The legacy of Black hair braiding is not just a style, but also some of the cultural pride and activism. It's true, women of other races are braiding their hair, but most non-Black women are fascinated by the style and the "exotic" appeal but ignorant of the rich traditions, history, and cultural significance behind it. What many do not know is that braids have served a dual purpose of upholding societal customs while also being fashionable for eons. In ancient Africa, styles and patterns of braids were used to indicate social status. Braided hairstyles were a part of religious life in Egypt. During slavery, maps leading to freedom were often braided into the hair. The legacy of Black hair braiding is not just style, but also one of cultural pride and activism. Countering the destructive impact of slavery and racism on the Black family, the practice of braiding has helped create bonds between generations of Black women. For many Black girls, a rite of passage is the first trip to the salon to have their hair done. In these sacred spaces, generations gather together to talk, cry together, pray together, and bond while having their hair done. In addition to hair styled to perfection, they often leave with their spirits refreshed, souls watered, and their hearts healed as they face the struggle of being Black and female in America. Much braiding is done outside of the salon as well, in intimate interactions between mothers and daughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, sisters, cousins, and friends. The artistry involved in Black braided hair cannot be denied. To take thousands of individual strands of hair and manually organize them into intricate, exquisite, symmetrical patterns requires a high level of technical mastery.
I am I Black girl who loves her braids. For many Black women like myself, braids are used as a form of self-expression, artistic creativity, and a celebration of my culture. Braids are not just a style, the craft is a form of art. Black men and women everywhere are getting their hair braided on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s just to get your natural hair out of your face or for a special occasion. The art of braiding has truly emerged beyond its original cultural meaning. They’re more than just a hairstyle, they are an artistic craft as well as a way of expressing our personalities and style! I believe that no one can wear or create braids like a Black woman. The significance of braiding goes far beyond the aesthetics and carries powerful cultural, social, and personal meanings that continue to shape Black identity and promote cultural pride. I am honored to contribute to this.
“Shifting attention from the art object to the artist’s action further suggested that art existed in real space and real-time.” This quote from Khan Academy's Performace Art: An Introduction webpage was the perfect quote for this conversation. It made me think of art as a whole differently, but more specifically Black girl braids. We often see a painting or a sculpture and we automatically think “Woah, this is a beautiful piece of art”, but we won’t think of the physical means of art that was performed by the artist as they were creating the piece. Just as well as braids. We'll see someone with braids and say "Wow, her hair is pretty." We don't think twice about the time and artistic creativity embedded in those braids by the person who created them.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/x9tEDS6AB2I\
References:
Khan Academy Performance Art An Introduction webpages
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