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Transcript
00:00:30Melanie.
00:00:31Melanie.
00:00:32Melanie.
00:00:33Come on now.
00:00:34Melanie.
00:00:35Melanie.
00:00:36Come on.
00:00:37You hear me calling you.
00:00:38Come on now, let's get it going.
00:00:43Stop fidgeting, Melanie.
00:00:47Come on.
00:00:48Come on.
00:00:49Come on.
00:00:51You hear me calling you.
00:00:54Come on.
00:00:55Come on, now.
00:00:56Let's get in here.
00:00:59Stop fidgeting, Melanie.
00:01:00But it hurts.
00:01:02I know it does, baby.
00:01:03But when your mama's through with you,
00:01:04you're going to look like a pretty little angel
00:01:07and not like some wooly old lion.
00:01:09Ow.
00:01:10Why?
00:01:11I don't want to be an angel.
00:01:12I'd rather be a lion.
00:01:14Why can't I have my hair like this?
00:01:18Look at this.
00:01:19Look at this.
00:01:20Baby, you can't go nowhere looking like that.
00:01:22Nowhere.
00:01:23Nowhere.
00:01:24Why?
00:01:25Melanie, sit down.
00:01:27She's just free, honey.
00:01:28Look at her.
00:01:31Melanie, sit down.
00:01:34She's just free, ain't she?
00:01:36Oh, to my hair.
00:01:48My hair defies gravity.
00:01:51She is rebellious and will never lay down unless she wants to.
00:01:57She is soft as a sponge and brutal as a Brillo pad.
00:02:02She can go from lion down to lion king
00:02:05with just three drops of rain.
00:02:09My hair.
00:02:10Stop there, please.
00:02:13Miss Renshaw, would you tell me what you
00:02:15thought this assignment was?
00:02:18Well, you asked us to explore a part of our personal psyche
00:02:23that we consider to be substantial.
00:02:26That's right.
00:02:27Identifying.
00:02:28And you chose your hair.
00:02:31Hair, Miss Renshaw.
00:02:33Perhaps next to toenails, the most superficial
00:02:37and transient aspect of a person.
00:02:39When the hippies grew their hair long in the 70s,
00:02:42they were making a huge social statement.
00:02:45And what statement are you making?
00:02:51Do the assignment over.
00:02:52And this time, dig deeper.
00:02:55Next.
00:02:59Hair is a hallmark of beauty.
00:03:01Whole societies have put great value on hair,
00:03:03from ancient Egyptians to feudal Chinese.
00:03:05And for him to just dismiss me like that?
00:03:08Give me a second.
00:03:09No, no.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:11I'm so sorry.
00:03:12No harm done.
00:03:14Whoever you were telling offshore had it coming to him.
00:03:16Oh, you heard me?
00:03:17It's kind of hard not to.
00:03:18It's just my professor, he.
00:03:21Well, can I ask you something?
00:03:22OK.
00:03:24Is hair a thing to you?
00:03:25Like, not your hair specifically,
00:03:27just hair in general.
00:03:27Like, does it mean anything to you?
00:03:29Or is it like a superficial thing?
00:03:30Like a toenail?
00:03:33Well, I don't think I'd like to run my fingers
00:03:36through my lady's toenails.
00:03:43I've got to, I've got to go.
00:03:48He was cute.
00:03:49He was just OK.
00:03:51Well, he was into you.
00:03:52I was talking about running his fingers through your hair.
00:03:54Stop trying to hook me up.
00:03:55Whatever.
00:03:56What do you think?
00:03:57You going out?
00:03:58No.
00:03:59We're going out.
00:04:00St. Paddy's Day dance, remember?
00:04:03Yeah, Casey.
00:04:05I've had to make a lot of cultural adjustments
00:04:07since coming to this campus.
00:04:09You know, with all the loud music that I can't dance to,
00:04:12and raisins in the potato salad.
00:04:15Hey, but St. Paddy's Day?
00:04:17I'm thinking about how much I don't
00:04:19want to spend tonight saying no to every drunk sophomore who
00:04:23asks me if I'm Black Irish.
00:04:26Get dressed.
00:04:26Green for luck.
00:04:28No excuses.
00:04:38So where's your friend?
00:04:54Hi.
00:04:57You look stunning.
00:05:01No green for luck.
00:05:04I couldn't feel any luckier.
00:05:06Oh.
00:05:25So how long are you here for?
00:05:29Just one more week.
00:05:32I came for an evangelism conference.
00:05:35You're an evangelist?
00:05:37No.
00:05:39I majored in philosophy and religion, though.
00:05:42So I wanted to see and feel what the evangelists do,
00:05:46how they move people.
00:05:47I want to open my own church someday.
00:05:50In Mississippi, to be closer to my family.
00:05:54That's cool.
00:05:55I work construction to pay my bills.
00:05:59What about you?
00:06:02Well, I'm a psych major.
00:06:07At least I thought I was.
00:06:10I'm not so sure.
00:06:12I'm starting to think maybe there's something else for me.
00:06:18Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin.
00:06:23Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
00:06:27Begin it now.
00:06:30That's beautiful.
00:06:32No, that's great, too.
00:06:35You're beautiful.
00:06:44Yeah!
00:06:53Mississippi's a huge move.
00:06:55I really hope you're ready for it.
00:06:57I have a Mississippi in my mind that's
00:07:00warm and rich and black and real.
00:07:04Maybe it's where I'm supposed to be.
00:07:06I don't want to be lonely.
00:07:10I put every last penny in the tank of this pickup.
00:07:15Feels like I'm finally home free.
00:07:19I'm pointing this truck to Mississippi with a grip.
00:07:28I can't wait to chop it off with your mom and G-mom.
00:07:31Oh, do they play Midwest?
00:07:32Seriously, Mel, my mom and G-mom,
00:07:35they're not warm and fuzzy.
00:07:36It takes them a while.
00:07:37They're just outsiders.
00:07:39Well, I'm not an outsider.
00:07:41I'm your wife.
00:07:45Grab that donut out of the trunk for me.
00:07:48The donut is the thing.
00:07:48Yeah, I know what a donut is, Kevin.
00:07:51I'm sorry, city girl.
00:07:55Oh, oh, no, no, no, no!
00:07:58It's fine.
00:07:58Oh, Jesus!
00:08:00Come on, come on.
00:08:01It's just water.
00:08:02It's just mud, relax.
00:08:03Oh, it's just mud?
00:08:05Oh, is that just mud?
00:08:06Is that just mud?
00:08:07Stop!
00:08:09All right, all right, all right.
00:08:10I'm sorry.
00:08:11I'm sorry.
00:08:12Come on.
00:08:16Oh, they're here already.
00:08:18Dee, I told you to move these toys.
00:08:21Don't worry, I'll get them.
00:08:24Hi.
00:08:25Lord, what in the world is this?
00:08:29Is that Tide Trax on her shirt?
00:08:32My Betty.
00:08:32G-mom.
00:08:33I've heard so much about you.
00:08:39There's a sink and a towel just inside to your left.
00:08:42Come on, sis.
00:08:43I'll show you.
00:08:44Oh, OK.
00:08:45Behave.
00:08:48I'm Dee, Kevin's sister.
00:08:50Oh, my baby!
00:08:50That's my baby sister!
00:08:53Handsome, son!
00:08:55Oh!
00:08:56Come here!
00:08:59So you met Melanie?
00:09:04Mm-hmm.
00:09:07I'm sorry, babe.
00:09:10I tried to warn you, but my mom and grandma
00:09:12are not exactly.
00:09:14That's fine.
00:09:16I'm fine.
00:09:20They don't know me.
00:09:23I was wrong to expect more.
00:09:30They just caught me by surprise is all.
00:09:34But I'm all scared of some little old ladies.
00:09:42Oh, yeah.
00:09:43That's good.
00:09:44Oh, here we go.
00:09:46Oh, you're doing beautiful.
00:09:48Yeah, just a little more.
00:09:49I got it.
00:09:50Get it for you?
00:09:51I got it, baby.
00:09:52OK, here you go.
00:09:53A little bit of ham.
00:09:54Oh, no, thank you.
00:09:57You don't like to eat?
00:09:58I eat mostly vegetables.
00:10:04OK.
00:10:05You don't eat pigs.
00:10:07You just roll around in the mud like one.
00:10:10G-mom, can I talk to you on the property, please?
00:10:18Oh!
00:10:20That is not cool at all.
00:10:24When you're around, G-mom!
00:10:27Oh!
00:10:29Oh!
00:10:33Was wondering how long you'd last in there.
00:10:37Welcome to the family.
00:10:39I love my mama and my grandmama.
00:10:42But you couldn't pay me to sit through one
00:10:44of those family dinners again.
