:45:50,269
The only limits are the ones
you set for yourself.
830
00:45:52,837 --> 00:45:56,275
I still can't believe
they haven't fixed that hole.
831
00:45:56,275 --> 00:45:59,408
We're lucky
they fixed the pipes at all.
832
00:45:59,408 --> 00:46:01,846
Hm.
833
00:46:01,846 --> 00:46:04,979
How much you charge to-- to do
that on a real, live person?
834
00:46:06,981 --> 00:46:08,635
I don't really know.
835
00:46:08,635 --> 00:46:10,463
I haven't had a customer yet.
836
00:46:10,463 --> 00:46:12,813
Girl, what are you waiting for?
837
00:46:12,813 --> 00:46:16,208
I'll pay you 40 bucks if you can
do something with this.
838
00:46:16,208 --> 00:46:18,384
Now, I washed it before,
839
00:46:18,384 --> 00:46:20,255
so you ain't got to worry about
cooties or nothing.
840
00:46:20,255 --> 00:46:22,736
Girl, don't be silly.
841
00:46:22,736 --> 00:46:26,871
Rosemary, I'll braid
your hair for free.
842
00:46:26,871 --> 00:46:28,655
You just pay for extensions.
843
00:46:28,655 --> 00:46:30,396
Sure.
844
00:46:30,396 --> 00:46:32,267
What are extensions?
845
00:46:32,267 --> 00:46:33,007
Oh.
846
00:46:36,402 --> 00:46:38,317
I want to see.
I want to see!
847
00:46:38,317 --> 00:46:39,666
I can't take it!
848
00:46:39,666 --> 00:46:42,234
Okay. Okay.
849
00:46:42,234 --> 00:46:43,278
You're done.
850
00:46:43,278 --> 00:46:44,627
Take a look.
Ooh!
851
00:46:46,238 --> 00:46:49,067
A mirror! Who got a mirror?
Who got a mirror?
852
00:46:50,242 --> 00:46:51,634
Hell yeah!
853
00:46:56,161 --> 00:46:58,206
I'm gonna tell everybody
I know about you.
854
00:46:58,206 --> 00:47:00,861
Whoo! You better get ready.
You're about to blow up.
855
00:47:00,861 --> 00:47:02,558
Oh, my God!
856
00:47:36,941 --> 00:47:38,333
Oh.
857
00:47:38,333 --> 00:47:39,639
Ooh.
858
00:47:41,946 --> 00:47:43,512
Oh. Ooh.
859
00:47:43,512 --> 00:47:45,645
No. It's coming. Oh.
860
00:47:45,645 --> 00:47:48,474
Kevin!
Kevin!
861
00:47:52,304 --> 00:47:53,261
Got it.
862
00:47:53,261 --> 00:47:54,523
Perfect.
863
00:47:58,571 --> 00:48:00,399
Dee, has anyone got back
about--
864
00:48:00,399 --> 00:48:02,662
Girl, relax.
865
00:48:02,662 --> 00:48:04,882
I told them you'd push
all appointments back
866
00:48:04,882 --> 00:48:06,492
a couple of weeks.
867
00:48:06,492 --> 00:48:09,060
One lady got salty.
868
00:48:09,060 --> 00:48:11,627
She said when she dropped
her baby,
869
00:48:11,627 --> 00:48:13,716
she went back to work
the same day.
870
00:48:13,716 --> 00:48:15,370
No.
I said:
871
00:48:15,370 --> 00:48:17,503
"This ain't no dang plantation.
872
00:48:17,503 --> 00:48:19,418
And you're not Kizzy."
873
00:48:20,810 --> 00:48:23,596
Them nappy heads can wait.
Mm-hmm.
874
00:48:23,596 --> 00:48:28,862
Melony...
this is your first baby.
875
00:48:28,862 --> 00:48:32,344
You need to give yourself time
to get your strength back up.
876
00:48:32,344 --> 00:48:36,000
My chicken soup
should help with that.
877
00:48:51,711 --> 00:48:54,975
Is that my new grandbaby?
878
00:48:54,975 --> 00:48:59,327
Ma Betty, I want you
to meet Kevin Jr.
879
00:48:59,327 --> 00:49:00,676
Oh!
K.J.
880
00:49:00,676 --> 00:49:02,591
Ooh!
There you go.
881
00:49:02,591 --> 00:49:04,463
Yes.
882
00:49:04,463 --> 00:49:05,943
K.J.!
883
00:49:07,466 --> 00:49:09,120
Mm-hmm.
884
00:49:09,120 --> 00:49:12,906
Oh! Look at you, baby.
885
00:49:12,906 --> 00:49:15,691
K.J. Oh!
886
00:49:19,391 --> 00:49:21,654
Eight hundred
and fifty dollars.
887
00:49:21,654 --> 00:49:25,179
That's more in one day
than one week at the shelter.
888
00:49:25,179 --> 00:49:28,052
Last weekend I made
$1,500, Kev.
889
00:49:28,052 --> 00:49:30,010
But it's hurting you.
890
00:49:30,010 --> 00:49:32,882
Your fingers are stiff.
Your arms ache.
891
00:49:32,882 --> 00:49:35,276
Yeah, but it
comes with the job.
892
00:49:35,276 --> 00:49:37,235
If I braid full time,
893
00:49:37,235 --> 00:49:40,238
I could probably make enough
to cover my half and--
894
00:49:40,238 --> 00:49:43,197
and even rent a little studio
to work out of.
895
00:49:45,069 --> 00:49:47,027
I don't know.
I could go professional.
896
00:49:47,027 --> 00:49:49,595
I could-- I could do this!
897
00:49:49,595 --> 00:49:53,251
I wonder if I'd need
a license or something.
898
00:49:53,251 --> 00:49:56,819
Thirty thousand dollars
for a license?
899
00:49:57,907 --> 00:50:00,519
Miss Clara, that can't be right.
900
00:50:00,519 --> 00:50:02,608
Hey, sis.
I'm braiding hair,
901
00:50:02,608 --> 00:50:04,392
not flying an airplane.
902
00:50:04,392 --> 00:50:06,133
Well, let me talk
to your supervisor.
903
00:50:07,613 --> 00:50:09,658
Hello?
904
00:50:09,658 --> 00:50:11,660
What happened?
905
00:50:11,660 --> 00:50:17,057
Same person keeps giving me all
kinds of ridiculous information.
906
00:50:17,057 --> 00:50:18,885
No license costs that much.
907
00:50:18,885 --> 00:50:21,148
Gonna have to
go down there myself.
908
00:50:21,148 --> 00:50:23,411
To Jackson? That's
400 miles round-trip, babe.
909
00:50:23,411 --> 00:50:24,760
You sure you don't
want to wait
910
00:50:24,760 --> 00:50:25,892
and go when I can
help you drive?
911
00:50:25,892 --> 00:50:28,068
Let me take the baby. Oh.
912
00:50:28,068 --> 00:50:31,332
I'll look after K.J.
You take care of your business.
913
00:50:31,332 --> 00:50:33,030
Thank you, girl.
914
00:50:33,030 --> 00:50:35,902
Kev, 30 grand.
915
00:50:35,902 --> 00:50:38,774
That can't be right. Can it?
916
00:50:38,774 --> 00:50:43,127
Oh, no, dear, the license itself
is only ten thousand dollars.
917
00:50:43,127 --> 00:50:46,347
But after you've paid
the ten thousand dollars,
918
00:50:46,347 --> 00:50:49,002
then you must attend
cosmetology school
919
00:50:49,002 --> 00:50:51,309
for two thousand hours
of training.
920
00:50:51,309 --> 00:50:54,225
Now, that'll take about a year
and a half, and the cost
921
00:50:54,225 --> 00:50:57,228
is approximately
twenty thousand dollars.
922
00:50:57,228 --> 00:50:59,534
And then upon completion
of cosmetology school
923
00:50:59,534 --> 00:51:02,146
and payment of all school fees,
924
00:51:02,146 --> 00:51:06,106
then your license
becomes active.
925
00:51:06,106 --> 00:51:07,890
Cosmetology school?
Mm-hmm.
926
00:51:07,890 --> 00:51:11,633
But I'm braiding hair.
I'm an African hair braider.
927
00:51:13,244 --> 00:51:15,594
And I'm an Irish Catholic, dear,
928
00:51:15,594 --> 00:51:17,552
but the rules are the rules.
929
00:51:17,552 --> 00:51:20,903
Ma'am, Mississippi
cosmetology schools
930
00:51:20,903 --> 00:51:22,992
don't even teach hair braiding.
931
00:51:22,992 --> 00:51:25,082
I'd be wasting
my time and money.
932
00:51:25,082 --> 00:51:26,996
It doesn't make sense.
933
00:51:26,996 --> 00:51:29,956
It-- It is what it is, dear.
934
00:51:29,956 --> 00:51:31,175
So please move on.
935
00:51:31,175 --> 00:51:33,351
I will not move on!
936
00:51:33,351 --> 00:51:35,004
I will not move on
937
00:51:35,004 --> 00:51:37,833
until somebody in this office
explains to me
938
00:51:37,833 --> 00:51:40,793
why I'm being forced
to pay thousands of dollars
939
00:51:40,793 --> 00:51:43,100
for a course that has nothing
to do with my profession!
940
00:51:43,100 --> 00:51:46,233
I asked her to leave.
She won't leave!
941
00:51:46,233 --> 00:51:48,670
What the hell
is a braiding salon?
942
00:51:48,670 --> 00:51:50,411
I don't really know.
943
00:51:50,411 --> 00:51:52,413
She has been
quite vociferous,
944
00:51:52,413 --> 00:51:54,720
and I'm afraid that
if we don't deal with her,
945
00:51:54,720 --> 00:51:57,897
this could escalate
into an event!
946
00:51:57,897 --> 00:51:59,855
What if she calls the press?
947
00:51:59,855 --> 00:52:02,031
Well, all right,
what can we tell her
948
00:52:02,031 --> 00:52:03,032
to make her go away, huh?
949
00:52:05,731 --> 00:52:07,167
What about Wigology?
