Reasons why black hair isnât only hair
Razones por las cualesquiera cabello negro no es sĂłlo cabello
Between 1948 and 1994, the pencil test was a method used to assessing whether a person was white or black. A pencil was slid into the hair of someone being assessed. If the pencil fell out, you were white and if it stayed in you were black.
This was a tool used to segregate black people and stop them from attending functions, schools and events. Not only did this cause racial division it also tore families apart.
Entre 1948 y 1994, la prueba del lĂĄpiz fue un mĂ©todo utilizado para determinar si una persona era blanca o negra. Un lĂĄpiz era puesto en el cabello y si este se caĂa, eras blanco y si este se quedaba en el cabello, eras negro.
Esta herramienta fue utilizada para segregar a la gente negra y para detenerlos de asistir a funciones, escuelas y eventos. Esto no solo causó división racial sino que también separó familias.
Cornrows have a rich history in the black community. Slaves would braid escape routes into their hair. They were used as a way for slaves to communicate with one another without their slave owners knowing. Some of the cornrows and the number of plaits worn would let them know how far they needed to travel or how many roads they needed to walk till they would be able to meet one another to escape the plantation.
| Mapa hacia la libertad |
Las trenzas tienen un rol importante en la historia de la comunidad negra. Los esclavos trenzaban rutas de escape en sus cabellos. Era utilizadas como un medio de comunicaciĂłn entre ellos, sin que sus dueños se enteraran. Algunas de las trenzas y el nĂșmero de ellas que se hacĂan les hacia saber cuĂĄnto tendrĂan que viajar o caminar para poder encontrarse y escapar de las plantaciones.
The black women who came before us were innovative and showed that the thickens and texture of black hair was so valuable and had a purpose.
This is because slaves would braid rice and seeds in their cornrows before journeying the Middle Passage. Enslaved mothers would also braid seeds in their childrenâs hair so they could eat in case they were separated due to slave auctions.
| Medios de sobrevivencia |
Las mujeres negras que estaban antes de nosotros, eran mujeres innovadoras que demostraron que el grosor y textura del cabello negro era valioso y tenĂa propĂłsito.
Esto es porque los esclavos ponĂan arroz y semillas en las trenzas antes de viajar en el Pasaje Medio. Madres esclavas tambiĂ©n ponĂan semillas en las trenzas de sus hijos para que pudieran alimentarse en caso de ser separados por las subastas.
| Cultural Representation |
Before colonization in the 15th century. Black hair would tell you everything you needed to know about a person just by looking at the style alone. Hairstyles were able to indicate things like wealth, religion, culture, tribe, marital status, social status, age and plenty more. You were even able to know a personâs last name just by looking at their hairstyle. This is because each tribe has their own unique hairstyle.
| RepresentaciĂłn Cultural |
Antes de la colonizaciĂłn en el siglo XV, el cabello de negro o afro te decĂa todo lo que necesitabas saber acerca de una persona solo por ver el estilo de cabello. El estilo podrĂa indicar cosas como la riqueza, religiĂłn, cultura, tribu, estado civil, estado social, edad y mucho mĂĄs. Incluso podĂas saber el apellido de una persona solo por ver su estilo de cabello. Esto era porque cada tribu tenĂa su estilo Ășnico.
Late 18th century in Louisiana, black women were banned from wearing their hair in public and were ordered to cover it up at all times. This was because they wanted to curb the growing influence of the free black population and keep the social order. It was also believe that black womenâs hairstyles would draw attention of white men, and this increased the jealousy of white women.
A finales del siglo XVIII en Louisiana, a las mujeres negras se les prohibiĂł usar su cabello natural en pĂșblico y se les ordenĂł que lo cubrieran en todo momento. Esto era porque querĂan frenar la influencia creciente de la gente negra libre y mantener el orden social. TambiĂ©n se creĂa que los estilos de las mujeres negras llamaba la atenciĂłn de los hombres blancos lo que llevĂł al incremento de celos/envidia de las mujeres blancas.
When the slave trade started and the slaves were captured, black women were forced to shave all their hair off. This was the beginning process of eradicating the âblackâ identity and culture. It was also a tool used to minimize black beauty and dehumanize black women, as slave owners knew their hair was something they valued enormously, was part of their identity and it also held so much significance.
Cuando comenzĂł la trata de esclavos y estos eran capturados, las mujeres negras eran obligadas a cortarse todo el cabello. Esto fue el principio del proceso de erradicar la identidad ânegraâ y cultura. TambiĂ©n era una herramienta utilizada para minimizar la belleza negra y deshumanizar a la mujer negra, debido que los dueños de eslavos sabĂan que el cabello era algo valorado enormemente, era parte de su identidad y tenĂa demasiado significado.
| Cultural appropriation |
Black hairstyles are an outward expression of self-acceptance and self-love. However, the anti-Black hair sentiment has existed in society for centuries. Black hair has been compared el wool and often described as âwildâ, ânappyâ or âghettoâ. Yet non-black people are praised, credited and even profit from styles and trends that black women have been ridiculed for. Cultural appreciation is about recognizing history and where it came from, which includes learning about and giving credit to what youâre borrowing, instead of saying âitâs just hairâ.
| ApropiaciĂłn cultural |
Los estilos de cabello negros son una expresiĂłn de auto aceptaciĂłn y amor propio. Sin embargo, el sentimiento âanti-cabello negroâ ha existido en la sociedad por siglos.
El cabello negro ha sido comparado con lana y en varias ocasiones se ha descrito como âsalvajeâ, âdurĂłâ o âguettoâ. AĂșn asĂ personas no pertenecientes a la raza son aplaudidas, acreditadas e incluso se han beneficiado econĂłmicamente de los estilos y tendencias por los cuales las mujeres negras han sido ridiculizadas.
La apreciaciĂłn cultural es acerca de reconocer la historia, de donde vino, incluye aprender y dar crĂ©dito de lo que estĂĄs prestando en vez de decir âes sĂłlo cabelloâ.
In 2010, Chastity Jones accepted a job offer from Catastrophe Management Solutions. However, the offer came with one caveat â she had to cut off her locs. Jones refused and the company rescinded its job offer. Chastityâs case is not unique. Cases filed by black working women alleging discrimination against a their natural hair in the workplace have filled courthouses for more than forty years.
En el 2010, Chastity Jones aceptĂł una oferta de trabajo de Catastrophe Management Solutions. Sin embargo, la oferta venĂa con una advertencia o condiciĂłn â tenĂa que cortarse sus rastas. Jones se rehusĂł y la compañĂa revocĂł su oferta. El caso de Chastity no es Ășnico. Casos interpuestos por mujeres negras trabajadoras alegando discriminaciĂłn en contra de su cabello natural en su lugar de trabajo ha llenado los juzgados por mĂĄs de cuarenta años.
CREDITS ON IMAGES GO OUT TO GERREL SAUNDERS â€ïž
Link to his gallery: https://www.behance.net/gallery/43614983/CROWN
CRĂDITOS DE LAS IMĂGENES VAN A GERREL SAUNDERS â€ïž
Enlace a su galerĂa: https://www.behance.net/gallery/43614983/CROWN
Source | Fuente: @vibesofablackgirl
Spanish translation by Long Live Blackness Traducción al español por Long Live Blackness
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