We should not be ashamed to wear "brazilian hair" !
Recently, award winning nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said black women should embrace their natural hair, and should not be ashamed of their hair.
But, wearing human hair weaves is now part of the black/african culture ! It is not a crime against our heritage but a new part of it. It is beautiful and easy. Wearing brazilian hair is not like bleaching your skin.
The book “Hair Story” (2001) by Ayana D. Byrd and Lori L. Tharps, tells us the story of our hair, read it !
Most blacks in America come from West Africa. In that part of the world hair is anywhere between kinky to loosely curled and flowing. In the 1400s and 1500s there were all kinds of beautiful hairstyles.
Hairstyles in Africa and among African Americans are ever-changing, yet deeply rooted in a shared past.
African warrior holding spear and shield.
Then in the 1500s came the slave ships from Europe. One of the first things they did when they caught you was to cut off your hair. That was merely the beginning of a long process of wiping out your culture and identity – to break your spirit to make you easier to control. Slaves began to arrive in America in the 1600s.
In the 1700s American slaves were often worked to death. There was little time for things like beautiful African hairstyles. So most women covered their hair in a rag. Not only to hide their undone hair but sometimes to even hide things like ringworm, which left places on your head where no hair would grow. Those who worked indoors were able to do their hair. For them braiding was common...
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