"Bi-Racial Hair": The Film

'Slit my wrists, my blood does not excrete in black and white' prophesizes 13-year old Zora in her poem entitled 'Bi-Racial Hair' which was performed live in front of 1500 of her peers and adult allies at the 2006 Urban Word NYC Teen Poetry Slam.

My short film of the same title, is a satirical look at the racial tension young African American's experience who are of mixed ethnic backgrounds. Using Zora's poem as the thread, the film follows her initial comedic rant about the challenges she faces in stylizing her hair to her personal frustrations of being teased about her ethnicity by her African American peers. The film weaves between fictional reanctments, archival footage of the civil rights movement and Zora's infamous live spoken word performance, Illustrating the struggles youth of mixed color face with identity and social position. Zora's resolution about proposing a 'new race' sheds light on the complexity and depth of the racist wounds our nation still faces 150 years after the abolishment of slavery.

'Bi-Racial Hair' was one of five short pitches chosen for WGBH Lab and the National Black Programming Consortium's 'Eviction Notice' Open Call which gave production funding and online feedback to the chosen filmmakers. It was broadcasted on Independent Lens for Black History Month in February 2009 and won a Boston/New England Emmy Award for Outstanding Advanced Media Interactivity

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Zora Howard
• Lisa Russell
• Urban Word NYC
• WGBH NBPC bi racial hair

[rakabarnett]

Wow, again a lot of people are missing the point or just want to see only a little bit at a time. The poem is about the struggle because you're different. Wheither your biracial, mixed whatever. (Not to mention, why do people assume those terms only apply to black and white?) It matters not what her parents really are, but that we, as a people, can't and won't accept those that aren't, clearly, just one race. It shames me in more ways than one can imagine.

[sunbeem18]

you guys ar stupid if she is only black and white, no matter the percentage of both... she is bi- racial. if she is more than two races like me ( black, white, native american) that would then make her multi-racial. omg .... why do stupid ppl multiply faster?

[JuJuKino]

I'M NOT A COOKIE OR A BERRY!!!

[FrEfEyA]

I find it stupid and racist to talk about "biracial hair"

as if all biracials had the same hair...I have straight hair...

but I really like the video anyway

[naruhinaaaf]

love this

[ohsuckitup2]

Go Girl!!

I understand.

[shebrownsuga]

I love this poem!

[strtthshw]

@tony666ism I'm fully black and my hair is less coarse and longer than hers :/ So I watched this and went,"er....huh? Kay." Good poem though.

[Teal1747]

im creole and my hair is not like that buut by bangs are soooo like that

[Funkella]

Embrace who you are and what you have and who you are. I love all people and hate to see when others make it an issue over what race you are. If you are mixed watch the faces of the race your dealing with change when you take a positive stance and call their bluff by being positive about who you are and where your parents originated from.

when it comes to Hair well you can do loads more with your hair when you know what products work well with your Hair type. embrace what you have, u beautiful.

[kangu88]

she was 13 when she wrote this?! Either way, She destined for greatness!

[tony666ism]

i'm fully black

and my hair i just likle hers