00:10:45Mm-mm.
00:10:50That's why I spend so much time in there.
00:10:53Is that where you live?
00:10:56You must think we a country show nub.
00:11:00No, baby girl, that is my salon.
00:11:03Oh.
00:11:04You want to look inside?
00:11:09Sorry for the mess.
00:11:18Do you have customers this late?
00:11:21Lizzie works downtown at 7.
00:11:23By the time she's fed her crew and gets the baby to bed,
00:11:26where else is she going to go?
00:11:28Is it just you here?
00:11:30Mm.
00:11:31Today it was.
00:11:33My shampoo girl, Aquanetta, seven months pregnant,
00:11:36has to rest her legs every 20 minutes.
00:11:40I am going to have to find me somebody else pretty soon.
00:11:45Hm.
00:11:46Well, I can help.
00:11:50You?
00:11:52You?
00:11:54Yeah.
00:11:56What you know about hair?
00:11:58Not an awful lot, but I can help you shampoo.
00:12:09I'm sorry again about my ma and G-ma.
00:12:12I don't know who got cut worse, me or that ham.
00:12:15I love Dee, though.
00:12:17She even gave me a job.
00:12:18Hey, that's great, babe.
00:12:22Hm.
00:12:31The movers will be here with our stuff tomorrow.
00:12:34I'll be at the construction site till 6.
00:12:37Have a good first day with Dee.
00:12:39I love you.
00:12:51I love you.
00:13:10And some homemade vanilla ice cream.
00:13:12Girl, I am so glad to see you.
00:13:15Netta didn't come in at all.
00:13:17I need you to use that cream wash on Miss Cynthia there
00:13:20and the rinse in the blue bottle.
00:13:23This is my sister-in-law, Melanie, y'all.
00:13:25She's going to take real good care of you.
00:13:27Hi.
00:13:29Y'all act like y'all can't speak.
00:13:32Hey.
00:13:33Oh, hi.
00:13:36Miss Cynthia, you've been waiting for 30 minutes.
00:13:40Go on over there.
00:13:41You too.
00:13:46Oh.
00:13:47Um.
00:13:48Oh.
00:13:50Well.
00:13:51I like it hot.
00:13:52OK.
00:13:53But not too hot.
00:13:54Like warm, but not too cool.
00:13:56Right.
00:13:57You follow?
00:13:58Yes, ma'am.
00:13:59You got good hands?
00:14:01Um, I'm not, I'm not too sure.
00:14:07Can I, can I get yours?
00:14:08No.
00:14:09Mm-mm.
00:14:10I'll keep this with me.
00:14:11Sure.
00:14:12I'm just going to, I'm just going to.
00:14:16Is that, is that OK?
00:14:19Come on.
00:14:24Oh.
00:14:26Mm.
00:14:27I'm just going to.
00:14:29Oh, yes.
00:14:32Oh, that's good.
00:14:33That's good.
00:14:34That's fine.
00:14:35Oh, yeah.
00:14:36That's good.
00:14:37Right there.
00:14:38Right there.
00:14:39Woo-hoo-hoo.
00:14:40And you're done.
00:14:41Oh.
00:14:42Yeah.
00:14:43I'm done.
00:14:44Woo-hoo.
00:14:45So I'm just going to lift you up now.
00:14:47You good?
00:14:48Whoa.
00:14:49Girl, I think I'm going to need a cigarette.
00:14:56You know you got the hands a lot.
00:14:59Mm, I'm more than all right.
00:15:02So, uh, who's next?
00:15:05Oh, oh, oh.
00:15:06Oh my God.
00:15:07Yo, yo, I.
00:15:10I really like working in your shop, D.
00:15:13It's like this feeling comes over me.
00:15:18And my hands just know what to do and how to move.
00:15:23Yeah.
00:15:24When I was touching their hair, it felt like,
00:15:28like I was healing them somehow.
00:15:31Like I could feel all of the tension and worries
00:15:34just slide away.
00:15:37And we really need the money.
00:15:39But I know it's just hair.
00:15:41There is no such thing as just hair
00:15:43where black ladies are concerned.
00:15:45Hmm.
00:15:46We are all about the hair.
00:15:48What we do to it, what it does to us.
00:15:52Wherever two or more gather,
00:15:54we're talking about hair.
00:15:56That's right.
00:15:59Maybe it shouldn't be that way.
00:16:03Well, the way I see it,
00:16:06the first thing people notice about us
00:16:08is that we're black.
00:16:09Mm-hmm.
00:16:10The next thing is how we wear our hair.
00:16:13Then they judge us on that, right?
00:16:15Like as if our hairstyle is going to tell them
00:16:18who we really are.
00:16:20Why do you think so many black women wear wigs?
00:16:23Hmm?
00:16:24Trying to fool them off, honey.
00:16:26I never thought of it like that.
00:16:28Why, Betty and G-Mom?
00:16:30Oh, those are wigs?
00:16:32They trying to fool you off too, honey.
00:16:34They trying.
00:16:35And failing.
00:16:37She's so disrespectful.
00:16:39You know what Kevin sees in her.
00:16:42She tried to cook dinner.
00:16:44And tried to make some chicken.
00:16:47When I look at the chicken,
00:16:48ain't no skin on it.
00:16:50She broiled it.
00:16:51Wait, wait, wait.
00:16:53Where was the skin?
00:16:54She threw it out.
00:16:55She what?
00:16:56Oh, well, that's the best part.
00:16:59She's wasteful.
00:17:00Mm-hmm.
00:17:03Look, look there.
00:17:05Is that Miss Cynthia?
00:17:07Hey, hey there, Miss Cynthia.
00:17:10Good afternoon, ladies.
00:17:12I can't stop and talk, you know.
00:17:13I gotta go get a place in line.
00:17:15A line?
00:17:16At Dee Dee's?
00:17:17Oh, yeah.
00:17:18Everybody is fired up about that Melanie.
00:17:21You know, she got good hands.
00:17:23I just might have to buy myself a place in line.
00:17:27I gotta go.
00:17:28Bye.
00:17:31She's selling seats.
00:17:38$112?
00:17:39Mm-hmm.
00:17:40Doing what now?
00:17:41Hair.
00:17:43Shampooing hair.
00:17:45I did 16 heads today at seven bucks a head.
00:17:50Dee makes a killing in that shop.
00:17:52Working there has been a godsend.
00:18:01Hey.
00:18:04Where is everyone?
00:18:05Late day today?
00:18:09No day.
00:18:11Ain't got no water.
00:18:13Is it the bill?
00:18:15No.
00:18:16It's GMO.
00:18:18This shack technically sits on her land,
00:18:21and she owns the water rights.
00:18:24This morning, she had the county cut me off.
00:18:29Why would she do that?
00:18:30She doesn't want you working here, Melanie.
00:18:34Says I got no water until you gone.
00:18:37Oh.
00:18:43Okay.
00:18:45It's okay.
00:18:46It's not okay.
00:18:47G-mom always pulls stunts like this just because she doesn't...
00:18:50Look, Dee.
00:18:54Don't let her hurt your business.
00:18:59Just tell her I'll leave.
00:19:08I'm just gonna miss you.
00:19:12Every head in this place is gonna miss you.
00:19:22You're my family, Dee.
00:19:25And my friend.
00:19:31Don't let these healing hands go to waste.
00:19:38I won't.
00:19:41I promise.
00:19:47We're really excited to have you starting with us, Mrs. Armstrong.
00:19:51Psychology major, huh?
00:19:53Yeah.
00:19:54But I see you didn't finish college.
00:19:57Dropped out in your senior year?
00:19:59Yeah, I just felt like I wasn't getting anywhere.
00:20:02I really want to make a difference in this world.
00:20:05Well, the world starts coming in here at 5 p.m.
00:20:09You'll be working the night shift.
00:20:11Check the ladies in, get them settled.
00:20:14Okay.
00:20:16Make sure everybody gets one food box and one cot set.
00:20:21It's your desk.
00:20:22Okay.
00:20:24Oh, a word of advice.
00:20:27All of these women have stories, and you do not have time to hear them.
00:20:32Nobody comes here happy, Armstrong.
00:20:35And their misery will drown you.
00:20:42That's your coffee, for you only.
00:20:45Can't afford to feed the masses.
00:20:48Let's get your paperwork done.
00:20:50Sure.
00:20:55Yeah, it's the graveyard shift, 8 to 6.
00:20:59Pay's not great, but we need the money.
00:21:01And when will I see you?
00:21:03I guess we'll have to get creative.
00:21:06I'm feeling creative right now.
00:21:08Oh, yeah?
00:21:12Wait, right now?
00:21:14Oh, my God!
