Author of 'A Black Girl and Her Braids' visits Post Road Elementary School to read to students

The auditorium at Post Road Elementary School rocked with a chorus of students saying positive affirmations about their hair on Friday, as Jaylene Clark Owens visited to read her children’s book “A Black Girl and Her Braids.” Ms. Clark Owens visited the school as a part of their Black History Month celebrations. 

The accomplished author read her book to students after describing her background as a spoken word poet and actress. She explained how she wrote her book after noticing how her emotions shifted when she got her hair done. It started as a poem, which went viral on social media, prompting her to turn it into a children's book.

“Who here has ever felt really good after getting your hair done? Anybody?” she asked, as students' hands shot in the air.
”Yes. Exactly. It just boosts your mood; it makes you feel good. And so, I got some braids. And I said, you know what? This is a special feeling.”

Ms. Clark Owens wanted to share that feeling of self-love with students, so she has been visiting schools to spread the message. 

“Just spreading joy and love and hair affirmations with young people, it is my favorite thing,” she said. 

The read aloud was also a celebration of Black Children’s Book Week, which promotes children’s literature by Black authors. The PTA donated one copy of Ms. Clark Owen’s book to every classroom at Post Road, so teachers can read the book with their students. Parents can also buy their child a copy of the book at https://www.jayleneclarkowens.com/shop 

“I noticed that they were very engaged, and they were able to resonate with her,” said School Librarian Erin DiMartino, who organized the read aloud alongside Elizabeth Espada, a speech therapist who was a long-time faculty member at Post Road and went to college with Ms. Clark Owens. 

Students were led through a hair-affirmation song after the book was read, and they sang and danced in joy at celebrating their hair to end the assembly. While the assembly was a fun part of the day for students, there was also an important message of acceptance that they received. 

“Even though they're having fun, one thing that is happening is that they are saying, ‘I really love my hair.’ I like to get them to repeat those things and say that ‘I'm unique and special, and I should be accepted everywhere.’ 
These are things that I want the kids to be saying, and not just saying, but believing,” Ms. Clark Owens explained after the assembly. 

Post Road School has been observing Black History all month, with different announcements each morning to teach students about an influential Black person such as Talia Edwards, Jackie Robinson and Michelle Obama. They will also hold a Black History Month assembly at the end of this week.

“We celebrate their accomplishments and what they mean to our country and how in our community we're accepting of everyone, which is really important for us as a school,” said Assistant Principal Robert Spedafino. 

Ms. Clark Owens also spent the day meeting children and signing their copies of “A Black Girl and Her Braids.”