ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Cheyenne Cochrane - Storyteller
Cheyenne Cochrane is an ambassador for the natural hair movement.

Why you should listen

Cheyenne Cochrane is a storyteller who leverages digital and social media to share her ideas and experiences with her followers and subscribers, seasoned with a dash of humor. A Chicago native and Howard University Graduate, Cochrane lives to inspire, inform and connect with diverse audiences. She is currently the development manager for a national education non-profit. When she's not raising funds to support educational equity for underserved students around the country, she is the creator and visionary behind The Level Up blog, as well as her social media brand, @onmylevel_chey.

Cochrane began documenting her natural hair journey in 2014, while struggling to maintain the integrity of her hair after so many years of applying heat and harsh chemicals. She wanted to adopt a new routine, but like so many other women of color she'd been programmed to believe that straight, long hair was the most appealing, most professional and widely accepted look for a black woman. She knew that deciding to "go natural" would be a journey of self-exploration and would require her to let go of the conventional standards of beauty that she'd adhered to for so many years. What she did not know, however, was how many other women she'd inspire and empower along the way by sharing her journey.

Today, Cheyenne continues to share her natural hair story and lessons with women around the world via her social media platforms and YouTube channel. She also maintains a blog where she posts about all things natural hair and beauty, millennial culture and features young entrepreneurs of color.

More profile about the speaker
Cheyenne Cochrane | Speaker | TED.com
TEDxBeaconStreet