00:21:16She's gonna mess up my hair!
00:21:18She's gonna mess up my hair!
00:21:32That bad?
00:21:35It's terrible.
00:21:37But it's hot.
00:21:38Yeah, that's what I said about my husband.
00:21:43If you're not gonna drink it, I will.
00:21:48Uh, yeah.
00:21:50Sure.
00:21:54I miss coffee.
00:21:56I miss a lot of things, but I really miss good coffee.
00:22:00Which this ain't, but it's like you said.
00:22:03It's hot.
00:22:06I'm Melanie.
00:22:09I'm Melanie.
00:22:11Leona.
00:22:13Have you been here long?
00:22:14Not here.
00:22:16I was at Langford and then Wesley before that.
00:22:20Lots of us, we sort of run the circuit until social finds us a place to land.
00:22:25Some of the girls, they go back to wherever they left.
00:22:28Most of us, we can't do that.
00:22:35You have any lotion?
00:22:37They never have any lotion in this place.
00:22:39It's like they never heard of Ashy before.
00:22:42Don't they got lotion in the showers?
00:22:46Okay.
00:22:47Ladies!
00:22:49Is there any lotion in the showers?
00:22:53No lotion in no showers.
00:22:57Now, what they do have, though, is some cheap-ass soap and some paper towels.
00:23:03Paper towels?
00:23:04How are you supposed to dry your hair on paper towels?
00:23:07Your hair?
00:23:09Ain't no real shampoo in this joint anyway.
00:23:11I know that's right.
00:23:12You know, I tried putting that green stuff in my hair.
00:23:15Made it all stick together.
00:23:16Clumped up like dreadlocks.
00:23:18When I pass my reflection in the store window, I say,
00:23:21Ooh, who is that scary, messy woman?
00:23:26It came to me!
00:23:29Oh, girl!
00:23:33Um, can I get a freshen up on the coffee?
00:23:37Me too.
00:23:39I feel like if you're doing them, you might as well do me.
00:23:41Please?
00:23:45When I left my house, I was running from my life.
00:23:49I didn't pack nothing.
00:23:53My parents didn't brush for two months.
00:23:55Wow.
00:23:56Those little brushes they give you?
00:23:59They must be for Barbie doll heads.
00:24:01I just want some grease.
00:24:03Any kind of grease.
00:24:05My hair is so thirsty.
00:24:06Girl, I'm about to sell mine as Brillo pads, okay?
00:24:10Mine.
00:24:12When my hair doesn't feel like my hair,
00:24:16I just don't feel like myself.
00:24:19You know?
00:24:20That's why I keep my hat on.
00:24:22But we can still see your kitchen.
00:24:25Yeah!
00:24:36Are you sure this is okay?
00:24:38Oh, it's fine.
00:24:39They left for a two-day revival meeting last night.
00:24:42I'm meeting them at the hotel in Jackson.
00:24:45You've got all day and all night.
00:24:49Thank you.
00:24:50Try not to burn it down.
00:24:53Thank you, baby.
00:24:55All right, take care.
00:24:56Bye.
00:25:03Hey!
00:25:04Hi!
00:25:05Thank you.
00:25:06Hey, how are you doing?
00:25:08What is this?
00:25:09Well, you're going to find out.
00:25:12Okay, follow me.
00:25:16Come on, come on, come on.
00:25:18Okay.
00:25:22Right this way, ladies.
00:25:23Oh, my goodness.
00:25:25Y'all, I smell real coffee.
00:25:28What?
00:25:29Yeah.
00:25:30A real brush?
00:25:31It's my sister-in-law's, but today it's ours.
00:25:36Oh, my!
00:25:37I can do shampoo, press, and curl,
00:25:39but nothing too fancy, okay?
00:25:41Oh, girl, I know my way around hot coffee.
00:25:44Curl it, okay?
00:25:45You got crease.
00:25:46Oh, yeah.
00:25:48This coffee, oh.
00:25:49Enjoy, ladies.
00:25:51Oh, yes.
00:25:52Thank you.
00:25:54And Miss Leona, you're first up at the sink.
00:25:59Oh.
00:26:00Right over there.
00:26:01You know, somebody else can go first.
00:26:03Uh-uh, no, girl.
00:26:04Age before beauty.
00:26:06Go ahead.
00:26:07Screw you, chicky.
00:26:08I'm just saying.
00:26:09Just gonna put this over you.
00:26:12Okay.
00:26:15There.
00:26:17All right.
00:26:22Hey, gonna have to take your hat off now, okay?
00:26:27Yeah?
00:26:29All right.
00:26:31It's coming.
00:26:33Just gonna take it off.
00:26:35There we go.
00:26:38Oh, I'm sorry.
00:26:40I hope it doesn't smell bad.
00:26:42No, of course not.
00:26:44You're fine.
00:26:45It's fine.
00:26:47Come on.
00:26:49Come on.
00:26:51Come on, I got you.
00:26:55Okay.
00:26:57There we go.
00:27:07Miss Leona.
00:27:09Are you okay?
00:27:11Did I hurt you?
00:27:12No, it's just...
00:27:14I just haven't been touched in so...
00:27:18Go ahead, Miss Leona.
00:27:20She'll be fine.
00:27:22How's this girl?
00:27:24She's a healer, Miss Leona.
00:27:26We all gonna get a healer.
00:27:31You okay?
00:27:32All right.
00:27:37All right, here we go.
00:27:40Is that okay?
00:27:45Wow.
00:27:48Wow.
00:27:50Look at you.
00:27:52Look at you.
00:28:04Thank you.
00:28:06God bless you, Miss Nell.
00:28:09You have a gift, truly.
00:28:12You look so beautiful.
00:28:14Thank you.
00:28:15All of you.
00:28:18You okay?
00:28:25Kevin.
00:28:28Hey.
00:28:34Kevin.
00:28:35What's wrong?
00:28:36Wake up.
00:28:37What's wrong?
00:28:38You know how you said you wanna start your own ministry one day, when the time is right.
00:28:44And hear God call you.
00:28:47Yeah, that's right.
00:28:49Well...
00:28:52I think...
00:28:54I think I hear God calling me.
00:28:57I think I know my purpose.
00:29:00It's something about hair.
00:29:03God wants you to be a hairdresser?
00:29:05I don't know.
00:29:07Maybe.
00:29:08I can't help feeling like I should do something.
00:29:14I get that.
00:29:16You do?
00:29:17Maybe you could start a hair church.
00:29:20Folks could tie their combs and brushes.
00:29:23You can have a special roped off area for folks with jerry curls.
00:29:26They don't drip juice on everybody.
00:29:28I'm being clear.
00:29:29Okay, okay, okay.
00:29:33Whatever you've been called to do, babe, I support it.
00:29:37Thank you.
00:29:39Just as long as you scratch my head and keep me far away from the weave quiet, okay?
00:29:45All right, yeah, yeah.
00:29:46Scratch your head?
00:29:47Mm-hmm.
00:29:48Like this?
00:29:49Stop, stop.
00:29:50Give me a kiss.
00:29:51No.
00:29:52Give me a kiss.
00:29:53No.
00:29:54Give me a kiss.
00:29:55Oh, my.
00:29:56Who's calling this late?
00:30:00Hello?
00:30:04Oh, my God.
00:30:06Oh, that's terrible.
00:30:10I'll be right there.
00:30:11What is it?
00:30:13The pipes burst at the shelter.
00:30:15The whole place is flooded.
00:30:17They're moving the women out.
00:30:18What are you going to do?
00:30:19Where are you going?
00:30:20Those are my ladies, Kev.
00:30:22I got to be there for them.
00:30:30I'll notify you when we can reopen.
00:30:34You should go dry off.
00:30:36Yeah.
00:30:38Yeah.
00:30:39Good night.
00:30:40Good night.
00:30:45Where's Lydia and Booty?
00:30:47Both of them shipped to other shelters.
00:30:49I'm just waiting on my play brother, Garvin.
00:30:52Don't stay with him a while.
00:30:54We're all split up now.
00:30:58I know it sucks, right?
00:31:00You see Lydia, though?
00:31:02She gave him hell for making us stand out here in the rain with her hair freshly did.
00:31:07She was madder about that than having to move again.
00:31:10I told her, calm down.
00:31:12All our hair got wet.
00:31:20I'm sorry.
00:31:22Hey.
00:31:24It's not your fault.
00:31:26Hell, we all had to be princesses for a whole night.
00:31:30All four of us.
00:31:32Couldn't nobody tell us nothing.
00:31:34It's just, you know, water and nature.
00:31:37You have the last word, as always.
00:31:43I think that's it.
00:31:44That's it?
00:31:46Okay.
00:31:58I'll see you again.
