Black hair is a personal expression and a political statement all curled, coiled, colored, braided, twisted, locked and straightened into one. It's so important that a little boy’s desire to touch the head of President Barack Obama became an iconic photograph signaling, "Yes, my hair is like yours and yes, you could become president like me." This exhibit represents black people of every eye color, hair color and texture, and skin tone. Come celebrate some of our most iconic styles from the Afro puff ponytails sported by little girls to braids, fades, high tops, Afros, straightened and curled styles brought about by tools and/or chemical process. Long, short, shaved, natural or processed, it’s all choice. Black Hair: It’s All Good.
Hair is becoming more of a focus of anti-discrimination laws, as more individuals have been targeted because of their hairstyle. This has led a few cities to pass the Crown Act, which bans employers from discriminating against employees who wear natural hairstyles. In Colorado this bill is HB20-1048 Race Trait Hairstyle Anti-discrimination Protect.
Come and join us as we celebrate Black Hair in an exhibit which highlights the many different black hairstyles throughout history. From individual expressions to political statements, black hair has created trends in all areas of style and culture.
This exhibit is currently on display throughout the month of March at the Blair-Caldwell African-American Research Library at 2401 Welton St. Denver Colorado 80205
Here are a few books that might interest you:
Don't Touch My Hair by Sharee Miller
Hair Story: Untangling the roots of Black hair in America by Byrd, Ayana
Queens: Portraits of Black Women and their Fabulous Hair by Michael Cunningham
