Sesame Street Sings Song on Loving African-American Hairstyles

I remember I used to wake up earlier than my parents on weekdays just to grab that first segment of "Sesame Street," -- the greatest thing for children besides Take The Class Pet Home Day. "Sesame Street," the venerable, award-winning PBS staple, (which recently pulled a Katy Perry/Elmo segment because the pop star's top was deemed too revealing), just debuted a 2-minute song about loving African-American hairstyles that features a cute little black Muppet in a pink dress, dancing and singing about how much she loves her afro hair, which switches from cornrows to pigtails to dreads rivaling Bob Marley's.

The lyrics go, "Don't need a trip to the beauty shop,
'cause I love what I got on top."

Oprah's best friend Gayle King lamented on her eponymous Sirius/XM satellite radio show, "I wish that they'd had this song out when I was a girl. I always begged my mom for a long, blonde ponytail that swung back and forth like my friend Carol's." She lamented, "A song like this would have made me feel better about my own hair that just stayed there."

African-American hair can be difficult to manage and many black women opt to get their afros pressed into straight or crimped hairstyles. This little Muppet's song celebrates what makes African-American hair different, rather than trying to cover it up with a bad weave like the stylist did on Gabourey Sidibe in Elle's October issue.

The puppet says you can "wear a clippy or in a bow;or let it sit in an afro;My hair looks good in a cornrow. It does so many things you know, that's why I let it grow."

This is one of the most positive messages that can be given to young black girls and even a powerful reminder to black women, encouraging them to embrace their differences. There is nothing more refreshing than seeing a spunky afro on a proud African-American woman. A black girl's hair is as beautiful as any other's, and this little Muppet wants you to know that.

"I have to share;I love my hair, I love my hair!; I want to make the world aware I love my hair. My hair is part of me, an awesome part of me. I really love my hair!"

You go girl. You can check out the song on YouTube here.

--Sharon J. Yi