Black hair is identity! Its tangled roots can never be emulated. It is a symbol of pride and joy. It defies gravity and twists passionately. It weaves like a goddess and flows like a mighty river. It is a crown that can never be duplicated.
The evolution of Black hairstyles is rooted in Black history. In Ancient African societies, hair was seen as a cultural and spiritual symbol. In the book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America by Ayana Byrd and Lori L., it is explained that “braids and other intricate hairstyles were historically worn to signify marital status, age, religion, wealth, and rank.” Braids were used to signify martial status within West African communities. Hair was seen as spiritual. In some societies, Africans believed hair connected to a higher being.
During the slave trade, slave traders shaved Africans’ heads which erased their identity. During the 18th century, there were laws passed for Black women to cover their hair in public. In 1786 the governor of Louisiana passed the Tignon Law. This law required Black women to wear a scarf over their hair. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Afro became a symbol of pride, power, and empowerment. It was a way of reclaiming identity and resisting white colonialism ideals. It was an act of rebellion.
Rocking Afro puffs and hair in its natural state was not accepted by all. Black hair was deemed undesirable in society due to texture and colonialism ideology. Texturism is the idea that loose hair texture is superior to tighter curls. Fortunately, the Crown Act was an innovative solution to end this discrimination. The Crown Act was passed last year by The House. According to NBC News, the act prohibits, “discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair.” States including Tennessee, California, Maine, and Maryland have signed the act into legislation. There is still progress to be made when it comes to hair discrimination. The attempt to erase natural Black hairstyles has not stopped Black people from rocking a variety of styles. Black people have and are still creating innovative styles that are revolutionary across the diaspora, and across genders.
Black hair is beautiful. It is a crown that can never be duplicated. Black people, rock your Afro puffs loud and proud. Rock your passionate twists, your cornrows straight back, your weave, or no hair at all. Own your magnetic crown.