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1
00:00:23,240 --> 00:00:25,199
[♪]
2
00:00:25,199 --> 00:00:28,637
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
3
00:00:28,637 --> 00:00:31,248
[MELONY LAUGHING]
4
00:00:34,164 --> 00:00:37,254
MOTHER: Melony.
[MELONY LAUGHING]
5
00:00:37,254 --> 00:00:38,255
MOTHER: Melony!
6
00:00:40,257 --> 00:00:41,693
Melony!
7
00:00:41,693 --> 00:00:43,652
Come on, now.
8
00:00:43,652 --> 00:00:49,049
Melony! Come on.
9
00:00:49,049 --> 00:00:51,747
[MELONY LAUGHING]
10
00:00:51,747 --> 00:00:53,444
{\an8}You hear me calling you.
11
00:00:55,011 --> 00:00:56,578
{\an8}GREAT-AUNT: Come
on. Come on, now.
12
00:00:56,578 --> 00:00:58,797
Let's get it, girl.
[GRANDMOTHER CHUCKLES]
13
00:00:58,797 --> 00:01:02,453
Stop fidgeting,
Melony. But it hurts.
14
00:01:02,453 --> 00:01:05,021
I know it does, baby, but when
your mama's through with you,
15
00:01:05,021 --> 00:01:07,241
you're gonna look
like a pretty little angel
16
00:01:07,241 --> 00:01:09,373
and not like some
woolly old lion.
17
00:01:09,373 --> 00:01:12,724
Ow! Why? I don't
want to be an angel.
18
00:01:12,724 --> 00:01:14,683
I'd rather be a lion.
19
00:01:14,683 --> 00:01:17,120
Why can't I have
my hair like this?
20
00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,210
[LAUGHS] Look
at this. Look at this.
21
00:01:20,210 --> 00:01:22,995
Baby, you can't go
nowhere looking like that.
22
00:01:22,995 --> 00:01:24,954
MOTHER: Nowhere. Nowhere.
23
00:01:24,954 --> 00:01:27,130
[ROARING] MOTHER:
Melony, sit down.
24
00:01:27,130 --> 00:01:29,132
Look. She's just free, honey.
25
00:01:29,132 --> 00:01:31,308
Look at her. [ROARING]
26
00:01:31,308 --> 00:01:35,007
MOTHER: Melony! Sit down.
27
00:01:35,007 --> 00:01:37,053
GREAT-AUNT: She
just free, ain't she?
28
00:01:37,053 --> 00:01:39,969
[♪]
29
00:01:45,061 --> 00:01:47,933
MELONY: Ode to my hair.
30
00:01:47,933 --> 00:01:50,849
My hair defies gravity.
31
00:01:50,849 --> 00:01:53,025
She is rebellious
32
00:01:53,025 --> 00:01:55,245
and will never lay down
unless she wants to.
33
00:01:57,421 --> 00:02:02,296
{\an8}She is soft as a sponge
and brutal as a Brillo pad.
34
00:02:02,296 --> 00:02:05,081
{\an8}She can go from
lyin' down to Lion King
35
00:02:05,081 --> 00:02:08,824
with just three drops of rain.
36
00:02:08,824 --> 00:02:10,782
My hair-- Stop there, please.
37
00:02:10,782 --> 00:02:12,610
[INDISTINCT
WHISPERING, LAUGHTER]
38
00:02:12,610 --> 00:02:15,439
Miss Renshaw, would you tell me
39
00:02:15,439 --> 00:02:18,486
what you thought
this assignment was?
40
00:02:18,486 --> 00:02:23,447
Well, you asked us to explore
a part of our personal psyche
41
00:02:23,447 --> 00:02:25,971
that we considered
to be-- Substantial.
42
00:02:25,971 --> 00:02:27,886
That's right.
TEACHER: Identifying.
43
00:02:27,886 --> 00:02:29,888
And you chose your hair.
44
00:02:29,888 --> 00:02:31,977
[STUDENTS MURMURING]
45
00:02:31,977 --> 00:02:33,457
Hair, Miss Renshaw.
46
00:02:33,457 --> 00:02:36,547
Perhaps next to
toenails... [LAUGHTER]
47
00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:39,855
...the most superficial and
transient aspect of a person.
48
00:02:39,855 --> 00:02:42,640
When the hippies grew
their hair long in the '70s,
49
00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,252
they were making a
huge social statement.
50
00:02:45,252 --> 00:02:47,645
And what statement
are you making?
51
00:02:47,645 --> 00:02:50,779
[INDISTINCT
WHISPERING, LAUGHTER]
52
00:02:50,779 --> 00:02:52,346
Do the assignment over.
53
00:02:52,346 --> 00:02:55,479
And this time, dig deeper.
54
00:02:55,479 --> 00:02:56,828
Next.
55
00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:01,050
Hair is a hallmark of beauty.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
56
00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:03,705
Whole societies have
put great value on hair,
57
00:03:03,705 --> 00:03:06,055
from ancient Egyptians
to feudal Chinese.
58
00:03:06,055 --> 00:03:08,971
And for him to just
dismiss me like that--
59
00:03:08,971 --> 00:03:10,625
Ooh! [GRUNTS]
60
00:03:10,625 --> 00:03:12,061
Oh, God. I'm so sorry.
61
00:03:12,061 --> 00:03:14,150
KEVIN: No harm done.
62
00:03:14,150 --> 00:03:16,674
Whoever you were telling
off sure had it coming to him.
63
00:03:16,674 --> 00:03:19,068
Oh, you heard me?
Kind of hard not to.
64
00:03:19,068 --> 00:03:21,244
It's just my professor. He--
65
00:03:21,244 --> 00:03:23,855
Can I ask you something? Okay.
66
00:03:23,855 --> 00:03:25,640
Is hair a thing to you?
67
00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:28,164
Like not your hair
specifically. Just hair in general.
68
00:03:28,164 --> 00:03:29,731
Like, does it mean
anything to you, or is it
69
00:03:29,731 --> 00:03:33,256
like a superficial
thing, like a toenail?
70
00:03:33,256 --> 00:03:37,173
Well, I don't think I'd
like to run my fingers
71
00:03:37,173 --> 00:03:38,435
through my lady's toenails.
72
00:03:43,048 --> 00:03:45,790
I've got to-- I've got to go.
73
00:03:45,790 --> 00:03:47,879
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
74
00:03:47,879 --> 00:03:50,099
CASEY: He was cute!
75
00:03:50,099 --> 00:03:52,536
He was just okay.
Well, he was into you.
76
00:03:52,536 --> 00:03:54,277
He was talking about running
his fingers through your hair.
77
00:03:54,277 --> 00:03:56,410
Just stop trying to
hook me up. Whatever.
78
00:03:56,410 --> 00:03:57,759
What do you think?
79
00:03:57,759 --> 00:04:00,327
You going out?
No. We're going out.
80
00:04:00,327 --> 00:04:02,329
It's the St. Patty's Day
dance. Remember?
81
00:04:02,329 --> 00:04:04,156
Ah. Yeah.
82
00:04:04,156 --> 00:04:07,334
Casey, I've had to make a
lot of cultural adjustments
83
00:04:07,334 --> 00:04:09,553
since coming to this campus.
84
00:04:09,553 --> 00:04:12,556
You know, with all the loud
music that I can't dance to
85
00:04:12,556 --> 00:04:15,124
and raisins in the potato salad.
86
00:04:15,124 --> 00:04:17,822
Hey! But St. Patty's Day?
87
00:04:17,822 --> 00:04:20,912
I'm thinking about how much
I don't want to spend tonight
88
00:04:20,912 --> 00:04:23,175
saying no to every
drunk sophomore
89
00:04:23,175 --> 00:04:26,222
who asks me if I'm Black Irish.
90
00:04:26,222 --> 00:04:30,139
Get dressed. Green
for luck. No excuses.
91
00:04:30,139 --> 00:04:34,448
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
92
00:04:34,448 --> 00:04:37,929
♪ Under the anvil
Of the sun... ♪
93
00:04:37,929 --> 00:04:40,410
So, where's your friend?
94
00:04:40,410 --> 00:04:43,065
♪ Like a train, I come I come ♪
95
00:04:43,065 --> 00:04:46,764
♪ My body to dust ♪
96
00:04:46,764 --> 00:04:50,681
♪ Scorched by the
might Of the sun ♪
97
00:04:50,681 --> 00:04:54,729
♪ Burning light
Burning white heat ♪
98
00:04:54,729 --> 00:04:55,947
Hi.
99
00:04:57,775 --> 00:05:00,300
You... look stunning.
100
00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:02,998
[CHUCKLES] No green for luck?
101
00:05:04,565 --> 00:05:07,176
I couldn't feel any luckier.
102
00:05:07,176 --> 00:05:11,963
♪ Our love is the flame ♪
103
00:05:11,963 --> 00:05:18,056
♪ That keeps on burning ♪
104
00:05:18,056 --> 00:05:21,799
♪ I love to feel the rain ♪
105
00:05:21,799 --> 00:05:25,412
♪ On my face ♪
106
00:05:25,412 --> 00:05:28,502
So, how long are you here for?
107
00:05:29,807 --> 00:05:32,462
Just one more week. Oh.
108
00:05:32,462 --> 00:05:35,378
I came for an
evangelism conference.
109
00:05:35,378 --> 00:05:37,598
You're an evangelist? [SCOFFS]
110
00:05:37,598 --> 00:05:39,208
No.
111
00:05:39,208 --> 00:05:42,298
I majored in philosophy
and religion, though.
112
00:05:42,298 --> 00:05:45,910
So I wanted to see and
feel what the evangelists do,
113
00:05:45,910 --> 00:05:47,521
how they move people.
114
00:05:47,521 --> 00:05:50,480
I want to open my
own church someday.
115
00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,615
In Mississippi, to be
closer to my family.
116
00:05:54,615 --> 00:05:56,007
That's cool.
117
00:05:56,007 --> 00:05:58,488
I work construction
to pay my bills.
118
00:05:59,968 --> 00:06:01,056
What about you?
119
00:06:03,014 --> 00:06:05,234
Well, I'm-- I'm a psych major.
120
00:06:07,062 --> 00:06:10,065
At least I thought I was. I'm...
121
00:06:10,065 --> 00:06:12,937
I'm not so sure.
122
00:06:12,937 --> 00:06:15,418
I'm starting to think maybe
there's something else for me.
123
00:06:18,029 --> 00:06:23,252
"Whatever you can do
or dream, you can begin.
124
00:06:23,252 --> 00:06:26,864
Boldness has genius,
power, and magic in it.
125
00:06:28,039 --> 00:06:30,215
Begin it now."
126
00:06:30,215 --> 00:06:32,000
That's beautiful.
127
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,654
No, that's Goethe.
128
00:06:34,959 --> 00:06:37,179
You're beautiful.
129
00:06:37,179 --> 00:06:40,095
[♪]
130
00:06:44,621 --> 00:06:47,755
[CORK POPS, CROWD CHEERING]
131
00:06:50,888 --> 00:06:51,454
[LAUGHS]
132
00:06:53,543 --> 00:06:55,545
KEVIN: Mississippi's
a huge move.
133
00:06:55,545 --> 00:06:57,895
I really hope
you're ready for it.
134
00:06:57,895 --> 00:07:00,681
MELONY: I have a Mississippi
in my mind that's warm
135
00:07:00,681 --> 00:07:04,380
and rich and Black and real.
136
00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:07,383
Maybe it's where
I'm supposed to be.
137
00:07:07,383 --> 00:07:11,169
♪ I don't want to be lonely ♪
138
00:07:11,169 --> 00:07:16,392
♪ I put every last penny
In the tank of this pickup ♪
139
00:07:16,392 --> 00:07:20,178
♪ Feels like I'm
finally home free ♪
140
00:07:20,178 --> 00:07:23,617
♪ I'm pointing this truck ♪
141
00:07:23,617 --> 00:07:28,099
♪ To Mississippi with love ♪
142
00:07:28,099 --> 00:07:31,538
MELONY: I can't wait to chop
it up with your mom and G'Mom.
143
00:07:31,538 --> 00:07:34,105
{\an8}Ooh. Do they play bid
whist? KEVIN: Seriously, Mel.
144
00:07:34,105 --> 00:07:36,934
My mom and G'Mom,
they're not warm and fuzzy.
145
00:07:36,934 --> 00:07:39,284
It takes them a while
to adjust to outsiders.
146
00:07:39,284 --> 00:07:41,330
MELONY: Well,
I'm not an outsider.
147
00:07:41,330 --> 00:07:43,332
I'm your wife. KEVIN: Mm!
148
00:07:43,332 --> 00:07:45,856
MELONY: Oh! [AIR HISSING]
149
00:07:45,856 --> 00:07:47,945
Grab that doughnut
out of the trunk for me.
150
00:07:47,945 --> 00:07:49,469
The doughnut is the-- Yeah.
151
00:07:49,469 --> 00:07:51,253
I know what a
doughnut is, Kevin.
152
00:07:51,253 --> 00:07:52,950
I'm sorry, city girl.
153
00:07:55,518 --> 00:07:56,867
Oh! Ooh!
154
00:07:56,867 --> 00:07:59,348
No! No, no, no! It's fine.
155
00:07:59,348 --> 00:08:01,350
Oh. Come on. Come on. Kevin!
156
00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:03,526
It's just water. It's
just mud. Relax.
157
00:08:03,526 --> 00:08:05,006
Oh, it's just mud? Yeah.
158
00:08:05,006 --> 00:08:06,311
Oh, is that just mud? Aah!
159
00:08:06,311 --> 00:08:09,010
Huh? Is that just mud?
[LAUGHING] Stop!
160
00:08:09,010 --> 00:08:10,490
You-- All right. All right!
161
00:08:10,490 --> 00:08:12,492
All right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
162
00:08:12,492 --> 00:08:14,232
Oh, my God. Come on.
163
00:08:14,232 --> 00:08:15,320
[LAUGHS]
164
00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,148
Come on. Aah!
165
00:08:17,148 --> 00:08:18,933
BETTY: Oh, they're here already!
166
00:08:18,933 --> 00:08:21,326
Dee, I told you to
move these toys!
167
00:08:21,326 --> 00:08:24,547
DEE: Don't worry. I'll get 'em.
168
00:08:24,547 --> 00:08:25,896
MELONY: Hi!
169
00:08:25,896 --> 00:08:29,683
Lord, what in the world is this?
170
00:08:29,683 --> 00:08:32,207
Is that tire tracks
on her shirt?
171
00:08:32,207 --> 00:08:34,209
Ma Betty, G'Mom!
172
00:08:34,209 --> 00:08:37,038
I've heard so much about you!
173
00:08:37,038 --> 00:08:38,300
Mm.
174
00:08:38,300 --> 00:08:40,737
There's a sink and a towel
175
00:08:40,737 --> 00:08:42,826
just inside to your left.
176
00:08:42,826 --> 00:08:44,915
Come on, sis. I'll show you.
177
00:08:44,915 --> 00:08:46,787
Oh, okay. Behave.
178
00:08:48,963 --> 00:08:51,661
I'm Dee, Kevin's sister.
Oh! Oh, there he is!
179
00:08:51,661 --> 00:08:54,098
There's my baby!
Still so handsome!
180
00:08:54,098 --> 00:08:56,623
Oh! Oh!
181
00:08:56,623 --> 00:08:58,494
Oh, come here! G'Mom.
182
00:08:58,494 --> 00:09:01,584
Hey. So, you met Melony.
183
00:09:01,584 --> 00:09:03,543
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
184
00:09:05,153 --> 00:09:07,285
[BETTY CHUCKLES]
185
00:09:07,285 --> 00:09:08,809
KEVIN: I'm sorry, babe.
186
00:09:10,898 --> 00:09:13,944
I tried to warn you, but my mama
and grandmama are not exactly...
187
00:09:13,944 --> 00:09:16,381
That's fine.
188
00:09:16,381 --> 00:09:18,166
I'm fine.
189
00:09:18,166 --> 00:09:20,821
[♪]
190
00:09:20,821 --> 00:09:23,301
They don't know me.
191
00:09:23,301 --> 00:09:25,739
I was wrong to expect more.
192
00:09:30,134 --> 00:09:33,485
They just caught
me by surprise is all.
193
00:09:36,314 --> 00:09:40,057
But I'm not scared of
some little old ladies.
194
00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:48,065
[INDISTINCT
CONVERSATIONS, LAUGHTER]
195
00:09:48,065 --> 00:09:50,764
Yeah. Just a little more.
196
00:09:50,764 --> 00:09:52,592
Can I get it for
you? I got it, babe.
197
00:09:52,592 --> 00:09:54,594
BETTY: Okay. Here
you go. A little bit of ham.
198
00:09:54,594 --> 00:09:55,638
Oh, no, thank you.
199
00:09:58,075 --> 00:09:59,250
You don't like to eat?
200
00:09:59,250 --> 00:10:01,513
I eat mostly vegetables.
201
00:10:03,472 --> 00:10:06,301
[CLEARS THROAT] Okay.
202
00:10:06,301 --> 00:10:07,824
You don't eat pigs.
203
00:10:07,824 --> 00:10:10,522
You just roll around
in the mud like one.
204
00:10:10,522 --> 00:10:13,003
KEVIN: G'Mom, can I talk
to you in private, please?
205
00:10:18,835 --> 00:10:23,057
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
206
00:10:27,278 --> 00:10:28,802
[SIGHS]
207
00:10:28,802 --> 00:10:30,673
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
208
00:10:30,673 --> 00:10:32,022
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
209
00:10:34,198 --> 00:10:37,854
I was wondering how
long you'd last in there.
210
00:10:37,854 --> 00:10:40,944
Welcome to the family.
211
00:10:40,944 --> 00:10:45,035
I love my mama and my
grandmama, but you couldn't pay me
212
00:10:45,035 --> 00:10:46,907
to sit through one of
those family dinners again.
213
00:10:46,907 --> 00:10:47,864
Mnh-mnh.
214
00:10:51,128 --> 00:10:54,088
That's why I spend
so much time in there.
215
00:10:54,088 --> 00:10:56,743
Is that where you live?
216
00:10:56,743 --> 00:10:58,614
[LAUGHS]
217
00:10:58,614 --> 00:11:02,662
You must think we
are country sho' nuff.
218
00:11:02,662 --> 00:11:06,100
No. Baby girl, that is my salon.
219
00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:07,492
Oh.
220
00:11:07,492 --> 00:11:09,233
You want to look inside?
221
00:11:09,233 --> 00:11:11,758
[♪]
222
00:11:11,758 --> 00:11:15,022
DEE: Sorry for the mess. [SIGHS]
223
00:11:20,505 --> 00:11:23,726
Do you have customers this late?
224
00:11:23,726 --> 00:11:26,555
Lizzie works downtown till 7.
225
00:11:26,555 --> 00:11:30,298
By the time she's fed her
crew and gets the baby to bed,
226
00:11:30,298 --> 00:11:31,734
where else is she gonna go?
227
00:11:31,734 --> 00:11:33,344
Is it just you here?
228
00:11:33,344 --> 00:11:36,130
Mm. Today it was.
229
00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:40,003
My shampoo girl, Aquanetta,
is seven months pregnant.
230
00:11:40,003 --> 00:11:42,702
Has to rest her legs
every 20 minutes.
231
00:11:44,791 --> 00:11:48,795
I am gonna have to find me
somebody else pretty soon.
232
00:11:48,795 --> 00:11:52,581
Hm. Well, I can help.
233
00:11:53,582 --> 00:11:54,801
You?
234
00:11:54,801 --> 00:11:56,759
[CHUCKLES] Yeah.
235
00:11:56,759 --> 00:11:58,979
What you know about hair?
236
00:11:58,979 --> 00:12:03,766
Not an awful lot, but I
can help you shampoo.
237
00:12:08,466 --> 00:12:10,120
[♪]
238
00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,775
KEVIN: I'm sorry again
about my ma and G'Mom.
239
00:12:12,775 --> 00:12:16,344
MELONY: Huh. I don't know
who got cut worse, me or that ham.
240
00:12:16,344 --> 00:12:19,434
I love Dee, though.
She even gave me a job.
241
00:12:19,434 --> 00:12:21,915
KEVIN: Hey, that's great, babe.
