Our Stories: Hopey
Our Stories: Hopey
Our Stories: Deborah
Our Stories: Shejuanah Assumptions
For Black folks all around the world, hair has been the centre of our cultures and communities. Black people have many different textures of hair ranging from curly to kinky, short to long, natural or processed. In mainstream media and in Canadian culture, Black hair that has not been straightened in some way is seen as “bad hair”. The opinion that hair with tight curls or a kinky texture is bad stems from Anti-Black Racism. Over the last few years, Black people have been encouraging our communities not to straighten our hair, to learn more about the history behind our hair and to celebrate it. In the lessons regarding Black hair, it is important to understand and respect the historical and cultural significance of Black hair and all the different ways Black people from all different cultural backgrounds do their hair.
SYSTEMS AT PLAY
BARRIERS & ACCESS
LANGUAGE & TIPS
When talking about Black hair, it is important to not single out, call attention to, or expect Black students to talk about their own experiences with their hair. Every Black person has their own unique experience with their hair. Here are some tips on how to create a safe environment to discuss and celebrate Black hair:
RESOURCES
The Politics of Women’s Hair by Althea Prince
A Discussion of Black Hair Styles (Unmaking Things)
13 Children’s Books Celebrating Black Hair by Black Authors (medium.com)
Happy to By Nappy by Bell Hooks (Read by Mary J. Blige)
Approx. 40-60 minutes
OBJECTIVE
Identify main and counter culture representations in media.
THEMES
Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Colonialism, Sexism, Bullying, Self-Care.
PREPARATION | - Load Hopey’s Our Stories Video; - Load Deborah’s Our Stories Video; - Make copies of the Main Vs. Counter-Culture Chart; - Gather fashion magazines. | 5 mins |
REVIEW | - Check-in with your participants; - Review your foundations; - Encourage participants to take notes; - Emotionally prepare your participants. | 5-10 mins |
VIEWING | - Watch Hopey and Deborah's video as a group; - Remember your "During Each Lesson" tips. | 8-12 mins |
DISCUSSION | - Did you identify any Systems, Barriers and Access in Deborah and Hopey's stories? - Where do our ideas about "good hair" come from? - How do these ideas about "good hair" impact Black folk? Why is Counter-Culture important? - Can you relate to Deborah or Hopey’s story? | 10 mins |
ACTIVITY | - Divide participants into groups; - Provide each group with a Main Vs. Counter-Culture Chart and a magazine; - Ask each group to tally the amount of visibly white vs. visibly not-white folks they see in the pages of the magazine; - Groups can trade magazines and continue their tallying until they feel as if they’ve developed a clear picture; - Go around the room and allow each group to share their findings. | 10-15 mins |
DEBRIEF | - Refer to "After Each Lesson" for specifics. | 5 mins |
MAIN VS. COUNTER-CULTURE CHART
White
Not White
Approx. 30-40 minutes
OBJECTIVE
Engage with a dramatized scenario on assumptions.
THEMES
Fatphobia, Racism, Anti-Black Racism.
PREPARATION | - Load Shejuanah's Our Stories Video. | 1 min |
REVIEW | - Check-in with your participants; - Review your foundations; - Encourage participants to take notes; - Emotionally prepare your participants. | 5-10 mins |
VIEWING | - Watch Shejuanah's video as a group; - Remember your "During Each Lesson" tips; - Pause after each questions comes up on the screen and allow for discussion: • Why do the three girls assume Lola is unhealthy? • Why do people assume Julie is rich? • Why do people assume Caterina is poor and will steal? • Is the waitress making assumptions about their order? | 10 mins |
DISCUSSION | - Did you identify any Systems, Barriers and Access in Shejuanah's story? - What assumptions in the video were harmful? - What assumptions were not necessarily harmful? - Were some of these assumptions both helpful and harmful? - Can you identify with this scenario? - Have you ever made a harmful assumption? | 10-15 mins |
DEBRIEF | - Refer to "After Each Lesson" for specifics. | 5 mins |