“In a time of racial and social tension, embracing this movement, and others like this, help us to rise above the confines of the status quo. So when you see a woman with braids or locks, draping down her back, or you notice your colleague who has stopped straightening her hair to work, do not simply approach her and admire and ask her if you can touch it. Really appreciate her! Applaud her. Heck you can high-five her if that’s what you feel so inclined to do. Because this…this is more than about a hair style. It’s about self-love and self-worth. It’s about being brave enough, not to fold under the pressure of others expectations. And about know that making the decision to stray from the norm, does not define who we are, but it simply reveals who we are. And finally, being brave is easier, when we can count on the compassion of others. So, after today, I certainly hope that we can count on YOU. Thank you.” – Cheyenne Cochrane, an ambassador for the natural hair movement.