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Since sharing her experience, Sefa's post has received more than 50,000 likes along with an outpouring of stories from followers who have had similar experiences.

One Twitter user, @tyedyecarnation, said her mother had a student who would come to her teachers, like Purity did, daily. \"My mom would take a few mins to fix her up. After a few days the mom sent a comb, brush and hairbows in the girls backpack,\" she said. \"Turns out the mom was battling cancer and just didn't have the strength to do it.\"

Sefa explained that the intention behind her posting the message wasn't actually about the hair itself, and was more about highlighting the significance of Black teachers in a predominantly white sector. Less than 3% of teachers in the U.K. are Black, according to GOV.UK's 2021 Ethnicity Facts and Figures.

\"I thought it was particularly poignant as Purity had come to my classroom on the first of October as this is Black History Month in the U.K.,\" said Sefa.

\"For anyone, irrespective of gender and race, hair is often a major part of one's identity,\" added Sefa. \"Black hair particularly is often pre-loaded with political or revolutionary theories and sentiments, even when if the individual is unaware of the context or is simply existing. Black hair is sometimes seen as 'unkempt,' 'radical' and even 'dirty.'\"

She continued, \"Due to these multi-layered narratives, Black people are often hyperaware of what their hair says about them. This aside, Purity is entering her teens, some of her most formative years. Even if I thought she looked fine, I wasn't going to turn her away, pat her on the back and tell her she looked fine when her self-confidence was temporarily fragile. It wasn't my place, and a pep talk isn't what she asked for. I doubt anyone would want that response instead of actual help, if your outfit or makeup, for example, had been ruined by rain.\"

Sefa expressed having hopes that her post will inspire more Black and ethnic backgrounds to enter the field of education as more nuanced perspectives are needed to ensure that the education provided to children reflects everyone and the communities they serve.

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