00:32:05I just wish there was something more I could do for them.
00:32:08You were there, baby.
00:32:10That's enough.
00:32:19Freedom hair.
00:32:21What's that?
00:32:22It's what I used to call this.
00:32:25When my hair was just itself and wild and free.
00:32:30My grandmother, she let me wear it out like this one weekend when my mom was away.
00:32:38One weekend of freedom in 25 years.
00:32:49Split ends.
00:32:51Breakage, pain.
00:32:55Relaxer burns and who knows what other kind of damage for more home perms than I can count.
00:33:02And for what, Kevin?
00:33:04Straightness?
00:33:07Why?
00:33:08You're shaking.
00:33:09You want some soup, your favorite?
00:33:16Does anyone want to be sick?
00:33:19Does anyone want to be sick?
00:33:24Alright, alright, I got you.
00:33:26I'm here.
00:33:29Well, folks, it's not the flu.
00:33:32Mrs. Armstrong, you're going to have a baby.
00:33:38You're pregnant.
00:33:40I'm pregnant?
00:33:43Baby, we're pregnant.
00:33:45Congratulations.
00:33:48We're pregnant, oh my God.
00:33:51So, I've got to learn to breathe?
00:33:54Also, here's a sample of the vitamins you'll need.
00:33:57Vitamins?
00:33:59See, our pregnancy takes all of the strength and vitamins out of you.
00:34:04Okay, excuse me, but your hair is magnificent.
00:34:11Oh my goodness.
00:34:12I've never seen anything like it.
00:34:13How did you, where did you?
00:34:16It's a little shop called Bernetta's.
00:34:19I found it passing by in Memphis.
00:34:22She's pretty pricey, but girl, she can change your life.
00:34:28There's nothing stronger than the brain.
00:34:34I can't believe it took five months to get this appointment.
00:34:37Well, I can't believe we drove to Tennessee to get your hair done.
00:34:43Melanie, right?
00:34:44Yeah.
00:34:45Hello, I'm Bernetta.
00:34:46Hi.
00:34:47Look at you.
00:34:48Come in, sit down.
00:34:49Okay.
00:34:50And I'm going to wash your hair myself so I can learn your textures.
00:34:53My textures?
00:34:54Your textures.
00:35:02Let me know if that's too cold or hot.
00:35:04No, it's perfect, thank you.
00:35:12Okay.
00:35:14Is this your first time, Melanie?
00:35:16Yeah, it is.
00:35:18Oh, thank you.
00:35:21I've never done anything like this before.
00:35:24Do you know what kind of style you like?
00:35:26Oh, I do.
00:35:28I saw this woman and she had like 100, 200 braids all in her hair,
00:35:35just crisscrossing all the way, swept up like a crown.
00:35:40An updo.
00:35:41Is this for a special occasion?
00:35:43Just my life.
00:35:45I'm five months pregnant, though.
00:35:47Oh, I see.
00:35:49Well, let's make the next four months of that journey beautiful.
00:35:53Okay?
00:35:54Okay.
00:35:55All right, now.
00:35:56Then let's get started.
00:35:57Here we go.
00:35:59No peeking until we're done.
00:36:00Oh, okay.
00:36:05Close your eyes and relax.
00:36:08Okay.
00:36:39Okay.
00:36:52Melanie.
00:36:55Melanie.
00:36:58Take a look, honey.
00:36:59We're done.
00:37:00Excuse me, miss.
00:37:07That's my.
00:37:08Oh, my God.
00:37:11Oh, my God.
00:37:15Do you like it?
00:37:19I love it.
00:37:21Can I touch it?
00:37:24You can do anything you want with it.
00:37:26It's indestructible.
00:37:29Oh, oh.
00:37:36Your hair is as beautiful as you are.
00:37:43It's like what's always been inside of you has finally got set free.
00:37:47That's exactly how I feel, Kevin.
00:37:51It's like everything's all coming together.
00:37:55This transformation that I feel, it's a healing, Kev.
00:38:04Like, what if every black woman in Mississippi felt this way?
00:38:11Like, when we start feeling good and beautiful and powerful, that's a revolution, Kev.
00:38:18And, God, I just want to bring women up.
00:38:24And I'm going to start by braiding hair.
00:38:28Okay, but you don't know how to braid.
00:38:33Be real.
00:38:34When in your life have you ever braided hair?
00:38:37That's not the point.
00:38:38If I know what I want to do, I can learn how to do it.
00:38:41Melanie.
00:38:42Look, Bernetta told me about a huge hair show coming to Atlanta in a couple of months.
00:38:47They do a class on African hair braiding.
00:38:52Look, it's not cheap, but it's an investment.
00:38:55How large an investment?
00:38:57$1,200 plus hotel and travel.
00:39:00$1,200?
00:39:01I'm not asking you for permission or for money.
00:39:04I'm asking for your support.
00:39:14Okay.
00:39:16You have it.
00:39:22Okay.
00:39:24Okay.
00:39:49The keys to successful, professional micro-braiding
00:39:52are patience, precision, and efficiency.
00:39:56Move too fast, and you'll make mistakes that can cost you hours to fix.
00:40:01Move too slowly, and you'll lose customers, money, and time.
00:40:06This is an advanced class, and I'm assuming
00:40:09you all have at least three years of prior braiding experience.
00:40:13Yes?
00:40:14Yes.
00:40:23Today, we're using Caucasian-grade wigs as subjects.
00:40:27Now, the straightness will deliver its own set of problems.
00:40:30Take your parting combs, and let's use the mannequins to begin with a basic feed-in.
00:40:52Shh.
00:41:23You'll never fix this.
00:41:25Take that out and start over.
00:41:33I'm the slowest, dumbest person there.
00:41:38I'm so behind.
00:41:41And tomorrow's gonna be even harder.
00:41:46It's just impossible.
00:41:49Cool.
00:41:50Then let's jump in the car and get out of here before they charge us another day's parking fee.
00:41:55Wait, what?
00:41:56Well, you're saying you just can't do it, right?
00:41:58You didn't know it was gonna be this hard, so let's go.
00:42:01Come on.
00:42:03I hate you.
00:42:06You don't wanna be sure?
00:42:08I love you.
00:42:09You love me now?
00:42:10Yeah.
00:42:11We're chillin'?
00:42:12We're chillin'.
00:42:13Okay.
00:42:14Thank you.
00:42:15The hair you work on may be heat damaged, broken off, fragile, or chemically stripped.
00:42:22The extension should support the existing hair, not just enhance it.
00:42:28I wanna see three different styles today, people.
00:42:32For three completely different women.
00:42:35Extensions are on the table.
00:42:37You have two hours.
00:42:39Go.
00:42:45Okay.
00:43:07Do you understand the assignment?
00:43:10Oh, yes.
00:43:12I just, I just have to get to know them first.
00:43:16Know them?
00:43:18Mm-hmm.
00:43:20Okay.
00:43:21Who are they?
00:43:25This one is Leona.
00:43:32She's not fancy, but she, she wants to feel pretty and respected.
00:43:38Keep going.
00:43:39Everyone else, gather around.
00:43:41This one here, this is Lydia.
00:43:46She's all about fashion and glamour, but she's also really smart.
00:43:53And this last one here is Tiny.
00:43:57She's young and wild, but her hair controls her.
00:44:03She wants to control it.
00:44:12Excellent, Melanie.
00:44:15Keep working.
00:44:17The rest of you, if you haven't had a conversation with your client and gotten a better insight into who they are,
00:44:25rip out what you've started and start again.
00:44:28This is about people first, then hair, not the other way around.
00:44:32Let's go.
00:44:37Good job.
00:44:39Good job.
00:44:40Thanks.
00:44:45For the baby.
00:44:47Oh.
00:44:52Thank you.
00:44:54You have some nerve coming in here with no skills, nerves, or maybe courage.
00:45:04I just had to learn.
00:45:06I can't explain it.
00:45:08Melanie, you have a gift.
00:45:10You braid from the heart.
00:45:12And once your speed and your technique is where your heart is, you're going to be unstoppable.
00:45:22Are there any more classes I could take just so I could keep practicing?
00:45:28You're from Mississippi, right?
00:45:29Mm-hmm.
00:45:31Well, Melanie, the cosmetology schools in Mississippi don't even teach braiding.
00:45:37After today, you learn by doing.
00:45:41Braid everything.
00:45:43Get strong.
00:45:45The only limits are the ones you set for yourself.
00:45:52I still can't believe they haven't fixed that hole.
00:45:56We're lucky they fixed the pipes at all.
00:46:01How much you charge to do that on a real-life person?
00:46:06I don't really know.
00:46:08I haven't had a customer yet.
00:46:10Girl, what are you waiting for?