950
00:52:08,995 --> 00:52:12,085
Wigology? What is that?
951
00:52:12,085 --> 00:52:16,002
If you obtain a Wigologist
license for yourself,
952
00:52:16,002 --> 00:52:19,397
then you can legally
open up your shop.
953
00:52:19,397 --> 00:52:22,226
Now, you'll have to take
a Wigologist course, of course,
954
00:52:22,226 --> 00:52:25,664
but for a much shorter time.
About four hundred hours.
955
00:52:25,664 --> 00:52:29,189
And the cost will be
about a thousand dollars,
956
00:52:29,189 --> 00:52:32,714
and then your license will be
an additional three hundred.
957
00:52:32,714 --> 00:52:35,456
So thirteen hundred?
958
00:52:35,456 --> 00:52:38,894
So, where do I take
this Wigology class?
959
00:52:38,894 --> 00:52:43,464
Well, uh, that's on you, dear.
960
00:52:43,464 --> 00:52:45,336
You know, she couldn't
even tell me
961
00:52:45,336 --> 00:52:48,991
one single school
that teaches Wigology.
962
00:52:51,255 --> 00:52:55,259
Before I left Jackson,
I called six different schools.
963
00:52:55,259 --> 00:52:58,262
Not one of them teach it.
964
00:52:58,262 --> 00:53:02,570
How can they offer me a license
965
00:53:02,570 --> 00:53:06,183
knowing full well I'll never
be able to take the class
966
00:53:06,183 --> 00:53:08,010
to qualify for it?
967
00:53:08,010 --> 00:53:10,752
It's not even logical.
968
00:53:13,581 --> 00:53:16,802
This is Mississippi, child.
969
00:53:16,802 --> 00:53:21,067
There's always something deeper
than logic going down.
970
00:53:24,766 --> 00:53:28,857
What about that old place up
on Boulevard? You check there?
971
00:53:28,857 --> 00:53:30,468
A cosmetology school?
972
00:53:30,468 --> 00:53:32,513
That's what the sign says.
973
00:53:32,513 --> 00:53:35,908
It's a small place,
looks kind of funky, but--
974
00:53:35,908 --> 00:53:37,779
Are you sure?
Mm-hmm.
975
00:53:37,779 --> 00:53:40,173
Okay.
976
00:53:40,173 --> 00:53:41,870
I'll check it out tomorrow.
977
00:53:45,787 --> 00:53:47,746
Doesn't matter.
Get this thing off my lot.
978
00:53:47,746 --> 00:53:49,791
The truck. You can't park here.
979
00:53:49,791 --> 00:53:51,619
I don't have to listen to you.
Let me tell you something.
980
00:53:51,619 --> 00:53:53,230
Let me tell your boss!
No, get it out of here.
981
00:53:53,230 --> 00:53:54,709
No, I'm not. Hey.
982
00:53:54,709 --> 00:53:56,711
Hey, hey! Hey!
983
00:53:56,711 --> 00:53:58,757
Come on! Break it up. Go over--
984
00:53:58,757 --> 00:54:00,193
Yeah, walk away.
Come on, come on,
985
00:54:00,193 --> 00:54:02,064
come on, come on.
Walk!
986
00:54:02,064 --> 00:54:03,240
Come on. Don't worry about it.
Don't worry.
987
00:54:03,240 --> 00:54:04,676
What's up-- What's up with you?
988
00:54:04,676 --> 00:54:06,808
I'll get it together. I just--
989
00:54:08,767 --> 00:54:10,377
Just having a rough time.
990
00:54:12,249 --> 00:54:14,163
Need to talk about it?
991
00:54:16,514 --> 00:54:18,733
What, with you?
992
00:54:18,733 --> 00:54:20,344
Yeah.
993
00:54:20,344 --> 00:54:22,607
Gus, I'm not
just your boss.
994
00:54:22,607 --> 00:54:25,392
I'm a Black man living
in the world just like you.
995
00:54:27,960 --> 00:54:31,442
Look, man, I'm--
I'm having problems at home.
996
00:54:31,442 --> 00:54:35,272
I-I can't-- I can't think
straight, you know? It--
997
00:54:35,272 --> 00:54:37,578
She wants a divorce,
but I love her.
998
00:54:37,578 --> 00:54:39,363
Mm-hmm.
999
00:54:39,363 --> 00:54:41,974
My minister says to--
to work it out,
1000
00:54:41,974 --> 00:54:43,671
but what does that even mean?
1001
00:54:45,325 --> 00:54:46,457
Yeah.
1002
00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:53,464
Why don't we grab lunch,
and we can talk about it?
1003
00:54:53,464 --> 00:54:55,770
Come on.
1004
00:54:55,770 --> 00:54:57,772
You are coming at a good time.
1005
00:54:57,772 --> 00:55:00,514
The spring course is
just about to get started.
1006
00:55:00,514 --> 00:55:05,258
I'm just here
for the one course. Wigology.
1007
00:55:05,258 --> 00:55:09,349
Wigology? I--
I don't teach that class.
1008
00:55:14,180 --> 00:55:15,877
Wh-- Oh, dear. Have--
1009
00:55:15,877 --> 00:55:17,401
Have I upset you?
1010
00:55:17,401 --> 00:55:19,881
It's not you, it's--
1011
00:55:19,881 --> 00:55:24,146
I'm just one person
1012
00:55:24,146 --> 00:55:27,802
trying to start a business,
you know?
1013
00:55:27,802 --> 00:55:30,022
And I'm trying
to do it right.
1014
00:55:30,022 --> 00:55:32,503
What's the nature
of your business, dear?
1015
00:55:35,288 --> 00:55:37,029
I'm an African hair braider.
1016
00:55:38,465 --> 00:55:39,945
Oh.
1017
00:55:42,077 --> 00:55:45,864
Braids like these
bring a lot of freedom
1018
00:55:45,864 --> 00:55:50,782
to women that have forgotten
what their--
1019
00:55:50,782 --> 00:55:54,002
what their real beauty
looks like.
1020
00:55:54,002 --> 00:55:58,659
You run a school
dedicated to beauty, right?
1021
00:55:58,659 --> 00:56:01,532
Well, Black women, we--
1022
00:56:03,403 --> 00:56:06,406
We don't know our own beauty.
1023
00:56:08,713 --> 00:56:12,630
I can't teach you that class,
Mrs. Armstrong.
1024
00:56:12,630 --> 00:56:16,198
Wigology hasn't been taught
in Mississippi or beyond
1025
00:56:16,198 --> 00:56:18,418
for more than fifteen years.
1026
00:56:20,028 --> 00:56:21,987
What they told you was a lie.
1027
00:56:25,643 --> 00:56:29,037
Thank you
for telling me the truth.
1028
00:56:29,037 --> 00:56:30,996
I'm so sorry.
1029
00:56:41,876 --> 00:56:47,099
I'm not really
good company right now.
1030
00:56:47,099 --> 00:56:49,536
That's okay.
I hate good company.
1031
00:56:56,891 --> 00:56:59,285
So, I talked with
three men today,
1032
00:56:59,285 --> 00:57:02,114
two workmen
and one of their friends.
1033
00:57:02,114 --> 00:57:06,466
It looks like they're searching
for a new style of congregation,
1034
00:57:06,466 --> 00:57:12,124
one that tells them they can
do more than just wait on God.
1035
00:57:12,124 --> 00:57:14,692
They want to be proactive
in their lives.
1036
00:57:16,911 --> 00:57:18,435
So I told them about you.
1037
00:57:19,784 --> 00:57:21,655
Me?
1038
00:57:21,655 --> 00:57:23,744
Kev.
1039
00:57:23,744 --> 00:57:28,488
I just hit a roadblock
I can't get past.
1040
00:57:28,488 --> 00:57:31,839
I'm not exactly
your proactive poster child.
1041
00:57:31,839 --> 00:57:34,755
I told them you were stuck
but to stay tuned,
1042
00:57:34,755 --> 00:57:37,715
because if anyone knows how
to ride shotgun with destiny,
1043
00:57:37,715 --> 00:57:39,586
Mel, it's you.
1044
00:57:39,586 --> 00:57:43,677
I've never met a boulder
you couldn't smash to pebbles.
1045
00:57:43,677 --> 00:57:44,809
Mm.
1046
00:57:53,252 --> 00:57:54,819
I'm not in the mood
for Goethe.
1047
00:57:56,690 --> 00:58:01,478
"The moment one definitely
commits oneself,
1048
00:58:01,478 --> 00:58:04,219
all sorts of things
begin to happen
1049
00:58:04,219 --> 00:58:08,180
that would never otherwise
have occurred."
1050
00:58:12,271 --> 00:58:14,273
I've never heard that part.
1051
00:58:20,061 --> 00:58:23,935
"Whatever you can do, or dream,
1052
00:58:23,935 --> 00:58:25,502
you can begin.
1053
00:58:27,416 --> 00:58:28,940
Begin it now."
1054
00:58:33,422 --> 00:58:35,424
Thank you for coming in.
1055
00:58:35,424 --> 00:58:37,035
I've done a bit of research.
1056
00:58:37,035 --> 00:58:41,039
Now, as you know, the Wigology
course no longer exists.
1057
00:58:41,039 --> 00:58:46,610
But the Wigology exam
and Wigology license still do.
1058
00:58:46,610 --> 00:58:48,960
Whoever schemed
to get rid of this thing,
1059
00:58:48,960 --> 00:58:51,049
they did a terrible job.
1060
00:58:51,049 --> 00:58:56,750
But how can I take an exam
if the course doesn't exist?
1061
00:58:56,750 --> 00:59:01,799
We will use the exam itself
as your coursework.
1062
00:59:01,799 --> 00:59:03,714
You'll have to come
at the regular times,
1063
00:59:03,714 --> 00:59:05,933
six hours a day,
five days a week.
1064
00:59:05,933 --> 00:59:09,197
And the Board,
they look at anyone who's
1065
00:59:09,197 --> 00:59:11,635
thinking outside the box
as competition.
