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The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 — 7
Michigan in Color

How do the politics of identity and the poli-
tics of desire inform how you perceive your 
hair (or Black hair in general) and how might 
we transcend these imposing detriments? 
“We really can’t care what others think. 
I get into these deep ruts of ‘oh, will this 
guy like me if I have this hair or this hair?’ 
I need to be comfortable with who I am as a 
human being. And that’s what gonna shine 
through rather than my hair.”

M Y L E S
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI

How do your skin tone and hair texture 
inform your sense of self?
“I’ve always been appreciative of the 
type of hair I have which is 4C, cause at 
the end of day it really is very versatile,” 
Atanga said. “I’m always appreciative of 
the variety of things I can do with my 
hair. And I don’t know what’d I do if I 
didn’t have that flexibility.”

ANNE-MARIE
F L I N T , 
M I C H I G A N

Why might we compare our hair to oth-
ers, and how can we collectively move 
away from this compulsion to contrast?
“Back when technology wasn’t such a 
big thing, there was more of a natural look 
and more of a sense of pride with people’s 
natural hair compared to now,” he said. 
Elrashid said he feels people should stay 
true to their roots and take pride in them. 

O
M
A
R
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN

What does it mean to be virtuous with 
your hair?
Something Bates loves about embrac-
ing her natural hair is that she feels like 
she’s embracing “Baby Brooklynne,” her 
inner child. “Everything I’m doing now 
is to help heal Baby Brooklynne and help 
support her,” Bates said.

B
R
OO
KL
YNNE
NORTHVILLE, MICHIGAN

How do the politics of identity and desire 
inform how you perceive your hair, and 
how might we transcend their imposing 
detriments? 
I mean [straight hair is] fine, and beauti-
ful in its own way, but there’s something so 
intrinsically amazing about curls and the 
maintenance and process and rituals sur-
rounding it. I don’t know how you could 
not look at that and be amazed and in love.”

D A N I E L
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

What is the relationship between your 
hair and spirituality? 
Taylor said she feels Black women 
in particular relate to their hair on a 
deeper level since they tend to be more 
involved with it. “I do think there’s a 
connection between Black natural hair 
and spirit because it’s like a reclaiming 
of ourselves almost,”

E
V
E
C H I C A G O , I L L I N O I S

How do the politics of identity and 
desire inform how you perceive your 
hair, and how might we transcend their 
imposing detriments?
Going into computer science, Michael 
expressed their desire to subvert the ideal that 
you have to be white or whitened to be profes-
sional. “I’d wear my locs at a concert. I’d wear 
my locs if I was the CEO of Apple,” they said. 

T R E N T O N
JAC K S O N , M I C H I GA N

How do your skin tone and hair texture 
inform your sense of self?
“I love my natural hair and it reminds 
me of my roots,” she said. “I really appre-
ciate it, especially taking care of it more 
and seeing my curl pattern. It’s been 
hard to wear it proudly but I do when I 
have time (to maintain).”

L I N D S E Y
WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI

What is the relationship between your 
hair and spirituality? 
“Black hair has been degraded for the 
sake of trying to hide what is almost incom-
prehensibly incredible … the wonders of 
Black hair are something so amazing it must 
be spiritual.” Skoko stated that, while Black 
hair has been restricted, it has also been a 
tool for defying oppressive systems.

GABRIJELA
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

What does it mean to be virtuous with 
your hair?
“Being virtuous when it comes to 
your hair also means to be virtuous with 
yourself,” Kerobo said. “Giving yourself 
the grace, appreciation, time and space 
to be yourself are all important… It’s 
being able to love yourself in every situ-
ation and never letting that leave you.”

F A V O U R
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

How do your skin tone and hair texture 
inform your sense of self?
“I went through a lot of colorism grow-
ing up, and I’m still harboring feelings from 
that,” Grant said. “So many times of being 
told the same thing over and over again, 
you start to believe it.” Now, she said she 
knows better, and she prefers to be in spac-
es where [her beauty] is appreciated.

T
Y
A
E
C H I C A G O , I L L I N O I S

What is the relationship between your 
hair and spirituality? Or do you have any 
thoughts on the connection between Black 
hair and Spirit in general?
“Hair has a lot of energy. It can express a 
lot of power in a person. I feel very connect-
ed to my hair and its energy… that I interact 
with. It’s not just something dead that’s on 
my head. It has a life of its own, and has the 
ability to communicate how I’m feeling.”

K E N D A L L
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