00:46:12I'll pay you 40 bucks if you can do something with this.
00:46:16Now, I washed it before, so you ain't got to worry about cooties and that.
00:46:19Girl, don't be silly.
00:46:22Rosemary, I'll braid your hair for free.
00:46:26You just pay for extensions.
00:46:28Sure.
00:46:30What are extensions?
00:46:35I want to see. I want to see.
00:46:37I can't take it.
00:46:39Okay, okay.
00:46:41You're done.
00:46:43Take a look.
00:46:45Mirror. Who got a mirror? Who got a mirror?
00:46:49Hell, yeah!
00:46:55I'm going to tell everybody I know about you.
00:46:57You better get ready. You about to blow up.
00:47:00Oh, my God!
00:47:05Okay.
00:47:35Oh, my God!
00:47:43Oh, my God!
00:47:45Kevin!
00:47:47Kevin!
00:47:51Got it.
00:47:53Perfect.
00:47:58Dee, has anyone got back about...
00:48:00Girl, relax.
00:48:02I told them you'd push all appointments back a couple of weeks.
00:48:05One lady got salty.
00:48:08She said when she dropped her baby, she went back to work the same day.
00:48:13No.
00:48:15I said, this ain't no dang plantation, and you're not kizzy.
00:48:20Them nappy heads can wait.
00:48:22Melanie, this is your first baby.
00:48:27You need to give yourself time to get your strength back up.
00:48:31My chicken soup should help with that.
00:48:50Is that my new grandbaby?
00:48:54Ma Betty, I want you to meet Kevin Jr., AJ.
00:49:00There you go.
00:49:02Yes.
00:49:04KJ.
00:49:10Look at you, baby.
00:49:12KJ.
00:49:19$850.
00:49:21That's more in one day than one week at the shelter.
00:49:24Last weekend, I made $1,500, Kev.
00:49:27But it's hurting you.
00:49:29Your fingers are stiff, your arms ache.
00:49:32Yeah, but it comes with a job.
00:49:34If I braved full-time, I could probably make enough to cover my half and even rent a little studio to work out of.
00:49:44I don't know.
00:49:45I could go professional. I could do this.
00:49:49I wonder if I'd need a license or something.
00:49:52$30,000?
00:49:54For a license?
00:49:57Miss Clara, that can't be right.
00:50:00What's this?
00:50:01I'm braiding hair, not flying an airplane.
00:50:04Well, let me talk to your supervisor.
00:50:07Hello?
00:50:09What happened?
00:50:11Same person keeps giving me all kinds of ridiculous information.
00:50:16No license cost that much.
00:50:18I'm going to have to go down there myself.
00:50:20To Jackson?
00:50:21That's 400 miles round trip, baby.
00:50:23Sure you don't want to wait and go? And I can help you drive?
00:50:25Take the baby.
00:50:27I'll look after KJ. You take care of your business.
00:50:30Thank you, girl.
00:50:32Kat.
00:50:33$30,000.
00:50:35That can't be right.
00:50:37Can it?
00:50:38Oh, no, dear. The license itself is only $10,000.
00:50:42But after you've paid the $10,000, then you must attend the cosmetology school for 2,000 hours of training.
00:50:50Now, that'll take about a year and a half, and the cost is approximately $20,000.
00:50:56And then upon completion of cosmetology school and payment of all school fees, then your license becomes active.
00:51:05Cosmetology school?
00:51:07But I'm braiding hair. I'm an African hair braider.
00:51:12And I'm an Irish Catholic, dear, but the rules are the rules.
00:51:17Ma'am, Mississippi cosmetology schools don't even teach hair braiding. I'd be wasting my time and money.
00:51:24It doesn't make sense.
00:51:26It is what it is, dear. So please move on.
00:51:30I will not move on.
00:51:32I will not move on until somebody in this office explains to me why I'm being forced to pay thousands of dollars for a course that has nothing to do with my profession.
00:51:42I asked her to leave. She won't leave.
00:51:45What the hell is a braiding salon?
00:51:48I don't really know. She has been quite vociferous, and I'm afraid that if we don't deal with her, this could escalate into an event.
00:51:57What if she calls the press?
00:51:59What can we tell her to make her go away, huh?
00:52:05What about wigology?
00:52:08Wigology? What is that?
00:52:11If you obtain a wigologist license for yourself, then you can legally open up your shop.
00:52:18Now, you'll have to take a wigologist course, of course, but for a much shorter time, about 400 hours.
00:52:25And the cost will be about $1,000, and then your license will be an additional $300.
00:52:32So $1,300?
00:52:35So where do I take this wigology class?
00:52:38Well, that's on you, dear.
00:52:42You know, she couldn't even tell me one single school that teaches wigology.
00:52:50Before I left Jackson, I called six different schools. Not one of them teach it.
00:52:57How can they offer me a license knowing full well I'll never be able to take the class to qualify for it?
00:53:06It's not even logical.
00:53:12This is Mississippi, child. There's always something deeper than logic going down.
00:53:23What about that old place up on Boulevard? You check there?
00:53:27A cosmetology school?
00:53:29That's what the sign says. It's a small place, looks kind of funky, but...
00:53:34Are you sure?
00:53:35Mm-hmm.
00:53:36Okay. Check it out tomorrow.
00:53:44What's the matter? Get this thing off my lot, the truck. You can't park here.
00:53:48I don't have to listen to you.
00:53:49Let me tell you something.
00:53:50Let me tell you what?
00:53:51No, get it out of here.
00:53:52No, I'm not.
00:53:53Get it off my lot.
00:53:54Hey!
00:53:55Me!
00:53:56Come on. Break it up. Go.
00:53:57Yeah, walk away.
00:53:58Come on, come on, come on, come on.
00:53:59Walk!
00:54:00Come on, don't worry about it, don't worry about it. What's up with you?
00:54:03I'll get it together. I just...
00:54:07I'm just having a rough time.
00:54:11Need to talk about it?
00:54:15Who, you?
00:54:17Yeah.
00:54:19Plus, I'm not just your boss.
00:54:21I'm a black man living in a world just like you.
00:54:26Fuck, man. I'm having problems at home.
00:54:31I can't think straight, you know?
00:54:35She wants a divorce, but I love her.
00:54:38My minister says to work it out, but what does that even mean?
00:54:44Yeah.
00:54:48Why don't we grab lunch and we can talk about it.
00:54:52Come on.
00:54:55You are coming at a good time.
00:54:57The spring course is just about to get started.
00:54:59I'm just here for the one course. Wigology.
00:55:04Wigology?
00:55:06I don't teach that class.
00:55:13Oh, dear. Did I upset you?
00:55:16It's not you. It's...
00:55:19I'm just one person trying to start a business, you know?
00:55:26And I'm trying to do it right.
00:55:29What's the nature of your business, dear?
00:55:34I'm an African hair braider.
00:55:37Oh.
00:55:41Braids like these bring a lot of freedom to women that have forgotten what their real beauty looks like.
00:55:53You run a school dedicated to beauty, right?
00:55:57Well, black women, we...
00:56:02We don't know our own beauty.
00:56:07I can't teach you that class, Mrs. Armstrong.
00:56:11Wigology hasn't been taught in Mississippi or beyond for more than 15 years.
00:56:18What they told you was a lie.
00:56:20A lie.
00:56:25Thank you for telling me the truth.
00:56:29I'm so sorry.
00:56:41I'm not really good company right now.
00:56:46That's okay. I hate good company.
00:56:50Hmm.
00:56:55So I talked with three men today. Two workmen and one of their friends.
00:57:01It looks like they're searching for a new style congregation.
00:57:06One that tells them they can do more than just wait on God.
00:57:11They want to be proactive in their lives.
00:57:15So I told them about you.
00:57:18Me?
00:57:20Kev.
00:57:22I just had a roadblock. I can't get past.
00:57:27I'm not exactly your proactive poster child.
00:57:30I told them you were stuck, but to stay tuned.
00:57:33Because if anyone knows how to ride shotgun with destiny, Mel, it's you.
00:57:38I've never met a boulder you couldn't smash to pebbles.
00:57:42Hmm.
00:57:51I'm on the move with Gerda.
00:57:55The moment one definitely commits oneself,
00:58:00all sorts of things begin to happen that would never otherwise have occurred.
00:58:10I've never heard that part.
00:58:13Whatever you can do, or dream, you can begin.
00:58:20Begin it now.
00:58:26Thank you for coming.
00:58:28I've done a bit of research.
00:58:30As you know, the Wigology course no longer exists.
00:58:33But the Wigology exam is still open.
00:58:37As you know, the Wigology course no longer exists.
00:58:40But the Wigology exam and Wigology license still do.
