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.

• Colonialism – a system where settlers occupy land and benefit from it.
• Racism – a system that discriminates and deems races, other than White, as inferior.
• Anti-Black Racism – Negative attitudes and discrimination against Black people and Black cultures.
• Cultural Appropriation – The action of taking parts of a culture that you do not belong to and making it your own without permission or without an understanding of its cultural importance.

• Due to anti-Black perceptions about hair, Black folks often face policies or rules in work and school that target wearing their hair natural or expressing themselves with certain hairstyles. These rules unfairly force some Black individuals out of jobs and or humiliate students at school, creating less access to education and/or employment.
• Although Black hair is beautiful, taking care of kinky, natural hair can be very expensive and a lot of work. Some Black folks may experience feeling overwhelmed or not beautiful by society’s standards if they are not able to keep their hair the way that they want. When the ways Black people wear their hair is not celebrated, it can manifest as internalized hatred and limit Black folks’ willingness to understanding different parts of their culture.
• What is extremely offensive and hurtful to Black communities is the appropriation of Black hairstyles in mainstream media by non-Black and white people. Appropriation gives non-Black and white people access to a cultural history that does not belong to them. It is wrong for non-Black and white people to be seen as trendy for trying to wear styles like cornrows, braids, or locs, when Black people are deemed as unacceptable by society’s standards for wearing the same styles.

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:

• Do not touch people’s hair without asking.
• It is okay to compliment people without asking invasive questions. Telling someone you really like their hairstyle is okay. Asking them how often they wash their hair is not.
• Do not offer suggestions about how Black people should wear their hair.
• It might be safest to refer to Black hair as “afro hair” rather than saying “kinky” or “nappy”. These words still carry negative connotations and may still negatively affect some Black folks.

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)