242
00:12:21,915 --> 00:12:23,830
[♪]
243
00:12:33,143 --> 00:12:35,363
The movers will be here
with our stuff tomorrow.
244
00:12:35,363 --> 00:12:38,235
I'll be at the
construction site till 6.
245
00:12:38,235 --> 00:12:40,324
Have a good first day with Dee.
246
00:12:40,324 --> 00:12:41,891
I love you.
247
00:13:10,572 --> 00:13:12,008
WOMAN: Homemade peach?
248
00:13:12,008 --> 00:13:14,097
DEE: And some
homemade vanilla ice cream.
249
00:13:14,097 --> 00:13:18,449
Girl, I am so glad to see
you. 'Netta didn't come in at all.
250
00:13:18,449 --> 00:13:21,061
I need you to use that cream
wash on Miss Cynthia there
251
00:13:21,061 --> 00:13:23,411
and the rinse in
the blue bottle.
252
00:13:23,411 --> 00:13:26,240
This is my sister-in-law
Melony, y'all.
253
00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,198
She's gonna take
real good care of you.
254
00:13:28,198 --> 00:13:29,765
Hi.
255
00:13:29,765 --> 00:13:33,334
Y'all act like
y'all can't speak.
256
00:13:33,334 --> 00:13:34,814
Hey. Hi.
257
00:13:34,814 --> 00:13:37,251
[WOMEN MURMURING]
258
00:13:37,251 --> 00:13:41,124
Miss Cynthia, you've
been waiting for 30 minutes.
259
00:13:41,124 --> 00:13:43,561
Go on over there. Mm-hmm. Okay.
260
00:13:43,561 --> 00:13:47,217
[♪]
261
00:13:47,217 --> 00:13:48,915
Whew! Um...
262
00:13:48,915 --> 00:13:50,568
Oh!
263
00:13:50,568 --> 00:13:53,441
Well, I like it hot.
264
00:13:53,441 --> 00:13:54,877
Okay. But not too hot.
265
00:13:54,877 --> 00:13:57,532
Like warm but not too cool.
266
00:13:57,532 --> 00:13:58,925
Right. You follow?
267
00:13:58,925 --> 00:14:00,491
Yes, ma'am.
268
00:14:00,491 --> 00:14:01,884
You got good hands?
269
00:14:01,884 --> 00:14:04,931
Um, I'm not-- I'm not too sure.
270
00:14:04,931 --> 00:14:07,672
[WOMEN MURMURING]
271
00:14:07,672 --> 00:14:09,500
Can I-- Can I get your...
272
00:14:09,500 --> 00:14:12,373
No. Mnh-mnh. I
keep this with me.
273
00:14:12,373 --> 00:14:14,592
Sure. I'm just gonna...
274
00:14:14,592 --> 00:14:15,811
[COUGHS]
275
00:14:15,811 --> 00:14:17,291
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
276
00:14:17,291 --> 00:14:19,467
MELONY: Is that
o-- Is that okay?
277
00:14:19,467 --> 00:14:21,686
Mm-hmm.
278
00:14:22,644 --> 00:14:24,733
Oof.
279
00:14:24,733 --> 00:14:26,822
Oh. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
280
00:14:26,822 --> 00:14:29,085
Mmm! MELONY: I'm just gonna...
281
00:14:30,652 --> 00:14:33,176
Oh, yes!
282
00:14:33,176 --> 00:14:35,309
Oh, that's good! That's good.
283
00:14:35,309 --> 00:14:36,788
Ooh, yeah!
284
00:14:36,788 --> 00:14:38,747
That's good. Right
there. Right there.
285
00:14:38,747 --> 00:14:40,967
Ooh-hoo-hoo!
286
00:14:40,967 --> 00:14:42,620
MELONY: And you're
done, Miss Cynthia.
287
00:14:42,620 --> 00:14:44,361
Oh. What? Yeah.
288
00:14:44,361 --> 00:14:46,102
I'm done? Ooh, Lord.
289
00:14:46,102 --> 00:14:47,756
So I'm just gonna
lift you up now.
290
00:14:47,756 --> 00:14:49,105
Ooh. Just-- You good?
291
00:14:49,105 --> 00:14:50,846
Wow.
292
00:14:50,846 --> 00:14:53,501
Girl, I think I'm gonna
need a cigarette.
293
00:14:53,501 --> 00:14:56,112
[LAUGHTER]
294
00:14:56,112 --> 00:14:59,811
Ooh! You know, you
got the hands of life!
295
00:14:59,811 --> 00:15:02,205
Whew! Mm. I'm
more than all right.
296
00:15:02,205 --> 00:15:06,340
Uh, so, uh, who's next?
297
00:15:06,340 --> 00:15:08,690
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
298
00:15:08,690 --> 00:15:10,779
[BOTH LAUGHING]
299
00:15:10,779 --> 00:15:14,304
I really like working
in your shop, Dee.
300
00:15:14,304 --> 00:15:17,090
It's like this feeling
comes over me...
301
00:15:17,090 --> 00:15:18,482
[♪]
302
00:15:18,482 --> 00:15:22,573
...and my hands just
know what to do and...
303
00:15:22,573 --> 00:15:24,227
Mm. ...how to move.
304
00:15:24,227 --> 00:15:25,402
Yeah.
305
00:15:25,402 --> 00:15:28,188
When I was
touching their hair...
306
00:15:28,188 --> 00:15:32,105
...it felt like-- like I was
healing them somehow.
307
00:15:32,105 --> 00:15:35,369
Like I could feel all of
their tension and worries
308
00:15:35,369 --> 00:15:37,719
just slide away.
309
00:15:37,719 --> 00:15:40,026
And we really need the money.
310
00:15:40,026 --> 00:15:42,115
Look, I know
it's just hair, but--
311
00:15:42,115 --> 00:15:44,769
There is no such
thing as just hair
312
00:15:44,769 --> 00:15:46,206
where Black ladies
are concerned.
313
00:15:46,206 --> 00:15:49,122
Hm. We are all about the hair--
314
00:15:49,122 --> 00:15:52,038
What we do to it,
what it does to us.
315
00:15:52,038 --> 00:15:54,649
Wherever two or
more are gathered...
316
00:15:54,649 --> 00:15:56,781
we're talking about hair!
We are talking about hair!
317
00:15:56,781 --> 00:16:00,742
That's right! [LAUGHS]
318
00:16:00,742 --> 00:16:02,526
Maybe it shouldn't be that way.
319
00:16:04,093 --> 00:16:07,314
Well, the way I see it...
320
00:16:07,314 --> 00:16:10,447
the first thing people notice
about us is that we're Black.
321
00:16:10,447 --> 00:16:11,840
Mm-hmm.
322
00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,234
The next thing is
how we wear our hair.
323
00:16:14,234 --> 00:16:15,757
Then they judge
us on that, right?
324
00:16:15,757 --> 00:16:17,498
Mm. Like...
325
00:16:17,498 --> 00:16:21,197
as if our hairstyle is gonna
tell them who we really are.
326
00:16:21,197 --> 00:16:23,852
Why you think so many
Black women wear wigs?
327
00:16:23,852 --> 00:16:27,508
Hmm? Trying to
fool 'em off, honey.
328
00:16:27,508 --> 00:16:29,510
I never thought of it like that.
329
00:16:29,510 --> 00:16:32,904
DEE: Ma Betty and G'Mom?
MELONY: Oh, those are wigs?
330
00:16:32,904 --> 00:16:35,081
DEE: They trying to
fool you off too, honey.
331
00:16:35,081 --> 00:16:37,039
MELONY: They
trying. And failing.
332
00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:40,303
[BOTH LAUGH] BETTY:
She's so disrespectful!
333
00:16:40,303 --> 00:16:41,870
I don't know what
Kevin sees in her.
334
00:16:41,870 --> 00:16:45,526
Mm. She tried to cook dinner
335
00:16:45,526 --> 00:16:48,311
and tried to make some chicken.
336
00:16:48,311 --> 00:16:50,966
When I look at the
chicken, ain't no skin on it!
337
00:16:50,966 --> 00:16:52,185
She broiled it!
338
00:16:52,185 --> 00:16:53,795
Well, what-- what... Wait.
339
00:16:53,795 --> 00:16:55,101
Where was the skin?
340
00:16:55,101 --> 00:16:57,103
She threw it out! She what?!
341
00:16:57,103 --> 00:17:00,541
Oh! Well, that's the best part.
342
00:17:00,541 --> 00:17:01,890
She's wasteful. Mm.
343
00:17:01,890 --> 00:17:04,501
[♪]
344
00:17:04,501 --> 00:17:06,329
Oh. Look there.
345
00:17:06,329 --> 00:17:08,723
G'MOM: Is that Miss
Cynthia? [BETTY LAUGHS]
346
00:17:08,723 --> 00:17:10,768
Hey-- Hey there, Miss Cynthia!
347
00:17:10,768 --> 00:17:12,988
Good afternoon, ladies.
348
00:17:12,988 --> 00:17:14,642
I can't stop and talk, you know.
349
00:17:14,642 --> 00:17:16,992
I got to go get a place in line.
350
00:17:16,992 --> 00:17:18,776
In line? At Dee Dee's?
351
00:17:18,776 --> 00:17:22,780
Oh, yeah! Everybody is
fired up about that Melony.
352
00:17:22,780 --> 00:17:25,218
You know, she got
good hands. Mm.
353
00:17:25,218 --> 00:17:28,264
I just might have to buy
myself a place in line.
354
00:17:28,264 --> 00:17:30,527
I got to go! Bye!
355
00:17:32,573 --> 00:17:34,183
She's selling seats?
356
00:17:39,188 --> 00:17:40,842
KEVIN: A hundred
and twelve dollars?
357
00:17:40,842 --> 00:17:42,887
Mm-hmm. Doing what, now?
358
00:17:42,887 --> 00:17:46,935
Hair. Shampooing hair.
359
00:17:46,935 --> 00:17:51,157
I did sixteen heads today
at seven bucks a head.
360
00:17:51,157 --> 00:17:53,681
Dee makes a
killing in that shop.
361
00:17:53,681 --> 00:17:55,465
Working there has
been a godsend.
362
00:18:00,122 --> 00:18:02,342
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
363
00:18:02,342 --> 00:18:04,039
Hey.
364
00:18:04,039 --> 00:18:06,607
Where is everyone?
365
00:18:06,607 --> 00:18:08,304
Light day today?
366
00:18:10,089 --> 00:18:10,959
No day.
367
00:18:12,787 --> 00:18:14,876
Ain't got no water.
368
00:18:14,876 --> 00:18:17,096
Is it the bill? No.
369
00:18:17,096 --> 00:18:18,793
It's G'Mom.
370
00:18:20,403 --> 00:18:22,318
The shack technically
sits on her land,
371
00:18:22,318 --> 00:18:24,451
and she owns the water rights.
372
00:18:26,496 --> 00:18:29,020
This morning, she had
the county cut me off.
373
00:18:30,457 --> 00:18:32,023
Why would she do that?
374
00:18:32,023 --> 00:18:33,938
She doesn't want you
working here, Melony.
375
00:18:36,419 --> 00:18:39,205
Says I got no water
until you're gone.
376
00:18:39,205 --> 00:18:40,684
Oh.
377
00:18:45,254 --> 00:18:46,908
Okay.
378
00:18:46,908 --> 00:18:49,737
It's okay. It's not okay.
379
00:18:49,737 --> 00:18:52,566
G'Mom always pulls stunts
like this, just because she does--
380
00:18:52,566 --> 00:18:53,741
Look, Dee.
381
00:18:53,741 --> 00:18:56,483
[♪]
382
00:18:56,483 --> 00:18:58,137
Don't let her hurt
your business.
383
00:19:02,010 --> 00:19:03,577
Just tell her I'll leave.
384
00:19:12,020 --> 00:19:13,326
I'm just gonna miss you.
385
00:19:15,284 --> 00:19:18,157
Every head in this
place is gonna miss you.
386
00:19:25,076 --> 00:19:27,035
You're my family, Dee.
387
00:19:27,035 --> 00:19:29,516
And my friend.
388
00:19:34,260 --> 00:19:37,176
Don't let these healing
hands go to waste.
389
00:19:39,482 --> 00:19:40,570
I won't.
390
00:19:42,659 --> 00:19:43,747
I promise.
391
00:19:48,274 --> 00:19:50,319
WOMAN: We're really excited
392
00:19:50,319 --> 00:19:52,495
to have you starting
with us, Mrs. Armstrong.
393
00:19:52,495 --> 00:19:55,237
Psychology major,
huh? MELONY: Yeah.
394
00:19:55,237 --> 00:19:58,588
But I see you
didn't finish college.
395
00:19:58,588 --> 00:20:00,721
Dropped out in your senior year?
396
00:20:00,721 --> 00:20:03,463
Yeah. I just felt like I
wasn't getting anywhere.
397
00:20:03,463 --> 00:20:07,467
I really want to make a
difference in this world.
398
00:20:07,467 --> 00:20:11,340
Well, the world starts
coming in here at 5 p.m.
399
00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:13,255
You'll be working
the night shift.
400
00:20:13,255 --> 00:20:15,866
Check the ladies
in. Get them settled.
401
00:20:15,866 --> 00:20:17,868
Okay.
402
00:20:17,868 --> 00:20:22,873
Make sure everybody gets
one food box and one cot set.
403
00:20:22,873 --> 00:20:25,615
It's your desk. Okay.
404
00:20:25,615 --> 00:20:29,140
Oh. A word of advice.
405
00:20:29,140 --> 00:20:30,968
All of these women have stories,
406
00:20:30,968 --> 00:20:34,363
and you do not have
time to hear them.
407
00:20:34,363 --> 00:20:37,671
Nobody comes here
happy, Armstrong.
408
00:20:37,671 --> 00:20:40,717
And their misery will drown you.
409
00:20:44,373 --> 00:20:47,420
That's your coffee.
For you only.
410
00:20:47,420 --> 00:20:50,118
Can't afford to feed the masses.
411
00:20:50,118 --> 00:20:52,512
Let's get your paperwork done.
412
00:20:52,512 --> 00:20:53,295
Sure.
413
00:20:57,473 --> 00:21:01,782
Yeah. It's the
graveyard shift-- 8 to 6.
414
00:21:01,782 --> 00:21:04,350
Pay's not great, but
we need the money.
415
00:21:04,350 --> 00:21:06,003
And when will I see you?
416
00:21:06,003 --> 00:21:08,789
I guess we'll have
to get creative.
417
00:21:08,789 --> 00:21:10,747
I'm feeling creative right now.
418
00:21:10,747 --> 00:21:12,793
Oh, yeah? [CHUCKLES]
419
00:21:12,793 --> 00:21:14,229
[♪]
420
00:21:14,229 --> 00:21:16,187
Wait. Right now?
421
00:21:16,187 --> 00:21:20,583
[LAUGHING] Oh, my gosh!
You're gonna mess up my hair!
422
00:21:20,583 --> 00:21:23,325
[♪]
423
00:21:23,325 --> 00:21:26,285
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
424
00:21:32,726 --> 00:21:34,293
That bad?
425
00:21:35,903 --> 00:21:37,208
It's terrible.
426
00:21:37,208 --> 00:21:39,385
[LAUGHS] But it's hot.
427
00:21:39,385 --> 00:21:41,343
Yeah.
428
00:21:41,343 --> 00:21:42,997
That's what I said
about my husband.
429
00:21:42,997 --> 00:21:45,478
[BOTH LAUGH]
430
00:21:47,654 --> 00:21:50,178
If you're not
gonna drink it, I will.
431
00:21:52,006 --> 00:21:54,051
Uh...
432
00:21:54,051 --> 00:21:56,532
Yeah. Sure. Take it all.
433
00:21:58,404 --> 00:22:00,928
I miss coffee.
434
00:22:00,928 --> 00:22:04,714
I miss a lot of things, but
I really miss good coffee.
435
00:22:04,714 --> 00:22:08,065
Which this ain't,
but it's like you said.
436
00:22:08,065 --> 00:22:10,894
It's hot. Ah. [CHUCKLES]
437
00:22:10,894 --> 00:22:12,548
I'm Melony.
438
00:22:12,548 --> 00:22:14,158
Leona.
439
00:22:14,158 --> 00:22:15,769
Have you been here long?
440
00:22:15,769 --> 00:22:17,901
Not here. Unh-unh.
441
00:22:17,901 --> 00:22:21,209
I was at, uh, Langforth,
and then Wesley before that.
442
00:22:21,209 --> 00:22:23,037
Lots of us, we sort
of run the circuit
443
00:22:23,037 --> 00:22:25,996
until Social finds
us a place to land.
444
00:22:25,996 --> 00:22:29,391
Some of the girls, they go
back to wherever they left.
445
00:22:29,391 --> 00:22:32,351
But most of us,
we can't do that.
446
00:22:36,790 --> 00:22:38,400
You have any lotion?
447
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,881
They never have
any lotion in this place.
448
00:22:40,881 --> 00:22:43,536
It's like they never
heard of ashy before.
449
00:22:43,536 --> 00:22:45,494
Don't they got lotion
in the showers?
450
00:22:47,714 --> 00:22:49,629
Ladies!
451
00:22:49,629 --> 00:22:51,979
Is there any lotion
in the showers?
452
00:22:51,979 --> 00:22:53,284
[LAUGHTER]
453
00:22:53,284 --> 00:22:55,809
You know ain't no
lotion in them showers.
454
00:22:55,809 --> 00:22:58,681
[LAUGHS] No.
455
00:22:58,681 --> 00:23:02,816
What they do have, though,
is some cheap-ass soap
456
00:23:02,816 --> 00:23:04,208
and some paper towels.
457
00:23:04,208 --> 00:23:05,819
Paper towels.
458
00:23:05,819 --> 00:23:08,865
How you supposed to dry
your hair on paper towels?
459
00:23:08,865 --> 00:23:10,519
Your hair?
460
00:23:10,519 --> 00:23:12,086
Ain't no real shampoo
in this joint anyway.
461
00:23:12,086 --> 00:23:13,696
RUDY: I know that's right.
462
00:23:13,696 --> 00:23:16,351
I tried putting that
green stuff in my hair.
463
00:23:16,351 --> 00:23:18,658
Made it all stick together.
Clumped up like dreadlocks.
464
00:23:18,658 --> 00:23:20,094
LYDIA: Nappy hair.
465
00:23:20,094 --> 00:23:22,139
When I pass my
reflection in a store window,
466
00:23:22,139 --> 00:23:24,098
I say, "Ooh!" Ooh!
467
00:23:24,098 --> 00:23:28,407
"Who is that scary, messy
woman? That's not--"
468
00:23:28,407 --> 00:23:30,931
"It can't be me!"
"It can't be me!"
469
00:23:30,931 --> 00:23:32,585
Ooh! Girls!
470
00:23:32,585 --> 00:23:34,021
Unh.
471
00:23:34,021 --> 00:23:37,807
Um, can I get a
freshen-up on the coffee?
472
00:23:37,807 --> 00:23:39,592
LYDIA: Me-- Me too?
473
00:23:39,592 --> 00:23:42,246
I feel like if you're doing
them, you might as well do me.
474
00:23:42,246 --> 00:23:43,900
LEONA: Ple-e-e-ase?
475
00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:45,598
LYDIA: Ple-e-e-ase?
476
00:23:45,598 --> 00:23:50,211
When I left my house, I
was running for my life.
477
00:23:50,211 --> 00:23:53,736
I didn't pack nothing.
478
00:23:53,736 --> 00:23:56,173
My hair ain't seen a
brush for two months.
479
00:23:56,173 --> 00:23:57,697
Wow.
480
00:23:57,697 --> 00:24:00,047
Those little brushes
they give you? Heh.
481
00:24:00,047 --> 00:24:01,918
They must be for
Barbie doll heads.
482
00:24:01,918 --> 00:24:04,573
RUDY: I just want some grease.
483
00:24:04,573 --> 00:24:07,141
Any kind of grease.
My hair is so thirsty.
484
00:24:07,141 --> 00:24:08,838
Girl, pshh.
485
00:24:08,838 --> 00:24:10,840
I'm about to sell mine
as Brillo pads, okay?