Cheyenne Cochrane: A celebration of natural hair

Cheyenne Cochrane: Uma celebração ao cabelo natural

Filmed:
1,438,022 views

Cheyenne Cochrane explora o papel que a textura do cabelo desempenhou na história de ser negra na nos Estados Unidos - dos produtos de alisamento térmico da era da pós-Guerra Civil para os milhares de mulheres hoje que decidiram parar de perseguir um padrão de beleza convencional e começaram a aceitar seus cabelos naturais. "Isso não é sobre um penteado", diz Cochrane. "É sobre ser corajosa o suficiente para não se dobrar sob a pressão das expectativas dos outros".
- Storyteller
Cheyenne Cochrane is an ambassador for the natural hair movement. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
I am from the South Side of Chicago,
0
801
2815
Sou da região sul de Chicago,
00:15
and in seventh grade,
I had a best friend named Jenny
1
3640
4096
e, na sétima série, tive
uma melhor amiga chamada Jenny,
00:19
who lived on the Southwest
Side of Chicago.
2
7760
2800
que morava na região sudoeste de Chicago.
00:23
Jenny was white,
3
11360
1976
Jenny era branca,
00:25
and if you know anything about
the segregated demographics of Chicago,
4
13360
3976
e, se vocês sabem algo sobre os dados
demográficos de segregação em Chicago,
00:29
you know that there are
not too many black people
5
17360
3136
sabem que não há muitos negros
00:32
who live on the Southwest Side of Chicago.
6
20520
2056
que moram na região sudoeste,
mas Jenny era minha amiga
00:34
But Jenny was my girl
7
22600
1256
00:35
and so we would hang out every so often
after school and on the weekends.
8
23880
4896
e, então, saíamos de vez em quando
depois da escola e nos finais de semana.
00:40
And so one day we were
hanging out in her living room,
9
28800
3295
Assim, um dia estávamos
na sala de estar dela,
00:44
talking about 13-year-old things,
10
32119
3257
batendo papo sobre coisas de adolescentes,
00:47
and Jenny's little sister Rosie
was in the room with us,
11
35400
3216
e a irmãzinha de Jenny,
Rosie, estava na sala conosco,
00:50
and she was sitting behind me
just kind of playing in my hair,
12
38640
3056
sentada atrás de mim
brincando com meu cabelo,
e eu não estava atenta
ao que ela estava fazendo.
00:53
and I wasn't thinking too much
about what she was doing.
13
41720
4080
00:58
But at a pause in the conversation,
14
46400
2216
Mas, numa pausa na conversa,
01:00
Rosie tapped me on the shoulder.
15
48640
2496
Rosie bateu de leve no meu ombro.
01:03
She said, "Can I ask you a question?"
16
51160
2360
Ela disse: "Posso fazer uma pergunta?"
01:06
I said, "Yeah, Rosie. Sure."
17
54120
1760
Eu disse: "Sim, Rosie. Claro."
01:08
"Are you black?"
18
56800
1416
"Você é negra?"
01:10
(Laughter)
19
58240
2216
(Risos)
01:12
The room froze.
20
60480
1896
A sala parou.
01:14
Silence.
21
62400
1200
Silêncio.
01:16
Jenny and Rosie's mom
was not too far away.
22
64879
2257
A mãe delas não estava muito longe.
01:19
She was in the kitchen
and she overheard the conversation,
23
67160
2896
Estava na cozinha e ouviu a conversa,
01:22
and she was mortified.
24
70080
1520
e ficou transtornada.
01:24
She said, "Rosie! You can't
ask people questions like that."
25
72320
3560
Ela disse: "Rosie! Você não pode
perguntar isso às pessoas".
01:28
And Jenny was my friend,
and I know she was really embarrassed.
26
76640
3576
E Jenny era minha amiga, e sei
que estava realmente envergonhada.
01:32
I felt kind of bad for her,
but actually I was not offended.
27
80240
4336
Eu me senti meio mal por ela mas,
na verdade, não fiquei ofendida.
01:36
I figured it wasn't Rosie's fault
that in her 10 short years on this earth,
28
84600
5056
Achei que não era culpa de Rosie que,
com seus 10 anos de idade,
01:41
living on the Southwest Side of Chicago,
29
89680
2456
vivendo na região sudoeste de Chicago,
01:44
she wasn't 100 percent sure
what a black person looked like.
30
92160
2880
não tinha tanta certeza
de como era uma pessoa negra.
01:47
That's fair.
31
95440
1416
É justo.
01:48
But what was more surprising to me was,
32
96880
2376
Mas o que mais me surpreendeu foi:
01:51
in all of this time I had spent
with Jenny and Rosie's family --
33
99280
4496
em todo esse tempo que tinha passado
com a família delas,
01:55
hanging out with them,
34
103800
1336
convivendo e brincando com elas,
01:57
playing with them,
35
105160
1256
01:58
even physically interacting with them --
36
106440
2776
mesmo interagindo fisicamente com elas,
02:01