00:58:46Whoever schemed to get rid of this thing, they did a terrible job.
00:58:50But how can I take an exam if the course doesn't exist?
00:58:56We will use the exam itself as your coursework.
00:59:01You'll have to come at the regular time, six hours a day, five days a week.
00:59:05And the board, they look at anyone who's thinking outside the box as competition.
00:59:10So you can't tell us all what we're doing.
00:59:12But if you're determined to get this license,
00:59:16then I'm going to help you fight to get it.
00:59:36Hmm.
00:59:39There you go.
00:59:45Yeah, this looks good.
00:59:57You ladies are now in the presence of a fully licensed Wigologist.
01:00:01Wigologist.
01:00:06Passed with a hundred percent.
01:00:19Wait.
01:00:20What do you think?
01:00:22Is this?
01:00:25Is this what?
01:00:26It's your shop.
01:00:27My shop.
01:00:28You got me a shop, baby?
01:00:30Oh, my God.
01:00:32How?
01:00:33Saving up.
01:00:34Oh, my God.
01:00:35Lots of overtime.
01:00:36There's chairs.
01:00:37Oh, my God.
01:00:38I've been fixing it up after work.
01:00:39Wait.
01:00:41Wait, what is this?
01:00:43What is this?
01:00:44That chair just for you.
01:00:46Sit down.
01:00:47For me?
01:00:48Yeah.
01:00:49Okay.
01:00:51Is it comfy?
01:00:52Yes.
01:00:54So you like it?
01:00:55I love it.
01:00:57You deserve it all.
01:01:01Thank you.
01:01:04And over here, maybe we could put some sofas or chairs.
01:01:09And a coffee maker.
01:01:12Oh, and a sound system.
01:01:15Just a little one.
01:01:16Okay.
01:01:17Oh, Kevin.
01:01:19Come here.
01:01:20Here.
01:01:21Feel this.
01:01:23What?
01:01:24This is what a living dream feels like.
01:01:30I want this for you, too.
01:01:33In your congregation.
01:01:36Speaking of congregation, I think you have some converts here yourself.
01:01:42Huh?
01:01:43Ladies.
01:01:45Brady.
01:01:46Oh, my God.
01:01:48Oh, my goodness.
01:01:50Hey.
01:01:51Girl, you're such a good husband.
01:01:54Oh, my gosh.
01:01:56Wait, how?
01:01:57How did you do that?
01:01:59Dee helped me.
01:02:00Dee?
01:02:01We figured you'd need some support to get started.
01:02:04And we're both on unemployment right now, so we were thinking that by the time it runs out...
01:02:09Yeah, baby.
01:02:11Oh, my God.
01:02:13Oh, my God.
01:02:14I feel like I'm dreaming.
01:02:20Hello? Naturally Speaking Hair Salon.
01:02:22This is Leona speaking.
01:02:28All right.
01:02:30You're done.
01:02:42All right, if your name is on the list, you have an appointment.
01:02:45Just relax.
01:02:46Wakey, wakey.
01:02:49All right.
01:02:50You are done.
01:02:52Naturally Speaking Salon, Leon.
01:02:54Is this your first time getting braids?
01:02:56It sure is.
01:02:57Me and my husband are going to the Bahamas, and this time I'm getting my hair waxed.
01:03:02Okay.
01:03:03Get your hands off my pad.
01:03:05Get your fingers off my pad.
01:03:10Ma'am, ma'am.
01:03:15You all gonna have a suit.
01:03:16I got you, I got you.
01:03:17I said don't touch my pad!
01:03:19One, two, three.
01:03:20Oh.
01:03:22Oh.
01:03:23I just can't.
01:03:27Welcome to Naturally Speaking.
01:03:29I'm Melanie.
01:03:31Now, tell me about who you are.
01:03:36What?
01:03:37Don't you forget to send us some pictures, ma'am.
01:03:39Okay, bye.
01:03:43I cannot believe how busy we were today.
01:03:46Girl.
01:03:47My hands hurt.
01:03:50They hurting?
01:03:51Yes.
01:03:52This will make you feel better.
01:03:57Yes, it will.
01:04:00Soak your fingers in some salt water.
01:04:03Then meet me two hours before opening tomorrow.
01:04:08Ring friends if you want to.
01:04:10But tomorrow, class begins.
01:04:15What am I supposed to ask yet again?
01:04:17You ask her what she wants.
01:04:25Oh.
01:04:26What am I supposed to ask yet again?
01:04:27You ask her what she wants.
01:04:36Oh.
01:04:46She said she want the rest of her body.
01:04:49We're here with Melanie Armstrong of Naturally Speaking Salon.
01:04:55Braids are what I call freedom hair.
01:04:59These braids, twists and micro braids free women up
01:05:05so they can pay more attention to their lives
01:05:08and not worry about how their hair might restrict them.
01:05:11Tell them, Melanie.
01:05:12And what inspired you to do this African style?
01:05:15She said...
01:05:18No, no.
01:05:19I was born right here in America.
01:05:21African style braids are much more about who you are
01:05:25than where you're from.
01:05:27Black women in America need to remember their own beauty.
01:05:31My shop exists to celebrate that beauty that all of us have
01:05:34but that many of us keep hidden.
01:05:37Oh.
01:05:38Oh.
01:05:39Oh.
01:05:40Oh.
01:05:41Oh.
01:05:42Oh.
01:05:43Oh.
01:05:44Ah.
01:05:45That's it.
01:05:46Yes.
01:05:47That's it.
01:05:48Oh, she did good.
01:05:49She sure did.
01:05:57I don't think it's the same.
01:05:58Where's that cheap hair?
01:05:59Girl.
01:06:00It's cheap.
01:06:01Welcome to Natural...
01:06:04G-Ma.
01:06:05Oh.
01:06:14Hello.
01:06:17Hey, pretty baby, what you doing?
01:06:19I didn't know you were coming by.
01:06:23I got to have an invitation to see my great-grand.
01:06:28Or to see you and this little shop of yours, for that matter.
01:06:33Come sit down.
01:06:34Oh, no, I'm just fine, thank you.
01:06:37I'm very particular about my hair.
01:06:41G-Ma.
01:06:43You've worn this wig for a very long time.
01:06:49And underneath it,
01:06:52there's hair that could stand some tenderness.
01:06:57Come sit down.
01:06:59Let me spoil you.
01:07:02Yeah?
01:07:05Okay.
01:07:06All right.
01:07:08All right.
01:07:15I'm just going to...
01:07:17I'm just going to massage you.
01:07:19Okay?
01:07:34Okay.
01:07:52I used to have long hair.
01:07:57It was long.
01:08:00And white.
01:08:01Wow.
01:08:03All the way down to my waist.
01:08:07Oh, that was something to see.
01:08:13It was before I got sick.
01:08:17I just...
01:08:21I just can't wear my hair like this.
01:08:23It's okay.
01:08:26But I don't want braids either, child.
01:08:28Well, braids aren't for everyone, G-Ma.
01:08:32But freedom is.
01:08:35And if wearing your piece makes you feel free,
01:08:39then that's exactly what we're going to do.
01:08:41Let me work on your piece, G-Ma.
01:08:44I could restyle it for a softer look or anything.
01:08:48That's right, that's right.
01:08:49Ain't no reason for you to keep going around looking like Beata.
01:08:56Girl.
01:09:03Dude.
01:09:22And my cousin Tanika said she could do it,
01:09:24but she got us looking like we got mops on our heads.
01:09:27And my rehearsal supper's in two hours.
01:09:29I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it.
01:09:31Okay, Leona, Rosemary, start unbraiding bridesmaids.
01:09:34Lydia, come up here and help me with the brides.
01:09:36I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
01:09:38Okay, okay.
01:09:40You're gonna look beautiful.
01:09:42We're closed for today.
01:09:44I don't think it matters, ma'am.
01:09:45I need to see your license.
01:09:48Oh, just a second, okay?
01:09:50I'll be right back.
01:09:52Let's just calm down.
01:10:00What is this about?
01:10:03Quakeology, huh?
01:10:04Mm-hmm.
01:10:06Is that where this place is?
01:10:08I need to see their licenses, too.
01:10:12What?
01:10:14These ladies are my students.
01:10:16I supervise their every move.
01:10:18They're my trainees.
01:10:19Ma'am, this license doesn't give you the right to train anybody.
01:10:23Now, I'm gonna give you a citation and a fine today.
01:10:27But if I catch you with this again,
01:10:30I'll close you down.
01:10:32And may arrest you.
01:10:34On what charge?
01:10:35Making a living?
01:10:44The way these Mississippi laws are written,
01:10:47it's only folks with money who can get a license.