486
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,103
[LAUGHTER]
487
00:24:13,103 --> 00:24:17,238
When my hair doesn't
feel like my hair,
488
00:24:17,238 --> 00:24:19,545
I just don't feel like myself.
489
00:24:19,545 --> 00:24:21,198
[WOMEN MURMURING]
LEONA: You know?
490
00:24:21,198 --> 00:24:23,810
That's why I keep my hat on.
491
00:24:23,810 --> 00:24:26,508
But we can still see
your kitchen back there.
492
00:24:26,508 --> 00:24:27,901
Aah!
493
00:24:27,901 --> 00:24:30,730
[LAUGHTER]
494
00:24:30,730 --> 00:24:32,906
LEONA: You're
supposed to be my friend!
495
00:24:32,906 --> 00:24:35,604
[LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT
CONVERSATIONS]
496
00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,955
MELONY: Are you
sure this is okay?
497
00:24:38,955 --> 00:24:40,609
Oh, it's fine.
498
00:24:40,609 --> 00:24:43,525
They left for a two-day
revival meeting last night.
499
00:24:43,525 --> 00:24:46,397
I'm meeting them at
the hotel in Jackson.
500
00:24:46,397 --> 00:24:50,227
You've got all
day and all night.
501
00:24:50,227 --> 00:24:52,142
Thank you. Try
not to burn it down.
502
00:24:52,142 --> 00:24:55,363
[♪]
503
00:24:55,363 --> 00:24:56,756
Have fun. Thank you, Dee.
504
00:24:56,756 --> 00:24:58,540
All right. Take care. Bye.
505
00:25:04,372 --> 00:25:06,896
LEONA: Hey! MELONY: Hey!
506
00:25:06,896 --> 00:25:09,333
Thank you! Hey,
how are you doing?
507
00:25:09,333 --> 00:25:10,813
What is this?
508
00:25:10,813 --> 00:25:13,163
Well, you're gonna find out.
509
00:25:13,163 --> 00:25:15,601
Okay. Follow me.
510
00:25:15,601 --> 00:25:17,472
[♪]
511
00:25:17,472 --> 00:25:19,866
Come on, come on, come on!
512
00:25:19,866 --> 00:25:21,694
Okay.
513
00:25:21,694 --> 00:25:22,825
[GASPS]
514
00:25:22,825 --> 00:25:24,261
MELONY: Right this way, ladies.
515
00:25:24,261 --> 00:25:26,394
Oh, my goodness. Y'all.
516
00:25:26,394 --> 00:25:28,875
Ooh! I smell real coffee.
517
00:25:28,875 --> 00:25:30,485
Yes.
518
00:25:30,485 --> 00:25:32,705
A real brush! Wow.
519
00:25:32,705 --> 00:25:36,273
It's my sister-in-law's,
but today it's ours.
520
00:25:36,273 --> 00:25:38,188
LEONA [GASPS]: Oh, my...
521
00:25:38,188 --> 00:25:40,451
I can do shampoo,
press and curl,
522
00:25:40,451 --> 00:25:42,410
but nothing too fancy, okay?
523
00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:46,109
Oh, girl, I know my way around
a hot comb and curlers, okay?
524
00:25:46,109 --> 00:25:47,850
You got grease!
525
00:25:47,850 --> 00:25:49,156
LYDIA: Yes!
526
00:25:49,156 --> 00:25:50,505
This coffee. Oh!
527
00:25:50,505 --> 00:25:52,725
Enjoy, ladies. [GASPS] Ooh!
528
00:25:52,725 --> 00:25:55,075
Yes. Thank you!
529
00:25:55,075 --> 00:25:56,642
[CHUCKLES]
530
00:25:56,642 --> 00:26:00,515
And, Miss Leona,
you're first up at the sink.
531
00:26:00,515 --> 00:26:02,299
Oh! [LAUGHS] Right over there.
532
00:26:02,299 --> 00:26:04,127
No. Somebody else can go first.
533
00:26:04,127 --> 00:26:05,607
Unh-unh. No, girl.
534
00:26:05,607 --> 00:26:07,957
Age before beauty. Go ahead.
535
00:26:07,957 --> 00:26:09,393
Stop. Screw you, chicky.
536
00:26:09,393 --> 00:26:10,786
- I'm just saying.
- You...
537
00:26:10,786 --> 00:26:12,962
Just gonna put this over you.
538
00:26:14,355 --> 00:26:15,443
Okay?
539
00:26:15,443 --> 00:26:17,140
[♪]
540
00:26:17,140 --> 00:26:19,012
There.
541
00:26:19,012 --> 00:26:20,579
All right.
542
00:26:20,579 --> 00:26:21,580
LEONA: Hm.
543
00:26:24,844 --> 00:26:26,846
Hey.
544
00:26:26,846 --> 00:26:30,458
I'm gonna have to take
your hat off now, okay?
545
00:26:30,458 --> 00:26:32,242
Yeah? Mm.
546
00:26:32,242 --> 00:26:33,679
All right.
547
00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:36,116
[WHIMPERS] Just gonna...
548
00:26:36,116 --> 00:26:38,248
Just gonna take it off.
549
00:26:38,248 --> 00:26:40,990
There we go.
550
00:26:40,990 --> 00:26:45,081
Oh. I'm sorry. I hope
it doesn't smell bad.
551
00:26:45,081 --> 00:26:47,997
No. Of course not! You're fine.
552
00:26:47,997 --> 00:26:49,782
It's fine. [WHIMPERS]
553
00:26:49,782 --> 00:26:53,263
Come on. I got you.
554
00:26:55,744 --> 00:26:59,269
Okay. There we go.
555
00:26:59,269 --> 00:27:01,097
[WATER RUNNING]
556
00:27:01,097 --> 00:27:03,709
[♪]
557
00:27:03,709 --> 00:27:05,798
[SOBBING]
558
00:27:05,798 --> 00:27:07,495
[WATER STOPS]
559
00:27:07,495 --> 00:27:09,497
Miss Leona?
560
00:27:09,497 --> 00:27:11,281
Are you okay?
561
00:27:11,281 --> 00:27:12,587
Did I hurt you?
562
00:27:12,587 --> 00:27:14,894
No. It's-- It's just... [SNIFFS]
563
00:27:14,894 --> 00:27:19,159
I just haven't been
touched in so... long.
564
00:27:19,159 --> 00:27:20,639
RUDY: Go ahead, Miss Melony.
565
00:27:20,639 --> 00:27:23,163
She'll be fine. [LEONA WHIMPERS]
566
00:27:23,163 --> 00:27:24,686
You got this, girl.
567
00:27:24,686 --> 00:27:27,515
This is a healing, Miss Lee Lee.
568
00:27:27,515 --> 00:27:29,691
We're all gonna get a healing.
569
00:27:29,691 --> 00:27:32,085
[EXHALES SHAKILY, SNIFFS]
570
00:27:32,085 --> 00:27:34,043
Okay.
571
00:27:34,043 --> 00:27:35,697
All right.
572
00:27:37,133 --> 00:27:38,613
[WATER RUNNING]
573
00:27:38,613 --> 00:27:40,702
All right. Here we go.
574
00:27:41,703 --> 00:27:42,704
Is that okay?
575
00:27:42,704 --> 00:27:46,403
[♪]
576
00:27:46,403 --> 00:27:49,102
Wow. Just...
577
00:27:49,102 --> 00:27:50,494
Wow!
578
00:27:52,322 --> 00:27:55,935
Look at you!
579
00:27:55,935 --> 00:27:59,678
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
580
00:27:59,678 --> 00:28:02,942
I'mma get this throne.
581
00:28:02,942 --> 00:28:04,334
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
582
00:28:04,334 --> 00:28:06,859
Girl, you look good! Thank you!
583
00:28:06,859 --> 00:28:11,428
[GASPS] God bless you, Miss Mel.
584
00:28:11,428 --> 00:28:13,735
You have a gift. Truly.
585
00:28:13,735 --> 00:28:15,911
You look so beautiful.
586
00:28:15,911 --> 00:28:18,087
Thank you. All of you.
587
00:28:19,959 --> 00:28:22,831
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
588
00:28:26,269 --> 00:28:27,183
Kevin.
589
00:28:28,750 --> 00:28:30,317
Hey. Mm.
590
00:28:33,015 --> 00:28:35,148
[GROANS]
591
00:28:35,148 --> 00:28:36,410
Kevin. Mm.
592
00:28:36,410 --> 00:28:38,542
What's wrong? What's
wrong? Wake up.
593
00:28:38,542 --> 00:28:40,414
You know how you said
594
00:28:40,414 --> 00:28:43,199
you want to start your
own ministry one day,
595
00:28:43,199 --> 00:28:46,550
when the time is right
and you hear God call you?
596
00:28:46,550 --> 00:28:48,901
[EXHALES DEEPLY] Yeah.
597
00:28:48,901 --> 00:28:50,119
That's right.
598
00:28:50,119 --> 00:28:51,207
Well...
599
00:28:52,992 --> 00:28:57,823
...I think... I think I
hear God calling me.
600
00:28:57,823 --> 00:29:00,739
I think I know my purpose.
601
00:29:00,739 --> 00:29:02,697
It's something about hair.
602
00:29:02,697 --> 00:29:05,569
God wants you to
be a hairdresser?
603
00:29:05,569 --> 00:29:08,355
I don't know. Maybe.
604
00:29:08,355 --> 00:29:13,534
I can't help feeling like I
should... do something.
605
00:29:15,797 --> 00:29:18,017
I get that. You do?
606
00:29:18,017 --> 00:29:21,847
Yeah. Maybe you
could start a hair church.
607
00:29:21,847 --> 00:29:24,675
Folks could tithe their
combs and brushes.
608
00:29:24,675 --> 00:29:26,547
You could have a
special roped-off area
609
00:29:26,547 --> 00:29:27,983
for folks with Jheri curls
610
00:29:27,983 --> 00:29:30,072
so they don't drip
juice on everybody.
611
00:29:30,072 --> 00:29:31,334
I'm being serious.
[LAUGHING] Okay! Okay.
612
00:29:31,334 --> 00:29:32,945
Okay.
613
00:29:32,945 --> 00:29:34,468
[CHUCKLES]
614
00:29:34,468 --> 00:29:36,992
Whatever you're
being called to do, babe,
615
00:29:36,992 --> 00:29:38,341
I support it.
616
00:29:38,341 --> 00:29:40,604
Thank you.
617
00:29:40,604 --> 00:29:44,086
Just as long as
you scratch my head
618
00:29:44,086 --> 00:29:46,523
and keep me far away
from the weave choir, okay?
619
00:29:46,523 --> 00:29:48,395
All right. Yeah. Yeah.
Scratch your head?
620
00:29:48,395 --> 00:29:49,613
Mm-hmm. What, like this?
621
00:29:49,613 --> 00:29:50,789
Huh? Stop. Stop.
622
00:29:50,789 --> 00:29:52,442
[LAUGHS] Give me a kiss.
623
00:29:52,442 --> 00:29:53,835
Give me a kiss. No.
624
00:29:53,835 --> 00:29:55,489
Give me a kiss.
You don't deserve it!
625
00:29:55,489 --> 00:29:57,665
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
626
00:29:57,665 --> 00:29:59,928
Who's calling this late?
627
00:30:01,451 --> 00:30:03,323
Hello? [THUNDER RUMBLING]
628
00:30:03,323 --> 00:30:05,238
[♪]
629
00:30:05,238 --> 00:30:07,631
Oh, my God.
630
00:30:07,631 --> 00:30:10,417
Oh, that's terrible.
631
00:30:10,417 --> 00:30:13,681
I'll be right there. What is it?
632
00:30:13,681 --> 00:30:15,901
The pipes burst at the shelter.
633
00:30:15,901 --> 00:30:18,991
The whole place is flooded.
They're moving the women out.
634
00:30:18,991 --> 00:30:21,123
So, what are you gonna
do? Where are you going?
635
00:30:21,123 --> 00:30:23,343
Those are my ladies, Kev.
636
00:30:23,343 --> 00:30:25,780
I got to be there for them.
637
00:30:25,780 --> 00:30:28,565
[♪]
638
00:30:28,565 --> 00:30:30,176
[RAIN FALLING] [LOCK RATTLING]
639
00:30:30,176 --> 00:30:31,917
[SIGHS]
640
00:30:31,917 --> 00:30:35,268
I'll notify you when
we can reopen.
641
00:30:35,268 --> 00:30:37,139
You should go dry off.
642
00:30:37,139 --> 00:30:40,447
Yeah. Good night.
643
00:30:40,447 --> 00:30:41,709
Good night.
644
00:30:46,366 --> 00:30:47,933
Where's Lydia and Rudy?
645
00:30:47,933 --> 00:30:50,457
Both of them shipped
to other shelters.
646
00:30:50,457 --> 00:30:52,633
Just waiting on my
play brother Garvin.
647
00:30:52,633 --> 00:30:55,027
I'll stay with him a while.
648
00:30:55,027 --> 00:30:56,637
We're all split up now.
649
00:30:58,682 --> 00:31:01,555
I know. It sucks, right?
650
00:31:01,555 --> 00:31:03,687
You see Lydia, though?
651
00:31:03,687 --> 00:31:05,951
She gave 'em hell for making
her stand out here in the rain
652
00:31:05,951 --> 00:31:09,345
with her hair freshly
did. [LAUGHS]
653
00:31:09,345 --> 00:31:12,087
She was madder about that
than having to move again.
654
00:31:12,087 --> 00:31:14,394
I told her, "Calm down.
655
00:31:14,394 --> 00:31:16,352
All our hair got wrecked."
656
00:31:22,315 --> 00:31:24,404
I'm sorry.
657
00:31:24,404 --> 00:31:26,493
Hey.
658
00:31:26,493 --> 00:31:28,147
It's not your fault.
659
00:31:28,147 --> 00:31:31,846
Hell, we all got to be
princesses for a whole night.
660
00:31:31,846 --> 00:31:33,804
Yeah. All four of us.
661
00:31:33,804 --> 00:31:36,633
Couldn't nobody tell us nothing.
662
00:31:36,633 --> 00:31:39,941
It's just, you know,
water and nature
663
00:31:39,941 --> 00:31:42,509
got the last word, as always.
664
00:31:45,599 --> 00:31:48,819
I think that's him. That's him?
665
00:31:48,819 --> 00:31:51,344
Take care of yourself. You too.
666
00:31:57,045 --> 00:31:58,960
[ENGINE IDLING]
667
00:32:01,441 --> 00:32:03,182
I'll see you again.
668
00:32:05,097 --> 00:32:06,837
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
MELONY: I just wish
669
00:32:06,837 --> 00:32:09,318
there was something
more I could do for them.
670
00:32:09,318 --> 00:32:11,712
KEVIN: You were there,
baby. That's enough.
671
00:32:11,712 --> 00:32:14,628
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
672
00:32:20,068 --> 00:32:21,374
Freedom hair.
673
00:32:21,374 --> 00:32:23,593
What's that?
674
00:32:23,593 --> 00:32:26,422
It's what I used to call this,
675
00:32:26,422 --> 00:32:31,036
when my hair was just
itself and wild and free.
676
00:32:34,691 --> 00:32:38,695
My grandmother, she let me
wear it out like this one weekend
677
00:32:38,695 --> 00:32:40,219
when my mom was away.
678
00:32:42,438 --> 00:32:46,181
One weekend of
freedom in 25 years.
679
00:32:52,971 --> 00:32:56,409
Split ends, breakage,
680
00:32:56,409 --> 00:33:00,108
pain, relaxer burns, and...
681
00:33:00,108 --> 00:33:02,284
who knows what
other kind of damage
682
00:33:02,284 --> 00:33:04,417
from more home
perms than I can count.
683
00:33:06,027 --> 00:33:07,855
And for what, Kevin?
684
00:33:07,855 --> 00:33:09,161
Straightness?
685
00:33:10,989 --> 00:33:12,947
Why? You're shaking.
686
00:33:12,947 --> 00:33:15,341
Here's some soup. Your favorite.
687
00:33:20,128 --> 00:33:21,825
I think I'm gonna be sick!
688
00:33:21,825 --> 00:33:24,480
[COUGHS, VOMITS]
689
00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:26,613
All right. All right. I got you.
690
00:33:26,613 --> 00:33:29,964
All right. I'm here.
[GAGS, VOMITS]
691
00:33:29,964 --> 00:33:33,098
Well, folks, it is not the flu.
692
00:33:33,098 --> 00:33:36,275
And, Mrs. Armstrong,
you're gonna have a baby.
693
00:33:37,493 --> 00:33:39,539
Uh, I'm...
694
00:33:39,539 --> 00:33:41,280
DOCTOR: You're pregnant.
695
00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:42,672
W-- I'm pregnant?
696
00:33:44,326 --> 00:33:46,328
Baby, we're pregnant! Oh, my--
697
00:33:46,328 --> 00:33:48,809
DOCTOR: Congratulations.
[LAUGHING] Oh, my God!
698
00:33:48,809 --> 00:33:52,117
We're pregnant! Oh, my God!
699
00:33:52,117 --> 00:33:55,294
MELONY: So I've
got to learn to breathe?
700
00:33:55,294 --> 00:33:58,732
Also here's a sample of
the vitamins you'll need.
701
00:33:58,732 --> 00:34:00,908
Vitamins? Sweetheart!
702
00:34:00,908 --> 00:34:03,824
Pregnancy takes
all of the strength
703
00:34:03,824 --> 00:34:05,434
and vitamins out of you.
704
00:34:05,434 --> 00:34:06,957
Okay. But--
705
00:34:06,957 --> 00:34:11,658
Excuse me, but your
hair is magnificent.
706
00:34:11,658 --> 00:34:12,920
Oh, my goodness.
707
00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:14,095
I've never seen
anything like it.
708
00:34:14,095 --> 00:34:17,881
How did you... Where did you...
709
00:34:17,881 --> 00:34:20,580
It's a little shop
called Bernetta's.
710
00:34:20,580 --> 00:34:24,062
I found it passing
by in Memphis.
711
00:34:24,062 --> 00:34:26,934
She's pretty pricy. Heh.
712
00:34:26,934 --> 00:34:30,198
But, girl, she can
change your life.
713
00:34:30,198 --> 00:34:33,810
There's nothing
stronger than the braid.
714
00:34:33,810 --> 00:34:35,377
[♪]
715
00:34:35,377 --> 00:34:36,944
MELONY: I can't believe
716
00:34:36,944 --> 00:34:38,728
it took five months to
get this appointment.
717
00:34:38,728 --> 00:34:40,904
{\an8}KEVIN: Well, I can't believe
we drove to Tennessee
718
00:34:40,904 --> 00:34:42,515
to get your hair done.
719
00:34:44,517 --> 00:34:45,779
Melony, right?
720
00:34:45,779 --> 00:34:47,737
Yeah. Hello. I'm Bernetta.
721
00:34:47,737 --> 00:34:48,825
Hi. Look at you!
722
00:34:48,825 --> 00:34:51,132
Come in! Sit down! Okay.
723
00:34:51,132 --> 00:34:52,568
And I'm gonna
wash your hair myself
724
00:34:52,568 --> 00:34:53,917
so I can learn your textures.
725
00:34:53,917 --> 00:34:55,832
My textures? Your textures.
726
00:34:55,832 --> 00:34:58,748
[♪]
727
00:35:02,665 --> 00:35:05,103
Let me know if
that's too cold or hot.
728
00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:07,322
No. It's perfect. Thank you.
729
00:35:07,322 --> 00:35:08,845
[CHUCKLES]
730
00:35:08,845 --> 00:35:10,717
Wow.
731
00:35:10,717 --> 00:35:12,893
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
732
00:35:12,893 --> 00:35:15,069
Okay. [LAUGHS]
733
00:35:15,069 --> 00:35:17,637
Is this your first time, Melony?
734
00:35:17,637 --> 00:35:19,639
Yeah, it is. I've--
735
00:35:19,639 --> 00:35:21,728
Oh. Thank you.
736
00:35:21,728 --> 00:35:24,557
I've never done
anything like this before.
737
00:35:24,557 --> 00:35:26,863
Do you know what
kind of style you like?
738
00:35:26,863 --> 00:35:28,343
Oh. I do.
739
00:35:28,343 --> 00:35:32,304
I saw this woman,
and she had like...
