It’s been proven obvious that the effects of European imperialism has yet to release its tyrannical grip from women across the world. From Trinidad to Bangladesh, the cis-white colonial mindset has plagued the lives of individuals where the concept of self, identity, and professionalism is tethered to the dominant culture’s standard of beauty and acceptability. Because hair is often significant within culture and it’s texture often defines how one is treated, I interviewed and recorded several students from various backgrounds on campus and asked about their relationship between their hair, identity, and if they think imperialism has affected beauty in a way that limits how they walk through the world.
Timika Edwards, born in Trinidad, immigrated to the United States in 2007. Trinidad became a colony of Spain in 1498 upon the arrival of Columbus, and several French settlers, as the French were closely allied to Spain at this time, immigrated to Trinidad, along with, over the course of many years, indentured servants from India, and enslaved people from Africa. Through military conquest, Trinidad became a colony of the British, and finally gained independence in 1962. Timika still remembers how she was treated there and was shocked to be met with the same treatment in “the land of the free”. “The black Trinidadians are treated way worse than the Indians you know. I remember this girl always used to call me a monkey in school.Even though the Indians didn’t get to Trinidad out of their free will either, for some reason, it’s like black people are still the slaves. We are ugly in every way ugly can mean, you know?” I then asked her about how the perception of hair was affected by the colonial history of Trinidad and Tobago. “It’s funny, because white people are so obsessed with the long, silky hair of the Indians. But when it comes to us, it’s dirty and unprofessional. They are the smart one’s and we’re…not. We’re all Trinidadians… but we aren’t the same.”
The second picture is of Maya Merced. This lovely Nuyorican was born the Bronx and she spoke about how so many Puerto Ricans are too quick to get rid of their curls and instead opt for straight hair. “When I was younger, my mom always blew out my hair. My hair was fried, my natural curl was completely ruined, but it didn’t matter because it was always straight. I didn’t realize the damage it was doing to my psyche then, but I can feel it now. I try to love my curls, [but] there are times where I wish it were straight again. I don’t feel as pretty”. Maya told me how she went to a school that was mostly people of color, so curly hair wasn’t a stranger, but she felt like her curls weren’t loose enough to be considered pretty, especially after it was damaged. When I asked her how she thought colonization played a role, she said, “Everyone wants to be like the white Puerto Ricans with blue and green eyes and blonde hair with loose curls because those traits are from the Spanish. They killed off practically all of the Tainos so those traits aren’t considered as good anymore.”
Brittanie Evo immigrated from Jamaica just 3 years ago in 2016. She told me that even though they didn’t have much money, Jamaicans are a very proud people and they really appreciated the hair that grew from their heads. Though Brittanie admitted that many women were more inclined to buy wigs than men were, both men and women often style their hair in locs. Locs is a style of hair often worn by Jamaicans and people of color but it wasn’t until she came to the United States that she found how discriminatory people were against the hairstyle. “Apparently, locs are unprofessional? How?! I know someone who had to cut off years worth of growth just to get a government job! I don’t understand it. And everyone calls it dread locs in this country. What is so dreadful about them huh?” I asked her why she thought this was. “Oh. It’s definitely the white man’s fault. They’ve been in charge for so long, they get to make the decisions on what’s professional and what’s not. Even though it’s totally ridiculous. We all need to love ourselves and our beautiful hair.”
Cindy Dias was born in Bangladesh and immigrated to the United States in 2014. Bangladesh was colonized by Britain in 1858 and gained independence in 1971. She talks about how funny it is that everyone loves her curly hair in the States, but in Bangladesh, it was a different story. “Nobody thinks of South Asians having curly hair. My sister has straight hair so everyone was always picking on me, calling me the runt. Everyone in Bollywood has straight hair and I didn’t look anything like them. Not with my hair and definitely not my body [type].” I asked her how she thought imperialism played a role in how her curly hair was viewed in Bangladesh. “Bangladesh was colonized for like, what, 100 years or something? You know that has to have an effect on how we see ourselves. When someone has power and authority over you for that long, one may begin to wonder what’s wrong with you and what’s right with them. That includes what you look like.”
These women are students here, at SUNY New Paltz because I wanted to show how the effects of imperialism are so universal. I asked them each to send me a photo of themselves where they felt beautiful in their natural hair. I then set up an interview with each of them where I asked them three questions: “What is your relationship with your hair like?”, “What was your experience like with others, regarding your hair?” and “How do you think imperialism plays a role in how your hair is perceived by yourself and others?” I recorded their answers using the microphone on my phone and I’d like to thank you for reading the finished product.
Link to Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu5G4buAsbS/
