"Wash Day" by Simone Briscoe
Wash day for my 4c hair, a ritual that’s both love and care. A journey to my roots, my soul, and a way to embrace and make me whole. I’m never quite sure how my hair will turn out, but I know that I'll put my all into making it look the best it can be. I can't help but think about the Crown Act and what it means for people like me. As society’s expectations continue to haunt my mind. With my products and my tools, I start to lather and rinse, to wash away the dirt and sins. And as I feel the suds and bubbles flow, I can’t help but let my spirit glow. The Crown Act protects my hair, my heritage. A shield that says my curls are beautiful, and to love them is to never hide. My hair defies gravity, reaching for the sky, a symbol of my strength, my resilience, my pride. It's a testament to the strength and resilience of my ancestors who refused to conform to societal norms and embraced their natural beauty. The natural hair movement has also played a significant role in my journey towards self-acceptance. Seeing other people with hair like mine embrace and celebrate their curls, kinks, and coils has given me the confidence to do the same. It's a movement that reminds us that our hair is not a problem to be fixed but a part of who we are. As I continue with my wash day routine, I'm filled with gratitude for the progress we've made towards acceptance and inclusivity. My hair is a symbol of my identity and a reminder of the strength and resilience of my ancestors. My hair defies gravity, and I'm proud of it.
My project is a monologue about my 4c hair that touches on the Crown Act, accompanied by a video of me washing my hair while speaking the monologue. I posted the video on YouTube as a form of outreach to engage with a wider audience about the importance of embracing natural hair and the need for legislation like the Crown Act. I chose this topic because as a Black woman with 4c hair, I have experienced discrimination and microaggressions surrounding my hair texture. The Crown Act is a piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination against natural hair in schools and workplaces, and I wanted to raise awareness about its importance. By combining the monologue with a visual of me washing my hair, I aimed to show that 4c hair is beautiful and worthy of acceptance. My message for the audience is that natural hair should be embraced and accepted in all spaces. Discrimination against natural hair is a form of racism that needs to be eradicated. The Crown Act is an essential step in achieving this goal and needs to be implemented nationwide. To reach an audience, I published the project on my YouTube channel.
This project fits into my professional aspirations because I have dreams of being an actress and a social media content creator. This project put together both if my interests while also touching on a topic that is extremely important to me as well. I believe that art has the power to change hearts and minds and that artists have a responsibility to use their platforms to speak out against injustices. The Art of Activism: Your All-purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible by Stephen Duncombe and Steve Lambert and This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew have both influenced my thinking about the intersection of art and activism and have inspired me to create work that challenges the status quo. In Kimberly Drew’s This is What I Know about Art, she states “The most effective art is that which is rooted in truth and speaks directly to the experiences of its audience” (Drew). This is why I chose my topic. My natural hair is my truth and a lot of other black and brown girl’s truth as well and it should not be assimilated. In The Art of Activism, the authors state, “Artistic activism can be an effective way to reach new audiences and engage them in social and political issues” (Duncombe & Lambert). I think that a lot of people are extremely unaware of the discrimination of black people due to their natural hair. This is why my video is so important. I think seeing my hair in its natural state doing such a mundane task will essentially humanize natural hair to audiences who have no idea what we go through.
Research has helped me inform this project by providing me with information about the Crown Act and the history of discrimination against natural hair. It has also helped me understand the importance of representation in the media and the need for more positive depictions of Black women and their hair. In conclusion, my project is a monologue and video about my 4c hair that touches on the Crown Act and the need for acceptance of natural hair. I posted the project on YouTube to reach a wider audience and promote awareness about the issue. The project aligns with my professional aspirations as an artist and activist and has been informed by research and inspiration from other artists and activists.
4 artists/activists who inspired me and this project
1. Myself because I have had a continuous battle between loving myself and my natural hair no matter what my family says
2. Angela Davis who is a prominent Black Panther and natural enthusiast who was a part of the natural hair movement. She wore her afro proudly as a symbol of black power.
3. Gothic Curls is a curly hair club that I have been a part of since my freshman year of college. The club aims to destigmatize natural hair in society and help individuals embrace their natural hair.
4. Kimberly Drew is an activist whose book we read this semester and I was inspired by her. I love reading about women of color who are strong in their activism. It inspired me every day.
Works Cited/ References
Duncombe, Steve. Lambert, Steve. The Art of Activism. OR Books, 2021.
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