740
00:35:32,304 --> 00:35:35,002
like a hundred or
two hundred braids
741
00:35:35,002 --> 00:35:38,092
all in her hair just
crisscrossing all the way.
742
00:35:38,092 --> 00:35:40,486
Just swept up like
a crown. [LAUGHS]
743
00:35:40,486 --> 00:35:42,183
An up-do.
744
00:35:42,183 --> 00:35:43,706
Is this for a special occasion?
745
00:35:43,706 --> 00:35:46,187
Just my life.
746
00:35:46,187 --> 00:35:47,971
I'm-- I'm five months
pregnant, though.
747
00:35:47,971 --> 00:35:49,799
Oh. I see! [CHUCKLES]
748
00:35:49,799 --> 00:35:51,584
Well, let's make
749
00:35:51,584 --> 00:35:54,674
the next four months of
that journey beautiful, okay?
750
00:35:54,674 --> 00:35:55,805
Okay. All right, now.
751
00:35:55,805 --> 00:35:57,807
Then let's get started!
752
00:35:57,807 --> 00:35:59,548
Here we go.
753
00:35:59,548 --> 00:36:01,420
No peeking until we're done.
754
00:36:01,420 --> 00:36:02,769
Oh. Okay.
755
00:36:02,769 --> 00:36:04,031
Here you go.
756
00:36:04,031 --> 00:36:08,818
Oh. Close your eyes and relax.
757
00:36:08,818 --> 00:36:10,951
[♪]
758
00:36:10,951 --> 00:36:12,866
Okay.
759
00:36:52,775 --> 00:36:54,037
BERNETTA: Melony.
760
00:36:55,082 --> 00:36:57,040
[CHUCKLES] Melony.
761
00:36:58,825 --> 00:37:01,871
Take a look, honey. We're done.
762
00:37:06,963 --> 00:37:09,227
Excuse me, miss. That's my--
763
00:37:11,141 --> 00:37:12,795
Oh, my God.
764
00:37:12,795 --> 00:37:14,797
[LAUGHS]
765
00:37:14,797 --> 00:37:16,756
Oh, my God.
766
00:37:16,756 --> 00:37:19,324
[♪]
767
00:37:19,324 --> 00:37:20,977
Do you like it?
768
00:37:20,977 --> 00:37:22,762
I love it. Oh.
769
00:37:22,762 --> 00:37:25,417
Can I... Can I touch it?
770
00:37:25,417 --> 00:37:27,810
Oh, you can do
anything you want with it.
771
00:37:27,810 --> 00:37:30,030
It's indestructible.
772
00:37:30,030 --> 00:37:31,684
Oh, oh.
773
00:37:33,947 --> 00:37:36,906
[LAUGHS]
774
00:37:36,906 --> 00:37:43,739
Your hair is as
beautiful as you are.
775
00:37:43,739 --> 00:37:45,872
It's like what's always
been inside of you
776
00:37:45,872 --> 00:37:48,178
has finally got set free.
777
00:37:48,178 --> 00:37:51,399
That's exactly
how I feel, Kevin.
778
00:37:51,399 --> 00:37:56,274
It's like... everything's
all coming together.
779
00:37:56,274 --> 00:37:58,232
This... Aah!
780
00:37:58,232 --> 00:38:00,974
This transformation that I feel!
781
00:38:00,974 --> 00:38:03,324
It's-- It's a healing, Kev.
782
00:38:05,413 --> 00:38:07,241
Like what if--
783
00:38:07,241 --> 00:38:11,158
What if every Black woman
in Mississippi felt this way?
784
00:38:11,158 --> 00:38:12,420
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
785
00:38:12,420 --> 00:38:15,205
Like, when we start feeling good
786
00:38:15,205 --> 00:38:17,164
and beautiful and powerful...
787
00:38:17,164 --> 00:38:19,775
[LAUGHS] ...that's
a revolution, Kev!
788
00:38:19,775 --> 00:38:24,127
And, God, I just want to...
I want to free women up!
789
00:38:24,127 --> 00:38:28,828
I want-- And-- And I'm
gonna start by braiding hair.
790
00:38:28,828 --> 00:38:32,440
Okay. But... you don't
know how to braid.
791
00:38:34,834 --> 00:38:38,011
Be real. When in your life
have you ever braided hair?
792
00:38:38,011 --> 00:38:39,839
But that's not the point.
793
00:38:39,839 --> 00:38:42,755
If I know what I want to
do, I can learn how to do it.
794
00:38:42,755 --> 00:38:44,322
Melony... Look.
795
00:38:44,322 --> 00:38:46,498
Bernetta told me
about a huge hair show
796
00:38:46,498 --> 00:38:48,630
coming to Atlanta in
a couple of months.
797
00:38:48,630 --> 00:38:50,806
They do a class on
African hair braiding.
798
00:38:52,634 --> 00:38:56,159
I...Look. It's not cheap,
but it's an investment.
799
00:38:56,159 --> 00:38:58,292
How large an investment?
800
00:38:58,292 --> 00:39:00,947
Twelve hundred dollars
plus hotel and travel.
801
00:39:00,947 --> 00:39:02,818
Twelve hundred dollars?
802
00:39:02,818 --> 00:39:05,168
I'm not asking you for
permission or for money.
803
00:39:05,168 --> 00:39:08,346
I'm asking for your support.
804
00:39:09,651 --> 00:39:12,567
[♪]
805
00:39:15,396 --> 00:39:16,919
KEVIN:Okay.
806
00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:19,574
You have it.
807
00:39:29,889 --> 00:39:31,673
♪ If I cut my hair
Hope I grow it long ♪
808
00:39:31,673 --> 00:39:34,067
♪ Back long, back
time Like way before ♪
809
00:39:34,067 --> 00:39:36,243
♪ If I wear it straight
Would they like me more? ♪
810
00:39:36,243 --> 00:39:38,680
♪ Like those girls
On front covers ♪
811
00:39:38,680 --> 00:39:40,987
♪ Long hair Make
'em stay little longer ♪
812
00:39:40,987 --> 00:39:43,119
♪ Stay hair, stay straight
Though we feel ashamed ♪
813
00:39:43,119 --> 00:39:45,557
♪ By the curls, waves
And natural things ♪
814
00:39:45,557 --> 00:39:47,559
♪ Curls, waves
And natural things ♪
815
00:39:47,559 --> 00:39:50,257
♪ Okay, one time
If I grow it long... ♪
816
00:39:50,257 --> 00:39:53,565
TALIAH: The keys to successful
professional microbraiding
817
00:39:53,565 --> 00:39:56,959
are patience,
precision, and efficiency.
818
00:39:56,959 --> 00:39:59,005
Move too fast,
819
00:39:59,005 --> 00:40:02,574
and you'll make mistakes
that can cost you hours to fix.
820
00:40:02,574 --> 00:40:07,535
Move too slowly and you'll
lose customers, money, and time.
821
00:40:07,535 --> 00:40:11,583
This is an advanced class,
and I'm assuming you all have
822
00:40:11,583 --> 00:40:14,412
at least three years of
prior braiding experience.
823
00:40:14,412 --> 00:40:15,674
Yes?
824
00:40:15,674 --> 00:40:16,631
WOMEN: Yes.
825
00:40:24,465 --> 00:40:27,903
Today we're using Caucasian-
grade wigs as subjects.
826
00:40:27,903 --> 00:40:31,690
Now, the straightness will
deliver its own set of problems.
827
00:40:31,690 --> 00:40:34,475
Take your parting combs,
and let's use the mannequins
828
00:40:34,475 --> 00:40:37,043
to begin with a basic feed-in.
829
00:40:37,043 --> 00:40:39,654
[♪]
830
00:41:10,598 --> 00:41:12,513
[HAIR RIPPING]
831
00:41:24,394 --> 00:41:25,961
You'll never fix this.
832
00:41:25,961 --> 00:41:27,746
Take that out and start over.
833
00:41:34,796 --> 00:41:39,018
I'm the slowest,
dumbest person there.
834
00:41:39,018 --> 00:41:41,542
I'm so behind.
835
00:41:41,542 --> 00:41:44,414
And tomorrow is
gonna be even harder.
836
00:41:46,547 --> 00:41:49,681
[SIGHS] It's just impossible.
837
00:41:49,681 --> 00:41:51,378
Cool.
838
00:41:51,378 --> 00:41:52,988
Then let's jump in the
car and get out of here
839
00:41:52,988 --> 00:41:55,164
before they charge
another day's parking fee.
840
00:41:55,164 --> 00:41:57,036
Wait. What?
841
00:41:57,036 --> 00:41:59,386
Well, you're saying
you just can't do it, right?
842
00:41:59,386 --> 00:42:02,041
You didn't know it was
gonna be this hard, so let's go.
843
00:42:02,041 --> 00:42:03,999
Come on.
844
00:42:03,999 --> 00:42:05,305
I hate you.
845
00:42:05,305 --> 00:42:07,220
[CHUCKLES]
846
00:42:07,220 --> 00:42:08,700
You don't want to... You sure?
847
00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:09,788
I love you.
848
00:42:09,788 --> 00:42:11,137
You love me now? Yeah.
849
00:42:11,137 --> 00:42:12,704
We're chillin'? We're chillin'.
850
00:42:12,704 --> 00:42:13,966
Okay.
851
00:42:13,966 --> 00:42:15,881
Thank you.
852
00:42:15,881 --> 00:42:19,449
The hair you work on
may be heat damaged,
853
00:42:19,449 --> 00:42:23,802
broken off, fragile,
or chemically stripped.
854
00:42:23,802 --> 00:42:27,936
The extension should
support the existing hair,
855
00:42:27,936 --> 00:42:29,808
not just enhance it.
856
00:42:29,808 --> 00:42:33,463
I want to see three
different styles today, people,
857
00:42:33,463 --> 00:42:36,728
for three completely
different women.
858
00:42:36,728 --> 00:42:38,773
Extensions are on the table.
859
00:42:38,773 --> 00:42:40,340
You have two hours.
860
00:42:40,340 --> 00:42:41,776
Go.
861
00:42:44,692 --> 00:42:46,825
[♪]
862
00:43:04,494 --> 00:43:05,974
Mm-hmm.
863
00:43:07,976 --> 00:43:09,412
TALIAH: Do you
understand the assignment?
864
00:43:11,066 --> 00:43:12,851
Oh. Y-Yes.
865
00:43:12,851 --> 00:43:15,854
I just-- I just have to
get to know them first.
866
00:43:17,464 --> 00:43:18,421
Know them?
867
00:43:18,421 --> 00:43:20,075
Mm-hmm.
868
00:43:20,075 --> 00:43:22,861
Okay. Who are they?
869
00:43:26,299 --> 00:43:27,517
This one...
870
00:43:27,517 --> 00:43:28,954
[CLEARS THROAT] ...is...
871
00:43:30,738 --> 00:43:32,610
Leona.
872
00:43:32,610 --> 00:43:34,699
She's not fancy, but she--
873
00:43:34,699 --> 00:43:39,355
She wants to feel
pretty and respected.
874
00:43:39,355 --> 00:43:41,706
TALIAH: Keep going.
Everyone else, gather around.
875
00:43:41,706 --> 00:43:46,667
This one here, this is Lydia.
876
00:43:46,667 --> 00:43:50,105
She's all about
fashion and glamour.
877
00:43:50,105 --> 00:43:52,020
But she's also really smart.
878
00:43:54,109 --> 00:43:58,113
And this last one here is Tiny.
879
00:43:58,113 --> 00:44:03,815
She's young and wild,
but her hair controls her.
880
00:44:03,815 --> 00:44:06,644
She wants to control it.
881
00:44:16,436 --> 00:44:17,611
Excellent, Melony.
882
00:44:17,611 --> 00:44:18,873
Oh.
883
00:44:18,873 --> 00:44:20,483
Keep working.
884
00:44:20,483 --> 00:44:22,181
The rest of you,
885
00:44:22,181 --> 00:44:25,053
if you haven't had a
conversation with your client
886
00:44:25,053 --> 00:44:28,491
and gotten a better
insight into who they are,
887
00:44:28,491 --> 00:44:31,364
rip out what you've
started and start again.
888
00:44:31,364 --> 00:44:34,193
This is about
people first, then hair,
889
00:44:34,193 --> 00:44:35,977
not the other way around.
890
00:44:35,977 --> 00:44:37,413
Let's go.
891
00:44:37,413 --> 00:44:39,851
[STUDENTS SIGHING, MURMURING]
892
00:44:39,851 --> 00:44:42,941
Good job. Thanks.
893
00:44:47,249 --> 00:44:48,773
For the baby.
894
00:44:48,773 --> 00:44:50,775
Oh.
895
00:44:50,775 --> 00:44:53,212
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
896
00:44:53,212 --> 00:44:55,040
Thank you.
897
00:44:55,040 --> 00:45:00,001
You have some nerve
coming in here with no skills.
898
00:45:00,001 --> 00:45:03,352
Nerves or... maybe courage.
899
00:45:05,746 --> 00:45:07,269
I just had to learn.
900
00:45:07,269 --> 00:45:09,184
I can't explain it.
901
00:45:09,184 --> 00:45:10,795
Melony, you have a gift.
902
00:45:10,795 --> 00:45:13,188
You braid from the heart.
903
00:45:13,188 --> 00:45:15,582
And once your speed
and your technique
904
00:45:15,582 --> 00:45:17,410
is where your heart is,
905
00:45:17,410 --> 00:45:19,978
you're going to be unstoppable.
906
00:45:23,285 --> 00:45:26,419
Are there any more
classes I can take?
907
00:45:26,419 --> 00:45:28,900
Just so I can keep practicing.
908
00:45:28,900 --> 00:45:32,120
You're from Mississippi,
right? Mm-hmm.
909
00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:35,689
Well, Melony, the cosmetology
schools in Mississippi
910
00:45:35,689 --> 00:45:37,735
don't even teach braiding.
911
00:45:37,735 --> 00:45:40,912
After today, you learn by doing.
912
00:45:40,912 --> 00:45:42,609
[♪]
913
00:45:42,609 --> 00:45:44,306
Braid everything.
914
00:45:44,306 --> 00:45:46,352
Get strong.
915
00:45:46,352 --> 00:45:50,269
The only limits are the
ones you set for yourself.
916
00:45:50,269 --> 00:45:52,837
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
917
00:45:52,837 --> 00:45:56,275
I still can't believe they
haven't fixed that hole.
918
00:45:56,275 --> 00:45:59,408
[CHUCKLES] We're lucky
they fixed the pipes at all.
919
00:45:59,408 --> 00:46:01,846
Hm.
920
00:46:01,846 --> 00:46:04,979
How much you charge to-- to
do that on a real, live person?
921
00:46:06,981 --> 00:46:08,635
I don't really know.
922
00:46:08,635 --> 00:46:10,463
I haven't had a customer yet.
923
00:46:10,463 --> 00:46:12,813
Girl, what are you waiting for?
924
00:46:12,813 --> 00:46:16,208
I'll pay you 40 bucks if you
can do something with this.
925
00:46:16,208 --> 00:46:18,384
[CLEARS THROAT]
Now, I washed it before,
926
00:46:18,384 --> 00:46:20,255
so you ain't got to worry
about cooties or nothing.
927
00:46:20,255 --> 00:46:22,736
Girl, don't be silly.
928
00:46:22,736 --> 00:46:26,871
Rosemary, I'll braid
your hair for free.
929
00:46:26,871 --> 00:46:28,655
You just pay for extensions.
930
00:46:28,655 --> 00:46:30,396
Sure. [LAUGHS]
931
00:46:30,396 --> 00:46:32,267
What are extensions?
932
00:46:32,267 --> 00:46:33,007
Oh.
933
00:46:36,402 --> 00:46:38,317
ROSEMARY: I want to
see. I want to see! [LAUGHS]
934
00:46:38,317 --> 00:46:39,666
I can't take it! [LAUGHS]
935
00:46:39,666 --> 00:46:42,234
MELONY: Okay. Okay.
936
00:46:42,234 --> 00:46:43,278
You're done.
937
00:46:43,278 --> 00:46:44,627
Take a look. Ooh!
938
00:46:44,627 --> 00:46:46,238
[WOMEN CHEERING]
939
00:46:46,238 --> 00:46:49,067
A mirror! Who got a
mirror? Who got a mirror?
940
00:46:50,242 --> 00:46:51,634
Hell yeah!
941
00:46:51,634 --> 00:46:54,159
[WOMEN CHEERING]
[ROSEMARY LAUGHING]
942
00:46:56,161 --> 00:46:58,206
I'm gonna tell everybody
I know about you.
943
00:46:58,206 --> 00:47:00,861
Whoo! You better get ready.
You're about to blow up.
944
00:47:00,861 --> 00:47:02,558
[LAUGHING] Oh, my God!
945
00:47:02,558 --> 00:47:05,344
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
946
00:47:05,344 --> 00:47:08,260
[♪]
947
00:47:20,620 --> 00:47:21,882
[WOMEN MURMURING]
948
00:47:25,755 --> 00:47:28,019
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
949
00:47:36,941 --> 00:47:38,333
Oh.
950
00:47:38,333 --> 00:47:39,639
Ooh.
951
00:47:41,946 --> 00:47:43,512
Oh. Ooh.
952
00:47:43,512 --> 00:47:45,645
No. It's coming. Oh.
953
00:47:45,645 --> 00:47:48,474
Kevin! Kevin!
954
00:47:48,474 --> 00:47:49,997
[SHUTTER CLICKING]
955
00:47:52,304 --> 00:47:53,261
DEE: Got it.
956
00:47:53,261 --> 00:47:54,523
Perfect.
957
00:47:54,523 --> 00:47:56,090
[LAUGHS]
958
00:47:58,571 --> 00:48:00,399
Dee, has anyone got back about--
959
00:48:00,399 --> 00:48:02,662
Girl, relax.
960
00:48:02,662 --> 00:48:04,882
I told them you'd push
all appointments back
961
00:48:04,882 --> 00:48:06,492
a couple of weeks.
962
00:48:06,492 --> 00:48:09,060
One lady got salty.
963
00:48:09,060 --> 00:48:11,627
She said when she
dropped her baby,
964
00:48:11,627 --> 00:48:13,716
she went back to
work the same day.
965
00:48:13,716 --> 00:48:15,370
No. I said:
966
00:48:15,370 --> 00:48:17,503
"This ain't no dang plantation.
967
00:48:17,503 --> 00:48:19,418
And you're not Kizzy."
968
00:48:19,418 --> 00:48:20,810
[BOTH LAUGH]
969
00:48:20,810 --> 00:48:23,596
Them nappy heads
can wait. Mm-hmm.
970
00:48:23,596 --> 00:48:28,862
Melony... this
is your first baby.
971
00:48:28,862 --> 00:48:32,344
You need to give yourself time
to get your strength back up.
972
00:48:32,344 --> 00:48:36,000
BETTY: My chicken
soup should help with that.
973
00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:38,611
[♪]
974
00:48:51,711 --> 00:48:54,975
Is that my new grandbaby?
975
00:48:54,975 --> 00:48:59,327
Ma Betty, I want
you to meet Kevin Jr.
976
00:48:59,327 --> 00:49:00,676
Oh! K.J.
977
00:49:00,676 --> 00:49:02,591
Ooh! There you go.
978
00:49:02,591 --> 00:49:04,463
Yes. [LAUGHS]
979
00:49:04,463 --> 00:49:05,943
K.J.!
980
00:49:05,943 --> 00:49:07,466
[BABY COOING]
981
00:49:07,466 --> 00:49:09,120
Mm-hmm.
982
00:49:09,120 --> 00:49:12,906
Oh! Look at you, baby.
983
00:49:12,906 --> 00:49:15,691
K.J. Oh!
984
00:49:15,691 --> 00:49:17,519
[LAUGHS]
985
00:49:17,519 --> 00:49:19,391
[♪]
986
00:49:19,391 --> 00:49:21,654
MELONY: Eight
hundred and fifty dollars.
987
00:49:21,654 --> 00:49:25,179
That's more in one day
than one week at the shelter.
988
00:49:25,179 --> 00:49:28,052
Last weekend I made $1,500, Kev.
989
00:49:28,052 --> 00:49:30,010
But it's hurting you.