it was not until Rosie
put her hands in my hair
37
109240
4496
foi só quando Rosie tocou o meu cabelo
02:05
that she thought to ask me if I was black.
38
113760
2520
que pensou em me perguntar
se eu era negra.
02:09
That was the first time I would realize
39
117560
2696
Essa foi a primeira vez que percebi
02:12
how big of a role the texture of my hair
played in confirming my ethnicity,
40
120280
4936
quão grande é o papel da textura do meu
cabelo na confirmação da minha etnia,
02:17
but also that it would play a key role
in how I'm viewed by others in society.
41
125240
4600
mas também havia um papel fundamental
em como era vista na sociedade.
02:23
Garrett A. Morgan
and Madame CJ Walker were pioneers
42
131400
3216
Garrett A. Morgan e
Madame C.J. Walker foram pioneiros
02:26
of the black hair-care and beauty
industry in the early 1900s.
43
134640
3520
na indústria de cuidados com cabelos
crespos no início de 1900.
02:30
They're best known as the inventors
of chemically-based hair creams
44
138680
3776
São conhecidos como os inventores
dos cremes de cabelo com base química
02:34
and heat straightening tools
45
142480
1536
e alisadores térmicos
02:36
designed to permanently,
or semipermanently,
46
144040
3576
projetados para permanentemente,
ou semipermanentemente,
02:39
alter the texture of black hair.
47
147640
2640
alterar a textura dos cabelos crespos.
02:43
Oftentimes when we think
about the history of blacks in America,
48
151360
3776
Muitas vezes, quando pensamos
sobre a história dos negros nos EUA,
02:47
we think about the heinous acts
49
155160
2896
pensamos nos atos hediondos
02:50
and numerous injustices
that we experienced as people of color
50
158080
4496
e nas inúmeras injustiças
que experimentamos como pessoas de cor
02:54
because of the color of our skin,
51
162600
1736
por causa da cor da nossa pele,
02:56
when in fact, in post-Civil War America,
52
164360
3656
quando, na verdade,
nos EUA do pós-Guerra Civil,
03:00
it was the hair of an
African-American male or female
53
168040
5176
era o cabelo de uma mulher
ou homem afro-americano
03:05
that was known as the most
"telling feature" of Negro status,
54
173240
4856
que era conhecido como a característica
mais reveladora de ser negro,
03:10
more so than the color of the skin.
55
178120
1920
mais do que a cor da pele.
03:13
And so before they were staples
56
181120
2336
E, então, antes de serem itens básicos
03:15
of the multibillion-dollar
hair-care industry,
57
183480
3936
da indústria multibilionária
de cuidados com o cabelo,
03:19
our dependency on tools and products,
58
187440
2776
nossa dependência de aparelhos e produtos,
03:22
like the hair relaxer
and the pressing comb,
59
190240
3296
como o relaxante e a prancha
alisadora para o cabelo,
03:25
were more about our survival
and advancement as a race
60
193560
4416
foram mais sobre nossa sobrevivência
e avanço como raça
03:30
in postslavery America.
61
198000
2200
nos EUA da pós-escravidão.
03:33
Over the years,
we grew accustomed to this idea
62
201880
3376
Ao longo dos anos,
nos acostumamos com a ideia
03:37
that straighter and longer
hair meant better and more beautiful.
63
205280
5120
de que cabelo mais liso e longo
significava ser melhor e mais bonito.
03:43
We became culturally obsessed
64
211800
3136
Ficamos culturalmente obcecadas
03:46
with this idea of having
what we like to call ...
65
214960
3200
com essa ideia de ter
o que gostamos de chamar de
03:50
"good hair."
66
218840
1200
"cabelo bom".
03:53
This essentially means:
67
221680
1576
Isto significa essencialmente:
03:55
the looser the curl pattern,
the better the hair.
68
223280
3560
quanto menor o padrão
de ondulação, melhor o cabelo.
03:59
And we let these institutionalized ideas
form a false sense of hierarchy
69
227720
6456
E deixamos tais ideias institucionalizadas
formarem um falso senso de hierarquia
04:06
that would determine
what was considered a good grade of hair
70
234200
5576
que determinaria o que era
considerado um bom grau de cabelo
04:11
and what was not.
71
239800
1360
e o que não era.
04:15
What's worse is that
we let these false ideologies
72
243320
3296
O pior é que deixamos
essas ideologias falsas
04:18
invade our perception of ourselves,
73
246640
2736
invadirem nossa percepção de nós mesmas,
04:21
and they still continue
to infect our cultural identity
74
249400
3336
e elas continuam a infectar
a nossa identidade cultural
04:24
as African-American women today.
75
252760
