I was inside the Mega Mart restroom on the phone complaining to my sister about something when a little girl came inside and said, "I love your hair".
Suddenly I paused to respond to her "Oh thank you, that's so nice of you. I love your hair too". She had corn rows with cutlery little clips and ribbons, just the way I love to see little black girls' hair. The way my daughter would have looked. 😊
I was about to exit when I noticed she was still standing there outside the stall holding the door as if we needed to talk more.
"Which school do you attend?", I queried. "Greater Portmore Primary," she said, as she held her tie forward so I could read it.
"And what grade are you in?", I asked.
"I am in Grade one. But next year I will be in Grade two," she said. I found this part so cute. She was very matter-of-fact with that bit of information.
"What's your name?" I said.
"My name is Kelsey," she said in a sweet little voice.
"Well my name is Suzette," I said.
"I know a lady named Suzette," she responded.
"Really?! I hope she is nice," I said.
"Yes, she is," she said nodding her head for reinforcement.
"Great! By the way, where is your mommy?" I asked, wanting to be sure she would be OK.
She told me where her mother was and I realised she was in good hands. We said our goodbyes and I exited the restroom smiling. For a moment in time, I had forgotten what I was complaining to my sister about on the phone, and gotten lost in the world of a little girl who put a smile on my face.
But what warmed my heart even more, was that this cute little black girl with the corn rows loved my locs. In a world where the black identity is often eroded by the desire to look like another race, leading to bleaching, etc., there is hope yet.
Kudos to her mother who I believe is responsible for maintaining her hair and ultimately her identity. I hope that beautiful little Kelsey grows up to maintain that love for the skin that she is in.
I Am Suzette Campbell
Note: Originally published on June 22, 2022
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