990
00:49:30,010 --> 00:49:32,882
Your fingers are
stiff. Your arms ache.
991
00:49:32,882 --> 00:49:35,276
Yeah, but it comes with the job.
992
00:49:35,276 --> 00:49:37,235
If I braid full time,
993
00:49:37,235 --> 00:49:40,238
I could probably make
enough to cover my half and--
994
00:49:40,238 --> 00:49:43,197
and even rent a little
studio to work out of.
995
00:49:45,069 --> 00:49:47,027
I don't know. I could
go professional.
996
00:49:47,027 --> 00:49:49,595
I could-- I could do this!
997
00:49:49,595 --> 00:49:53,251
I wonder if I'd need a
license or something.
998
00:49:53,251 --> 00:49:56,819
Thirty thousand
dollars for a license?
999
00:49:57,907 --> 00:50:00,519
Miss Clara, that can't be right.
1000
00:50:00,519 --> 00:50:02,608
KEVIN: Hey, sis.
I'm braiding hair,
1001
00:50:02,608 --> 00:50:04,392
not flying an airplane.
1002
00:50:04,392 --> 00:50:06,133
Well, let me talk
to your supervisor.
1003
00:50:07,613 --> 00:50:09,658
Hello?
1004
00:50:09,658 --> 00:50:11,660
KEVIN: What happened?
1005
00:50:11,660 --> 00:50:17,057
Same person keeps giving me
all kinds of ridiculous information.
1006
00:50:17,057 --> 00:50:18,885
No license costs that much.
1007
00:50:18,885 --> 00:50:21,148
Gonna have to go
down there myself.
1008
00:50:21,148 --> 00:50:23,411
KEVIN: To Jackson? That's
400 miles round-trip, babe.
1009
00:50:23,411 --> 00:50:24,760
You sure you don't want to wait
1010
00:50:24,760 --> 00:50:25,892
and go when I
can help you drive?
1011
00:50:25,892 --> 00:50:28,068
Let me take the baby. Oh.
1012
00:50:28,068 --> 00:50:31,332
I'll look after K.J. You
take care of your business.
1013
00:50:31,332 --> 00:50:33,030
Thank you, girl.
1014
00:50:33,030 --> 00:50:35,902
Kev, 30 grand.
1015
00:50:35,902 --> 00:50:38,774
That can't be right. Can it?
1016
00:50:38,774 --> 00:50:43,127
{\an8}Oh, no, dear, the license itself
is only ten thousand dollars.
1017
00:50:43,127 --> 00:50:46,347
But after you've paid
the ten thousand dollars,
1018
00:50:46,347 --> 00:50:49,002
then you must attend
cosmetology school
1019
00:50:49,002 --> 00:50:51,309
for two thousand
hours of training.
1020
00:50:51,309 --> 00:50:54,225
Now, that'll take about a
year and a half, and the cost
1021
00:50:54,225 --> 00:50:57,228
is approximately
twenty thousand dollars.
1022
00:50:57,228 --> 00:50:59,534
And then upon completion
of cosmetology school
1023
00:50:59,534 --> 00:51:02,146
and payment of all school fees,
1024
00:51:02,146 --> 00:51:06,106
then your license
becomes active.
1025
00:51:06,106 --> 00:51:07,890
Cosmetology school? Mm-hmm.
1026
00:51:07,890 --> 00:51:11,633
But I'm braiding hair.
I'm an African hair braider.
1027
00:51:13,244 --> 00:51:15,594
And I'm an Irish Catholic, dear,
1028
00:51:15,594 --> 00:51:17,552
but the rules are the rules.
1029
00:51:17,552 --> 00:51:20,903
Ma'am, Mississippi
cosmetology schools
1030
00:51:20,903 --> 00:51:22,992
don't even teach hair braiding.
1031
00:51:22,992 --> 00:51:25,082
I'd be wasting my
time and money.
1032
00:51:25,082 --> 00:51:26,996
It doesn't make sense.
1033
00:51:26,996 --> 00:51:29,956
It-- It is what it is, dear.
1034
00:51:29,956 --> 00:51:31,175
So please move on.
1035
00:51:31,175 --> 00:51:33,351
I will not move on!
1036
00:51:33,351 --> 00:51:35,004
I will not move on
1037
00:51:35,004 --> 00:51:37,833
until somebody in this
office explains to me
1038
00:51:37,833 --> 00:51:40,793
why I'm being forced to
pay thousands of dollars
1039
00:51:40,793 --> 00:51:43,100
for a course that has nothing
to do with my profession!
1040
00:51:43,100 --> 00:51:46,233
I asked her to leave.
She won't leave!
1041
00:51:46,233 --> 00:51:48,670
What the hell is
a braiding salon?
1042
00:51:48,670 --> 00:51:50,411
I don't really know.
1043
00:51:50,411 --> 00:51:52,413
She has been quite vociferous,
1044
00:51:52,413 --> 00:51:54,720
and I'm afraid that if
we don't deal with her,
1045
00:51:54,720 --> 00:51:57,897
this could escalate
into an event!
1046
00:51:57,897 --> 00:51:59,855
What if she calls the press?
1047
00:51:59,855 --> 00:52:02,031
Well, all right,
what can we tell her
1048
00:52:02,031 --> 00:52:03,032
to make her go away, huh?
1049
00:52:05,731 --> 00:52:07,167
What about Wigology?
1050
00:52:08,995 --> 00:52:12,085
Wigology? What is that?
1051
00:52:12,085 --> 00:52:16,002
If you obtain a Wigologist
license for yourself,
1052
00:52:16,002 --> 00:52:19,397
then you can legally
open up your shop.
1053
00:52:19,397 --> 00:52:22,226
Now, you'll have to take a
Wigologist course, of course,
1054
00:52:22,226 --> 00:52:25,664
but for a much shorter time.
About four hundred hours.
1055
00:52:25,664 --> 00:52:29,189
And the cost will be
about a thousand dollars,
1056
00:52:29,189 --> 00:52:32,714
and then your license will be
an additional three hundred.
1057
00:52:32,714 --> 00:52:35,456
So thirteen hundred?
1058
00:52:35,456 --> 00:52:38,894
So, where do I take
this Wigology class?
1059
00:52:38,894 --> 00:52:43,464
Well, uh, that's on you, dear.
1060
00:52:43,464 --> 00:52:45,336
You know, she
couldn't even tell me
1061
00:52:45,336 --> 00:52:48,991
one single school
that teaches Wigology.
1062
00:52:51,255 --> 00:52:55,259
Before I left Jackson, I
called six different schools.
1063
00:52:55,259 --> 00:52:58,262
Not one of them teach it.
1064
00:52:58,262 --> 00:53:02,570
How can they offer me a license
1065
00:53:02,570 --> 00:53:06,183
knowing full well I'll never
be able to take the class
1066
00:53:06,183 --> 00:53:08,010
to qualify for it?
1067
00:53:08,010 --> 00:53:10,752
It's not even logical.
1068
00:53:10,752 --> 00:53:13,581
[SCOFFING]
1069
00:53:13,581 --> 00:53:16,802
This is Mississippi, child.
1070
00:53:16,802 --> 00:53:21,067
There's always something
deeper than logic going down.
1071
00:53:24,766 --> 00:53:28,857
What about that old place up
on Boulevard? You check there?
1072
00:53:28,857 --> 00:53:30,468
A cosmetology school?
1073
00:53:30,468 --> 00:53:32,513
That's what the sign says.
1074
00:53:32,513 --> 00:53:35,908
It's a small place,
looks kind of funky, but--
1075
00:53:35,908 --> 00:53:37,779
Are you sure? Mm-hmm.
1076
00:53:37,779 --> 00:53:40,173
Okay.
1077
00:53:40,173 --> 00:53:41,870
I'll check it out tomorrow.
1078
00:53:45,787 --> 00:53:47,746
MAN: Doesn't matter.
Get this thing off my lot.
1079
00:53:47,746 --> 00:53:49,791
The truck. You can't park here.
1080
00:53:49,791 --> 00:53:51,619
I don't have to listen to you.
Let me tell you something.
1081
00:53:51,619 --> 00:53:53,230
Let me tell your boss!
No, get it out of here.
1082
00:53:53,230 --> 00:53:54,709
No, I'm not. Hey.
1083
00:53:54,709 --> 00:53:56,711
[MEN SHOUTING
INDISTINCTLY] Hey, hey! Hey!
1084
00:53:56,711 --> 00:53:58,757
Come on! Break it up. Go over--
1085
00:53:58,757 --> 00:54:00,193
Yeah, walk away.
Come on, come on,
1086
00:54:00,193 --> 00:54:02,064
come on, come on. Walk!
1087
00:54:02,064 --> 00:54:03,240
Come on. Don't worry
about it. Don't worry.
1088
00:54:03,240 --> 00:54:04,676
What's up-- What's up with you?
1089
00:54:04,676 --> 00:54:06,808
I'll get it together. I just--
1090
00:54:08,767 --> 00:54:10,377
Just having a rough time.
1091
00:54:12,249 --> 00:54:14,163
Need to talk about it?
1092
00:54:16,514 --> 00:54:18,733
What, with you?
1093
00:54:18,733 --> 00:54:20,344
Yeah.
1094
00:54:20,344 --> 00:54:22,607
Gus, I'm not just your boss.
1095
00:54:22,607 --> 00:54:25,392
I'm a Black man living
in the world just like you.
1096
00:54:27,960 --> 00:54:31,442
Look, man, I'm-- I'm
having problems at home.
1097
00:54:31,442 --> 00:54:35,272
I-I can't-- I can't think
straight, you know? It--
1098
00:54:35,272 --> 00:54:37,578
She wants a
divorce, but I love her.
1099
00:54:37,578 --> 00:54:39,363
Mm-hmm.
1100
00:54:39,363 --> 00:54:41,974
My minister says
to-- to work it out,
1101
00:54:41,974 --> 00:54:43,671
but what does that even mean?
1102
00:54:45,325 --> 00:54:46,457
KEVIN:Yeah.
1103
00:54:48,720 --> 00:54:53,464
Why don't we grab lunch,
and we can talk about it?
1104
00:54:53,464 --> 00:54:55,770
Come on.
1105
00:54:55,770 --> 00:54:57,772
You are coming at a good time.
1106
00:54:57,772 --> 00:55:00,514
The spring course is
just about to get started.
1107
00:55:00,514 --> 00:55:05,258
I'm just here for the
one course. Wigology.
1108
00:55:05,258 --> 00:55:09,349
Wigology? I-- I
don't teach that class.
1109
00:55:14,180 --> 00:55:15,877
Wh-- Oh, dear. Have--
1110
00:55:15,877 --> 00:55:17,401
Have I upset you?
1111
00:55:17,401 --> 00:55:19,881
MELONY: It's not you, it's--
1112
00:55:19,881 --> 00:55:24,146
I'm just one person
1113
00:55:24,146 --> 00:55:27,802
trying to start a
business, you know?
1114
00:55:27,802 --> 00:55:30,022
And I'm trying to do it right.
1115
00:55:30,022 --> 00:55:32,503
What's the nature of
your business, dear?
1116
00:55:35,288 --> 00:55:37,029
I'm an African hair braider.
1117
00:55:38,465 --> 00:55:39,945
Oh.
1118
00:55:42,077 --> 00:55:45,864
Braids like these
bring a lot of freedom
1119
00:55:45,864 --> 00:55:50,782
to women that have
forgotten what their--
1120
00:55:50,782 --> 00:55:54,002
what their real
beauty looks like.
1121
00:55:54,002 --> 00:55:58,659
You run a school
dedicated to beauty, right?
1122
00:55:58,659 --> 00:56:01,532
Well, Black women, we--
1123
00:56:03,403 --> 00:56:06,406
We don't know our own beauty.
1124
00:56:08,713 --> 00:56:12,630
I can't teach you that
class, Mrs. Armstrong.
1125
00:56:12,630 --> 00:56:16,198
Wigology hasn't been
taught in Mississippi or beyond
1126
00:56:16,198 --> 00:56:18,418
for more than fifteen years.
1127
00:56:20,028 --> 00:56:21,987
What they told you was a lie.
1128
00:56:25,643 --> 00:56:29,037
MELONY: Thank you
for telling me the truth.
1129
00:56:29,037 --> 00:56:30,996
I'm so sorry.
1130
00:56:41,876 --> 00:56:47,099
I'm not really good
company right now.
1131
00:56:47,099 --> 00:56:49,536
That's okay. I hate
good company.
1132
00:56:56,891 --> 00:56:59,285
So, I talked with
three men today,
1133
00:56:59,285 --> 00:57:02,114
two workmen and
one of their friends.
1134
00:57:02,114 --> 00:57:06,466
It looks like they're searching
for a new style of congregation,
1135
00:57:06,466 --> 00:57:12,124
one that tells them they can
do more than just wait on God.
1136
00:57:12,124 --> 00:57:14,692
They want to be
proactive in their lives.
1137
00:57:16,911 --> 00:57:18,435
So I told them about you.
1138
00:57:19,784 --> 00:57:21,655
Me?
1139
00:57:21,655 --> 00:57:23,744
Kev.
1140
00:57:23,744 --> 00:57:28,488
I just hit a roadblock
I can't get past.
1141
00:57:28,488 --> 00:57:31,839
I'm not exactly your
proactive poster child.
1142
00:57:31,839 --> 00:57:34,755
I told them you were
stuck but to stay tuned,
1143
00:57:34,755 --> 00:57:37,715
because if anyone knows
how to ride shotgun with destiny,
1144
00:57:37,715 --> 00:57:39,586
Mel, it's you.
1145
00:57:39,586 --> 00:57:43,677
I've never met a boulder
you couldn't smash to pebbles.
1146
00:57:43,677 --> 00:57:44,809
Mm.
1147
00:57:53,252 --> 00:57:54,819
I'm not in the mood for Goethe.
1148
00:57:56,690 --> 00:58:01,478
"The moment one
definitely commits oneself,
1149
00:58:01,478 --> 00:58:04,219
all sorts of things
begin to happen
1150
00:58:04,219 --> 00:58:08,180
that would never
otherwise have occurred."
1151
00:58:12,271 --> 00:58:14,273
I've never heard that part.
1152
00:58:20,061 --> 00:58:23,935
"Whatever you can do, or dream,
1153
00:58:23,935 --> 00:58:25,502
you can begin.
1154
00:58:27,416 --> 00:58:28,940
Begin it now."
1155
00:58:33,422 --> 00:58:35,424
TRAVIS: Thank you for coming in.
1156
00:58:35,424 --> 00:58:37,035
I've done a bit of research.
1157
00:58:37,035 --> 00:58:41,039
Now, as you know, the
Wigology course no longer exists.
1158
00:58:41,039 --> 00:58:46,610
But the Wigology exam
and Wigology license still do.
1159
00:58:46,610 --> 00:58:48,960
Whoever schemed
to get rid of this thing,
1160
00:58:48,960 --> 00:58:51,049
they did a terrible job.
1161
00:58:51,049 --> 00:58:56,750
But how can I take an exam
if the course doesn't exist?
1162
00:58:56,750 --> 00:59:01,799
We will use the exam
itself as your coursework.
1163
00:59:01,799 --> 00:59:03,714
You'll have to come
at the regular times,
1164
00:59:03,714 --> 00:59:05,933
six hours a day,
five days a week.
1165
00:59:05,933 --> 00:59:09,197
And the Board, they
look at anyone who's
1166
00:59:09,197 --> 00:59:11,635
thinking outside the
box as competition.
1167
00:59:11,635 --> 00:59:13,767
So you can't tell a
soul what we're doing.
1168
00:59:13,767 --> 00:59:16,248
But if you're determined
to get this license...
1169
00:59:17,989 --> 00:59:20,600
...then I'm going to
help you fight to get it.
1170
00:59:24,299 --> 00:59:26,911
[♪]
1171
00:59:40,664 --> 00:59:42,622
There you go. MAN: Sorry.
1172
00:59:46,495 --> 00:59:47,758
KEVIN: Yeah, this looks good.
1173
00:59:58,072 --> 01:00:00,292
KEVIN: You ladies
are now in the presence
1174
01:00:00,292 --> 01:00:02,860
of a fully licensed Wigologist.
1175
01:00:02,860 --> 01:00:04,775
Wigologist?
1176
01:00:04,775 --> 01:00:07,516
Ooh! Whoo!
1177
01:00:07,516 --> 01:00:09,867
KEVIN: Passed with 100 percent.
1178
01:00:14,219 --> 01:00:15,960
What? I--
1179
01:00:19,746 --> 01:00:20,921
Wait.
1180
01:00:20,921 --> 01:00:22,793
KEVIN: What do you think?
1181
01:00:22,793 --> 01:00:24,708
MELONY: Is this--
1182
01:00:25,970 --> 01:00:27,711
Is this what-- It's your shop.
1183
01:00:27,711 --> 01:00:29,277
My shop? Mm-hmm.
1184
01:00:29,277 --> 01:00:31,715
You got me a shop,
baby?! That's your shop.
1185
01:00:31,715 --> 01:00:33,151
Oh, my God!
1186
01:00:33,151 --> 01:00:34,500
How?
1187
01:00:34,500 --> 01:00:36,284
KEVIN: Saving up. Oh, my God.
1188
01:00:36,284 --> 01:00:37,546
KEVIN: Lots of overtime.
1189
01:00:37,546 --> 01:00:39,070
There's chairs. Oh, my God.
1190
01:00:39,070 --> 01:00:40,680
KEVIN: I've been
fixing it up after work.
1191
01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:42,290
What?!
1192
01:00:42,290 --> 01:00:44,292
Wait, what is this?
1193
01:00:44,292 --> 01:00:45,816
What is this?
1194
01:00:45,816 --> 01:00:48,732
I built that chair just
for you. Sit down.
1195
01:00:48,732 --> 01:00:50,821
For me? Yeah.
1196
01:00:50,821 --> 01:00:52,692
Okay.
1197
01:00:52,692 --> 01:00:53,824
Is it comfy?
1198
01:00:53,824 --> 01:00:55,652
Yes.
1199
01:00:55,652 --> 01:00:57,131
So you like it?
1200
01:00:57,131 --> 01:00:58,698
I love it.
1201
01:00:58,698 --> 01:01:00,221
You deserve it all.
1202
01:01:03,268 --> 01:01:05,357
Thank you.
1203
01:01:05,357 --> 01:01:10,754
And over here, maybe we could
put some sofas and chairs and--
1204
01:01:10,754 --> 01:01:13,495
And a coffee maker? Mmm.
1205
01:01:13,495 --> 01:01:15,410
Oh, and a sound system.
1206
01:01:15,410 --> 01:01:17,412
Just a little one. Okay.
1207
01:01:17,412 --> 01:01:20,720
Oh, Kevin, come here.
1208
01:01:20,720 --> 01:01:23,244
Here, feel this.
1209
01:01:23,244 --> 01:01:24,506
What?
1210
01:01:25,943 --> 01:01:29,511
This is what a living
dream feels like.
1211
01:01:31,470 --> 01:01:33,646
I want this for you, too.
1212
01:01:33,646 --> 01:01:35,517
And your congregation.
1213
01:01:37,258 --> 01:01:39,173
Speaking of congregation,
1214
01:01:39,173 --> 01:01:43,569
I think you have some
converts here yourself.
1215
01:01:43,569 --> 01:01:45,440
Huh? Ladies!
1216
01:01:45,440 --> 01:01:48,139
Pretty nice! Oh, my gosh!
1217
01:01:48,139 --> 01:01:50,750
Hi! Oh, my goodness.
1218
01:01:50,750 --> 01:01:52,230
Hey! Girl, you have
1219
01:01:52,230 --> 01:01:55,189
such a good husband.
1220
01:01:55,189 --> 01:01:56,713
Oh, my gosh. How--
1221
01:01:56,713 --> 01:01:59,585
Wait, how? How did you do that?
1222
01:01:59,585 --> 01:02:00,978
Uh, Dee helped me.
1223
01:02:00,978 --> 01:02:02,675
We, um... Dee?
1224
01:02:02,675 --> 01:02:04,895
...figured you'd need
some support to get started.
1225
01:02:04,895 --> 01:02:07,811
And we're both on
unemployment right now,
1226
01:02:07,811 --> 01:02:10,378
so we were thinking that
by the time it runs out--
1227
01:02:10,378 --> 01:02:13,904
Yes, girl! Oh, my gosh!
