Love your coils, curls, kinks, and locs.

Visuals are one of the best ways to grasp a message and create a long-lasting mental picture for ourselves. Today I came across an animated short film created by students in Missouri State University's Electronic Arts Program in 2019. This film touched me deeply, and I had to share it with you all.

This 8-minute film took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The message of natural hair having a mind of its own, and wanting to be free tickled my soul. I can definitely relate, and I'm sure you can as well. Then another series of events occurred that was a borderline tear-jerker.

I don't want to give it away, so you have to watch it. This is worth sharing with your kids. It's a great film to have an open discussion about loving your hair just the way it is.

Sample questions to ask with your child?

• What was your favorite part of the film? Why?

• What message do you think the director wanted us to know?

• How did this film make you feel?

• Ask how the different characters felt at different points in the film?

• How did the girl feel while fixing her hair in the morning?

• How did the hair feel after being straightened?

• How did the girl feel after seeing her little sister hurt?

• How did the girl feel after going out in the rain?

Let me know what you think about the film in the comments! I'm ready to have a discussion!

The work was created by Electronic Arts students at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. This undergraduate program emphasizes technical mastery in audio, video, interactive new media, and computer animation studies. More information can be found at ea.missouristate.edu.