2440
como mulheres afro-americanas hoje.
04:28
So what did we do?
76
256720
1496
Então, o que fazíamos?
04:30
We went to the hair salon
every six to eight weeks,
77
258240
4016
Íamos ao salão de beleza
a cada seis a oito semanas,
04:34
without fail,
78
262280
1376
sem falta,
04:35
to subject our scalps
to harsh straightening chemicals
79
263680
3336
sujeitar nossos couros cabeludos
a produtos de alisamento agressivos
04:39
beginning at a very young age --
80
267040
1936
começando muito jovens,
04:41
sometimes eight, 10 --
81
269000
2056
às vezes aos oito, dez anos,
04:43
that would result in hair loss,
82
271080
3216
o que resultaria em perda de cabelo,
04:46
bald spots,
83
274320
1216
áreas calvas,
04:47
sometimes even burns on the scalp.
84
275560
2200
até queimaduras no couro cabeludo.
04:50
We fry our hair at temperatures
of 450 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
85
278440
4776
Fritávamos nossos cabelos
a temperaturas de 230 °C ou mais
04:55
almost daily,
86
283240
1256
quase diariamente,
04:56
to maintain the straight look.
87
284520
2000
para manter o cabelo liso.
04:59
Or we simply cover our hair up
with wigs and weaves,
88
287440
4896
Ou simplesmente cobríamos nossos
cabelos com perucas e tecidos,
05:04
only to let our roots breathe in private
89
292360
2656
só para deixar nossas raízes respirarem
05:07
where no one knows
what's really going on under there.
90
295040
3120
onde ninguém sabe o que está acontecendo.
05:11
We adopted these practices
in our own communities,
91
299520
3296
Adotamos essas práticas
em nossas próprias comunidades,
05:14
and so it's no wonder
why today the typical ideal vision
92
302840
5336
e não é de se admirar porque
hoje a visão ideal típica
05:20
of a professional black woman,
93
308200
2736
da mulher negra profissional,
05:22
especially in corporate America,
94
310960
1896
especialmente nos EUA corporativo,
05:24
tends to look like this,
95
312880
2320
tende a parecer assim,
05:28
rather than like this.
96
316320
1560
em vez de assim.
05:31
And she certainly doesn't look like this.
97
319160
3000
E, certamente, não parece assim.
05:35
In September of this year,
98
323320
1976
Em setembro deste ano,
05:37
a federal court ruled it lawful
99
325320
2496
um tribunal federal decidiu legalizar
05:39
for a company to discriminate
against hiring an employee
100
327840
4336
a discriminação por uma empresa
na contratação de uma pessoa
05:44
based on if she or he wears dreadlocks.
101
332200
3080
caso ela use dreadlocks.
05:48
In the case,
102
336560
1216
No caso, a gerente de contratação
em Mobile, Alabama,
05:49
the hiring manager in Mobile, Alabama
103
337800
2256
05:52
is on record as saying,
104
340080
1720
está na gravação, dizendo:
05:54
"I'm not saying yours are messy,
105
342960
1840
"Não estou dizendo que é sujo,
05:57
but ...
106
345640
1336
mas...
05:59
you know what I'm talking about."
107
347000
1572
você sabe do que estou falando".
06:02
Well, what was she talking about?
108
350440
2240
Bem, do que ela estava falando?
06:05
Did she think that they were ugly?
109
353760
1720
Achou que eram feios?
06:08
Or maybe they were
just a little too Afrocentric
110
356920
4456
Ou talvez fossem muito africanos
06:13
and pro-black-looking for her taste.
111
361400
2280
e a favor do visual negro
para o gosto dela.
06:16
Or maybe it's not about Afrocentricity,
112
364480
1936
Talvez não tenha a ver com afrocentrismo,
06:18
and it's more just about
it being a little too "urban"
113
366440
2536
mas é muito urbano para
o ambiente profissional.
06:21
for the professional setting.
114
369000
1400
06:23
Perhaps she had a genuine concern
in that they looked "scary"
115
371880
3656
Talvez tivesse a preocupação genuína
de que pareciam assustadores
06:27
and that they would intimidate
the clients and their customer base.
116
375560
3520
e que intimidariam a base de clientes.
06:32
All of these words are ones
that are too often associated
117
380680
5096
Todas essas palavras são
muitas vezes associadas
06:37
with the stigma
attached to natural hairstyles.
118
385800
3440
ao estigma ligado
aos penteados naturais.
06:42
And this ...
119
390000
1200
E isso...
06:43
this has got to change.
120
391720
1960
tem que mudar.
06:47
In 2013,
121
395280
1256
Em 2013, um relatório branco da Deloitte
Center for Leadership and Inclusion,
06:48
a white paper published by the Deloitte
Leadership Center for Inclusion,
122
396560
4496
06:53
studied 3,000 individuals
