Of Corn Silk and Black Braids

By Vincent L. Johnson

Sarah, a young African-American girl, hates her hair, especially when she sees a girl in town with beautiful hair like corn silk, but when her aunt comes to town and gives her a new hairstyle, she... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0965703320
• ISBN13: 9780965703321
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Marzetta Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 11.2" x 11.4"

Customer Reviews

A gentle story about learning to like oneself

Corn Silk And Black Braids is a gentle story about learning to like oneself. A young African-American girl named Sarah is embarrassed by her hairstyle; when she meets Mary Beth, who has a beautiful blond head of hair, she feels frustrated and sad about her own unruly tresses. With the help of her Aunt Lubelle, she tries many hairstyles that she dislikes, but at last finds one special style - corn row braids - that she can delight in. Later when she speaks to Mary Beth, she learns Mary Beth's hair also gives her problems. Sarah learns a valuable lesson about deep down beauty, and the importance of loving and accepting oneself, in this touching and picturebook beautifully illustrated in full color.

Beauty

Sarah has hair that isn't easily managed, and after seeing another young girl with silky blond hair in pretty ribbons, she wants her hair to look the same way. She is convinced that her hair is ugly because it isn't as fair and flowing. Noticing how silky and light the material hanging from the corn cobs is, she pulls out some of the silk and pretends it's her hair. Shortly after, she shares her dissatisfaction with her aunt who agrees to try fixing her hair in several different styles until Sarah is happy with the results. After quite a few tries, Sarah is pleased when her hair is braided into beautiful cornrows. During the next outing, she runs into the same little girl who admires Sarah's braids and tells her about the problems she has with her own hair. Sarah is shocked that such pretty hair can be a problem, but she learns that beautiful things come in various colors, textures, and styles. Dealing with issues of self-esteem, feminine beauty, and cultural awareness, OF CORN SILK AND BLACK BRAIDS is not only a beautiful book and story, but also a much needed message for young girls trying to fit in. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to mothers, aunts, and even big sisters to help ease the fears of young girls regarding their outer appearance. Reviewed by Tee C. Royal of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers