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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