Welcome
Hello, and welcome to my Learning Guide for LIBR 1111.
I chose to focus on the politics of Black hair because it is a topic I am passionate about. Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, there were not many children’s books with characters of colour, let alone books that featured characters with natural hair. As a woman of colour, of mixed ethnicity, with naturally curly hair, I am so excited to see the progress in children’s books, especially those that focus on and celebrate natural hair.
The books and resources in this learning guide have been selected to give a general understanding on the history of Black hair politics and how natural Black hair remains a topic of political debate today. Natural hairstyles such as the Afro didn’t become politicized until the 1960’s with the rise of the Black Power movement. However, this politicization of natural Black hair has remained. (Banks 17) Society has also attached various negative stereotypes to certain natural Black hairstyles. See video below on the case of a young actress responding to racist comments.
Every year there are multiple stories that appear in the news of children and adults facing discrimination for wearing their natural hair. Schools implement dress codes that seemingly target Black and mixed students: no locs, no cornrows, no twists, no Afros, etc. See example below of a student athlete with natural hair.
Hair politics can also impact the employment opportunities for those with natural hair. The mass media tends to ignore and underrepresent minority groups in an attempt to reach a broader audience. However, this has a negative impact as anything counter to ‘mainstream’ is viewed as deviant. Not all people feel free to wear their natural hair, for example “corporate types can’t… Because their rewards are distinctly tied to what those other higher-ups, who are white men, think of them and how they feel about them.” (Banks 128) See example below of a news anchor who was worried about her job security when she transitioned to wearing her natural hair.
I hope you find this Learning Guide informative.
Banks, Ingrid. Hair Matters: Beauty, Power, and Black Women’s Consciousness. New York University Press, 2000.
Giuliana Rancic Apologizes To Zendaya For “Weed” Fashion Police Comments
Clevver News. Giuliana Rancic Apologizes To Zendaya For "Weed" Fashion Police Comments. YouTube, 25 Feb. 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1LpBRklkcc. Accessed 1 Dec. 2019.
Response by actress Zendaya
Espinoza, Joshua. "Actress Zendaya Coleman Responds to Comments About Her Hair Looking Like It Smelled of Weed at the Oscars." Complex, 23 Feb. 2015, https://www.complex.com/style/2015/02/zendaya-responds. Accessed 1 Dec. 2019.
Referee’s questionable call for Wrestler to cut dreadlocks
ABC News. Referee's questionable call for wrestler to cut dreadlocks. YouTube, 22 Dec. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeboOIciwwI. Accessed 1 Dec. 2019.
#FreeTheCurls: Why ABC News’ Janai Norman chose to embrace her natural hair on TV
Good Morning America. #FreeTheCurls: Why ABC News' Janai Norman chose to embrace her natural hair on TV. YouTube, 13 Jun. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngcrj0Sa_ZU. Accessed 1 Dec. 2019.
Website banner image
Horne, Madison. "A Visual History of Iconic Black Hairstyles." History, 1 Feb. 2019, https://www.history.com/news/black-hairstyles-visual-history-in-photos. Accessed 25 Sep. 2019.
Maya Angelou quote
"Maya Angelou: Herself." IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213585/characters/nm0029723. Accessed 25 Sep. 2019.