01:10:50It costs less time and less money to get certified
01:10:54as a fireman or a nurse or a sheriff
01:10:57than it does to be a hairdresser.
01:10:59I know.
01:11:01My shop has been flying under the radar for years.
01:11:04But it's on private property, and I don't advertise,
01:11:07so I probably don't exist to them.
01:11:11If women like me had to depend on the state of Mississippi
01:11:13to certify us to do what it is we do,
01:11:15we'd all still be sweeping floors or working in Miss Anne's kitchen.
01:11:20That's what they want.
01:11:21Yeah.
01:11:22I don't want to stop learning, though.
01:11:24I could really be good at this.
01:11:26Yeah.
01:11:27I mean, I could teach you right here at my house,
01:11:29but you can't pray to the shops.
01:11:31But your business is gonna go right to squat
01:11:34if you don't have some help.
01:11:36Damn state of Mississippi strikes again.
01:11:42What if we strike it back?
01:11:46Yeah.
01:11:55Institute for Justice.
01:11:56Dana Brillinger here.
01:11:57Could you please hold us up?
01:11:59Wait, what?
01:12:00Slow down.
01:12:01Miss, who are you?
01:12:03Uh-huh.
01:12:06What about the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology?
01:12:09Put that on speaker.
01:12:11I am a licensed professional African hair braider,
01:12:14and the state of Mississippi is actively interfering with my right to make a living.
01:12:18Are you familiar with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology?
01:12:21Oh, we are very familiar with them.
01:12:23Could you tell us everything from the beginning, please?
01:12:26You are not the first people to ever fight back against unfair licensing laws.
01:12:30In our very first case,
01:12:32Pamela Farrell and Talib Jinn-Ukta,
01:12:35two highly successful salon owners,
01:12:37were fined and threatened with closure
01:12:40for running a natural hair braiding program without a license.
01:12:43Through us, they sued the government of Washington, D.C.
01:12:46for violating their constitutional rights.
01:12:49And D.C. wanted to avoid bad press.
01:12:52They just changed the law.
01:12:54So there's precedent.
01:12:55We can win.
01:12:56Well, you have to remember that D.C. is not a state,
01:12:59so the rules are not the same.
01:13:01That's a city with a population of about 700,000
01:13:04and a largely black and sympathetic city council.
01:13:08Mississippi has a population of over 3 million
01:13:11and a legislative body full of mostly good old boys who couldn't care less.
01:13:16Which is exactly why, Melanie...
01:13:19Thank you.
01:13:21That's why if you're going to do this, you have to be sure
01:13:24and you have to be brave.
01:13:26I'm sure.
01:13:27I mean, what choice do I have?
01:13:29Well, you could probably strike a deal with the state,
01:13:34keep quiet in exchange for the board leaving you and your trainees alone.
01:13:38This case is about more than just Melanie Armstrong.
01:13:41It's about black women everywhere being refused the right to earn an honest living.
01:13:45How could you even say that?
01:13:47Melanie, Melanie, that was a test.
01:13:50If you had said yes to that, I wouldn't have taken your case.
01:13:53And now I'm very excited to.
01:13:55Oh.
01:13:58Okay.
01:13:59Good.
01:14:00I was testing you.
01:14:01Good.
01:14:02Have we both passed?
01:14:04Because that's the kind of passion we're going to need to win.
01:14:08Okay.
01:14:09This fight is not about hair, you know.
01:14:12It's about money.
01:14:14There are over 100,000 licensed cosmetologists in the state of Mississippi.
01:14:20Wow.
01:14:21Every single one of them paid $30,000 to obtain their license and attend cosmetology school.
01:14:28So you do the math on that,
01:14:30and you think about all the new licenses being issued every year.
01:14:35Both the state and the schools have a nice big guaranteed source of revenue.
01:14:40Mm-hmm.
01:14:41And they do not want you to come in and mess that up.
01:14:46Mm-hmm.
01:14:47Ladies, your opponents have very deep pockets.
01:14:53You know, they're going to come at you in some pretty creative ways.
01:14:56Lobbyists are going to attack your reputation, your background, and your credibility.
01:15:03If I win this case,
01:15:06black women will have as much a chance of running their own business as any white kid with a degree.
01:15:12Hmm.
01:15:14You ever think about what will happen if you lose?
01:15:17I'm not going to lose.
01:15:19Good.
01:15:21Then I'll file suit next week.
01:15:23No turning back now.
01:15:25Armstrong versus the state of Mississippi.
01:15:28I like the sound of that.
01:15:31It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
01:15:34How do I pay for this?
01:15:36You don't.
01:15:37IJ is funded by donations.
01:15:40So are we going into the courtroom?
01:15:43No, we're going into the hearing room first.
01:15:46Luckily, the state legislature is worried enough about this going to court that they want to hear us out first.
01:15:52Oh, that's good for us.
01:15:54That is Representative Steve Holland.
01:15:57He's committee chair.
01:15:58He is smart and fair.
01:16:00You're going to want to get his ear.
01:16:02So in the case of Armstrong versus the state of Mississippi,
01:16:05it is important to understand that my client is filing for injunctive and declaratory relief.
01:16:11She is not seeking money.
01:16:13She is seeking to challenge the constitutionality of the law
01:16:17and moves that that law be changed or struck down.
01:16:21Thank you, Ms. Berliner.
01:16:22But that's a long-standing law.
01:16:24You certainly got a lot of nerve, Mrs. Armstrong.
01:16:27Good.
01:16:28We got their attention.
01:16:40Hey.
01:16:48I've been offered a pastorship.
01:16:53I told them I'd decline until this lawsuit is over.
01:16:59Don't do that, Kat.
01:17:03Take it.
01:17:06Look, if I'm going to go through this, I need to know you're where you ought to be.
01:17:15Besides, I might need you to whisper to God for me a little.
01:17:25Are you scared now?
01:17:28Mmm.
01:17:32No.
01:17:35But I think I should.
01:17:40They're calling it hair wars.
01:17:42Local hair braider Melanie Armstrong takes on the state of Mississippi
01:17:45over the right to braid black natural hair.
01:17:48Nearly 100% of hair braiders in Mississippi are black women.
01:17:53So, essentially, the cosmetology board are seeking yet another way
01:17:58to keep black women out of the financial mainstream.
01:18:01However, many lawmakers don't see it that way.
01:18:04Maybe braids and cosmetology are not the same thing,
01:18:08but they're close enough.
01:18:09They both involve hair.
01:18:11Mrs. Armstrong faces an uphill battle to convince the state lawmakers
01:18:15that this long-standing law should be changed.
01:18:24Hmm.
01:18:31Babe, what are you doing up? What's wrong?
01:18:37We're not strong enough.
01:18:39What do you mean, not strong enough? Why?
01:18:42We're fighting by their rules.
01:18:44Trying to change their laws.
01:18:46We should be bringing a fight to them.
01:18:49The cosmetology board's caving to the negative press.
01:18:51They're willing to reduce the mandatory hours of instruction from 2,000 down to 600,
01:18:55which will lower the cost of cosmetology tuition from 10,000 to around five.
01:19:00Now, they want to make a deal.
01:19:02No deal.
01:19:08I want us to bring our own bill to the state lawmakers.
01:19:12Something that'll free braiders completely.
01:19:15No license should cost more than $25,
01:19:17No license should cost more than $25,
01:19:19and every braider should have to pass a basic hygiene and safety test,
01:19:23as well as a demonstration of skills.
01:19:25And if you can braid, you can teach braiding.
01:19:27No more wigology, no more cosmetology at all.
01:19:31The art of braiding should be set free.
01:19:35Yes.
01:19:37Yes!
01:19:38Yeah?
01:19:39Yes!
01:19:40It's good, right?
01:19:41All right.
01:19:42It's great.
01:19:44My friend, you married a very fierce woman, and I like her so much.
01:19:48I like her too.
01:19:50Okay, let's talk strategy, Melanie.
01:19:52You are going to have to meet with a lot of powerful politicians, shake a lot of hands,
01:19:56You're making a big deal out of nothing.
01:19:58and change a lot of minds before the hearing.
01:20:01Traffic cops and congressmen both involve law.
01:20:04Do they have the same training? The same licenses?
01:20:07No.
01:20:08You can't.
01:20:14Where are you going?
01:20:17Come out with me.
01:20:18Out?
01:20:21Have you looked at me?
01:20:23And there's tomorrow? No.
01:20:25All the more reason.
01:20:26Just throw on a dress, keep your hair wrapped if you like.
01:20:31But please.
01:20:33What you doing?
01:20:35I'm going to the bathroom.
01:20:37I'm going to the bathroom.
01:20:39I'm going to the bathroom.
01:20:40I'm going to the bathroom.