1228
01:02:13,904 --> 01:02:15,732
Oh, my gosh. I'm so happy.
1229
01:02:15,732 --> 01:02:17,646
I feel like I'm dreaming.
1230
01:02:17,646 --> 01:02:19,736
♪ It ain't easy tryna give ♪
1231
01:02:19,736 --> 01:02:21,346
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
1232
01:02:21,346 --> 01:02:23,565
Hello? Naturally
Speaking Hair Salon.
1233
01:02:23,565 --> 01:02:25,176
This is Leona speaking.
1234
01:02:25,176 --> 01:02:27,352
♪ Can't let it slide
No, not this time ♪
1235
01:02:27,352 --> 01:02:29,354
♪ We come too far
To let the dream... ♪
1236
01:02:29,354 --> 01:02:32,096
All right. You're done!
1237
01:02:33,445 --> 01:02:36,491
[CHUCKLES] Ooh!
1238
01:02:36,491 --> 01:02:39,930
♪ Nothing left for you to
do But don't believe it ♪
1239
01:02:39,930 --> 01:02:42,846
♪ You got to, got to
See it through, baby ♪
1240
01:02:42,846 --> 01:02:44,848
All right, if your
name is on the list,
1241
01:02:44,848 --> 01:02:47,198
you have an
appointment. Just relax.
1242
01:02:47,198 --> 01:02:49,504
Wakey wakey.
1243
01:02:49,504 --> 01:02:51,942
All right. You are done.
1244
01:02:51,942 --> 01:02:53,465
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
1245
01:02:53,465 --> 01:02:55,467
Naturally Speaking
Salon. This is Leona.
1246
01:02:55,467 --> 01:02:57,034
MELONY: Is this your
first time getting braids?
1247
01:02:57,034 --> 01:02:58,644
It sure is.
1248
01:02:58,644 --> 01:03:01,038
Me and my husband,
we're going to the Bahamas.
1249
01:03:01,038 --> 01:03:03,301
And this time I'm
getting my hair wet.
1250
01:03:03,301 --> 01:03:04,606
Ooh! MELONY: Okay!
1251
01:03:04,606 --> 01:03:06,304
Get your hands off my pad.
1252
01:03:06,304 --> 01:03:07,696
Get your fingers off my pad.
1253
01:03:07,696 --> 01:03:10,047
♪ Across the nation ♪
1254
01:03:10,047 --> 01:03:11,657
♪ That's going through Some... ♪
1255
01:03:11,657 --> 01:03:12,832
Ma'am? Ma'am.
1256
01:03:14,355 --> 01:03:16,618
♪ You gotta groove ♪
1257
01:03:16,618 --> 01:03:18,577
You all go have a
seat. I got you. I got--
1258
01:03:18,577 --> 01:03:20,535
I said, don't touch my pad!
1259
01:03:20,535 --> 01:03:24,104
One, two, three, oh. Oh.
1260
01:03:24,104 --> 01:03:28,282
I just can't anymore. Ugh!
1261
01:03:28,282 --> 01:03:31,764
Welcome to Naturally
Speaking. I'm Melony.
1262
01:03:31,764 --> 01:03:35,289
Now, tell me about who you are.
1263
01:03:35,289 --> 01:03:36,464
[BELL JINGLES]
1264
01:03:36,464 --> 01:03:38,075
Whew, boy.
1265
01:03:38,075 --> 01:03:40,338
Don't you forget to send
us some pictures, now.
1266
01:03:40,338 --> 01:03:42,644
Okay, bye.
1267
01:03:42,644 --> 01:03:47,040
Whew. I cannot believe
how busy we were today.
1268
01:03:47,040 --> 01:03:50,652
Girl. Lord. My hands hurt!
1269
01:03:50,652 --> 01:03:52,045
Mm-hmm. They hurting?
1270
01:03:52,045 --> 01:03:53,786
Yes.
1271
01:03:53,786 --> 01:03:55,309
Mm, this will make
them feel better.
1272
01:03:55,309 --> 01:03:57,529
[GASPS]
1273
01:03:57,529 --> 01:03:59,139
Yes, it will.
1274
01:03:59,139 --> 01:04:00,924
[LAUGHS]
1275
01:04:00,924 --> 01:04:03,752
Soak your fingers
in some salt water,
1276
01:04:03,752 --> 01:04:08,888
then meet me two hours
before opening tomorrow.
1277
01:04:08,888 --> 01:04:11,586
Mm. Bring friends
if you want to.
1278
01:04:11,586 --> 01:04:16,200
But tomorrow, class begins.
1279
01:04:26,427 --> 01:04:28,734
What am I supposed
to ask it again?
1280
01:04:28,734 --> 01:04:30,518
You ask her what she wants.
1281
01:04:33,173 --> 01:04:34,218
[CLEARS THROAT]
1282
01:04:37,134 --> 01:04:38,004
Oh.
1283
01:04:47,405 --> 01:04:49,537
She said she want
the rest of her body.
1284
01:04:49,537 --> 01:04:53,715
[LAUGHTER]
1285
01:04:53,715 --> 01:04:55,630
REPORTER [ON TV]: We're here...
1286
01:04:55,630 --> 01:04:56,849
...with Melony Armstrong...
Okay. Here we go.
1287
01:04:56,849 --> 01:04:59,591
of Naturally Speaking Salon.
1288
01:04:59,591 --> 01:05:04,161
Braids are what I
call "Freedom Hair."
1289
01:05:04,161 --> 01:05:08,208
These braids, twists,
and micro braids
1290
01:05:08,208 --> 01:05:10,080
free women up
1291
01:05:10,080 --> 01:05:12,604
so they can pay more
attention to their lives
1292
01:05:12,604 --> 01:05:15,389
and not worry about how
their hair might restrict them.
1293
01:05:15,389 --> 01:05:18,088
WOMAN: Tell 'em, Melony.
And what inspired you
1294
01:05:18,088 --> 01:05:20,133
to do this African
style hair braiding?
1295
01:05:20,133 --> 01:05:22,875
Were you born in
Africa? [LAUGHTER]
1296
01:05:22,875 --> 01:05:24,964
ROSEMARY: Is she serious--
1297
01:05:24,964 --> 01:05:27,445
[CHUCKLES] No. No, I--
1298
01:05:27,445 --> 01:05:30,100
I was born right
here in America.
1299
01:05:30,100 --> 01:05:33,016
African style braids
are much more about
1300
01:05:33,016 --> 01:05:35,061
who you are than
where you're from.
1301
01:05:35,061 --> 01:05:36,671
WOMEN: Mm-hmm.
MELONY: Black women
1302
01:05:36,671 --> 01:05:39,196
in America need to
remember their own beauty.
1303
01:05:39,196 --> 01:05:42,634
My shop exists to celebrate
that beauty that all of us have
1304
01:05:42,634 --> 01:05:44,984
but that many of us keep hidden.
1305
01:05:44,984 --> 01:05:47,595
Ah! That's it! Yes.
1306
01:05:47,595 --> 01:05:50,555
That's it. Ooh, she did good.
1307
01:05:50,555 --> 01:05:52,078
DEE: She sure did.
1308
01:05:54,733 --> 01:05:56,256
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
1309
01:05:56,256 --> 01:05:58,911
MELONY: Yeah, I
don't think it's the same.
1310
01:05:58,911 --> 01:06:00,565
LYDIA: It's that cheap hair.
1311
01:06:00,565 --> 01:06:01,958
Girl. It's cheap.
1312
01:06:01,958 --> 01:06:03,611
Welcome to Natur--
1313
01:06:03,611 --> 01:06:05,439
[CONVERSATIONS STOP]
1314
01:06:05,439 --> 01:06:07,485
G'Mom.
1315
01:06:07,485 --> 01:06:09,966
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
1316
01:06:14,709 --> 01:06:17,277
G'MOM: Hello!
1317
01:06:17,277 --> 01:06:20,150
Hey, pretty baby,
what you doing?
1318
01:06:20,150 --> 01:06:23,327
MELONY: I didn't know
you were coming by.
1319
01:06:23,327 --> 01:06:28,593
I got to have an invitation
to see my great grand?
1320
01:06:28,593 --> 01:06:33,728
Or to see you and this little
shop of yours for that matter?
1321
01:06:33,728 --> 01:06:35,339
MELONY: Come sit down.
1322
01:06:35,339 --> 01:06:37,906
Oh, no, I'm just
fine, thank you.
1323
01:06:37,906 --> 01:06:40,213
I'm very particular
about my hair.
1324
01:06:40,213 --> 01:06:41,954
Mm-hmm.
1325
01:06:41,954 --> 01:06:44,087
G'Mom,
1326
01:06:44,087 --> 01:06:48,395
you've worn this wig
for a very long time.
1327
01:06:50,310 --> 01:06:52,834
And underneath it...
1328
01:06:52,834 --> 01:06:56,490
...there's hair that could
stand some tenderness.
1329
01:06:58,536 --> 01:07:01,278
Come sit down. Let me spoil you.
1330
01:07:03,454 --> 01:07:04,716
Yeah?
1331
01:07:06,239 --> 01:07:08,894
Okay. All right.
1332
01:07:08,894 --> 01:07:11,592
G'MOM: All right then.
1333
01:07:11,592 --> 01:07:14,247
[CLEARS THROAT]
1334
01:07:16,728 --> 01:07:18,469
I'm just going to--
1335
01:07:18,469 --> 01:07:21,733
I'm just gonna
massage you. Okay?
1336
01:07:48,673 --> 01:07:50,153
[SNIFFLES]
1337
01:07:53,069 --> 01:07:55,332
I used to have long hair.
1338
01:07:57,943 --> 01:07:59,771
It was long and--
1339
01:08:01,294 --> 01:08:03,079
and white. Wow.
1340
01:08:04,210 --> 01:08:05,820
All the way down to my waist.
1341
01:08:05,820 --> 01:08:07,518
[MELONY CHUCKLES]
1342
01:08:07,518 --> 01:08:11,261
Oh, I was something to see.
1343
01:08:14,742 --> 01:08:16,875
It was before I got sick.
1344
01:08:16,875 --> 01:08:18,964
I just--
1345
01:08:21,575 --> 01:08:24,404
I just can't wear
my hair like this.
1346
01:08:24,404 --> 01:08:26,841
It's okay.
1347
01:08:26,841 --> 01:08:29,409
But I don't want
braids, either, child.
1348
01:08:29,409 --> 01:08:32,804
MELONY: Well, braids
aren't for everyone, G'Mom.
1349
01:08:32,804 --> 01:08:35,111
But freedom is.
1350
01:08:36,764 --> 01:08:40,116
And if wearing your
piece makes you feel free,
1351
01:08:40,116 --> 01:08:42,553
then that's exactly
what we're gonna do.
1352
01:08:42,553 --> 01:08:45,643
Let me work on
your piece, G'Mom.
1353
01:08:45,643 --> 01:08:49,429
I could restyle it for a
softer look or anything.
1354
01:08:49,429 --> 01:08:51,649
That's right. That's right.
Ain't no reason for you
1355
01:08:51,649 --> 01:08:53,520
to keep going around
looking like Bea Arthur.
1356
01:08:53,520 --> 01:08:55,131
[LAUGHS]
1357
01:08:57,133 --> 01:08:58,351
LYDIA: Girl.
1358
01:09:04,357 --> 01:09:06,185
[LAUGHING]
1359
01:09:09,232 --> 01:09:12,539
[LAUGHTER]
1360
01:09:22,070 --> 01:09:23,637
[WOMAN SOBBING]
1361
01:09:23,637 --> 01:09:25,813
And my cousin Tanika
said she could do it.
1362
01:09:25,813 --> 01:09:28,076
But she got us looking like
we got mops on our heads!
1363
01:09:28,076 --> 01:09:29,861
MELONY: It's okay. And
my rehearsal supper's
1364
01:09:29,861 --> 01:09:31,950
in two hours and I don't know
what I'm supposed to do with--
1365
01:09:31,950 --> 01:09:35,388
Okay. Leona, Rosemary,
start unbraiding bridesmaids.
1366
01:09:35,388 --> 01:09:37,651
Lydia, come up here
and help me with the bride.
1367
01:09:37,651 --> 01:09:41,786
I don't know if you can
fix it. Okay. It's okay.
1368
01:09:41,786 --> 01:09:43,614
You're gonna look beautiful.
This is, like, so ridiculous!
1369
01:09:43,614 --> 01:09:45,093
It's closed for the day!
1370
01:09:45,093 --> 01:09:46,573
INSPECTOR: I don't
think it matters, ma'am.
1371
01:09:46,573 --> 01:09:49,141
I need to see your license.
1372
01:09:49,141 --> 01:09:52,710
Um, just a second,
okay? I'll be right back.
1373
01:09:52,710 --> 01:09:55,016
[WOMEN WHISPER INDISTINCTLY]
1374
01:10:01,066 --> 01:10:02,589
What is this about?
1375
01:10:04,548 --> 01:10:06,506
Wigology, huh? Mm-hmm.
1376
01:10:06,506 --> 01:10:09,857
[CHUCKLES] Is that
what this place is?
1377
01:10:09,857 --> 01:10:12,164
I need to see
their licenses, too.
1378
01:10:12,164 --> 01:10:16,951
But these ladies
are my students.
1379
01:10:16,951 --> 01:10:20,825
I supervise their every
move. They're my trainees.
1380
01:10:20,825 --> 01:10:24,263
Ma'am, this license doesn't
give you the right to train anybody.
1381
01:10:24,263 --> 01:10:28,267
Now, I'm gonna give you
a citation and a fine today.
1382
01:10:28,267 --> 01:10:30,095
But if I catch you
at this again...
1383
01:10:31,923 --> 01:10:33,403
...I'll close you down
1384
01:10:33,403 --> 01:10:35,274
and may arrest you.
1385
01:10:35,274 --> 01:10:37,668
On what charge? Making a living?
1386
01:10:37,668 --> 01:10:39,931
[♪]
1387
01:10:41,933 --> 01:10:43,108
[DOOR OPENS, BELL JINGLES]
1388
01:10:43,108 --> 01:10:45,110
[DOOR CLOSES]
1389
01:10:45,110 --> 01:10:48,505
MELONY: The way these
Mississippi laws are written,
1390
01:10:48,505 --> 01:10:51,682
it's only folks with money
who can get a license.
1391
01:10:51,682 --> 01:10:54,511
It costs less time
and less money
1392
01:10:54,511 --> 01:10:58,166
to get certified as
a fireman or a nurse
1393
01:10:58,166 --> 01:11:00,647
or a sheriff than it
does to be a hairdresser.
1394
01:11:00,647 --> 01:11:02,345
Wow. DEE: I know.
1395
01:11:02,345 --> 01:11:05,652
My shop has been flying
under the radar for years.
1396
01:11:05,652 --> 01:11:08,220
But it's on private property,
and I don't advertise,
1397
01:11:08,220 --> 01:11:10,701
so I probably
don't exist to them.
1398
01:11:10,701 --> 01:11:12,529
Mm, that's true.
1399
01:11:12,529 --> 01:11:14,748
If women like me had to
depend on the State of Mississippi
1400
01:11:14,748 --> 01:11:16,794
to certify us to do
what it is we do...
1401
01:11:16,794 --> 01:11:18,535
Come on. ...we'd all still be
1402
01:11:18,535 --> 01:11:21,712
sweeping floors or working
in Miss Ann's kitchen.
1403
01:11:21,712 --> 01:11:23,801
That's what they
want. WOMAN: Yeah.
1404
01:11:23,801 --> 01:11:25,933
I don't want to stop
learning, though.
1405
01:11:25,933 --> 01:11:28,327
I could really be good at this.
1406
01:11:28,327 --> 01:11:31,199
Yeah. I mean, I could teach
you right here at my house,
1407
01:11:31,199 --> 01:11:32,940
but you can't braid at the shop.
1408
01:11:32,940 --> 01:11:35,378
But your business is
gonna go right to squat
1409
01:11:35,378 --> 01:11:37,902
if you don't have
some help. Yeah.
1410
01:11:37,902 --> 01:11:40,513
LYDIA: And the State of
Mississippi strikes again.
1411
01:11:40,513 --> 01:11:41,906
Hmm.
1412
01:11:44,038 --> 01:11:46,040
MELONY: What
if we strike it back?
1413
01:11:46,040 --> 01:11:47,999
Yeah.
1414
01:11:47,999 --> 01:11:50,654
{\an8}[TELEPHONE RINGING,
INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
1415
01:11:55,615 --> 01:11:57,400
Institute for Justice.
1416
01:11:57,400 --> 01:11:59,793
Dana Berliner here, could
you please hold a sec--
1417
01:11:59,793 --> 01:12:01,882
Wait, what? Slow down.
1418
01:12:01,882 --> 01:12:03,406
Miss, who are you?
1419
01:12:03,406 --> 01:12:05,756
Uh-huh.
1420
01:12:05,756 --> 01:12:10,021
What about the Mississippi
State Board of Cosmetology?
1421
01:12:10,021 --> 01:12:11,936
Put that on speaker!
1422
01:12:11,936 --> 01:12:13,633
MELONY: I am a licensed,
1423
01:12:13,633 --> 01:12:15,505
professional
African hair braider,
1424
01:12:15,505 --> 01:12:18,116
and the State of Mississippi
is actively interfering
1425
01:12:18,116 --> 01:12:20,858
with my right to make
a living. Are you familiar
1426
01:12:20,858 --> 01:12:23,034
with the Mississippi State
Board of Cosmetology?
1427
01:12:23,034 --> 01:12:25,166
Oh, we are very
familiar with them.
1428
01:12:25,166 --> 01:12:27,734
Could you tell us everything
from the beginning, please?
1429
01:12:27,734 --> 01:12:29,388
You are not the first people
1430
01:12:29,388 --> 01:12:31,608
to ever fight back against
unfair licensing laws.
1431
01:12:31,608 --> 01:12:34,437
In our very first case,
1432
01:12:34,437 --> 01:12:36,613
Pamela Ferrell and
Taalib Din Uqdah,
1433
01:12:36,613 --> 01:12:39,224
two highly successful
salon owners,
1434
01:12:39,224 --> 01:12:41,792
were fined and
threatened with closure for
1435
01:12:41,792 --> 01:12:45,186
running a natural hair braiding
program without a license.
1436
01:12:45,186 --> 01:12:47,885
Through us, they sued the
government of Washington, D.C.,
1437
01:12:47,885 --> 01:12:50,975
for violating their
constitutional rights.
1438
01:12:50,975 --> 01:12:54,239
And D.C. wanted
to avoid bad press.
1439
01:12:54,239 --> 01:12:56,197
They just changed the law.
1440
01:12:56,197 --> 01:12:58,374
So there's precedent.
We can win.
1441
01:12:58,374 --> 01:13:01,464
Well, you have to remember
that D.C. is not a state,
1442
01:13:01,464 --> 01:13:03,509
so the rules are not the same.
1443
01:13:03,509 --> 01:13:06,730
That's a city with a
population of about 700,000
1444
01:13:06,730 --> 01:13:09,863
and a largely Black and
sympathetic city council.
1445
01:13:09,863 --> 01:13:12,866
Mississippi has a
population of over 3 million,
1446
01:13:12,866 --> 01:13:15,478
and a legislative
body full of mostly
1447
01:13:15,478 --> 01:13:17,915
good ol' boys who
couldn't care less.
1448
01:13:17,915 --> 01:13:20,657
Which is exactly why, Melony--
1449
01:13:20,657 --> 01:13:23,007
Ah, thank you--
1450
01:13:23,007 --> 01:13:25,923
That's why if you're going to
do this, you have to be sure.
1451
01:13:25,923 --> 01:13:27,925
And you have to be brave.
1452
01:13:27,925 --> 01:13:29,361
I'm sure.
1453
01:13:29,361 --> 01:13:31,450
I mean, what choice do I have?
1454
01:13:31,450 --> 01:13:34,801
Well, you could
probably strike a deal
1455
01:13:34,801 --> 01:13:37,674
with the State, keep
quiet in exchange
1456
01:13:37,674 --> 01:13:39,850
for the Board leaving you
and your trainees alone.