1066
00:59:11,635 --> 00:59:13,767
So you can't tell a soul
what we're doing.
1067
00:59:13,767 --> 00:59:16,248
But if you're determined
to get this license...
1068
00:59:17,989 --> 00:59:20,600
...then I'm going
to help you fight to get it.
1069
00:59:40,664 --> 00:59:42,622
There you go. Sorry.
1070
00:59:46,495 --> 00:59:47,758
Yeah, this looks good.
1071
00:59:58,072 --> 01:00:00,292
You ladies are now
in the presence
1072
01:00:00,292 --> 01:00:02,860
of a fully licensed Wigologist.
1073
01:00:02,860 --> 01:00:04,775
Wigologist?
1074
01:00:04,775 --> 01:00:07,516
Ooh!
Whoo!
1075
01:00:07,516 --> 01:00:09,867
Passed with 100 percent.
1076
01:00:14,219 --> 01:00:15,960
What? I--
1077
01:00:19,746 --> 01:00:20,921
Wait.
1078
01:00:20,921 --> 01:00:22,793
What do you think?
1079
01:00:22,793 --> 01:00:24,708
Is this--
1080
01:00:25,970 --> 01:00:27,711
Is this what--
It's your shop.
1081
01:00:27,711 --> 01:00:29,277
My shop?
Mm-hmm.
1082
01:00:29,277 --> 01:00:31,715
You got me a shop, baby?!
That's your shop.
1083
01:00:31,715 --> 01:00:33,151
Oh, my God!
1084
01:00:33,151 --> 01:00:34,500
How?
1085
01:00:34,500 --> 01:00:36,284
Saving up.
Oh, my God.
1086
01:00:36,284 --> 01:00:37,546
Lots of overtime.
1087
01:00:37,546 --> 01:00:39,070
There's chairs. Oh, my God.
1088
01:00:39,070 --> 01:00:40,680
I've been fixing it up
after work.
1089
01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:42,290
What?!
1090
01:00:42,290 --> 01:00:44,292
Wait, what is this?
1091
01:00:44,292 --> 01:00:45,816
What is this?
1092
01:00:45,816 --> 01:00:48,732
I built that chair
just for you. Sit down.
1093
01:00:48,732 --> 01:00:50,821
For me?
Yeah.
1094
01:00:50,821 --> 01:00:52,692
Okay.
1095
01:00:52,692 --> 01:00:53,824
Is it comfy?
1096
01:00:53,824 --> 01:00:55,652
Yes.
1097
01:00:55,652 --> 01:00:57,131
So you like it?
1098
01:00:57,131 --> 01:00:58,698
I love it.
1099
01:00:58,698 --> 01:01:00,221
You deserve it all.
1100
01:01:03,268 --> 01:01:05,357
Thank you.
1101
01:01:05,357 --> 01:01:10,754
And over here, maybe we could
put some sofas and chairs and--
1102
01:01:10,754 --> 01:01:13,495
And a coffee maker? Mmm.
1103
01:01:13,495 --> 01:01:15,410
Oh, and a sound system.
1104
01:01:15,410 --> 01:01:17,412
Just a little one. Okay.
1105
01:01:17,412 --> 01:01:20,720
Oh, Kevin, come here.
1106
01:01:20,720 --> 01:01:23,244
Here, feel this.
1107
01:01:23,244 --> 01:01:24,506
What?
1108
01:01:25,943 --> 01:01:29,511
This is what a living dream
feels like.
1109
01:01:31,470 --> 01:01:33,646
I want this for you, too.
1110
01:01:33,646 --> 01:01:35,517
And your congregation.
1111
01:01:37,258 --> 01:01:39,173
Speaking of congregation,
1112
01:01:39,173 --> 01:01:43,569
I think you have some converts
here yourself.
1113
01:01:43,569 --> 01:01:45,440
Huh?
Ladies!
1114
01:01:45,440 --> 01:01:48,139
Pretty nice!
Oh, my gosh!
1115
01:01:48,139 --> 01:01:50,750
Hi!
Oh, my goodness.
1116
01:01:50,750 --> 01:01:52,230
Hey!
Girl, you have
1117
01:01:52,230 --> 01:01:55,189
such a good husband.
1118
01:01:55,189 --> 01:01:56,713
Oh, my gosh. How--
1119
01:01:56,713 --> 01:01:59,585
Wait, how? How did you do that?
1120
01:01:59,585 --> 01:02:00,978
Uh, Dee helped me.
1121
01:02:00,978 --> 01:02:02,675
We, um...
Dee?
1122
01:02:02,675 --> 01:02:04,895
...figured you'd need
some support to get started.
1123
01:02:04,895 --> 01:02:07,811
And we're both
on unemployment right now,
1124
01:02:07,811 --> 01:02:10,378
so we were thinking
that by the time it runs out--
1125
01:02:10,378 --> 01:02:13,904
Yes, girl! Oh, my gosh!
1126
01:02:13,904 --> 01:02:15,732
Oh, my gosh.
I'm so happy.
1127
01:02:15,732 --> 01:02:17,646
I feel like I'm dreaming.
1128
01:02:17,646 --> 01:02:19,736
♪ It ain't easy tryna give ♪
1129
01:02:21,346 --> 01:02:23,565
Hello?
Naturally Speaking Hair Salon.
1130
01:02:23,565 --> 01:02:25,176
This is Leona speaking.
1131
01:02:25,176 --> 01:02:27,352
♪ Can't let it slide
No, not this time ♪
1132
01:02:27,352 --> 01:02:29,354
♪ We come too far
To let the dream... ♪
1133
01:02:29,354 --> 01:02:32,096
All right. You're done!
1134
01:02:33,445 --> 01:02:36,491
Ooh!
1135
01:02:36,491 --> 01:02:39,930
♪ Nothing left for you to do
But don't believe it ♪
1136
01:02:39,930 --> 01:02:42,846
♪ You got to, got to
See it through, baby ♪
1137
01:02:42,846 --> 01:02:44,848
All right, if your name
is on the list,
1138
01:02:44,848 --> 01:02:47,198
you have an appointment.
Just relax.
1139
01:02:47,198 --> 01:02:49,504
Wakey wakey.
1140
01:02:49,504 --> 01:02:51,942
All right. You are done.
1141
01:02:53,465 --> 01:02:55,467
Naturally Speaking Salon.
This is Leona.
1142
01:02:55,467 --> 01:02:57,034
Is this your first time
getting braids?
1143
01:02:57,034 --> 01:02:58,644
It sure is.
1144
01:02:58,644 --> 01:03:01,038
Me and my husband,
we're going to the Bahamas.
1145
01:03:01,038 --> 01:03:03,301
And this time
I'm getting my hair wet.
1146
01:03:03,301 --> 01:03:04,606
Ooh!
Okay!
1147
01:03:04,606 --> 01:03:06,304
Get your hands off my pad.
1148
01:03:06,304 --> 01:03:07,696
Get your fingers off my pad.
1149
01:03:07,696 --> 01:03:10,047
♪ Across the nation ♪
1150
01:03:10,047 --> 01:03:11,657
♪ That's going through
Some... ♪
1151
01:03:11,657 --> 01:03:12,832
Ma'am? Ma'am.
1152
01:03:14,355 --> 01:03:16,618
♪ You gotta groove ♪
1153
01:03:16,618 --> 01:03:18,577
You all go have a seat.
I got you. I got--
1154
01:03:18,577 --> 01:03:20,535
I said, don't touch my pad!
1155
01:03:20,535 --> 01:03:24,104
One, two, three, oh. Oh.
1156
01:03:24,104 --> 01:03:28,282
I just can't anymore. Ugh!
1157
01:03:28,282 --> 01:03:31,764
Welcome to Naturally Speaking.
I'm Melony.
1158
01:03:31,764 --> 01:03:35,289
Now, tell me about who you are.
1159
01:03:36,464 --> 01:03:38,075
Whew, boy.
1160
01:03:38,075 --> 01:03:40,338
Don't you forget to send us
some pictures, now.
1161
01:03:40,338 --> 01:03:42,644
Okay, bye.
1162
01:03:42,644 --> 01:03:47,040
Whew. I cannot believe
how busy we were today.
1163
01:03:47,040 --> 01:03:50,652
Girl.
Lord. My hands hurt!
1164
01:03:50,652 --> 01:03:52,045
Mm-hmm.
They hurting?
1165
01:03:52,045 --> 01:03:53,786
Yes.
1166
01:03:53,786 --> 01:03:55,309
Mm, this will
make them feel better.
1167
01:03:57,529 --> 01:03:59,139
Yes, it will.
1168
01:04:00,924 --> 01:04:03,752
Soak your fingers
in some salt water,
1169
01:04:03,752 --> 01:04:08,888
then meet me two hours
before opening tomorrow.
1170
01:04:08,888 --> 01:04:11,586
Mm.
Bring friends if you want to.
1171
01:04:11,586 --> 01:04:16,200
But tomorrow, class begins.
1172
01:04:26,427 --> 01:04:28,734
What am I supposed
to ask it again?
1173
01:04:28,734 --> 01:04:30,518
You ask her what she wants.
1174
01:04:37,134 --> 01:04:38,004
Oh.
1175
01:04:47,405 --> 01:04:49,537
She said she want
the rest of her body.
1176
01:04:53,715 --> 01:04:55,630
We're here...
1177
01:04:55,630 --> 01:04:56,849
...with Melony Armstrong...
Okay. Here we go.
1178
01:04:56,849 --> 01:04:59,591
of Naturally Speaking Salon.
1179
01:04:59,591 --> 01:05:04,161
Braids are what I call
"Freedom Hair."
1180
01:05:04,161 --> 01:05:08,208
These braids, twists,
and micro braids
1181
01:05:08,208 --> 01:05:10,080
free women up
1182
01:05:10,080 --> 01:05:12,604
so they can pay more attention
to their lives
1183
01:05:12,604 --> 01:05:15,389
and not worry about how
their hair might restrict them.
1184
01:05:15,389 --> 01:05:18,088
Tell 'em, Melony.