in executive leadership roles
123
401080
3416
estudou 3 mil indivíduos
em cargos de liderança executiva
06:56
on the concept
of covering in the workplace
124
404520
2616
sobre o conceito de vestuário
no local de trabalho
06:59
based on appearance,
advocacy, affiliation and association.
125
407160
4080
com base na aparência, defesa,
afiliação e associação.
07:04
When thinking about
appearance-based covering,
126
412320
3056
Ao pensar em vestuário
baseado em aparência,
07:07
the study showed
127
415400
1256
o estudo mostrou
07:08
that 67 percent of women
of color cover in the workplace
128
416680
6056
que 67% das mulheres de cor
se vestem no local de trabalho
07:14
based on their appearance.
129
422760
1280
com base na aparência.
07:17
Of the total respondents who
admitted to appearance-based covering,
130
425360
4456
Do total de inquiridas que admitiram
o vestuário baseadas em aparência,
07:21
82 percent said that it was
somewhat to extremely important
131
429840
4256
82% disseram que era algo
extremamente importante
07:26
for them to do so
for their professional advancement.
132
434120
3000
elas fazerem para o avanço profissional.
07:29
Now, this is Ursula Burns.
133
437800
2240
Esta é Ursula Burns.
07:33
She is the first African-American
female CEO of a Fortune 500 company --
134
441120
5536
É a primeira CEO afro-americana
a chefiar uma empresa Fortune 500,
07:38
of Xerox.
135
446680
1200
a Xerox.
07:40
She's known by her signature look,
136
448360
2056
Ela é conhecida pelo visual típico,
o que vocês veem aqui.
07:42
the one that you see here.
137
450440
1696
07:44
A short, nicely trimmed,
well-manicured Afro.
138
452160
4280
Um afro curto, bem cortado e bem cuidado.
07:49
Ms. Burns is what
we like to call a "natural girl."
139
457360
3080
A Sra. Burns é o que gostamos
de chamar de "garota natural".
07:53
And she is paving the way
and showing what's possible
140
461400
3216
E ela está preparando o caminho
e mostrando o que é possível
07:56
for African-American women
seeking to climb the corporate ladder,
141
464640
3736
para as mulheres afro-americanas
que procuram escalar a escada corporativa,
08:00
but still wishing
to wear natural hairstyles.
142
468400
2840
mas ainda desejam usar penteados naturais.
08:03
But today the majority
of African-American women
143
471920
4056
Mas, hoje, a maioria das afro-americanas
08:08
who we still look to as leaders,
icons and role models,
144
476000
4696
que vemos como líderes, ícones e modelos,
08:12
still opt for a straight-hair look.
145
480720
3296
ainda opta pelo visual de cabelo liso.
08:16
Now,
146
484040
1216
Agora,
08:17
maybe it's because they want to --
147
485280
1696
talvez seja porque elas queiram;
08:19
this is authentically
how they feel best --
148
487000
3296
é genuinamente como
elas se sentem melhor;
08:22
but maybe --
149
490320
1496
mas, talvez,
08:23
and I bet --
150
491840
1616
e aposto,
08:25
a part of them felt like they had to
151
493480
3256
parte delas sentiu
como se precisassem disso
08:28
in order to reach the level of success
that they have attained today.
152
496760
4480
para atingir o nível de sucesso
que elas alcançaram hoje.
08:34
There is a natural hair movement
that is sweeping the country
153
502440
5096
Existe um movimento pelo cabelo
natural que está varrendo o país
08:39
and also in some places in Europe.
154
507560
2280
e também alguns lugares da Europa.
08:42
Millions of women are exploring what
it means to transition to natural hair,
155
510760
5096
Milhões de mulheres estão explorando
a transição para o cabelo natural,
08:47
and they're cutting off
years and years of dry, damaged ends
156
515880
4015
e elas estão cortando anos
de pontas secas e danificadas
08:51
in order to restore
their natural curl pattern.
157
519919
2192
para restaurar o padrão
de ondulação natural.
08:54
I know because I have been an advocate
and an ambassador for this movement
158
522919
4337
Sei, porque tenho sido defensora
e embaixadora desse movimento
08:59
for roughly the last three years.
159
527280
1800
nos últimos três anos.
09:01
After 27 years of excessive heat
and harsh chemicals,
160
529800
5576
Após 27 anos de calor excessivo
e produtos químicos agressivos,
09:07
my hair was beginning to show
extreme signs of wear and tear.
161
535400
5480
meu cabelo estava começando a mostrar
sinais extremos de desgaste.
09:13
It was breaking off,
162
541480
1536
Estava quebradiço, diminuindo,
09:15
it was thinning,
