Addressing the history and art of Black hair is an ambitious task. After all, as artist Sonya Clark posits in this volume, “Hair was the first fiber that people manipulated for aesthetic and functional reasons” (p. 106). The care and stylization of hair was an integral component within ancient Egyptian society, as evidenced by the stories, artifacts, and human remains from this era. Hair culture is prevalent today. Within the United States over the past twenty years, there has been a resurgence of love and pride in one's hair due to the second wave of the natural hair movement. But Black hair has not always had the privilege of being celebrated. Instead, the Black community has long struggled for the freedom to wear their hair without social or economic repercussions.
TEXTURES: The History and Art of Black Hair is the accompanying publication to an exhibition at Kent State University by...