We Are All Team Zahara

I thought long and hard before sitting down two weeks ago to write an article about the state of Zahara Jolie-Pitt's hair. I knew any discussion about hair and culture would spark an angry debate in the world of bloggers and beyond. Just ask Chris Rock. His new film, Good Hair, has brought him all kinds of criticism and drama, so at least I'm in good company. Days after my story hit the Web, the comments sections of our site was overrun with furious remarks, and blogs had a serious field day roasting me all that week.

Still, I'm undeterred by the venom shown to me on the Web. I continue to believe Angelina Jolie should take better care of Zahara's hair. Hey, if Maddox can get blond highlights and a Mohawk, Zahara can at least get a quick top knot and rubber band. Is that asking too much?

For those who accused me of having my own hair issues—I say I sure do. And so do most of the African-Americans who responded to my article in an angry huff. Zahara will have them as well, because like or not, how we look has a huge impact on how people see us and ultimately judge us. Is it fair? No. But is it reality? Yes, it very much is.

Disturbingly, I was accused of attacking the little doll of a girl. Last time I checked, 4-year-old little girls can't take care of themselves, much less comb and style their own hair. My suggestions were for her parents, because I'd like to see them avoid an angry and resentful teen in about 10 years.

Like many who wrote in, I too have followed the development of the gorgeous little African girl since her arrival in America. I vividly remember ooohing and aaahing over a beautiful picture of Jolie holding the baby on the cover of People. Zahara was about 6 months old with barely there hair and gleaming smile. Adorable! Since then, I've read many of the stories where both Jolie and her partner, Brad Pitt, spoke on Zahara and her emerging personality. Last year in an interview with an international magazine, Jolie said something very telling about her oldest daughter. She mentioned that Zahara asked why her hair wasn't like everyone else's in the family. Why wasn't it long and silky like Jolie's? She went on to add that Zahara was very much a girlie girl who loved dresses, makeup, and jewelry. The young child asking why her hair wasn't like others in the family really saddens me. Three years old is pretty young to be aware of such things. It's much too young to feel different.

But how could she not feel that way in a family such as the Jolie-Pitts? Her two brothers are of Asian descent, and her others siblings are all white. She's the lone little brown girl with the kinky hair. This clearly bright little girl is going to have even more probing questions for her mother as she gets older. Some of them will be unavoidable—after all, she is a black child growing up with white, superrich, superfamous parents. But some of them, such as "Why does my hair looks this way?," can and should be dealt with right away so it won't adversely affect her self-esteem in the long run. Yes, it is that serious.