Young Girl Empowers Herself By Embracing Her Natural Hair And Standing Up To Classmate’s Remark

December 22, 2023
Leila Danai used the lessons her mother taught her at home to stand up to a classmate who said he did not like her hair.
A little Black girl has made her mom proud after standing up to a peer in class who remarked about her natural hair. 
After a classmate commented on her hair, Preschooler Leila Danai proved that she had been listening to what her mom, Mildred Munjanganja, had been teaching her. Munjanganja spoke to Today about her daughter, who went viral on TikTok after she pleasantly schooled a classmate about her hair earlier this year. Danai is one of the few Black students who attend her preschool, and her mother shared with the outlet how teaching self-confidence at home prepared her daughter for the encounter about her hair. 
In the viral TikTok video posted on July 17, Danai, three years old at the time, can be seen telling her mother what she said to her classmate who did not like her hair. 
Leila, who appeared to have her hair done up in a high ponytail with an orange bow, said she responded to her classmate by saying, “I like it.” 
She told her mother, “He said, ‘I don’t like that hair. It’s crazy. And I said, ‘My mommy made it. If you don’t like it, I’ll keep it for myself.’”
Munjanganja responded, “I’m so proud of you, baby. You stood up for yourself.”
“I love hearing about Leila’s day!” Munjanganja wrote in the video’s caption. “Today she shared how her classmate didn’t like her hair, and she replied, ‘Well, I like it!’ – I have never been more proud!” 
Danai’s mother also included in the caption how happy she was after seeing her daughter not seeking the validation of anyone else, being able to express how she felt, and maintaining her confidence. She concluded with an empowering message for women: “Strong women, may we be them, may we know them, may we raise them!”
I love hearing about Leila’s day! Today she shared how her classmate didn’t like her hair and she replied ‘well I like it!’ – I have never been more proud! I am glad she didnt need anyone’s validation to feel complete, she knew she loved her hairstyle and that’s what mattered. She stood up for herself, she confidently and honestly communicated her point of view and she didn’t allow someone else to affect her self confidence. I am so proud of her – at 3.5years she stood up for herself and didn’t allow the ent to affect her. We will continue to have a democratic household where her opinion matters! We will continue not forcing to do things she does not want to do and allowing her to speak her mind. I will continue to listen, to guide and be an excellent example. I am so proud of Leila! Strong women, may we be them, may we know them, may we raise them! . . . . . . . . . #kidsselfconfidence #diversity #blackhair #blackkidshairstyles #toddler #momanddaughter #toddlerlife #modelface
Munjanganja’s goal is to prepare her daughter to be able to navigate the world around her and protect herself. She practices real-life scenarios with Danai, like asking her for an opinion about an outfit. She tells her preschooler, “…I love it, and I think it looks great on me.” This teaches the child not to internalize the opinions of others.
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