From kinky curls and afros to locs, braids, and passion twists, hair has been the crown of freedom and expression for African Americans for centuries.
As the nation marks 250 years, African Americans are still pushing back against threats to rights and opportunities, such as voting, access to quality care and education, and even the freedom to wear particular hairstyles.
While African American culture has influenced everything from entertainment to politics, the plight for inclusivity spans generations of trendsetters, pioneers, and advocates who took a nod from their ancestry to use hair not only as a means of expression, but liberation and Black pride.
“America’s 250th year celebration is different for African Americans. We have fought not only for freedom of body, but for the freedom to wear our hair without shame, discrimination, or apology,” Pamela Ferrell, owner of Cornrows & Co., told The Informer. “For centuries, African Americans have fought to transform America’s promise of liberty into lived reality. The freedom to wear our natural hair, preserve our cultural traditions, and create businesses to do it is one chapter in that enduring pursuit of equality, dignity, and economic freedom.”
With the creation of the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) in 2019, race-based hair discrimination in workplaces, housing, and public or charter schools became illegal, but prejudice remains.
A CROWN Workplace Research study found that Black women’s hair was two-and-a-half times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional in 2023, while two-thirds of those surveyed reported changing their hair for a job interview.
According to the 2019 CROWN Workplace Research study, Black women were 83% more likely to report being judged harshly for their appearance, compared to their counterparts.
“These biases continue to perpetuate unfair scrutiny and discrimination against Black women and girls for wearing hairstyles inherent to our culture. This is unacceptable, and why it is imperative that everyone join the movement to make hair discrimination illegal nationwide through the passage of The CROWN Act,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, the former president of Unilever USA and CEO North America Personal Care.
For Ferrell, embracing minority hair, in all its textures and styles, is as much about Black liberation as upholding the American dream–– and she encourages all Black people to do so boldly, beautifully, and in full color.