163
543040
1376
09:16
looking just extremely dry and brittle.
164
544440
3056
parecendo extremamente seco e frágil.
09:19
All those years of chasing
that conventional image of beauty
165
547520
3376
Todos esses anos perseguindo
essa imagem convencional de beleza
09:22
that we saw earlier
166
550920
1216
que vimos anteriormente
09:24
was finally beginning to take its toll.
167
552160
1960
estavam começando a cobrar seu preço.
09:27
I wanted to do something about it,
168
555800
2216
Eu queria fazer algo sobre isso,
09:30
and so I started what I called
the "No Heat Challenge,"
169
558040
4496
e, então, comecei o que chamei
de "No Heat Challenge",
09:34
where I would refrain
from using heat styling tools on my hair
170
562560
3856
no qual me absteria de usar
aparelhos térmicos no cabelo
09:38
for six months.
171
566440
1280
por seis meses.
09:40
And like a good millennial,
172
568960
2816
E, como uma boa representante
da geração Y,
09:43
I documented it on social media.
173
571800
2216
documentei nas redes sociais.
09:46
(Laughter)
174
574040
1256
(Risos)
09:47
I documented as I reluctantly cut off
175
575320
4056
Documentei quando cortei relutantemente
09:51
three to four inches of my beloved hair.
176
579400
3760
oito a nove centímetros
do meu cabelo amado.
09:56
I documented as I struggled
to master these natural hairstyles,
177
584040
5536
Documentei enquanto lutava
para dominar esses penteados naturais,
10:01
and also as I struggled to embrace them
178
589600
4016
e também enquanto lutava para aceitá-los
10:05
and think that they actually looked good.
179
593640
3240
e acho que realmente pareciam bons.
10:09
And I documented as my hair texture
slowly began to change.
180
597760
5480
E documentei como minha textura
de cabelo lentamente começou a mudar.
10:16
By sharing this journey openly,
181
604440
2456
Ao compartilhar esta jornada abertamente,
10:18
I learned that I was not
the only woman going through this
182
606920
3776
aprendi que não era a única
mulher a passar por isso
10:22
and that in fact there were thousands
and thousands of other women
183
610720
3776
e que, na verdade, havia
milhares de outras mulheres
10:26
who were longing to do the same.
184
614520
1720
que desejavam fazer o mesmo.
10:28
So they would reach out to me
and they would say,
185
616960
2336
Então, elas me escreviam:
"Cheyenne, como você fez
aquele penteado natural
10:31
"Cheyenne, how did you do
that natural hairstyle
186
619320
2256
10:33
that I saw you with the other day?
187
621600
1936
que a vi usando outro dia?"
10:35
What new products have you started using
188
623560
2016
"Que novos produtos começou a usar
10:37
that might be a little better
for my hair texture
189
625600
2336
que podem ser melhores
para a textura do cabelo
10:39
as it begins to change?"
190
627960
1440
quando ele começar a mudar?"
10:41
Or, "What are some
of the natural hair routines
191
629960
3816
Ou: "Quais são algumas
das rotinas de cabelo natural
10:45
that I should begin to adopt
to slowly restore the health of my hair?"
192
633800
4120
que devo adotar para restaurar
lentamente a saúde do cabelo?"
10:51
But I also found that there were
a large number of women
193
639160
3696
Mas também descobri que havia
um grande número de mulheres
10:54
who were extremely hesitant
to take that first step
194
642880
3800
que estavam extremamente
hesitantes em dar o primeiro passo
10:59
because they were paralyzed by fear.
195
647720
2520
porque estavam paralisadas pelo medo.
11:03
Fear of the unknown --
196
651400
1736
Medo do desconhecido: qual seria
a aparência delas agora?
11:05
what would they now look like?
197
653160
1600
Como elas se sentiriam sobre si mesmas
com esses penteados naturais?
11:07
How would they feel about themselves
with these natural hairstyles?
198
655440
4336
11:11
And most importantly to them,
199
659800
2416
E, o mais importante para elas:
como os outros as veriam?
11:14
how would others view them?
200
662240
2000
11:17
Over the last three years
201
665400
1816
Nos últimos três anos,
11:19
of having numerous conversations
with friends of mine
202
667240
3896
tendo várias conversas com minhas amigas
11:23
and also complete strangers
from around the world,
203
671160
3936
e também com desconhecidas
de todo o mundo,
11:27
I learned some really important things
204
675120
2696
aprendi algumas coisas muito importantes
11:29
about how African-American women
identify with their hair.
205
677840
3720
