In January 2015, I wrote an article inspired by an academic research paper on the politics of black hair. This piece sought to bring black hair into a conventionally culturally white space, especially when cultural appropriation and respectability politics were a hot topic in the media and on campus. Focusing on describing and challenging the mythology of black hair, the article is both informative and celebratory.

 

While writing this piece, I worried about explaining features innate and unique to black individuals to a nonblack audience. This worry was loosely associated to intaracial tensions within the black community surrounding the disclosure of black hair secrets to outsiders. If I was going to disclose cultural knowledge for the sake of what I personally believed was a greater good, it had to be done proficiently and thoroughly. If it lacked in these areas, it could not achieve cross cultural influence.

 

This article was featured in Shei Magazine's Bad Romance issue and can be read below.