‘I love my hair’: Dufferin students celebrate #HairLove as part of Black History Month
It’s a message of strength, solidarity and self-love.
Source: Joshua Santos, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Orangeville Banner
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
It’s a message of strength, solidarity and self-love.
The Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) Black Chapter developed a video of young Black girls embracing and loving their natural hair and locks.
“I know that there are girls and boys everywhere, especially in areas like Shelburne, who grow up not liking their hair,” said Gabrielle Spencer, social media head for the CDDHS Black Chapter. “It’s important to remind people, primarily in their youth, that they aren’t alone and that the hair they have is beautiful.”
The Black Chapter, led by staff representatives Geer Harvey and Trinna Thompson, promotes a strong sense of community and pride among all Black-identified students at CDDHS.
The video, posted on their Twitter page, shows Spencer and other women discussing their experiences with their hair and people who bullied them for it.
“I love my hair,” one video participant exclaimed.
The young woman said they grew up loving their hair and detailed how their mothers helped them embrace it.
“I do believe that hair love has a big part of self-love and mental health,” said Spencer. “Because how can you love your entire self without loving the hair on your head? Taking the time to take care and protect your hair means that you care for yourself.”
It is one part of their digital initiatives for Black History Month. They plan to release another video about colourism and cultural appropriation, which other members soon talked about on their social media platforms.
Spencer hopes the video educates other people about the discrimination these women, and those like them, face every day because of the texture of their hair.
“We also should notice how far we’ve come in terms of hair discrimination,” said Spencer. “In Jamaica in the ’80s, you would never see any women on TV with natural hair. They would either have a straight wig on or their hair straightened or permed. Nowadays, Black Jamaican women are wearing dreadlocks, twists, braids and other natural hairstyles. Our hair is a big part of our community and having pride.”
Joshua Santos is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter for the Orangeville Banner, covering municipal affairs. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.