sobre como as mulheres afro-americanas
se identificam com os cabelos.
11:34
And so when I think back
206
682800
1976
E, então, quando me lembro
11:36
to that hiring manager in Mobile, Alabama,
207
684800
3536
daquela gerente de contratação
em Mobile, Alabama,
11:40
I'd say, "Actually, no.
208
688360
2736
eu diria: "Na verdade, não.
11:43
We don't know what you're talking about."
209
691120
2456
Não sabemos do que está falando".
11:45
But here are some things that we do know.
210
693600
1960
Mas eis algumas coisas que sabemos.
11:48
We know that when black women
embrace their love for their natural hair,
211
696720
4976
Sabemos que quando as mulheres negras
aceitam o amor pelos cabelos naturais,
11:53
it helps to undo generations of teaching
212
701720
3456
isso ajuda a desfazer
ensinamentos de gerações
11:57
that black in its natural state
is not beautiful,
213
705200
3296
de que o cabelo do negro
no estado natural não é lindo,
12:00
or something to be hidden or covered up.
214
708520
2920
ou que é algo a ser escondido ou coberto.
12:04
We know that black women
express their individuality
215
712480
4256
Sabemos que as mulheres negras
expressam sua individualidade
12:08
and experience feelings of empowerment
216
716760
3096
e conhecem sentimentos de empoderamento
12:11
by experimenting with different
hairstyles regularly.
217
719880
4040
experimentando diferentes
penteados com regularidade.
12:16
And we also know
218
724880
1616
E, também sabemos
12:18
that when we're invited
to wear our natural hair in the workplace,
219
726520
4896
que quando somos convidadas a usar nossos
cabelos naturais no local de trabalho,
12:23
it reinforces that we are uniquely valued
220
731440
3376
isso reforça que temos um valor único
12:26
and thus helps us to flourish
and advance professionally.
221
734840
3760
nos ajudando a florescer
e avançar profissionalmente.
12:32
I leave you with this.
222
740520
1200
Deixo vocês com isso.
12:34
In a time of racial and social tension,
223
742600
2920
Num momento de tensão racial e social,
12:38
embracing this movement
224
746440
1936
abraçar esse movimento
12:40
and others like this
225
748400
1776
e outros assim
12:42
help us to rise above
the confines of the status quo.
226
750200
3520
nos ajuda a superar
os limites do status quo.
12:46
So when you see a woman with braids
or locks draping down her back,
227
754720
6056
Quando virem uma mulher com tranças
ou dreadlocks cobrindo as costas,
12:52
or you notice your colleague
228
760800
2536
ou repararem numa colega
12:55
who has stopped
straightening her hair to work,
229
763360
3080
que parou de alisar
os cabelos para o trabalho,
12:59
do not simply approach her and admire
230
767360
3576
não se aproximem dela apenas e admirem,
13:02
and ask her if you can touch it --
231
770960
2816
e perguntem se podem tocá-lo.
13:05
(Laughter)
232
773800
1256
(Risos)
13:07
Really appreciate her.
233
775080
1840
Realmente a apreciem.
13:09
Applaud her.
234
777920
1216
Aplaudam-na.
13:11
Heck, even high-five her
if that's what you feel so inclined to do.
235
779160
3720
Cumprimentem-na, se é o que
se sentem mais inclinados a fazer.
13:15
Because this --
236
783520
1576
Porque isso
13:17
this is more than about a hairstyle.
237
785120
2760
é sobre mais do que um penteado.
13:20
It's about self-love and self-worth.
238
788880
2920
Trata-se de amor-próprio e autoestima.
13:24
It's about being brave enough
239
792600
2216
É sobre ser corajosa o suficiente
13:26
not to fold under the pressure
of others' expectations.
240
794840
4040
para não se dobrar à pressão
das expectativas dos outros.
13:31
And about knowing that making
the decision to stray from the norm
241
799800
4576
E sobre saber que tomar
a decisão de fugir do padrão
13:36
does not define who we are,
242
804400
2456
não define quem somos,
13:38
but it simply reveals who we are.
243
806880
2320
mas simplesmente revela quem somos.
13:42
And finally,
244
810040
1736
E, finalmente,
13:43
being brave is easier
245
811800
1856
ser corajosa é mais fácil
13:45
when we can count
on the compassion of others.
246
813680
2440
quando podemos contar
com a compaixão dos outros.
13:48
So after today,
247
816680
1856
Então, depois de hoje,
13:50
I certainly hope that we can count on you.
248
818560
3320
espero que possamos contar com vocês.
13:54
Thank you.
249
822360
1216
Obrigada.
13:55
(Applause)
250
823600
4052
(Aplausos)
Translated by Carolina Aguirre
Reviewed by Maricene Crus