1457
01:13:39,850 --> 01:13:42,722
This case is about more
than just Melony Armstrong.
1458
01:13:42,722 --> 01:13:44,681
It's about Black
women everywhere
1459
01:13:44,681 --> 01:13:47,161
being refused the right
to earn an honest living.
1460
01:13:47,161 --> 01:13:49,076
How could you even say that?
1461
01:13:49,076 --> 01:13:51,905
Melony, Melony, that was a test.
1462
01:13:51,905 --> 01:13:54,386
If you had said yes to that, I
wouldn't have taken your case.
1463
01:13:54,386 --> 01:13:56,606
And now I'm very excited to.
1464
01:13:56,606 --> 01:13:57,433
Oh.
1465
01:13:59,347 --> 01:14:01,045
Okay.
1466
01:14:01,045 --> 01:14:02,525
Good. I was testing you.
1467
01:14:02,525 --> 01:14:06,354
Good. Have we both passed?
1468
01:14:06,354 --> 01:14:08,879
'Cause that's the kind of
passion we're gonna need to win.
1469
01:14:08,879 --> 01:14:10,576
Okay.
1470
01:14:10,576 --> 01:14:13,318
This fight is not
about hair, you know.
1471
01:14:13,318 --> 01:14:15,276
It's about money.
1472
01:14:15,276 --> 01:14:17,975
There are over 100,000
1473
01:14:17,975 --> 01:14:21,457
licensed cosmetologists
in the State of Mississippi.
1474
01:14:21,457 --> 01:14:24,155
Wow. Every single one of them
1475
01:14:24,155 --> 01:14:27,245
paid $30,000 to
obtain their license
1476
01:14:27,245 --> 01:14:29,552
and attend cosmetology school.
1477
01:14:29,552 --> 01:14:31,728
So when you do the math on that,
1478
01:14:31,728 --> 01:14:34,121
and you think about
all the new licenses
1479
01:14:34,121 --> 01:14:36,297
being issued every year,
1480
01:14:36,297 --> 01:14:38,517
both the state and the schools
1481
01:14:38,517 --> 01:14:41,477
have a nice big, guaranteed
source of revenue.
1482
01:14:41,477 --> 01:14:42,652
- Mm-hmm.
- Mm-hmm.
1483
01:14:42,652 --> 01:14:45,350
And they do not want you
1484
01:14:45,350 --> 01:14:48,353
to come in and mess that up. Mm.
1485
01:14:48,353 --> 01:14:51,530
Ladies, your opponents
have very deep pockets.
1486
01:14:54,011 --> 01:14:55,447
You know, they're
gonna come at you
1487
01:14:55,447 --> 01:14:57,667
in some pretty creative ways.
1488
01:14:57,667 --> 01:15:01,235
Lobbyists are gonna
attack your reputation,
1489
01:15:01,235 --> 01:15:04,151
your background,
and your credibility.
1490
01:15:04,151 --> 01:15:09,243
If I win this case, Black women
will have as much a chance
1491
01:15:09,243 --> 01:15:12,986
of running their own business
as any white kid with a degree.
1492
01:15:12,986 --> 01:15:14,901
Hmm.
1493
01:15:14,901 --> 01:15:17,513
You ever think about
what'll happen if you lose?
1494
01:15:17,513 --> 01:15:19,863
I'm not gonna lose.
1495
01:15:19,863 --> 01:15:21,734
Good.
1496
01:15:21,734 --> 01:15:23,388
Then I'll file suit next week.
1497
01:15:24,737 --> 01:15:26,434
No turning back now.
1498
01:15:26,434 --> 01:15:29,437
Armstrong versus the
State of Mississippi.
1499
01:15:29,437 --> 01:15:32,223
MELONY: I like
the sound of that.
1500
01:15:32,223 --> 01:15:35,443
DANA: It's got a nice
ring to it, doesn't it?
1501
01:15:35,443 --> 01:15:37,010
MELONY: How do I pay for this?
1502
01:15:37,010 --> 01:15:40,318
DANA: You don't. I.J.
is funded by donations.
1503
01:15:41,841 --> 01:15:44,583
So, are we going
into the courtroom?
1504
01:15:44,583 --> 01:15:46,846
No, we're going into
the hearing room first.
1505
01:15:46,846 --> 01:15:49,675
Luckily, the state
legislature is worried enough
1506
01:15:49,675 --> 01:15:53,461
about this going to court that
they want to hear us out first.
1507
01:15:53,461 --> 01:15:54,941
Oh. That's good for us.
1508
01:15:54,941 --> 01:15:57,814
Oh. That is Representative
Steve Holland.
1509
01:15:57,814 --> 01:16:01,208
{\an8}He's committee chair.
He is smart and fair.
1510
01:16:01,208 --> 01:16:03,036
{\an8}You're gonna
want to get his ear.
1511
01:16:03,036 --> 01:16:06,300
{\an8}So, in the case of Armstrong
versus the State of Mississippi,
1512
01:16:06,300 --> 01:16:08,912
it is important to
understand that my client
1513
01:16:08,912 --> 01:16:12,437
is filing for injunctive
and declaratory relief.
1514
01:16:12,437 --> 01:16:14,221
She is not seeking money.
1515
01:16:14,221 --> 01:16:18,530
She is seeking to challenge
the constitutionality of the law
1516
01:16:18,530 --> 01:16:21,794
{\an8}and moves that that law
be changed or struck down.
1517
01:16:21,794 --> 01:16:23,404
{\an8}Thank you, Ms. Berliner.
1518
01:16:23,404 --> 01:16:25,842
{\an8}But that's a longstanding law.
1519
01:16:25,842 --> 01:16:28,192
You've certainly got a lot
of nerve, Mrs. Armstrong.
1520
01:16:28,192 --> 01:16:31,325
Good. We got their attention.
1521
01:16:31,325 --> 01:16:33,632
{\an8}[INSECTS CHIRPING]
1522
01:16:37,723 --> 01:16:38,637
{\an8}[DOOR CLOSES]
1523
01:16:40,944 --> 01:16:41,814
Hey.
1524
01:16:49,474 --> 01:16:51,650
I've been offered a pastorship.
1525
01:16:54,261 --> 01:16:58,004
I told them I'd decline
until this lawsuit is over.
1526
01:17:00,398 --> 01:17:02,618
Oh, don't do that, Kev.
1527
01:17:04,445 --> 01:17:06,578
Take it.
1528
01:17:06,578 --> 01:17:10,495
Look, if I'm gonna
go through this,
1529
01:17:10,495 --> 01:17:15,369
I need to know you're
where you ought to be.
1530
01:17:15,369 --> 01:17:19,809
Besides, I might need you to
whisper to God for me a little.
1531
01:17:19,809 --> 01:17:21,898
[CHUCKLES]
1532
01:17:25,858 --> 01:17:27,686
Are you scared, Mel?
1533
01:17:28,905 --> 01:17:30,776
Mm.
1534
01:17:33,213 --> 01:17:35,651
No.
1535
01:17:35,651 --> 01:17:37,870
But I think I should be.
1536
01:17:41,221 --> 01:17:42,919
REPORTER [ON TV]:
They're calling it Hair Wars.
1537
01:17:42,919 --> 01:17:44,703
Local hair braider
Melony Armstrong
1538
01:17:44,703 --> 01:17:46,400
takes on the
State of Mississippi
1539
01:17:46,400 --> 01:17:48,925
over the right to braid
Black natural hair.
1540
01:17:48,925 --> 01:17:51,492
MELONY: Nearly 100
percent of hair braiders
1541
01:17:51,492 --> 01:17:54,191
in Mississippi are Black women.
1542
01:17:54,191 --> 01:17:57,107
So essentially, the
Cosmetology Board
1543
01:17:57,107 --> 01:17:59,413
are seeking yet another way
1544
01:17:59,413 --> 01:18:02,590
to keep Black women out
of the financial mainstream.
1545
01:18:02,590 --> 01:18:05,637
REPORTER [ON TV]: However,
many lawmakers don't see it that way.
1546
01:18:05,637 --> 01:18:09,554
Maybe braids and cosmetology
are not the same thing,
1547
01:18:09,554 --> 01:18:12,035
but they're close enough.
They both involve hair.
1548
01:18:12,035 --> 01:18:13,906
REPORTER [ON TV]: Mrs.
Armstrong faces an uphill battle
1549
01:18:13,906 --> 01:18:16,213
to convince the state lawmakers
1550
01:18:16,213 --> 01:18:18,868
that this longstanding
law should be changed.
1551
01:18:18,868 --> 01:18:20,783
[CLICKS, TELEVISION SHUTS OFF]
1552
01:18:31,968 --> 01:18:34,710
Babe, what are you doing up?
1553
01:18:34,710 --> 01:18:36,712
What's wrong?
1554
01:18:38,539 --> 01:18:40,367
We're not strong enough.
1555
01:18:40,367 --> 01:18:43,370
KEVIN: What do you mean
not strong enough? Why?
1556
01:18:43,370 --> 01:18:47,766
We're fighting by their rules,
trying to change their laws.
1557
01:18:47,766 --> 01:18:50,334
We should be bringing
the fight to them.
1558
01:18:50,334 --> 01:18:53,424
DANA: The cosmetology board's
caving to the negative press.
1559
01:18:53,424 --> 01:18:55,731
They're willing to reduce the
mandatory hours of instruction
1560
01:18:55,731 --> 01:18:57,820
from 2,000 down to 600,
1561
01:18:57,820 --> 01:19:00,474
which will lower the cost
of cosmetology tuition
1562
01:19:00,474 --> 01:19:02,738
from 10,000 to around 5.
1563
01:19:02,738 --> 01:19:05,218
Now, they want to make a deal.
1564
01:19:05,218 --> 01:19:06,785
No deal.
1565
01:19:10,702 --> 01:19:14,488
I want us to bring our own
bill to the state lawmakers.
1566
01:19:14,488 --> 01:19:17,709
Something that will
free braiders completely.
1567
01:19:17,709 --> 01:19:20,059
No license should
cost more than $25,
1568
01:19:20,059 --> 01:19:23,454
and every braider should
have to pass a basic hygiene
1569
01:19:23,454 --> 01:19:25,978
and safety test, as well
as a demonstration of skills.
1570
01:19:25,978 --> 01:19:28,676
And if you can braid,
you can teach braiding.
1571
01:19:28,676 --> 01:19:32,593
No more Wigology. No
more Cosmetology, at all.
1572
01:19:32,593 --> 01:19:35,814
The art of braiding
should be set free.
1573
01:19:35,814 --> 01:19:38,861
Yes. Yes!
1574
01:19:38,861 --> 01:19:40,906
Yeah? Yes.
1575
01:19:40,906 --> 01:19:42,690
It's good, right? All right.
1576
01:19:42,690 --> 01:19:44,997
It's great. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
1577
01:19:44,997 --> 01:19:47,173
My friend, you married
a very fierce woman,
1578
01:19:47,173 --> 01:19:49,436
and I like her so much.
1579
01:19:49,436 --> 01:19:51,569
I like her, too.
1580
01:19:51,569 --> 01:19:53,658
DANA: Okay, let's
talk strategy, Melony.
1581
01:19:53,658 --> 01:19:56,226
You are gonna have to meet
with a lot of powerful politicians,
1582
01:19:56,226 --> 01:19:57,662
shake a lot of hands...
1583
01:19:57,662 --> 01:19:59,490
You're making a big
deal out of nothing.
1584
01:19:59,490 --> 01:20:02,362
DANA: ...and change a lot
of minds before the hearing.
1585
01:20:02,362 --> 01:20:06,323
MELONY: Traffic cops and
Congressmen both involve law.
1586
01:20:06,323 --> 01:20:08,804
Do they have the same
training, the same licenses?
1587
01:20:08,804 --> 01:20:10,980
No! You can't--
1588
01:20:23,470 --> 01:20:25,603
Where you going?
1589
01:20:25,603 --> 01:20:27,039
Come out with me.
1590
01:20:27,039 --> 01:20:28,084
Out?
1591
01:20:29,955 --> 01:20:31,652
Have you looked at me?
1592
01:20:31,652 --> 01:20:34,525
And there's tomorrow. No.
1593
01:20:34,525 --> 01:20:37,528
All the more reason.
Just throw on a dress,
1594
01:20:37,528 --> 01:20:39,835
keep your hair
wrapped if you like.
1595
01:20:39,835 --> 01:20:41,706
Mnh-mnh. But please.
1596
01:20:41,706 --> 01:20:44,927
What you doing? Mm.
1597
01:20:44,927 --> 01:20:47,146
Kevin. [LAUGHS] Mwah. Mwah.
1598
01:20:47,146 --> 01:20:49,888
All right! All right. All right.
1599
01:20:49,888 --> 01:20:52,499
I'm coming! I'm
coming. I'm coming.
1600
01:20:52,499 --> 01:20:54,675
Lord, I'm coming.
1601
01:20:54,675 --> 01:20:56,590
You're crazy.
1602
01:20:56,590 --> 01:20:59,028
KEVIN: Cover your eyes.
MELONY: I'm covering them.
1603
01:20:59,028 --> 01:21:01,552
KEVIN: Don't peek.
Kevin, I'm not peeking.
1604
01:21:01,552 --> 01:21:02,945
All right, there's
two steps, ready?
1605
01:21:02,945 --> 01:21:04,120
Okay. Ooh. One.
1606
01:21:04,120 --> 01:21:06,339
One. One more. Two.
1607
01:21:06,339 --> 01:21:08,602
Two. Okay. Perfect. All right.
1608
01:21:08,602 --> 01:21:11,692
Can I open them now? Just wait.
1609
01:21:11,692 --> 01:21:15,958
My wife, Melony Armstrong!
1610
01:21:15,958 --> 01:21:19,091
[CROWD CHEERING]
1611
01:21:19,091 --> 01:21:20,658
[LAUGHTER]
1612
01:21:20,658 --> 01:21:23,530
Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
1613
01:21:23,530 --> 01:21:25,532
Look at you!
1614
01:21:25,532 --> 01:21:26,969
What is going on?
1615
01:21:26,969 --> 01:21:29,972
Why is everybody here?! [LAUGHS]
1616
01:21:29,972 --> 01:21:32,148
Oh, my gosh. Mom.
1617
01:21:32,148 --> 01:21:34,150
KEVIN: All right, now
everyone take your seats!
1618
01:21:34,150 --> 01:21:36,500
[CHUCKLES] [MURMURS
INDISTINCTLY]
1619
01:21:41,331 --> 01:21:44,073
[CHUCKLES] WOMAN:
Gonna be great.
1620
01:21:44,073 --> 01:21:47,337
My wife usually
gets the last word,
1621
01:21:47,337 --> 01:21:50,340
but tonight is my
night to speak.
1622
01:21:50,340 --> 01:21:52,298
[LAUGHTER]
1623
01:21:52,298 --> 01:21:54,257
A few years ago,
1624
01:21:54,257 --> 01:21:58,783
my wife came to me and told
me she wanted to braid hair.
1625
01:21:58,783 --> 01:22:02,743
And I told her I
thought she was crazy.
1626
01:22:02,743 --> 01:22:05,833
[LAUGHTER] And she was.
1627
01:22:05,833 --> 01:22:09,054
At that time, she knew
nothing about braiding hair.
1628
01:22:09,054 --> 01:22:11,665
But the thing about my wife,
1629
01:22:11,665 --> 01:22:14,364
she never once let
the impossible stop her.
1630
01:22:14,364 --> 01:22:16,844
[CROWD MURMURING]
The improbable to her
1631
01:22:16,844 --> 01:22:20,065
just indicates a
lack of imagination.
1632
01:22:20,065 --> 01:22:22,024
I once told her she
never met a boulder
1633
01:22:22,024 --> 01:22:25,331
she couldn't smash to pebbles.
1634
01:22:25,331 --> 01:22:27,855
[LAUGHTER] And I was right.
1635
01:22:27,855 --> 01:22:32,860
But tomorrow, my wife is
meeting more than a boulder.
1636
01:22:32,860 --> 01:22:35,211
Tomorrow my wife is coming up
1637
01:22:35,211 --> 01:22:38,040
against the powerful
State of Mississippi.
1638
01:22:38,040 --> 01:22:41,869
And I asked you all here to
share in a prayer of courage
1639
01:22:41,869 --> 01:22:44,568
and strength for her, my wife.
1640
01:22:44,568 --> 01:22:48,572
Because we need her to
be whole, to remain unafraid,
1641
01:22:48,572 --> 01:22:53,011
and carry her undaunted cause
straight to the lap of victory.
1642
01:22:53,011 --> 01:22:56,058
So I ask you all, in the
name of the Most High,
1643
01:22:56,058 --> 01:23:00,932
to bow your heads, close
your eyes, grasp hands,
1644
01:23:00,932 --> 01:23:05,806
go to your innermost
silent place, and pray.
1645
01:23:05,806 --> 01:23:08,113
[DOWN-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYING]
1646
01:23:13,640 --> 01:23:15,338
[CROWDS CLAMORING INDISTINCTLY]
1647
01:23:15,338 --> 01:23:17,470
MELONY: Will I have
to say anything today?
1648
01:23:17,470 --> 01:23:19,211
You don't have to,
1649
01:23:19,211 --> 01:23:21,822
and I'll respect your
decision if you don't.
1650
01:23:21,822 --> 01:23:23,476
But...
1651
01:23:23,476 --> 01:23:27,002
But without your voice,
there's just my own.
1652
01:23:27,002 --> 01:23:30,396
You are this truth, Melony.
1653
01:23:30,396 --> 01:23:32,877
I'm just your echo.
1654
01:23:34,618 --> 01:23:38,056
Okay. I got it. Come on.
1655
01:23:38,056 --> 01:23:39,971
You'll be great.
[CROWD SHOUTING]
1656
01:23:39,971 --> 01:23:43,583
These are local
cosmetology students.
1657
01:23:43,583 --> 01:23:47,283
They were ordered to be
here or risk failing their course.
1658
01:23:47,283 --> 01:23:48,980
That seems unfair.
1659
01:23:48,980 --> 01:23:52,070
Yeah. Welcome to politics.
1660
01:23:52,070 --> 01:23:54,638
Fortunately, your
supporters are a lot louder
1661
01:23:54,638 --> 01:23:57,162
and a lot more fierce.
1662
01:23:57,162 --> 01:24:00,209
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
1663
01:24:00,209 --> 01:24:04,343
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
1664
01:24:04,343 --> 01:24:07,564
Freedom hair! Freedom
hair! You've got this.
1665
01:24:07,564 --> 01:24:09,740
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
1666
01:24:09,740 --> 01:24:14,005
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
1667
01:24:14,005 --> 01:24:18,183
Freedom hair! Freedom hair!
HOLLAND: Good morning.
1668
01:24:18,183 --> 01:24:19,924
Today we will hear testimony
1669
01:24:19,924 --> 01:24:22,318
regarding proposed bills
that would change the laws
1670
01:24:22,318 --> 01:24:25,756
that apply to African hair
braiding in Mississippi.
1671
01:24:25,756 --> 01:24:28,367
Ms. Berliner, we will
first hear from you.
1672
01:24:28,367 --> 01:24:30,413
Thank you.
1673
01:24:30,413 --> 01:24:33,024
The current law denies hair
braiders like Melony Armstrong
1674
01:24:33,024 --> 01:24:35,983
their constitutional
right guaranteed
1675
01:24:35,983 --> 01:24:37,681
by the Fourteenth Amendment--
1676
01:24:37,681 --> 01:24:40,466
The right to earn a
living in their chosen field.
1677
01:24:40,466 --> 01:24:44,470
The current laws in place with
the State Board of Cosmetology
1678
01:24:44,470 --> 01:24:49,562
make it virtually impossible
for hair braiders to be trained,
1679
01:24:49,562 --> 01:24:53,610
to train others, and to
obtain a license truly relevant
1680
01:24:53,610 --> 01:24:56,047
to the work that they do.
1681
01:24:56,047 --> 01:24:58,832
The entire system of cosmetology
1682
01:24:58,832 --> 01:25:01,139
dates back to the early 1900s.
1683
01:25:01,139 --> 01:25:03,750
It doesn't make sense anymore,
1684
01:25:03,750 --> 01:25:06,927
but a lot of people make
a lot of money from it,
1685
01:25:06,927 --> 01:25:10,366
and those people make sure
that the rules don't change.
