In talking with us about her new book, "Natural Woman/Natural Hair: A Hair Journey," that when she first came to Los Angeles to star on the show, cast mates, network staff, and studio hair/makeup artist struggled to understand her hair. The experience, though hardly her first, motivated Keymah to campaign for the natural image of African Americans. Today, Keymah continues to use her public spotlight to illuminate what she sees as the true beautiful image of the black woman. She now stars on Disney's "That So Raven" and with her series and her book she hopes to enlighten and motivate others. "This book is about letting everybody know - but even more, little black girls - that there is nothing wrong with them, that they are just fine just the way they are," Keymah said. "Nothing much has changed since I was a little black girl. All the princesses are still white and so it's hard not to be a little black girl and think there's something wrong with you and to want something else." Keymah hopes that the book and more popular actors and artists wearing their hair naturally can help make a change in the way some in the black community sees themselves and that people will be comfortable and confident as their true selves.
"When I first came to Los Angeles I was greeted with, 'Wow … what is it?' And no one seemed to know how to do my hair. Hairstylist of the television unions didn't know what to do with my hair and everyone's impulse was to straighten it so they could make it look 'pretty.' So the fight began and it's still going," she said. She continued that the good thing is that there have been changes and many people are wearing their hair natural now. Keymah mentioned "Soul Food" star Vanessa Williams who has boldly worn her hair naturally for quite some time. "I've never had a conversation with Vanessa," Keymah said, "but I sent her my book with a note saying, 'I know it's been hard' because she's been wearing her hair naturally for quite a long time and this is her first series. I know for me, I got passed over several times because they were going for somebody who has 'pretty' hair. And they don't see pretty when they see my hair."
Though to some degree the actress-turned-author believes it's a sad thing to be persuasive as a television star, but Keymah understands that she has a degree of influence. "The cool thing, and the sad thing, is that because I'm on a TV, people do what I do, and then that becomes the cool thing to do. And if they like the show - people who liked 'In Living Color' have said, 'I started wearing my hair like that because I saw you doing it. And I tried to get my hair like you, but it's not quite like it, but I kept trying,' and not because I'm their mother who's been telling them all their life that they're pretty, but because I'm on television," she admitted. "I think things are changing very much and the fact that entertainers and athletes have a say over children - but we do and I try to take advantage of this in positive ways whenever I can."
Unlike some proponents of the natural hair-natural beauty ideal, Keymah does not consider those that don't wear their hair naturally as any less black. She believes that it is everyone's right to dress, marry, and wear their hair as they please. "However," she added, "if you believe in your heart of hearts that your hair, the way it comes out of your head, is ugly and that the opposite of that is beautiful, something is wrong with you that needs to be addressed. I don't have a problem with whatever people do. I do what I do, but I'm concerned for you if you think you're ugly."
Keymah told us that the issue hit home not too long ago. "This is what motivates me. I have a niece, she is now four years old, and she said to me not to very long ago, 'Aunt T'Keyah, when I grow up, I want to be white.' After I got up from the floor I said, 'Why would you say that?' and she said with the straightest face as if she had given it a lot of thought, 'Because when I grow up I want to be pretty.' So you tell me that it's fashion in ten years when she's pressing her hair, and I'm going to say no, it's an illness." She continued, "I'm not saying that I'm a completely evolved person, but I think you can recognize illness. I'm saying that we as a people have suffered in addition to the behavior that's been passed down through our parents. I think that among the horrible things that slavery did is this business that we're worthless in every conceivable way - including having no physical beauty." In addition to taking on the homogenous society via image, Keymah is also taking on commerce and decided to only sell her books in African American outlets, urging blacks to stay within their community especially for things focused on or about our culture.
"Natural Woman/Natural Hair: A Hair Journey" is currently on (African American) bookstore shelves. It features natural hairstyles, as well as poems and photos. It's also available at the Crystal shop on T'Keyah's website: www.tkeyah.com.