01:20:43Kevin.
01:20:45All right, all right, all right.
01:20:48I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming.
01:20:51Lord, I'm coming.
01:20:53You crazy.
01:20:55Cover your eyes.
01:20:56I'm covering them.
01:20:58Don't peek.
01:20:59Kevin, I'm not peeking.
01:21:00All right, just two steps, ready?
01:21:02One, one more.
01:21:04Two.
01:21:05Okay.
01:21:06All right.
01:21:07Can I open them now?
01:21:08Wait.
01:21:11My wife, Melanie Armstrong.
01:21:21Wow.
01:21:22Oh, my God.
01:21:25What happened?
01:21:26What?
01:21:30Oh, my God.
01:21:31All right, now everyone take your seats.
01:21:41It's going to be great.
01:21:43My wife usually gets the last word.
01:21:46But tonight is my night.
01:21:51A few years ago, my wife came to me and told me she wanted to braid hair.
01:21:58And I told her I thought she was crazy.
01:22:02And she was.
01:22:04At that time, she knew nothing about braiding hair.
01:22:08But the thing about my wife, she never once let the impossible stop her.
01:22:14The improbable to her just indicates a lack of imagination.
01:22:19I once told her she never met a boulder she couldn't smash to pebbles.
01:22:24And I was right.
01:22:27But tomorrow, my wife is meeting more than a boulder.
01:22:32Tomorrow, my wife is coming up against the powerful state of Mississippi.
01:22:37And I ask you all here to share in a prayer of courage and strength for her, my wife.
01:22:43Because we need her to be whole.
01:22:45To remain unafraid.
01:22:47And carry her undaunted cause straight to the lap of victory.
01:22:51So I ask you all, in the name of the Most High, to bow your heads.
01:22:56Close your eyes.
01:22:58Grasp hands.
01:22:59Go to your innermost silent place.
01:23:02And pray.
01:23:07Well, I have to say anything today?
01:23:16You don't have to.
01:23:18And I'll respect your decision if you don't.
01:23:20But...
01:23:22But without your voice, there's just my own.
01:23:25You are this truce, Melanie.
01:23:28I'm just your echo.
01:23:31Okay.
01:23:34Okay.
01:23:36Thank you.
01:23:37Come on.
01:23:38You'll be great.
01:23:40These are local cosmetology students.
01:23:42They were ordered to be here or risk failing their course.
01:23:46That seems unfair.
01:23:49Welcome to politics.
01:23:51Fortunately, your supporters are a lot louder and a lot more fierce.
01:24:05How about this?
01:24:06Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
01:24:16Good morning.
01:24:17Today we will hear testimony regarding proposed bills that would change the laws that apply to African hair braiding in Mississippi.
01:24:24Ms. Berliner, we will first hear from you.
01:24:27Thank you.
01:24:29The current law denies hair braiders like Melanie Armstrong
01:24:32their constitutional right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment,
01:24:36the right to earn a living in their chosen field.
01:24:39The current laws in place with the State Board of Cosmetology make it virtually impossible
01:24:45for hair braiders to be trained, to train others,
01:24:49and to obtain a license truly relevant to the work that they do.
01:24:55The entire system of cosmetology dates back to the early 1900s.
01:25:00It doesn't make sense anymore.
01:25:03But a lot of people make a lot of money from it.
01:25:06And those people make sure that the rules don't change.
01:25:09They don't care about the lives destroyed when thousands of women cannot work.
01:25:14And you might ask yourself how this could be so.
01:25:17But to answer, you only need to look at Melanie.
01:25:21And then look around you.
01:25:24There is not one person who understands black hair or African micro-braiding
01:25:30at a single cosmetology school in the entire state of Mississippi.
01:25:34Not one.
01:25:35Yet it is into this unbending wall of ignorance
01:25:40that Melanie Armstrong and any person who wishes to practice African braiding
01:25:45in the traditional styles is meant to throw themselves.
01:25:48In return for what?
01:25:50Nothing.
01:25:52These archaic laws have to change.
01:25:57And the bill that we are putting before you today for your consideration
01:26:03can fix what's broken immediately.
01:26:06That's right.
01:26:09Thank you.
01:26:15That was poetic and emotional.
01:26:20But it smears smoke and mirrors of the real point of why we're here.
01:26:28You don't keep a clean aesthetic by letting folks run wild.
01:26:31If somebody touches your hair or your skin, they need to be regulated.
01:26:37If anybody touches my hair or my wife's hair,
01:26:41I would want to know that they are clean, licensed, and accountable.
01:26:47We wouldn't want some bum off the street washing our hair now, would we?
01:26:50Mr. Chairman.
01:26:51Mr. Billings, please stick to the point.
01:26:53I think I've made my point.
01:26:57Now, Ms. Berliner, do you have anything further to add?
01:26:59No. Thank you, Senator Holland.
01:27:03I want to talk.
01:27:05My client would like to speak.
01:27:16My name is Melanie Armstrong.
01:27:19I'm not a lawyer or a politician.
01:27:22I became a braider as a way to touch and heal black women's souls.
01:27:29I wanted to restore to us a clear and unfiltered vision of our own grace and beauty.
01:27:38I was tired of us only seeing ourselves through a hot comb, fried and chemically treated lens.
01:27:45We deserve a chance to just be who we are.
01:27:51Braiding can give black women a leg up in their self-esteem and a footing in the workplace.
01:27:58And it's exactly that financial opportunity that the cosmetology board wants to suppress.
01:28:05They don't want to teach hair braiding.
01:28:08They don't want anything to do with us.
01:28:11They just want to take our time and money and give us nothing in return.
01:28:17The bill that I'm urging you to pass will put an end to that.
01:28:23When I first started this journey, I didn't know how to pray.
01:28:28Now.
01:28:39I am the voice of any black woman in Mississippi or in the world that wants to create this for a living.
01:28:48To the state of Mississippi in general and to the Mississippi Board of Cosmetology specifically, I say, let my people break.
01:29:02Thank you.
01:29:09This woman is not who she says she is.
01:29:12She's not even from Mississippi.
01:29:15Melanie Armstrong is a college dropout.
01:29:18She has been cited for employing unregistered workers.
01:29:21She's not even qualified to touch a dog.
01:29:23Mr. Chairman.
01:29:24Mr. Billings, your vitriol is disappointing and an embarrassment to this state.
01:29:29The board should be ashamed of itself for allowing these tactics, which are unseemly in any legislative hearing.
01:29:34If you are done, sir, please be seated.
01:29:39Now, hair braiding should have never been an issue to come before this legislative body.
01:29:45It is clearly a cultural art form.
01:29:50If it can be a means of financial support, too, well, so much the better.
01:29:53Mr. Chairman, please.
01:29:54Mr. Billings.
01:29:55You can inform the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology that I'm not recommending their bill for further regulation moves forward.
01:30:02However, I strongly advise that Ms. Armstrong's bill to remove hair braiding from any jurisdiction the cosmetology board holds now or may ever hold in the future be approved by the state house and senate and signed into law by the governor.
01:30:18Yes! Yes!
01:30:20All right!
01:30:26We did it!
01:30:48Yes!
01:31:00My hair defies gravity.
01:31:04She's rebellious and will never lay down unless she wants to.
01:31:09She is soft as a sponge.
01:31:12And brutal as a Brillo pad.
01:31:15She can go from lying down to lying king.
01:31:22My hair takes no prisoners.
01:31:26My hair hides infinite secrets.
01:31:31Sometimes I feel she is magical.
01:31:36And sometimes I feel she is possessed.
01:31:41She looks like she could be controlled.
01:31:45But she can't.
01:31:47Gel, hairspray, goo, and prayers are useless.
01:31:52She is silent, except when a flat iron makes her hiss.
01:31:59My hair has attitude.
01:32:02She is born to be wild!
01:32:07Freedom hair at last!
01:32:14Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
01:32:18Sisters and brothers
01:32:25I see them coming together
01:32:32And I
01:32:34Oh, yeah
01:32:39Said it feels like freedom
01:32:44Are you ready now? Yes, I'm ready now
01:32:48For a change to come
01:32:52Don't fail me now
01:32:54Cause I'm ready now
01:32:56To move on
01:33:00Are you ready now? Yes, I'm ready now
01:33:04For a change to come
01:33:08Don't fail me now
01:33:10Cause I'm ready now
01:33:12To move on
01:33:17Freedom
01:33:21Freedom
01:33:25Freedom
01:33:29Freedom
01:33:33Freedom
01:33:41Freedom
01:33:44Freedom
01:33:48Freedom
01:34:04Freedom
01:34:08Freedom
01:34:11Freedom
01:34:14Freedom
01:34:17Freedom
01:34:20Freedom