And what inspired you
1185
01:05:18,088 --> 01:05:20,133
to do this African style
hair braiding?
1186
01:05:20,133 --> 01:05:22,875
Were you born in Africa?
1187
01:05:22,875 --> 01:05:24,964
Is she serious--
1188
01:05:24,964 --> 01:05:27,445
No. No, I--
1189
01:05:27,445 --> 01:05:30,100
I was born right here
in America.
1190
01:05:30,100 --> 01:05:33,016
African style braids
are much more about
1191
01:05:33,016 --> 01:05:35,061
who you are
than where you're from.
1192
01:05:35,061 --> 01:05:36,671
Mm-hmm.
Black women
1193
01:05:36,671 --> 01:05:39,196
in America need to remember
their own beauty.
1194
01:05:39,196 --> 01:05:42,634
My shop exists to celebrate
that beauty that all of us have
1195
01:05:42,634 --> 01:05:44,984
but that many of us
keep hidden.
1196
01:05:44,984 --> 01:05:47,595
Ah! That's it!
Yes.
1197
01:05:47,595 --> 01:05:50,555
That's it. Ooh, she did good.
1198
01:05:50,555 --> 01:05:52,078
She sure did.
1199
01:05:56,256 --> 01:05:58,911
Yeah, I don't think
it's the same.
1200
01:05:58,911 --> 01:06:00,565
It's that cheap hair.
1201
01:06:00,565 --> 01:06:01,958
Girl.
It's cheap.
1202
01:06:01,958 --> 01:06:03,611
Welcome to Natur--
1203
01:06:05,439 --> 01:06:07,485
G'Mom.
1204
01:06:14,709 --> 01:06:17,277
Hello!
1205
01:06:17,277 --> 01:06:20,150
Hey, pretty baby,
what you doing?
1206
01:06:20,150 --> 01:06:23,327
I didn't know
you were coming by.
1207
01:06:23,327 --> 01:06:28,593
I got to have an invitation
to see my great grand?
1208
01:06:28,593 --> 01:06:33,728
Or to see you and this little
shop of yours for that matter?
1209
01:06:33,728 --> 01:06:35,339
Come sit down.
1210
01:06:35,339 --> 01:06:37,906
Oh, no, I'm just fine,
thank you.
1211
01:06:37,906 --> 01:06:40,213
I'm very particular
about my hair.
1212
01:06:40,213 --> 01:06:41,954
Mm-hmm.
1213
01:06:41,954 --> 01:06:44,087
G'Mom,
1214
01:06:44,087 --> 01:06:48,395
you've worn this wig
for a very long time.
1215
01:06:50,310 --> 01:06:52,834
And underneath it...
1216
01:06:52,834 --> 01:06:56,490
...there's hair that could stand
some tenderness.
1217
01:06:58,536 --> 01:07:01,278
Come sit down. Let me spoil you.
1218
01:07:03,454 --> 01:07:04,716
Yeah?
1219
01:07:06,239 --> 01:07:08,894
Okay.
All right.
1220
01:07:08,894 --> 01:07:11,592
All right then.
1221
01:07:16,728 --> 01:07:18,469
I'm just going to--
1222
01:07:18,469 --> 01:07:21,733
I'm just gonna massage you.
Okay?
1223
01:07:53,069 --> 01:07:55,332
I used to have long hair.
1224
01:07:57,943 --> 01:07:59,771
It was long and--
1225
01:08:01,294 --> 01:08:03,079
and white. Wow.
1226
01:08:04,210 --> 01:08:05,820
All the way down to my waist.
1227
01:08:07,518 --> 01:08:11,261
Oh, I was something to see.
1228
01:08:14,742 --> 01:08:16,875
It was before I got sick.
1229
01:08:16,875 --> 01:08:18,964
I just--
1230
01:08:21,575 --> 01:08:24,404
I just can't
wear my hair like this.
1231
01:08:24,404 --> 01:08:26,841
It's okay.
1232
01:08:26,841 --> 01:08:29,409
But I don't want braids,
either, child.
1233
01:08:29,409 --> 01:08:32,804
Well, braids aren't
for everyone, G'Mom.
1234
01:08:32,804 --> 01:08:35,111
But freedom is.
1235
01:08:36,764 --> 01:08:40,116
And if wearing your piece
makes you feel free,
1236
01:08:40,116 --> 01:08:42,553
then that's exactly
what we're gonna do.
1237
01:08:42,553 --> 01:08:45,643
Let me work on your piece,
G'Mom.
1238
01:08:45,643 --> 01:08:49,429
I could restyle it
for a softer look or anything.
1239
01:08:49,429 --> 01:08:51,649
That's right. That's right.
Ain't no reason for you
1240
01:08:51,649 --> 01:08:53,520
to keep going around
looking like Bea Arthur.
1241
01:08:57,133 --> 01:08:58,351
Girl.
1242
01:09:23,637 --> 01:09:25,813
And my cousin Tanika
said she could do it.
1243
01:09:25,813 --> 01:09:28,076
But she got us looking like
we got mops on our heads!
1244
01:09:28,076 --> 01:09:29,861
It's okay.
And my rehearsal supper's
1245
01:09:29,861 --> 01:09:31,950
in two hours and I don't know
what I'm supposed to do with--
1246
01:09:31,950 --> 01:09:35,388
Okay. Leona, Rosemary,
start unbraiding bridesmaids.
1247
01:09:35,388 --> 01:09:37,651
Lydia, come up here
and help me with the bride.
1248
01:09:37,651 --> 01:09:41,786
I don't know if you can fix it.
Okay. It's okay.
1249
01:09:41,786 --> 01:09:43,614
You're gonna look beautiful.
This is, like, so ridiculous!
1250
01:09:43,614 --> 01:09:45,093
It's closed for the day!
1251
01:09:45,093 --> 01:09:46,573
I don't think it matters, ma'am.
1252
01:09:46,573 --> 01:09:49,141
I need to see your license.
1253
01:09:49,141 --> 01:09:52,710
Um, just a second, okay?
I'll be right back.
1254
01:10:01,066 --> 01:10:02,589
What is this about?
1255
01:10:04,548 --> 01:10:06,506
Wigology, huh?
Mm-hmm.
1256
01:10:06,506 --> 01:10:09,857
Is that what this place is?
1257
01:10:09,857 --> 01:10:12,164
I need to see
their licenses, too.
1258
01:10:12,164 --> 01:10:16,951
But these ladies
are my students.
1259
01:10:16,951 --> 01:10:20,825
I supervise their every move.
They're my trainees.
1260
01:10:20,825 --> 01:10:24,263
Ma'am, this license doesn't give
you the right to train anybody.
1261
01:10:24,263 --> 01:10:28,267
Now, I'm gonna give you
a citation and a fine today.
1262
01:10:28,267 --> 01:10:30,095
But if I catch you
at this again...
1263
01:10:31,923 --> 01:10:33,403
...I'll close you down
1264
01:10:33,403 --> 01:10:35,274
and may arrest you.
1265
01:10:35,274 --> 01:10:37,668
On what charge?
Making a living?
1266
01:10:45,110 --> 01:10:48,505
The way these
Mississippi laws are written,
1267
01:10:48,505 --> 01:10:51,682
it's only folks with money
who can get a license.
1268
01:10:51,682 --> 01:10:54,511
It costs less time
and less money
1269
01:10:54,511 --> 01:10:58,166
to get certified
as a fireman or a nurse
1270
01:10:58,166 --> 01:11:00,647
or a sheriff than it does
to be a hairdresser.
1271
01:11:00,647 --> 01:11:02,345
Wow.
I know.
1272
01:11:02,345 --> 01:11:05,652
My shop has been flying
under the radar for years.
1273
01:11:05,652 --> 01:11:08,220
But it's on private property,
and I don't advertise,
1274
01:11:08,220 --> 01:11:10,701
so I probably don't exist
to them.
1275
01:11:10,701 --> 01:11:12,529
Mm, that's true.
1276
01:11:12,529 --> 01:11:14,748
If women like me had to depend
on the State of Mississippi
1277
01:11:14,748 --> 01:11:16,794
to certify us
to do what it is we do...
1278
01:11:16,794 --> 01:11:18,535
Come on.
...we'd all still be
1279
01:11:18,535 --> 01:11:21,712
sweeping floors or working
in Miss Ann's kitchen.
1280
01:11:21,712 --> 01:11:23,801
That's what they want. Yeah.
1281
01:11:23,801 --> 01:11:25,933
I don't want
to stop learning, though.
1282
01:11:25,933 --> 01:11:28,327
I could really be good at this.
1283
01:11:28,327 --> 01:11:31,199
Yeah. I mean, I could teach you
right here at my house,
1284
01:11:31,199 --> 01:11:32,940
but you can't braid at the shop.
1285
01:11:32,940 --> 01:11:35,378
But your business
is gonna go right to squat
1286
01:11:35,378 --> 01:11:37,902
if you don't have some help. Yeah.
1287
01:11:37,902 --> 01:11:40,513
And the State
of Mississippi strikes again.
1288
01:11:40,513 --> 01:11:41,906
Hmm.
1289
01:11:44,038 --> 01:11:46,040
What if we strike it back?
1290
01:11:46,040 --> 01:11:47,999
Yeah.
1291
01:11:55,615 --> 01:11:57,400
Institute for Justice.
1292
01:11:57,400 --> 01:11:59,793
Dana Berliner here,
could you please hold a sec--
1293
01:11:59,793 --> 01:12:01,882
Wait, what? Slow down.
1294
01:12:01,882 --> 01:12:03,406
Miss, who are you?
1295
01:12:03,406 --> 01:12:05,756
Uh-huh.
1296
01:12:05,756 --> 01:12:10,021
What about the Mississippi
State Board of Cosmetology?
1297
01:12:10,021 --> 01:12:11,936
Put that on speaker!
1298
01:12:11,936 --> 01:12:13,633
I am a licensed,
1299
01:12:13,633 --> 01:12:15,505
professional African
hair braider,
1300
01:12:15,505 --> 01:12:18,116
and the State of Mississippi
is actively interfering
1301
01:12:18,116 --> 01:12:20,858
with my right to make a living.