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Cheyenne Cochrane - Storyteller
Cheyenne Cochrane is an ambassador for the natural hair movement.

Why you should listen

Cheyenne Cochrane is a storyteller who leverages digital and social media to share her ideas and experiences with her followers and subscribers, seasoned with a dash of humor. A Chicago native and Howard University Graduate, Cochrane lives to inspire, inform and connect with diverse audiences. She is currently the development manager for a national education non-profit. When she's not raising funds to support educational equity for underserved students around the country, she is the creator and visionary behind The Level Up blog, as well as her social media brand, @onmylevel_chey.

Cochrane began documenting her natural hair journey in 2014, while struggling to maintain the integrity of her hair after so many years of applying heat and harsh chemicals. She wanted to adopt a new routine, but like so many other women of color she'd been programmed to believe that straight, long hair was the most appealing, most professional and widely accepted look for a black woman. She knew that deciding to "go natural" would be a journey of self-exploration and would require her to let go of the conventional standards of beauty that she'd adhered to for so many years. What she did not know, however, was how many other women she'd inspire and empower along the way by sharing her journey.

Today, Cheyenne continues to share her natural hair story and lessons with women around the world via her social media platforms and YouTube channel. She also maintains a blog where she posts about all things natural hair and beauty, millennial culture and features young entrepreneurs of color.

More profile about the speaker
Cheyenne Cochrane | Speaker | TED.com

Data provided by TED.

This site was created in May 2015 and the last update was on January 12, 2020. It will no longer be updated.

We are currently creating a new site called "eng.lish.video" and would be grateful if you could access it.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to write comments in your language on the contact form.

Privacy Policy

Developer's Blog

Buy Me A Coffee