THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HAIR AND IDENTITY IN BLACK CULTURE
The expression of beauty through hairstyles has been a long-standing signature of Black culture. From the "fro" to hair wraps to braids, Black women use their hairstyles as a personal expression of who they are and to show the evolution of Black culture over time, an evolution which has brought us to a time when more and more Black women are embracing the natural beauty of their own hair. However, it doesn't escape controversy. Beauty, and specifically hair, in Black culture has been a sensitive topic of discussion for decades with roots all the way back to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.