Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture - Emma Dabiri
In her upcoming book, Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture, Emma Dabiri did not just write about black hair culture. She researched it to such a level that I learned something new in each chapter. The author took not just the history of black hair culture, but also of black history itself, weaving them together so the readers can finally understand how our hair, specifically hair considered undesirable or “kinky” has been weaponized to discriminate against blacks.
As I read through Ms. Dabiri’s book, I couldn’t get over how black hair has been a source of ire for white people since the two races met. With her attention to every detail, Ms. Dabiri’s exhaustive research includes the intricate styles of certain African tribes, the abuse and jealousy rained down on enslaved women by the cruel white women of the plantations, the innovators of black hair care in America and the UK, and the current Natural Hair Movement. Our hair has nourished families as women hid and braided rice into their hair and helped the enslaved escape from the horrors of slavery. It has been ridiculed and copied, criminalized and envied. Ms. Dabiri made this book even more personal by including her own struggles with her hair growing up in Ireland. Although she is of mixed heritage, she was ridiculed for the type of hair she has, which is considered undesirable by many people, including our own. It is not of the bouncy curls and spirals on the heads of women like Yara Shahidi (Black-ish, Grown-ish) and Zendaya (Euphoria), but more like the beauties of the Dora Milaje in Black Panther. Many times, the author was met with disappointment and downright hostility over her hair.
Ms. Dabiri’s experiences mirrors so many other black women’s experiences, especially here in America. Our hair is scrutinized to the point of white people wanting to touch it (absolutely NOT) or the Kardashian-Jenners copying our hair styles and baldly claiming them as their own (which boils my blood every single time I see one of them wearing cornrows). The constant appropriation of the styles we’ve been wearing for centuries by white women who continue to steal so much from us makes this book even more important to read.
There are only a few books that I’ve recommended to my readers that I thought should be required reading. This book is definitely on that short list. The author took one of the most controversial subjects that is still being discussed on message boards, Instagram and even in the news and explained our hair history and the war against its existence into a book that should be read by everyone. Twisted should be in schools and homes so readers can understand why black hair is such a hot topic of discussion. I honestly don’t think I’m doing it justice. But take my word for it, Twisted is a must-read, an important read and one I will recommend to anyone who will listen.
I received an advance copy of this book from Harper Perennial in exchange for an honest review
Where to buy: The Lit. Bar Books Are Magic Indiebound
Emma Dabiri, author of Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture
Photo courtesy of the author. Emma Dabiri is a regular presenter on BBC and contributor for The Guardian. She is a teaching fellow in the Africa department at SOAS and a Visual Sociology PhD researcher at Goldsmiths. Her writing has been published in a number of anthologies, academic journals, and the national press. She lives in London.