Are you familiar
1302
01:12:20,858 --> 01:12:23,034
with the Mississippi State
Board of Cosmetology?
1303
01:12:23,034 --> 01:12:25,166
Oh, we are
very familiar with them.
1304
01:12:25,166 --> 01:12:27,734
Could you tell us everything
from the beginning, please?
1305
01:12:27,734 --> 01:12:29,388
You are not
the first people
1306
01:12:29,388 --> 01:12:31,608
to ever fight back against
unfair licensing laws.
1307
01:12:31,608 --> 01:12:34,437
In our very first case,
1308
01:12:34,437 --> 01:12:36,613
Pamela Ferrell
and Taalib Din Uqdah,
1309
01:12:36,613 --> 01:12:39,224
two highly successful
salon owners,
1310
01:12:39,224 --> 01:12:41,792
were fined and threatened
with closure for
1311
01:12:41,792 --> 01:12:45,186
running a natural hair braiding
program without a license.
1312
01:12:45,186 --> 01:12:47,885
Through us, they sued the
government of Washington, D.C.,
1313
01:12:47,885 --> 01:12:50,975
for violating their
constitutional rights.
1314
01:12:50,975 --> 01:12:54,239
And D.C. wanted
to avoid bad press.
1315
01:12:54,239 --> 01:12:56,197
They just changed the law.
1316
01:12:56,197 --> 01:12:58,374
So there's precedent.
We can win.
1317
01:12:58,374 --> 01:13:01,464
Well, you have to remember
that D.C. is not a state,
1318
01:13:01,464 --> 01:13:03,509
so the rules are not the same.
1319
01:13:03,509 --> 01:13:06,730
That's a city with a population
of about 700,000
1320
01:13:06,730 --> 01:13:09,863
and a largely Black
and sympathetic city council.
1321
01:13:09,863 --> 01:13:12,866
Mississippi has a population
of over 3 million,
1322
01:13:12,866 --> 01:13:15,478
and a legislative body
full of mostly
1323
01:13:15,478 --> 01:13:17,915
good ol' boys
who couldn't care less.
1324
01:13:17,915 --> 01:13:20,657
Which is exactly why, Melony--
1325
01:13:20,657 --> 01:13:23,007
Ah, thank you--
1326
01:13:23,007 --> 01:13:25,923
That's why if you're going
to do this, you have to be sure.
1327
01:13:25,923 --> 01:13:27,925
And you have to be brave.
1328
01:13:27,925 --> 01:13:29,361
I'm sure.
1329
01:13:29,361 --> 01:13:31,450
I mean, what choice do I have?
1330
01:13:31,450 --> 01:13:34,801
Well, you could probably
strike a deal
1331
01:13:34,801 --> 01:13:37,674
with the State,
keep quiet in exchange
1332
01:13:37,674 --> 01:13:39,850
for the Board leaving
you and your trainees alone.
1333
01:13:39,850 --> 01:13:42,722
This case is about
more than just Melony Armstrong.
1334
01:13:42,722 --> 01:13:44,681
It's about Black women everywhere
1335
01:13:44,681 --> 01:13:47,161
being refused the right
to earn an honest living.
1336
01:13:47,161 --> 01:13:49,076
How could you even say that?
1337
01:13:49,076 --> 01:13:51,905
Melony, Melony, that was a test.
1338
01:13:51,905 --> 01:13:54,386
If you had said yes to that,
I wouldn't have taken your case.
1339
01:13:54,386 --> 01:13:56,606
And now
I'm very excited to.
1340
01:13:56,606 --> 01:13:57,433
Oh.
1341
01:13:59,347 --> 01:14:01,045
Okay.
1342
01:14:01,045 --> 01:14:02,525
Good. I was testing you.
1343
01:14:02,525 --> 01:14:06,354
Good. Have we both passed?
1344
01:14:06,354 --> 01:14:08,879
'Cause that's the kind of
passion we're gonna need to win.
1345
01:14:08,879 --> 01:14:10,576
Okay.
1346
01:14:10,576 --> 01:14:13,318
This fight is not about hair,
you know.
1347
01:14:13,318 --> 01:14:15,276
It's about money.
1348
01:14:15,276 --> 01:14:17,975
There are over 100,000
1349
01:14:17,975 --> 01:14:21,457
licensed cosmetologists
in the State of Mississippi.
1350
01:14:21,457 --> 01:14:24,155
Wow.
Every single one of them
1351
01:14:24,155 --> 01:14:27,245
paid $30,000
to obtain their license
1352
01:14:27,245 --> 01:14:29,552
and attend cosmetology school.
1353
01:14:29,552 --> 01:14:31,728
So when you do the math on that,
1354
01:14:31,728 --> 01:14:34,121
and you think about
all the new licenses
1355
01:14:34,121 --> 01:14:36,297
being issued every year,
1356
01:14:36,297 --> 01:14:38,517
both the state and the schools
1357
01:14:38,517 --> 01:14:41,477
have a nice big,
guaranteed source of revenue.
1358
01:14:41,477 --> 01:14:42,652
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
1359
01:14:42,652 --> 01:14:45,350
And they do not want you
1360
01:14:45,350 --> 01:14:48,353
to come in and mess that up. Mm.
1361
01:14:48,353 --> 01:14:51,530
Ladies, your opponents
have very deep pockets.
1362
01:14:54,011 --> 01:14:55,447
You know, they're gonna
come at you
1363
01:14:55,447 --> 01:14:57,667
in some pretty creative ways.
1364
01:14:57,667 --> 01:15:01,235
Lobbyists are gonna attack
your reputation,
1365
01:15:01,235 --> 01:15:04,151
your background,
and your credibility.
1366
01:15:04,151 --> 01:15:09,243
If I win this case, Black women
will have as much a chance
1367
01:15:09,243 --> 01:15:12,986
of running their own business
as any white kid with a degree.
1368
01:15:12,986 --> 01:15:14,901
Hmm.
1369
01:15:14,901 --> 01:15:17,513
You ever think about
what'll happen if you lose?
1370
01:15:17,513 --> 01:15:19,863
I'm not gonna lose.
1371
01:15:19,863 --> 01:15:21,734
Good.
1372
01:15:21,734 --> 01:15:23,388
Then I'll file suit next week.
1373
01:15:24,737 --> 01:15:26,434
No turning back now.
1374
01:15:26,434 --> 01:15:29,437
Armstrong versus
the State of Mississippi.
1375
01:15:29,437 --> 01:15:32,223
I like the sound of that.
1376
01:15:32,223 --> 01:15:35,443
It's got a nice ring
to it, doesn't it?
1377
01:15:35,443 --> 01:15:37,010
How do I pay for this?
1378
01:15:37,010 --> 01:15:40,318
You don't.
I.J. is funded by donations.
1379
01:15:41,841 --> 01:15:44,583
So, are we going
into the courtroom?
1380
01:15:44,583 --> 01:15:46,846
No, we're going into
the hearing room first.
1381
01:15:46,846 --> 01:15:49,675
Luckily, the state legislature
is worried enough
1382
01:15:49,675 --> 01:15:53,461
about this going to court that
they want to hear us out first.
1383
01:15:53,461 --> 01:15:54,941
Oh.
That's good for us.
1384
01:15:54,941 --> 01:15:57,814
Oh. That is
Representative Steve Holland.
1385
01:15:57,814 --> 01:16:01,208
He's committee chair.
He is smart and fair.
1386
01:16:01,208 --> 01:16:03,036
You're gonna want
to get his ear.
1387
01:16:03,036 --> 01:16:06,300
So, in the case of Armstrong
versus the State of Mississippi,
1388
01:16:06,300 --> 01:16:08,912
it is important to understand
that my client
1389
01:16:08,912 --> 01:16:12,437
is filing for injunctive
and declaratory relief.
1390
01:16:12,437 --> 01:16:14,221
She is not seeking money.
1391
01:16:14,221 --> 01:16:18,530
She is seeking to challenge
the constitutionality of the law
1392
01:16:18,530 --> 01:16:21,794
and moves that that law
be changed or struck down.
1393
01:16:21,794 --> 01:16:23,404
Thank you, Ms. Berliner.
1394
01:16:23,404 --> 01:16:25,842
But that's a longstanding law.
1395
01:16:25,842 --> 01:16:28,192
You've certainly got a lot
of nerve, Mrs. Armstrong.
1396
01:16:28,192 --> 01:16:31,325
Good.
We got their attention.
1397
01:16:40,944 --> 01:16:41,814
Hey.
1398
01:16:49,474 --> 01:16:51,650
I've been offered a pastorship.
1399
01:16:54,261 --> 01:16:58,004
I told them I'd decline
until this lawsuit is over.
1400
01:17:00,398 --> 01:17:02,618
Oh, don't do that, Kev.
1401
01:17:04,445 --> 01:17:06,578
Take it.
1402
01:17:06,578 --> 01:17:10,495
Look, if I'm gonna
go through this,
1403
01:17:10,495 --> 01:17:15,369
I need to know
you're where you ought to be.
1404
01:17:15,369 --> 01:17:19,809
Besides, I might need you to
whisper to God for me a little.
1405
01:17:25,858 --> 01:17:27,686
Are you scared, Mel?
1406
01:17:28,905 --> 01:17:30,776
Mm.
1407
01:17:33,213 --> 01:17:35,651
No.
1408
01:17:35,651 --> 01:17:37,870
But I think I should be.
1409
01:17:41,221 --> 01:17:42,919
They're calling it Hair Wars.
1410
01:17:42,919 --> 01:17:44,703
Local hair braider
Melony Armstrong
1411
01:17:44,703 --> 01:17:46,400
takes on the State
of Mississippi
1412
01:17:46,400 --> 01:17:48,925
over the right to braid
Black natural hair.
1413
01:17:48,925 --> 01:17:51,492
Nearly 100 percent
of hair braiders
1414
01:17:51,492 --> 01:17:54,191
in Mississippi are Black women.
