Reclaiming the Word “Nappy”

[by Sabrina] Nappy was never a word you wanted to hear or be associated with when I was growing up. I’m a part of Generation X, the latch-key kids, Atari players, the generation after the baby boomers. If you were born between 1965 and 1980, you are a part of Generation X. It’s safe to say that as a black child in this generation, your hair was either pressed or relaxed. Having natural hair (or what we called nappy hair) was unacceptable and made you an easy prey for ridicule. There was no … [Read more...]


The Politics of Black Hair

Today we look at personal stories of hair politics, an anthropological exhibit dedicated to the afro pick (raise fist everybody), and the role of our hair in pop culture. The 6,000-year history of the Afro Comb, its extraordinary impact on cultures worldwide, and community stories relating to hair today are being explored in a new exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology in Cambridge. The display at the Fitzwilliam Museum includes hundreds … [Read more...]


Police Cuts Detained Woman’s Hair

I’m still disturbed by the incident that occurred on Nov. 13, 2013. Charda Gregory, a black hairdresser in Detroit had her sew-in weave cut and ripped from her scalp during a police arrest by policewoman Warren Police Officer Bernadette Najor while the other officers strapped her to a chair and watched. The video of the incident went viral and Najor has since been terminated and arrested while the other officers are currently under investigation for their actions (or lack thereof) during the … [Read more...]


One Word Whip: Natural Hair in One Word

During these 6 day leadership conferences I work 12+ hours a day and I don't have time to do my hair every morning so I kept my hair twisted up in some sort of protective style but toward the end the conference and as a treat for myself I "let my hair down" so to speak. I untwist my hair and rock my big fluff. This picture shows how I wore my hair on the last 2-3 days of the conference. This was to let it breath before wash day.I received so many comments from my scholars when they saw my hair … [Read more...]


10 Ways to Respond to Negative Hair Comments

Although the natural hair movement is receiving widespread attention, it is not being accepted by all. Some have averse feelings and claim it to be unprofessional and unaesthetic. Descriptions like “nappy” are still being referenced, and while some are reclaiming it, others still associate the word with its original negative connotation, which tends to be further reinforced by the nuance of the speakers. It meant our hair wasn’t up to par with beauty standard and therefore unacceptable. It … [Read more...]


Do The New Army Regulations Unfairly Target Women with Natural Hair?

I was onling clicking through interesting articles and this caught my attention — not because of the title, but because of the picture associated used to promote the article: I saw a Black woman and the phrase “twists are not authorized”, and I was hooked. I  jumped in full steam ahead, reading up on the newly approved Army Regulation 670-1 and pouring over each slide of the leaked Army Regulation 670-1 Leader Training Powerpoint. Amid the regulations about tattoos, uniforms, and facial … [Read more...]


"I’m Not Militant, I’m Just Natural"

by Kenda Why is it that a Black woman wearing their hair in its natural state a shock or a political statement? Who decided this? The natural hair of any Black woman is not a fad or a movement or a political stance. It is just simply her hair. Our hair is glorious. The only statement we are making is that we love our hair in its natural state. My statement today about my hair may be drastically different tomorrow. That is the great thing about our natural hair: it has great versatility. There … [Read more...]


Are afros alternative?

It honestly depends on whom you ask and what their personal reflection of the word ‘alternative’ symbolizes to them. Whether one is talking about a subculture of the Natural Hair Movement (NHM) or merely a trend, there is an image that you can form in your mind on what an afro means in 2014. An afro is defined as two things: 1) a style where thick, curly hair erects around the head and 2) a natural hairstyle of black people.  I prefer the New York Times’ definition when discussing Dante De … [Read more...]