Speak: Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

by Tunde Oyeneyin

Here’s something you should know about Black hair: It’s not just hair. It’s political, it’s practical, it’s personal. It’s intentional. Yes, braids are cute and stylish, but they also protect your hair from breaking. And yet, they (and a lot of other styles) prompt strong reactions. A lot of Black women have been told they can’t come to work with braids because it’s not professional-looking. This is a workplace battle that Black women have fought and will continue to fight. Being told you can’t wear your hair in braids is not like being told you can’t wear jeans to the office. It’s singling someone out. It’s rejecting identity. Imagine someone telling you that you can’t wear the hairstyle that your ancestors have been wearing since the dawn of time to protect their hair—and that you need to style it to look more like theirs. It’s an everyday indignation, so whenever we have the chance to express ourselves through our hair, it’s important to us to seize it.