Butterfly Clips
S t o r y
After there is upheaval over the treatment of fellow students due to their hair, a group of girls decide to take a stand against the oppressive systems at their prestigious private school. Samkhelo better known as “Sam” – a young black woman – finds herself navigating the politics of her school, black hair and her own blackness. Sam begins her journey of self-discovery and finding her identity within her community while juggling the expectations that come with it.
"Growing up there was an understanding from a young age that in order for my hair to be deemed acceptable and manageable it had to be changed. I was inundated with media that made me want to look like the little girl on the hair relaxer box and the reactions to my hair drove that want further as I got older. The expression of beauty through hairstyles has been a long-standing signature of Black culture. We understood that our femininity and assimilation is tied to our hair choices. As a result, Black women are able to use their hairstyles as a personal expression and to show the evolution of Black culture over time, an evolution which has brought us to a time when more and more Black women are embracing their hair and the personal choice of how to wear it, natural or not. Learning to love and accept your hair is a big aspect of a black women’s journey to personal growth. Our film wants to highlight this and how difficult it can be to exist as yourself as a Black woman and how difficult it can be to unlearn harmful rhetoric that may have impacted your identity."
- Lumka Sibeko
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
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