1686
01:25:10,366 --> 01:25:13,020
They don't care about
the lives destroyed
1687
01:25:13,020 --> 01:25:15,545
when thousands of
women cannot work.
1688
01:25:15,545 --> 01:25:18,417
And you might ask yourself
how this could be so.
1689
01:25:18,417 --> 01:25:22,073
But to answer, you only
need to look at Melony,
1690
01:25:22,073 --> 01:25:23,944
and then look around you.
1691
01:25:25,772 --> 01:25:29,167
There is not one person
who understands Black hair
1692
01:25:29,167 --> 01:25:32,953
or African micro braiding at
a single cosmetology school
1693
01:25:32,953 --> 01:25:34,912
in the entire state
of Mississippi.
1694
01:25:34,912 --> 01:25:36,653
Not one.
1695
01:25:36,653 --> 01:25:40,787
Yet it is into this
unbending wall of ignorance
1696
01:25:40,787 --> 01:25:42,746
that Melony Armstrong
1697
01:25:42,746 --> 01:25:46,489
and any person who wishes
to practice African braiding
1698
01:25:46,489 --> 01:25:48,752
in the traditional styles is
meant to throw themselves.
1699
01:25:48,752 --> 01:25:50,797
In return for what?
1700
01:25:50,797 --> 01:25:53,104
Nothing.
1701
01:25:53,104 --> 01:25:57,630
These archaic laws
have to change.
1702
01:25:57,630 --> 01:26:01,678
And the bill that we are
putting before you today
1703
01:26:01,678 --> 01:26:04,246
for your consideration...
1704
01:26:04,246 --> 01:26:06,857
...can fix what's
broken immediately.
1705
01:26:06,857 --> 01:26:08,163
[CROWD MURMURS IN AGREEMENT]
1706
01:26:08,163 --> 01:26:10,034
[APPLAUSE]
1707
01:26:10,034 --> 01:26:11,383
Thank you.
1708
01:26:11,383 --> 01:26:13,472
[BILLINGS CHUCKLES]
1709
01:26:13,472 --> 01:26:15,387
Mm, mm, mm.
1710
01:26:15,387 --> 01:26:21,263
That was, uh,
poetic and emotional,
1711
01:26:21,263 --> 01:26:26,181
but it's mere smoke and
mirrors of the real point
1712
01:26:26,181 --> 01:26:28,792
of why we're here.
1713
01:26:28,792 --> 01:26:32,230
You don't keep a clean
aesthetic by letting folks run wild.
1714
01:26:32,230 --> 01:26:35,581
If somebody touches
your hair or your skin,
1715
01:26:35,581 --> 01:26:37,583
they need to be regulated.
1716
01:26:37,583 --> 01:26:41,413
If anybody touches my
hair or my wife's hair,
1717
01:26:41,413 --> 01:26:45,069
I would want to know
that they are clean,
1718
01:26:45,069 --> 01:26:48,072
licensed, and accountable.
1719
01:26:48,072 --> 01:26:49,682
We wouldn't want
some bum off the street
1720
01:26:49,682 --> 01:26:50,944
washing our hair, now, would we?
1721
01:26:50,944 --> 01:26:51,945
DANA: Mr. Chairman?
1722
01:26:51,945 --> 01:26:54,513
Please stick to the point.
1723
01:26:54,513 --> 01:26:56,298
BILLINGS: I think
I've made my point.
1724
01:26:56,298 --> 01:26:58,517
[CLEARS THROAT]
Now, Ms. Berliner,
1725
01:26:58,517 --> 01:27:00,476
do you have anything
further to add?
1726
01:27:00,476 --> 01:27:02,217
DANA: No. Thank
you, Senator Holland.
1727
01:27:03,827 --> 01:27:05,698
I want to talk.
1728
01:27:05,698 --> 01:27:07,787
My client would like to speak.
1729
01:27:10,007 --> 01:27:11,443
[CLEARS THROAT]
1730
01:27:14,707 --> 01:27:16,492
[SIGHS]
1731
01:27:16,492 --> 01:27:19,451
My name is Melony Armstrong.
1732
01:27:19,451 --> 01:27:23,281
I'm not a lawyer
or a politician.
1733
01:27:23,281 --> 01:27:25,718
I became a braider
1734
01:27:25,718 --> 01:27:30,070
as a way to touch and
heal Black women's souls.
1735
01:27:30,070 --> 01:27:35,685
I wanted to restore to us a
clear and unfiltered vision
1736
01:27:35,685 --> 01:27:39,166
of our own grace and beauty.
1737
01:27:39,166 --> 01:27:43,475
I was tired of us only seeing
ourselves through a hot combed,
1738
01:27:43,475 --> 01:27:45,999
fried, and chemically
treated lens.
1739
01:27:45,999 --> 01:27:50,221
We deserve a chance
to just be who we are.
1740
01:27:50,221 --> 01:27:52,789
[CROWD MURMURS IN AGREEMENT]
1741
01:27:52,789 --> 01:27:56,053
Braiding can give Black women
a leg up in their self-esteem
1742
01:27:56,053 --> 01:27:58,490
and a footing in the workplace,
1743
01:27:58,490 --> 01:28:02,451
and it's exactly that
financial opportunity
1744
01:28:02,451 --> 01:28:06,411
that the Cosmetology
Board wants to suppress.
1745
01:28:06,411 --> 01:28:09,414
They don't want to
teach hair braiding.
1746
01:28:09,414 --> 01:28:12,199
They don't want
anything to do with us.
1747
01:28:12,199 --> 01:28:15,115
They just want to take
our time and money
1748
01:28:15,115 --> 01:28:17,074
and give us nothing in return.
1749
01:28:17,074 --> 01:28:18,597
MAN: Right.
1750
01:28:18,597 --> 01:28:21,121
The bill that I'm
urging you to pass
1751
01:28:21,121 --> 01:28:23,907
will put an end to that.
1752
01:28:23,907 --> 01:28:26,736
When I first
started this journey,
1753
01:28:26,736 --> 01:28:29,086
I didn't know how to braid.
1754
01:28:29,086 --> 01:28:30,435
Now?
1755
01:28:32,524 --> 01:28:35,484
[SPECTATORS CHEERING
AND APPLAUDING]
1756
01:28:40,663 --> 01:28:43,796
I am the voice of any
Black woman in Mississippi
1757
01:28:43,796 --> 01:28:47,757
or in the world that wants
to create this for a living.
1758
01:28:47,757 --> 01:28:49,280
MAN: Yes. WOMAN: Yes.
1759
01:28:49,280 --> 01:28:51,935
To the State of
Mississippi in general,
1760
01:28:51,935 --> 01:28:54,677
and to the Mississippi
Board of Cosmetology
1761
01:28:54,677 --> 01:28:58,811
specifically, I say,
let my people braid.
1762
01:28:58,811 --> 01:29:00,509
MAN: Yes.
1763
01:29:00,509 --> 01:29:02,380
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
1764
01:29:02,380 --> 01:29:03,686
Thank you.
1765
01:29:10,736 --> 01:29:13,391
BILLINGS: This woman
is not who she says she is.
1766
01:29:13,391 --> 01:29:16,002
She's not even from Mississippi.
1767
01:29:16,002 --> 01:29:19,049
Melony Armstrong
is a college dropout.
1768
01:29:19,049 --> 01:29:22,661
She has been cited for
employing unregistered workers.
1769
01:29:22,661 --> 01:29:24,446
She's not even qualified
to touch a dog's hair.
1770
01:29:24,446 --> 01:29:25,969
Mr. Chairman, that--
1771
01:29:25,969 --> 01:29:27,971
Mr. Billings, your
vitriol is disappointing
1772
01:29:27,971 --> 01:29:29,625
and an embarrassment
to this state.
1773
01:29:29,625 --> 01:29:31,366
The Board should
be ashamed of itself
1774
01:29:31,366 --> 01:29:33,063
for allowing these tactics,
1775
01:29:33,063 --> 01:29:34,978
which are unseemly in
any legislative hearing.
1776
01:29:34,978 --> 01:29:37,589
Now if you are done,
sir, please be seated.
1777
01:29:37,589 --> 01:29:39,635
[CROWD MURMURING IN AGREEMENT]
1778
01:29:39,635 --> 01:29:43,334
Now, hair braiding should
have never been an issue
1779
01:29:43,334 --> 01:29:45,554
to come before
this legislative body.
1780
01:29:45,554 --> 01:29:48,644
It is clearly a
cultural art form.
1781
01:29:50,689 --> 01:29:52,865
And if it can be a means
of financial support, too,
1782
01:29:52,865 --> 01:29:54,301
well, so much the better.
1783
01:29:54,301 --> 01:29:56,434
Mr. Chairman,
please-- Mr. Billings.
1784
01:29:56,434 --> 01:29:59,350
You can inform the Mississippi
State Board of Cosmetology
1785
01:29:59,350 --> 01:30:00,699
that I'm not
recommending their bill
1786
01:30:00,699 --> 01:30:02,788
for further regulation
moves forward.
1787
01:30:02,788 --> 01:30:05,008
However, I strongly advise
1788
01:30:05,008 --> 01:30:07,924
that Ms. Armstrong's bill
to remove hair braiding
1789
01:30:07,924 --> 01:30:10,840
from any jurisdiction the
Cosmetology Board holds now
1790
01:30:10,840 --> 01:30:12,581
or may ever hold in the future,
1791
01:30:12,581 --> 01:30:15,497
be approved by the
State House and Senate
1792
01:30:15,497 --> 01:30:17,803
and signed into
law by the governor.
1793
01:30:17,803 --> 01:30:19,849
Yes. Yes!
1794
01:30:19,849 --> 01:30:20,980
All right!
1795
01:30:22,634 --> 01:30:24,070
Thank you.
1796
01:30:24,070 --> 01:30:25,898
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
1797
01:30:25,898 --> 01:30:28,074
DANA: You did it.
1798
01:30:28,074 --> 01:30:32,427
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE CONTINUE]
1799
01:30:32,427 --> 01:30:37,867
♪ The sun is comin' up again ♪
1800
01:30:40,696 --> 01:30:45,962
♪ These winds of
change Are blowin' in ♪
1801
01:30:45,962 --> 01:30:50,183
♪ And I know ♪
1802
01:30:50,183 --> 01:30:52,751
♪ Yes, I know ♪
1803
01:30:52,751 --> 01:30:54,361
Wow.
1804
01:30:54,361 --> 01:30:56,451
♪ It feels like freedom ♪
1805
01:30:56,451 --> 01:30:58,017
All right, all right.
1806
01:31:00,977 --> 01:31:05,634
"My hair defies gravity." [CROWD
MURMURING IN AGREEMENT]
1807
01:31:05,634 --> 01:31:07,810
"She is rebellious
and will never lay down
1808
01:31:07,810 --> 01:31:10,726
unless she wants to." [CROWD
MURMURING IN AGREEMENT]
1809
01:31:10,726 --> 01:31:13,250
"She is soft as a
sponge..." WOMAN: Yes.
1810
01:31:13,250 --> 01:31:15,295
"...and brutal as a Brillo pad."
1811
01:31:15,295 --> 01:31:17,428
[LAUGHTER]
1812
01:31:17,428 --> 01:31:20,387
"She can go from
lyin' down to Lion King
1813
01:31:20,387 --> 01:31:22,389
with just three drops of rain!
1814
01:31:24,174 --> 01:31:26,959
[VOICE BREAKING] My
hair takes no prisoners."
1815
01:31:26,959 --> 01:31:28,613
[CROWD CONTINUES
MURMURING AGREEMENT]
1816
01:31:28,613 --> 01:31:31,007
"My hair hides
infinite secrets."
1817
01:31:31,007 --> 01:31:32,617
[CROWD MURMURING IN AGREEMENT]
1818
01:31:32,617 --> 01:31:38,188
"Sometimes I
feel she is magical.
1819
01:31:38,188 --> 01:31:40,973
And sometimes I
feel she is possessed."
1820
01:31:40,973 --> 01:31:43,019
[LAUGHTER]
1821
01:31:43,019 --> 01:31:45,064
"She looks like she
can be controlled.
1822
01:31:45,064 --> 01:31:46,718
But she can't."
1823
01:31:46,718 --> 01:31:48,981
WOMAN 1: No.
WOMAN 2: No, no, no.
1824
01:31:48,981 --> 01:31:51,941
"Gel, hairspray, goo,
and prayers are useless."
1825
01:31:51,941 --> 01:31:53,377
[LAUGHTER]
1826
01:31:53,377 --> 01:31:55,597
"She is silent except
1827
01:31:55,597 --> 01:31:59,557
when a flat iron makes her hiss.
1828
01:31:59,557 --> 01:32:02,342
My hair has attitude."
1829
01:32:02,342 --> 01:32:03,561
MAN: Yeah! Yes.
1830
01:32:03,561 --> 01:32:06,042
"She is born to be wild!"
1831
01:32:06,042 --> 01:32:08,261
[CROWD CHEERING]
1832
01:32:08,261 --> 01:32:10,742
Freedom Hair at last!
1833
01:32:10,742 --> 01:32:13,353
Yes!
1834
01:32:13,353 --> 01:32:16,400
CROWD [CHANTING]: Freedom
Hair! Freedom Hair! Freedom Hair!
1835
01:32:16,400 --> 01:32:19,490
Freedom Hair! Freedom
Hair! ♪ And my sisters ♪
1836
01:32:19,490 --> 01:32:22,014
Freedom Hair! ♪
And my brothers ♪
1837
01:32:22,014 --> 01:32:27,411
Freedom Hair! Freedom Hair!
1838
01:32:27,411 --> 01:32:32,590
♪ I see 'em comin' together ♪
1839
01:32:32,590 --> 01:32:35,506
♪ And, oh ♪
1840
01:32:35,506 --> 01:32:39,728
♪ Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, yeah ♪
1841
01:32:39,728 --> 01:32:45,037
♪ Said it feels like freedom ♪
1842
01:32:45,037 --> 01:32:49,302
♪ Are you ready now?
Yes, I'm ready now ♪
1843
01:32:49,302 --> 01:32:53,306
♪ For a change to come ♪
1844
01:32:53,306 --> 01:32:57,397
♪ Feet, don't fail me now
'Cause I'm ready now ♪
1845
01:32:57,397 --> 01:33:01,097
♪ To move on ♪
1846
01:33:01,097 --> 01:33:05,275
♪ Are you ready now?
Yes, I'm ready now ♪
1847
01:33:05,275 --> 01:33:09,453
♪ For a change to come ♪
1848
01:33:09,453 --> 01:33:13,239
♪ Feet, don't fail me now
'Cause I'm ready now ♪
1849
01:33:13,239 --> 01:33:17,417
♪ To move on ♪
1850
01:33:17,417 --> 01:33:22,031
♪ Freedom ♪
1851
01:33:22,031 --> 01:33:26,078
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Whoo-hoo ♪
1852
01:33:26,078 --> 01:33:30,517
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Whoo-hoo-ooh ♪
1853
01:33:30,517 --> 01:33:34,696
♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
1854
01:33:34,696 --> 01:33:40,832
♪ Freedom ♪
1855
01:33:42,399 --> 01:33:44,575
♪ Freedom ♪
1856
01:33:44,575 --> 01:33:46,446
♪ I might not be here ♪
1857
01:33:46,446 --> 01:33:48,100
♪ Freedom ♪
1858
01:33:48,100 --> 01:33:51,538
♪ You know I'm free ♪
1859
01:33:58,850 --> 01:34:02,724
[FOLK COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]
1860
01:34:11,341 --> 01:34:14,431
♪ Put my feet Under cold water ♪
1861
01:34:14,431 --> 01:34:17,173
♪ Whenever I get home ♪
1862
01:34:17,173 --> 01:34:20,524
♪ And I tell myself
That I did it all better ♪
1863
01:34:20,524 --> 01:34:23,614
♪ Than I might have done ♪
1864
01:34:23,614 --> 01:34:26,704
♪ I came up Like
a paper daughter ♪
1865
01:34:26,704 --> 01:34:29,620
♪ Fallen with The afterthought ♪
1866
01:34:29,620 --> 01:34:35,321
♪ And the tender mercy that
I Was after came hard won ♪
1867
01:34:35,321 --> 01:34:37,497
♪ Hard won ♪
1868
01:34:49,074 --> 01:34:52,730
♪ Oh, how I've tried ♪
1869
01:34:52,730 --> 01:34:56,560
♪ Keeping you in my mind ♪
1870
01:35:01,347 --> 01:35:04,699
♪ And I've done my time ♪
1871
01:35:04,699 --> 01:35:08,703
♪ Lying awake at night ♪
1872
01:35:12,619 --> 01:35:16,754
♪ But, oh ♪
1873
01:35:19,452 --> 01:35:23,326
♪ Those lonely times are done ♪
1874
01:35:25,023 --> 01:35:30,246
♪ And, oh ♪
1875
01:35:30,246 --> 01:35:32,944
♪ It was hard won ♪
1876
01:35:36,600 --> 01:35:39,124
♪ Hard won ♪
1877
01:35:43,302 --> 01:35:46,697
♪ Found myself In
a strange new land ♪
1878
01:35:46,697 --> 01:35:49,352
♪ Without a hand to hold ♪
1879
01:35:49,352 --> 01:35:51,180
♪ And I was mad at God ♪
1880
01:35:51,180 --> 01:35:56,098
♪ For leaving me
standing In bitter sun ♪
1881
01:35:56,098 --> 01:36:01,930
♪ But I kept hanging on
To the very end of my rope ♪
1882
01:36:01,930 --> 01:36:07,326
♪ When sitting down all right
With myself came hard won ♪
1883
01:36:07,326 --> 01:36:09,807
♪ Hard won ♪
1884
01:36:21,340 --> 01:36:25,083
♪ Oh, how I've tried ♪
1885
01:36:25,083 --> 01:36:28,652
♪ Keeping you in my mind ♪
1886
01:36:33,483 --> 01:36:37,269
♪ And I've done my time ♪
1887
01:36:37,269 --> 01:36:40,969
♪ Lying awake at night ♪
1888
01:36:44,799 --> 01:36:49,064
♪ But, oh ♪
1889
01:36:51,675 --> 01:36:56,985
♪ Those lonely times are done ♪
1890
01:36:56,985 --> 01:37:02,251
♪ And, oh ♪
1891
01:37:02,251 --> 01:37:04,993
♪ It was hard won ♪
1892
01:37:09,171 --> 01:37:10,868
♪ Hard won ♪
1893
01:37:15,960 --> 01:37:18,876
♪ I was up On the
Third Street Bridge ♪
1894
01:37:18,876 --> 01:37:22,140
♪ The night you got my letter ♪
1895
01:37:22,140 --> 01:37:27,885
♪ I was singing out in Virginia
When you found someone ♪
1896
01:37:27,885 --> 01:37:33,891
♪ I had to lay your memory
down On the altar of my anger ♪
1897
01:37:33,891 --> 01:37:39,897
♪ And the peace of mind that I
Finally found came hard won ♪
1898
01:37:39,897 --> 01:37:42,552
♪ Hard won ♪
1899
01:37:53,606 --> 01:37:57,349
♪ Oh, how I've tried ♪
1900
01:37:57,349 --> 01:38:01,005
♪ Keeping you in my mind ♪
1901
01:38:05,967 --> 01:38:09,622
♪ And I've done my time ♪
1902
01:38:09,622 --> 01:38:13,322
♪ Lying awake at night ♪
1903
01:38:17,543 --> 01:38:21,591
♪ But, oh ♪
1904
01:38:24,072 --> 01:38:29,207
♪ Those lonely times are done ♪
1905
01:38:29,207 --> 01:38:35,257
♪ And I know, oh ♪
1906
01:38:35,257 --> 01:38:41,132
♪ Yeah, I know I know, I know ♪
1907
01:38:41,132 --> 01:38:46,703
♪ Yeah, I know, oh ♪
1908
01:38:46,703 --> 01:38:49,793
♪ It was hard won ♪
1909
01:38:53,753 --> 01:38:55,930
♪ Hard won ♪
1910
01:39:01,761 --> 01:39:05,635
[♪]
126749
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