1415
01:17:54,191 --> 01:17:57,107
So essentially,
the Cosmetology Board
1416
01:17:57,107 --> 01:17:59,413
are seeking yet another way
1417
01:17:59,413 --> 01:18:02,590
to keep Black women out
of the financial mainstream.
1418
01:18:02,590 --> 01:18:05,637
However, many lawmakers
don't see it that way.
1419
01:18:05,637 --> 01:18:09,554
Maybe braids and cosmetology
are not the same thing,
1420
01:18:09,554 --> 01:18:12,035
but they're close enough.
They both involve hair.
1421
01:18:12,035 --> 01:18:13,906
Mrs. Armstrong faces
an uphill battle
1422
01:18:13,906 --> 01:18:16,213
to convince the state lawmakers
1423
01:18:16,213 --> 01:18:18,868
that this longstanding law
should be changed.
1424
01:18:31,968 --> 01:18:34,710
Babe, what are you doing up?
1425
01:18:34,710 --> 01:18:36,712
What's wrong?
1426
01:18:38,539 --> 01:18:40,367
We're not strong enough.
1427
01:18:40,367 --> 01:18:43,370
What do you mean
not strong enough? Why?
1428
01:18:43,370 --> 01:18:47,766
We're fighting by their rules,
trying to change their laws.
1429
01:18:47,766 --> 01:18:50,334
We should be
bringing the fight to them.
1430
01:18:50,334 --> 01:18:53,424
The cosmetology board's
caving to the negative press.
1431
01:18:53,424 --> 01:18:55,731
They're willing to reduce the
mandatory hours of instruction
1432
01:18:55,731 --> 01:18:57,820
from 2,000 down to 600,
1433
01:18:57,820 --> 01:19:00,474
which will lower the cost
of cosmetology tuition
1434
01:19:00,474 --> 01:19:02,738
from 10,000 to around 5.
1435
01:19:02,738 --> 01:19:05,218
Now, they want to make a deal.
1436
01:19:05,218 --> 01:19:06,785
No deal.
1437
01:19:10,702 --> 01:19:14,488
I want us to bring our own bill
to the state lawmakers.
1438
01:19:14,488 --> 01:19:17,709
Something that will free
braiders completely.
1439
01:19:17,709 --> 01:19:20,059
No license should cost
more than $25,
1440
01:19:20,059 --> 01:19:23,454
and every braider should
have to pass a basic hygiene
1441
01:19:23,454 --> 01:19:25,978
and safety test, as well
as a demonstration of skills.
1442
01:19:25,978 --> 01:19:28,676
And if you can braid,
you can teach braiding.
1443
01:19:28,676 --> 01:19:32,593
No more Wigology.
No more Cosmetology, at all.
1444
01:19:32,593 --> 01:19:35,814
The art of braiding
should be set free.
1445
01:19:35,814 --> 01:19:38,861
Yes. Yes!
1446
01:19:38,861 --> 01:19:40,906
Yeah?
Yes.
1447
01:19:40,906 --> 01:19:42,690
It's good, right?
All right.
1448
01:19:42,690 --> 01:19:44,997
It's great.
1449
01:19:44,997 --> 01:19:47,173
My friend, you married
a very fierce woman,
1450
01:19:47,173 --> 01:19:49,436
and I like her so much.
1451
01:19:49,436 --> 01:19:51,569
I like her, too.
1452
01:19:51,569 --> 01:19:53,658
Okay, let's talk
strategy, Melony.
1453
01:19:53,658 --> 01:19:56,226
You are gonna have to meet with
a lot of powerful politicians,
1454
01:19:56,226 --> 01:19:57,662
shake a lot of hands...
1455
01:19:57,662 --> 01:19:59,490
You're making a big deal
out of nothing.
1456
01:19:59,490 --> 01:20:02,362
...and change a lot
of minds before the hearing.
1457
01:20:02,362 --> 01:20:06,323
Traffic cops and
Congressmen both involve law.
1458
01:20:06,323 --> 01:20:08,804
Do they have the same training,
the same licenses?
1459
01:20:08,804 --> 01:20:10,980
No! You can't--
1460
01:20:23,470 --> 01:20:25,603
Where you going?
1461
01:20:25,603 --> 01:20:27,039
Come out with me.
1462
01:20:27,039 --> 01:20:28,084
Out?
1463
01:20:29,955 --> 01:20:31,652
Have you looked at me?
1464
01:20:31,652 --> 01:20:34,525
And there's tomorrow. No.
1465
01:20:34,525 --> 01:20:37,528
All the more reason.
Just throw on a dress,
1466
01:20:37,528 --> 01:20:39,835
keep your hair wrapped
if you like.
1467
01:20:39,835 --> 01:20:41,706
Mnh-mnh.
But please.
1468
01:20:41,706 --> 01:20:44,927
What you doing?
Mm.
1469
01:20:44,927 --> 01:20:47,146
Kevin.
Mwah. Mwah.
1470
01:20:47,146 --> 01:20:49,888
All right!
All right. All right.
1471
01:20:49,888 --> 01:20:52,499
I'm coming!
I'm coming. I'm coming.
1472
01:20:52,499 --> 01:20:54,675
Lord, I'm coming.
1473
01:20:54,675 --> 01:20:56,590
You're crazy.
1474
01:20:56,590 --> 01:20:59,028
Cover your eyes.
I'm covering them.
1475
01:20:59,028 --> 01:21:01,552
Don't peek.
Kevin, I'm not peeking.
1476
01:21:01,552 --> 01:21:02,945
All right,
there's two steps, ready?
1477
01:21:02,945 --> 01:21:04,120
Okay. Ooh. One.
1478
01:21:04,120 --> 01:21:06,339
One.
One more. Two.
1479
01:21:06,339 --> 01:21:08,602
Two. Okay.
Perfect. All right.
1480
01:21:08,602 --> 01:21:11,692
Can I open them now?
Just wait.
1481
01:21:11,692 --> 01:21:15,958
My wife, Melony Armstrong!
1482
01:21:20,658 --> 01:21:23,530
Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
1483
01:21:23,530 --> 01:21:25,532
Look at you!
1484
01:21:25,532 --> 01:21:26,969
What is going on?
1485
01:21:26,969 --> 01:21:29,972
Why is everybody here?!
1486
01:21:29,972 --> 01:21:32,148
Oh, my gosh. Mom.
1487
01:21:32,148 --> 01:21:34,150
All right, now everyone
take your seats!
1488
01:21:41,331 --> 01:21:44,073
Gonna be great.
1489
01:21:44,073 --> 01:21:47,337
My wife usually
gets the last word,
1490
01:21:47,337 --> 01:21:50,340
but tonight
is my night to speak.
1491
01:21:52,298 --> 01:21:54,257
A few years ago,
1492
01:21:54,257 --> 01:21:58,783
my wife came to me and told me
she wanted to braid hair.
1493
01:21:58,783 --> 01:22:02,743
And I told her
I thought she was crazy.
1494
01:22:02,743 --> 01:22:05,833
And she was.
1495
01:22:05,833 --> 01:22:09,054
At that time, she knew
nothing about braiding hair.
1496
01:22:09,054 --> 01:22:11,665
But the thing about my wife,
1497
01:22:11,665 --> 01:22:14,364
she never once let
the impossible stop her.
1498
01:22:14,364 --> 01:22:16,844
The improbable to her
1499
01:22:16,844 --> 01:22:20,065
just indicates
a lack of imagination.
1500
01:22:20,065 --> 01:22:22,024
I once told her
she never met a boulder
1501
01:22:22,024 --> 01:22:25,331
she couldn't smash to pebbles.
1502
01:22:25,331 --> 01:22:27,855
And I was right.
1503
01:22:27,855 --> 01:22:32,860
But tomorrow, my wife is meeting
more than a boulder.
1504
01:22:32,860 --> 01:22:35,211
Tomorrow my wife is coming up
1505
01:22:35,211 --> 01:22:38,040
against the powerful
State of Mississippi.
1506
01:22:38,040 --> 01:22:41,869
And I asked you all here
to share in a prayer of courage
1507
01:22:41,869 --> 01:22:44,568
and strength for her, my wife.
1508
01:22:44,568 --> 01:22:48,572
Because we need her to be
whole, to remain unafraid,
1509
01:22:48,572 --> 01:22:53,011
and carry her undaunted cause
straight to the lap of victory.
1510
01:22:53,011 --> 01:22:56,058
So I ask you all,
in the name of the Most High,
1511
01:22:56,058 --> 01:23:00,932
to bow your heads,
close your eyes, grasp hands,
1512
01:23:00,932 --> 01:23:05,806
go to your innermost
silent place, and pray.
1513
01:23:15,338 --> 01:23:17,470
Will I have to
say anything today?
1514
01:23:17,470 --> 01:23:19,211
You don't have to,
1515
01:23:19,211 --> 01:23:21,822
and I'll respect your decision
if you don't.
1516
01:23:21,822 --> 01:23:23,476
But...
1517
01:23:23,476 --> 01:23:27,002
But without your voice,
there's just my own.
1518
01:23:27,002 --> 01:23:30,396
You are this truth, Melony.
1519
01:23:30,396 --> 01:23:32,877
I'm just your echo.
1520
01:23:34,618 --> 01:23:38,056
Okay. I got it.
Come on.
1521
01:23:38,056 --> 01:23:39,971
You'll be great.
1522
01:23:39,971 --> 01:23:43,583
These are local
cosmetology students.
1523
01:23:43,583 --> 01:23:47,283
They were ordered to be here
or risk failing their course.
1524
01:23:47,283 --> 01:23:48,980
That seems unfair.
1525
01:23:48,980 --> 01:23:52,070
Yeah.
Welcome to politics.
1526
01:23:52,070 --> 01:23:54,638
Fortunately, your supporters
are a lot louder
1527
01:23:54,638 --> 01:23:57,162
and a lot more fierce.
1528
01:23:57,162 --> 01:24:04,343
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
1529
01:24:04,343 --> 01:24:07,564
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
You've got this.
1530
01:24:07,564 --> 01:24:14,005
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
1531
01:24:14,005 --> 01:24:18,183
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
Good morning.
1532
01:24:18,183 --> 01:24:19,924
Today we will hear testimony
1533
01:24:19,924 --> 01:24:22,318
regarding proposed bills
that would change the laws
1534
01:24:22,318 --> 01:24:25,756
that apply to African
hair braiding in Mississippi.
1535
01:24:25,756 --> 01:24:28,367
Ms. Berliner,
we will first hear from you.
1536
01:24:28,367 --> 01:24:30,413
Thank you.
1537
01:24:30,413 --> 01:24:33,024
The current law denies hair
braiders like Melony Armstrong
1538
01:24:33,024 --> 01:24:35,983
their constitutional
right guaranteed
1539
01:24:35,983 --> 01:24:37,681
by the Fourteenth Amendment--
1540
01:24:37,681 --> 01:24:40,466
The right to earn a living
in their chosen field.
1541
01:24:40,466 --> 01:24:44,470
The current laws in place with
the State Board of Cosmetology
1542
01:24:44,470 --> 01:24:49,562
make it virtually impossible
for hair braiders to be trained,
1543
01:24:49,562 --> 01:24:53,610
to train others, and to obtain
a license truly relevant
1544
01:24:53,610 --> 01:24:56,047
to the work that they do.
1545
01:24:56,047 --> 01:24:58,832
The entire system of cosmetology
1546
01:24:58,832 --> 01:25:01,139
dates back to the early 1900s.
1547
01:25:01,139 --> 01:25:03,750
It doesn't make sense anymore,
1548
01:25:03,750 --> 01:25:06,927
but a lot of people
make a lot of money from it,
1549
01:25:06,927 --> 01:25:10,366
and those people make sure
that the rules don't change.
1550
01:25:10,366 --> 01:25:13,020
They don't care
about the lives destroyed
1551
01:25:13,020 --> 01:25:15,545
when thousands of women
cannot work.
1552
01:25:15,545 --> 01:25:18,417
And you might ask yourself
how this could be so.
1553
01:25:18,417 --> 01:25:22,073
But to answer, you only need
to look at Melony,
1554
01:25:22,073 --> 01:25:23,944
and then look around you.
1555
01:25:25,772 --> 01:25:29,167
There is not one person
who understands Black hair
1556
01:25:29,167 --> 01:25:32,953
or African micro braiding
at a single cosmetology school
1557
01:25:32,953 --> 01:25:34,912
in the entire state
of Mississippi.
1558
01:25:34,912 --> 01:25:36,653
Not one.
1559
01:25:36,653 --> 01:25:40,787
Yet it is into this unbending
wall of ignorance
1560
01:25:40,787 --> 01:25:42,746
that Melony Armstrong
1561
01:25:42,746 --> 01:25:46,489
and any person who wishes
to practice African braiding
1562
01:25:46,489 --> 01:25:48,752
in the traditional styles
is meant to throw themselves.
1563
01:25:48,752 --> 01:25:50,797
In return for what?
1564
01:25:50,797 --> 01:25:53,104
Nothing.
1565
01:25:53,104 --> 01:25:57,630
These archaic laws
have to change.
1566
01:25:57,630 --> 01:26:01,678
And the bill that we
are putting before you today
1567
01:26:01,678 --> 01:26:04,246
for your consideration...
1568
01:26:04,246 --> 01:26:06,857
...can fix what's broken immediately.
1569
01:26:10,034 --> 01:26:11,383
Thank you.
1570
01:26:13,472 --> 01:26:15,387
Mm, mm, mm.
1571
01:26:15,387 --> 01:26:21,263
That was, uh,
poetic and emotional,
1572
01:26:21,263 --> 01:26:26,181
but it's mere smoke and
mirrors of the real point
1573
01:26:26,181 --> 01:26:28,792
of why we're here.
1574
01:26:28,792 --> 01:26:32,230
You don't keep a clean aesthetic
by letting folks run wild.
1575
01:26:32,230 --> 01:26:35,581
If somebody touches
your hair or your skin,
1576
01:26:35,581 --> 01:26:37,583
they need to be regulated.
1577
01:26:37,583 --> 01:26:41,413
If anybody touches my hair
or my wife's hair,
1578
01:26:41,413 --> 01:26:45,069
I would want to know
that they are clean,
1579
01:26:45,069 --> 01:26:48,072
licensed, and accountable.
1580
01:26:48,072 --> 01:26:49,682
We wouldn't want
some bum off the street
1581
01:26:49,682 --> 01:26:50,944
washing our hair,
now, would we?
1582
01:26:50,944 --> 01:26:51,945
Mr. Chairman?
1583
01:26:51,945 --> 01:26:54,513
Please stick to the point.
1584
01:26:54,513 --> 01:26:56,298
I think I've made my point.
1585
01:26:56,298 --> 01:26:58,517
Now, Ms. Berliner,
1586
01:26:58,517 --> 01:27:00,476
do you have
anything further to add?
1587
01:27:00,476 --> 01:27:02,217
No. Thank you, Senator Holland.
1588
01:27:03,827 --> 01:27:05,698
I want to talk.
1589
01:27:05,698 --> 01:27:07,787
My client would like to speak.
1590
01:27:16,492 --> 01:27:19,451
My name is Melony Armstrong.
1591
01:27:19,451 --> 01:27:23,281
I'm not a lawyer
or a politician.
1592
01:27:23,281 --> 01:27:25,718
I became a braider
1593
01:27:25,718 --> 01:27:30,070
as a way to touch and heal
Black women's souls.
1594
01:27:30,070 --> 01:27:35,685
I wanted to restore to us
a clear and unfiltered vision
1595
01:27:35,685 --> 01:27:39,166
of our own grace and beauty.
1596
01:27:39,166 --> 01:27:43,475
I was tired of us only seeing
ourselves through a hot combed,
1597
01:27:43,475 --> 01:27:45,999
fried, and chemically
treated lens.
1598
01:27:45,999 --> 01:27:50,221
We deserve a chance
to just be who we are.
1599
01:27:52,789 --> 01:27:56,053
Braiding can give Black women
a leg up in their self-esteem
1600
01:27:56,053 --> 01:27:58,490
and a footing in the workplace,
1601
01:27:58,490 --> 01:28:02,451
and it's exactly
that financial opportunity
1602
01:28:02,451 --> 01:28:06,411
that the Cosmetology Board
wants to suppress.
1603
01:28:06,411 --> 01:28:09,414
They don't want
to teach hair braiding.
1604
01:28:09,414 --> 01:28:12,199
They don't want anything
to do with us.
1605
01:28:12,199 --> 01:28:15,115
They just want to take
our time and money
1606
01:28:15,115 --> 01:28:17,074
and give us nothing in return.
1607
01:28:17,074 --> 01:28:18,597
Right.
1608
01:28:18,597 --> 01:28:21,121
The bill that
I'm urging you to pass
1609
01:28:21,121 --> 01:28:23,907
will put an end to that.
1610
01:28:23,907 --> 01:28:26,736
When I first started
this journey,
1611
01:28:26,736 --> 01:28:29,086
I didn't know how to braid.
1612
01:28:29,086 --> 01:28:30,435
Now?
1613
01:28:40,663 --> 01:28:43,796
I am the voice of any Black
woman in Mississippi
1614
01:28:43,796 --> 01:28:47,757
or in the world that wants
to create this for a living.
1615
01:28:47,757 --> 01:28:49,280
Yes.
Yes.
1616
01:28:49,280 --> 01:28:51,935
To the State of Mississippi
in general,
1617
01:28:51,935 --> 01:28:54,677
and to the Mississippi Board
of Cosmetology
1618
01:28:54,677 --> 01:28:58,811
specifically, I say,
let my people braid.
1619
01:28:58,811 --> 01:29:00,509
Yes.
1620
01:29:02,380 --> 01:29:03,686
Thank you.
1621
01:29:10,736 --> 01:29:13,391
This woman is not
who she says she is.
1622
01:29:13,391 --> 01:29:16,002
She's not even from Mississippi.
1623
01:29:16,002 --> 01:29:19,049
Melony Armstrong
is a college dropout.
1624
01:29:19,049 --> 01:29:22,661
She has been cited for
employing unregistered workers.
1625
01:29:22,661 --> 01:29:24,446
She's not even qualified
to touch a dog's hair.
1626
01:29:24,446 --> 01:29:25,969
Mr. Chairman, that--
1627
01:29:25,969 --> 01:29:27,971
Mr. Billings, your vitriol
is disappointing
1628
01:29:27,971 --> 01:29:29,625
and an embarrassment
to this state.
1629
01:29:29,625 --> 01:29:31,366
The Board should be ashamed
of itself
1630
01:29:31,366 --> 01:29:33,063
for allowing these tactics,
1631
01:29:33,063 --> 01:29:34,978
which are unseemly
in any legislative hearing.
1632
01:29:34,978 --> 01:29:37,589
Now if you are done, sir,
please be seated.
1633
01:29:39,635 --> 01:29:43,334
Now, hair braiding should
have never been an issue
1634
01:29:43,334 --> 01:29:45,554
to come before
this legislative body.
1635
01:29:45,554 --> 01:29:48,644
It is clearly
a cultural art form.
1636
01:29:50,689 --> 01:29:52,865
And if it can be a means
of financial support, too,
1637
01:29:52,865 --> 01:29:54,301
well, so much the better.
1638
01:29:54,301 --> 01:29:56,434
Mr. Chairman, please--
Mr. Billings.
1639
01:29:56,434 --> 01:29:59,350
You can inform the Mississippi
State Board of Cosmetology
1640
01:29:59,350 --> 01:30:00,699
that I'm not
recommending their bill
1641
01:30:00,699 --> 01:30:02,788
for further regulation
moves forward.
1642
01:30:02,788 --> 01:30:05,008
However, I strongly advise
1643
01:30:05,008 --> 01:30:07,924
that Ms. Armstrong's bill
to remove hair braiding
1644
01:30:07,924 --> 01:30:10,840
from any jurisdiction the
Cosmetology Board holds now
1645
01:30:10,840 --> 01:30:12,581
or may ever hold in the future,
1646
01:30:12,581 --> 01:30:15,497
be approved by
the State House and Senate
1647
01:30:15,497 --> 01:30:17,803
and signed into law
by the governor.
1648
01:30:17,803 --> 01:30:19,849
Yes. Yes!
1649
01:30:19,849 --> 01:30:20,980
All right!
1650
01:30:22,634 --> 01:30:24,070
Thank you.
1651
01:30:25,898 --> 01:30:28,074
You did it.
1652
01:30:32,427 --> 01:30:37,867
♪ The sun is comin' up again ♪
1653
01:30:40,696 --> 01:30:45,962
♪ These winds of change
Are blowin' in ♪
1654
01:30:45,962 --> 01:30:50,183
♪ And I know ♪
1655
01:30:50,183 --> 01:30:52,751
♪ Yes, I know ♪
1656
01:30:52,751 --> 01:30:54,361
Wow.
1657
01:30:54,361 --> 01:30:56,451
♪ It feels like freedom ♪
1658
01:30:56,451 --> 01:30:58,017
All right, all right.
1659
01:31:00,977 --> 01:31:05,634
"My hair defies gravity."
1660
01:31:05,634 --> 01:31:07,810
"She is rebellious
and will never lay down
1661
01:31:07,810 --> 01:31:10,726
unless she wants to."
1662
01:31:10,726 --> 01:31:13,250
"She is soft as a sponge..."
Yes.
1663
01:31:13,250 --> 01:31:15,295
"...and brutal as a Brillo pad."
1664
01:31:17,428 --> 01:31:20,387
"She can go from lyin' down
to Lion King
1665
01:31:20,387 --> 01:31:22,389
with just three drops of rain!
1666
01:31:24,174 --> 01:31:26,959
My hair takes no prisoners."
1667
01:31:28,613 --> 01:31:31,007
"My hair hides
infinite secrets."
1668
01:31:32,617 --> 01:31:38,188
"Sometimes I feel
she is magical.
1669
01:31:38,188 --> 01:31:40,973
And sometimes I feel
she is possessed."
1670
01:31:43,019 --> 01:31:45,064
"She looks like
she can be controlled.
1671
01:31:45,064 --> 01:31:46,718
But she can't."
1672
01:31:46,718 --> 01:31:48,981
No.
No, no, no.
1673
01:31:48,981 --> 01:31:51,941
"Gel, hairspray, goo,
and prayers are useless."
1674
01:31:53,377 --> 01:31:55,597
"She is silent except
1675
01:31:55,597 --> 01:31:59,557
when a flat iron
makes her hiss.
1676
01:31:59,557 --> 01:32:02,342
My hair has attitude."
1677
01:32:02,342 --> 01:32:03,561
Yeah!
Yes.
1678
01:32:03,561 --> 01:32:06,042
"She is born to be wild!"
1679
01:32:08,261 --> 01:32:10,742
Freedom Hair at last!
1680
01:32:10,742 --> 01:32:13,353
Yes!
1681
01:32:13,353 --> 01:32:16,400
Freedom Hair!
Freedom Hair! Freedom Hair!
1682
01:32:16,400 --> 01:32:19,490
Freedom Hair! Freedom Hair!
♪ And my sisters ♪
1683
01:32:19,490 --> 01:32:22,014
Freedom Hair!
♪ And my brothers ♪
1684
01:32:22,014 --> 01:32:27,411
Freedom Hair! Freedom Hair!
1685
01:32:27,411 --> 01:32:32,590
♪ I see 'em comin' together ♪
1686
01:32:32,590 --> 01:32:35,506
♪ And, oh ♪
1687
01:32:35,506 --> 01:32:39,728
♪ Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, yeah ♪
1688
01:32:39,728 --> 01:32:45,037
♪ Said it feels like freedom ♪
1689
01:32:45,037 --> 01:32:49,302
♪ Are you ready now?
Yes, I'm ready now ♪
1690
01:32:49,302 --> 01:32:53,306
♪ For a change to come ♪
1691
01:32:53,306 --> 01:32:57,397
♪ Feet, don't fail me now
'Cause I'm ready now ♪
1692
01:32:57,397 --> 01:33:01,097
♪ To move on ♪
1693
01:33:01,097 --> 01:33:05,275
♪ Are you ready now?
Yes, I'm ready now ♪
1694
01:33:05,275 --> 01:33:09,453
♪ For a change to come ♪
1695
01:33:09,453 --> 01:33:13,239
♪ Feet, don't fail me now
'Cause I'm ready now ♪
1696
01:33:13,239 --> 01:33:17,417
♪ To move on ♪
1697
01:33:17,417 --> 01:33:22,031
♪ Freedom ♪
1698
01:33:22,031 --> 01:33:26,078
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Whoo-hoo ♪
1699
01:33:26,078 --> 01:33:30,517
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Whoo-hoo-ooh ♪
1700
01:33:30,517 --> 01:33:34,696
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
1701
01:33:34,696 --> 01:33:40,832
♪ Freedom ♪
1702
01:33:42,399 --> 01:33:44,575
♪ Freedom ♪
1703
01:33:44,575 --> 01:33:46,446
♪ I might not be here ♪
1704
01:33:46,446 --> 01:33:48,100
♪ Freedom ♪
1705
01:33:48,100 --> 01:33:51,538
♪ You know I'm free ♪
1706
01:34:11,341 --> 01:34:14,431
♪ Put my feet
Under cold water ♪
1707
01:34:14,431 --> 01:34:17,173
♪ Whenever I get home ♪
1708
01:34:17,173 --> 01:34:20,524
♪ And I tell myself
That I did it all better ♪
1709
01:34:20,524 --> 01:34:23,614
♪ Than I might have done ♪
1710
01:34:23,614 --> 01:34:26,704
♪ I came up
Like a paper daughter ♪
1711
01:34:26,704 --> 01:34:29,620
♪ Fallen with
The afterthought ♪
1712
01:34:29,620 --> 01:34:35,321
♪ And the tender mercy that I
Was after came hard won ♪
1713
01:34:35,321 --> 01:34:37,497
♪ Hard won ♪
1714
01:34:49,074 --> 01:34:52,730
♪ Oh, how I've tried ♪
1715
01:34:52,730 --> 01:34:56,560
♪ Keeping you in my mind ♪
1716
01:35:01,347 --> 01:35:04,699
♪ And I've done my time ♪
1717
01:35:04,699 --> 01:35:08,703
♪ Lying awake at night ♪
1718
01:35:12,619 --> 01:35:16,754
♪ But, oh ♪
1719
01:35:19,452 --> 01:35:23,326
♪ Those lonely times are done ♪
1720
01:35:25,023 --> 01:35:30,246
♪ And, oh ♪
1721
01:35:30,246 --> 01:35:32,944
♪ It was hard won ♪
1722
01:35:36,600 --> 01:35:39,124
♪ Hard won ♪
1723
01:35:43,302 --> 01:35:46,697
♪ Found myself
In a strange new land ♪
1724
01:35:46,697 --> 01:35:49,352
♪ Without a hand to hold ♪
1725
01:35:49,352 --> 01:35:51,180
♪ And I was mad at God ♪
1726
01:35:51,180 --> 01:35:56,098
♪ For leaving me standing
In bitter sun ♪
1727
01:35:56,098 --> 01:36:01,930
♪ But I kept hanging on
To the very end of my rope ♪
1728
01:36:01,930 --> 01:36:07,326
♪ When sitting down all right
With myself came hard won ♪
1729
01:36:07,326 --> 01:36:09,807
♪ Hard won ♪
1730
01:36:21,340 --> 01:36:25,083
♪ Oh, how I've tried ♪
1731
01:36:25,083 --> 01:36:28,652
♪ Keeping you in my mind ♪
1732
01:36:33,483 --> 01:36:37,269
♪ And I've done my time ♪
1733
01:36:37,269 --> 01:36:40,969
♪ Lying awake at night ♪
1734
01:36:44,799 --> 01:36:49,064
♪ But, oh ♪
1735
01:36:51,675 --> 01:36:56,985
♪ Those lonely times are done ♪
1736
01:36:56,985 --> 01:37:02,251
♪ And, oh ♪
1737
01:37:02,251 --> 01:37:04,993
♪ It was hard won ♪
1738
01:37:09,171 --> 01:37:10,868
♪ Hard won ♪
1739
01:37:15,960 --> 01:37:18,876
♪ I was up
On the Third Street Bridge ♪
1740
01:37:18,876 --> 01:37:22,140
♪ The night you got my letter ♪
1741
01:37:22,140 --> 01:37:27,885
♪ I was singing out in Virginia
When you found someone ♪
1742
01:37:27,885 --> 01:37:33,891
♪ I had to lay your memory down
On the altar of my anger ♪
1743
01:37:33,891 --> 01:37:39,897
♪ And the peace of mind that I
Finally found came hard won ♪
1744
01:37:39,897 --> 01:37:42,552
♪ Hard won ♪
1745
01:37:53,606 --> 01:37:57,349
♪ Oh, how I've tried ♪
1746
01:37:57,349 --> 01:38:01,005
♪ Keeping you in my mind ♪
1747
01:38:05,967 --> 01:38:09,622
♪ And I've done my time ♪
1748
01:38:09,622 --> 01:38:13,322
♪ Lying awake at night ♪
1749
01:38:17,543 --> 01:38:21,591
♪ But, oh ♪
1750
01:38:24,072 --> 01:38:29,207
♪ Those lonely times are done ♪
1751
01:38:29,207 --> 01:38:35,257
♪ And I know, oh ♪
1752
01:38:35,257 --> 01:38:41,132
♪ Yeah, I know
I know, I know ♪
1753
01:38:41,132 --> 01:38:46,703
♪ Yeah, I know, oh ♪
1754
01:38:46,703 --> 01:38:49,793
♪ It was hard won ♪
1755
01:38:53,753 --> 01:38:55,930
♪ Hard won ♪
117772
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