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Queens: Portraits of Black Women and their Fabulous Hair
Crowns photographer Michael Cunningham and author and journalist George Alexander have captured the marvelous trinity of black women, hair, and beauty salons in the glorious Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair .
Angela Garner says that “The beauty salon is the one great thing we get to share as African American women. It’s therapeutic.” Tisch Sims says that wearing fantasy hair makes her feel “like a goddess, a queen.”
From the afro to the ponytail to dreadlocks to braids to relaxed hair to fantasy hair; from “good hair” to bad hair days, in this stunningly designed book black women from the United States, Africa, and London explore the fascination with hair and beauty that has long been a cherished part of African American culture.
In fifty gorgeous photographs accompanied by vivid, personal narratives, Queens , by turns moving and funny, is the ultimate all-occasion gift book, perfect for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Mother’s Day, and birthdays.
Angela Garner says that “The beauty salon is the one great thing we get to share as African American women. It’s therapeutic.” Tisch Sims says that wearing fantasy hair makes her feel “like a goddess, a queen.”
From the afro to the ponytail to dreadlocks to braids to relaxed hair to fantasy hair; from “good hair” to bad hair days, in this stunningly designed book black women from the United States, Africa, and London explore the fascination with hair and beauty that has long been a cherished part of African American culture.
In fifty gorgeous photographs accompanied by vivid, personal narratives, Queens , by turns moving and funny, is the ultimate all-occasion gift book, perfect for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Mother’s Day, and birthdays.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2005
About the author
Michael Cunningham
6 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 13, 2022
Beautiful photographs, poignant stories: this was a great way to explore an interesting aspect of Black womanhood.
There was a lot for me as a White woman to learn here. For instance, I had heard of Black women being discriminated against for having natural hair (e.g. military requirements that expects them to straighten it into White styles) but I hadn't realized that there was pressure within the Black community to adopt pressed and treated styles, especially from the older generation. That was kind of shocking, because I can't imagine if I had a kid wanting them to burn their ears while using a hot comb or sizzle their scalp with harsh chemicals so their hair would look like another race's. But then I saw that to many people, having treated hair is a sign of status--that you can afford to have your hair treated, and also a desire to fit in and not stand out. Afros, braids, and other natural styles can be seen as courageous and no wonder people describe wearing them as being so freeing.
I think I prefer Cunningham's book "Crowns" because focusing on a smaller group of people (church ladies in their exquisite hats) made for a more cohesive collection. Hair is such an individual thing--part of what makes this book so cool, but also it's impossible to give an example of every take on hair. A lot of "fantasy" styles were included, whereas another direction he could have gone could have been people who just don't do anything with their hair and don't care!
Overall, this provides interesting glimpses into women's childhoods, when someone else did their hair and they had little choice in the matter, and into adulthood, when paying someone to do your hair is an act of self-care. Really interesting, and I can relate to having a mom painfully rake a comb through your hair and forbidding me to cut it off--which I did when I turned 18 and instantly regretted it. Some experiences are universal I guess!
There was a lot for me as a White woman to learn here. For instance, I had heard of Black women being discriminated against for having natural hair (e.g. military requirements that expects them to straighten it into White styles) but I hadn't realized that there was pressure within the Black community to adopt pressed and treated styles, especially from the older generation. That was kind of shocking, because I can't imagine if I had a kid wanting them to burn their ears while using a hot comb or sizzle their scalp with harsh chemicals so their hair would look like another race's. But then I saw that to many people, having treated hair is a sign of status--that you can afford to have your hair treated, and also a desire to fit in and not stand out. Afros, braids, and other natural styles can be seen as courageous and no wonder people describe wearing them as being so freeing.
I think I prefer Cunningham's book "Crowns" because focusing on a smaller group of people (church ladies in their exquisite hats) made for a more cohesive collection. Hair is such an individual thing--part of what makes this book so cool, but also it's impossible to give an example of every take on hair. A lot of "fantasy" styles were included, whereas another direction he could have gone could have been people who just don't do anything with their hair and don't care!
Overall, this provides interesting glimpses into women's childhoods, when someone else did their hair and they had little choice in the matter, and into adulthood, when paying someone to do your hair is an act of self-care. Really interesting, and I can relate to having a mom painfully rake a comb through your hair and forbidding me to cut it off--which I did when I turned 18 and instantly regretted it. Some experiences are universal I guess!
February 7, 2024
This book is a collection of pictures and narratives of Black women and their hair. The narratives all focus on a hair story from their life or their har journey. The beauty of this book is the diversity of it. There’s young children in it and there’s elders in it. There’s women from the States and women from other places such as Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe. And of course theres a plethora of hairstyles.
January 30, 2012
Loved this book!! I keep going back to it! The women are beautiful and their hairstyles are just as beautiful, especially the cover model Ms./Mrs. Lettice Graham! She was 82 at the time of the book being published back in 2005, so that would make her 89 or 90 today! Beautiful Queen! I pray that I look that good when I'm that age!
October 29, 2012
The beauty of black women and their hair.
July 4, 2013
beautiful and empowering
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews