"Sesame Street" Teaches Girls to Love Their Hair

I love my hair, so I must declare:
I really, really, really love my hair.
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.

You've heard this song, right? Its the new hit among school-aged girls. Apparently, Sesame Street has taken on the issue of educating our youngsters about beauty issues.

India Arie did it for middle-aged women everywhere with the release of her 2005 single "I Am Not My Hair." Like India Arie, Sesame Street is reminding young students that their worth as individuals isn't defined by how they look or by any media influence. But how effective is the message? With Beyonce still flipping her weave on BET and with women, of all ethnicities, frequenting hair salons for the latest style, its no wonder that little girls are confused - should they be true to themselves or should they cave into a society that clearly places a greater emphasis on Mac cosmetics than on learning applications from Macintosh.

So you tell me: how can our nation's educational leaders better foster creativity and self-expression in our young people? Is the Sesame Street video a positive first step?

Photo Credit: Sesame Street