Hair Story
Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America
Download image
ISBN10: 1250046572
ISBN13: 9781250046574
Trade Paperback
272 Pages
$18.99
CA$24.99
Two world wars, the Civil Rights movement, and a Jheri curl later, Blacks in America continue to have a complex and convoluted relationship with their hair. From the antebellum practice of shaving the head in an attempt to pass as a "free" person to the 1998 uproar over a White third-grade teacher's reading of the book Nappy Hair, the issues surrounding Black hair continue to linger as we enter the twenty-first century.
Hair Story, now revised and updated, is a historical and anecdotal exploration of Black Americans' tangled hair roots. A chronological look at the culture and politics behind the ever-changing state of Black hair from fifteenth-century Africa to the present-day United States, it ties the personal to the political and the popular.
Reviews
Praise for Hair Story
"Taps into the art and history of how Black hair is perceived in America in a way that will no doubt be relevant for generations to come."—The Source
"As far as neatly and efficiently chronicling African-Americans and the importance of their hair, Hair Story gets to the root of things."—PhiladelphiaWeekly.com
"[This book combines] keen historical insight with pop-cultural anecdotes."—Entertainment Weekly
"A comprehensive and colorful look at a very touchy subject."—Essence
"From antiquity to the present day, Black hair has been both ornamentation and a medium of artistic expression. At the same time, its changing political and cultural values have often mirrored the current social climate. Hair Story, in documenting our natural hair's beauty and capacity for communication, brings to life and infuses with historical relevance this unique slice of Americana."—Harriette Cole, author of Jumping the Broom and How to Be
"Hair Story presents an absorbing rendition of American history told through Black hair. In prose that is both humorous and haunting, the authors manage to bring vividly to life a subject most would consider inconsequential. After reading this comprehensive tale, people will walk away with a whole new appreciation for Black hair and all of its wonder and power."—Lloyd Boston, author of Men of Color: Fashion, History, Fundamentals
"[An] entertaining and concise survey . . . A book that successfully balances popular appeal with historical accuracy."—Publishers Weekly
Reviews from Goodreads
BOOK EXCERPTS
Read an Excerpt
1
Black Hair in Bondage: 1400–1899
The Story Starts in Africa
The story of Black people's hair begins where everything began—in Africa. Not surprisingly, the birthplace of both astronomy and alchemy also gave...