In collaboration with Uhuru Magazine
ROOTS The history of Black hair and liberation of appearance in America
Words by Mia Barnes & Sophie Young Art by Destiny Franklin The similarities between how African Americans view their hair and how their ancestors viewed it are only noticeable to those who are educated on the subject. Sold by their own people and forced to live on a new land, there was only one thing that connected African Americans to their roots: their hair. Europeans successfully took away other parts of their culture, such as their drums. Something like hair was a challenge. What grows from their scalps cannot be changed from the inside, nor can it be erased.
PRIOR TO COLONIZATION To make Black people lose pride in their hair, Europeans stripped them of it. In order to enslave a group of people for many years, the oppressors need to take control of their minds. Cutting the hair of the enslaved was the first step. The unfortunate success of such action proves to be challenging to overcome centuries later. Until the Black liberation movement, Black people looked down on their hair as a result of white supremacy. By reevaluating their unhealthy view on their hair, Black people could obtain true liberation. Back home in the 15th century, Africans’ hair was their pride and joy, and as a community, Black Americans are slowly making their way back to that.
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In “Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America,” by Ayana D. Byrd and Lori L. Tharps, the significance and history of Black hair is explored. It is important to mention that Africa is a continent made up of 54 different countries and over 3,000 tribes. Though cultures within the continent differed, they all shared one thing: the cultural significance of their hair. Hairstyles were used for non-verbal communication and commonly determined someone’s marital status, religion, age and even wealth. For example, Byrd and Tharps reference Senegal’s Wolof culture, where young girls below marrying age partially shaved their heads to emphasize their unavailability for courting. Women of age wore a particular hair style that would be more likely to attract someone of the opposite sex. In connection to sex, in countries like Senegal and Ghana, women could not work on the heads of men. The two sexes were to be separated, but the need for beautiful hair was the same for both. Whether their hair was in braids or in a headwrap due to their superior status in society, it needed to be done. If it was not, some tribes such as the Mende tribe in Nigeria would believe the person was insane or depressed. This unfortunate reality still rings true today. It is common for Black women to miss work and even class for a hair appointment for fear of being judged. Since hair was an integral part of African culture, the individuals