Real Life of an MSW

Queens: Portraits of Black Women and their Fabulous Hair (2005, nonfiction, 199 pages) Michael Cunningham (Photographer), George Alexander. I would categorize this as a coffee table book. It is a collection of black and white photographs and narratives of Black women and their hair. The narratives range from the pressure within the Black community to adopt pressed and treated styles, especially from the older generation. “When I was a child, my mother encouraged me to perm my hair. My mother thinks permed hair is good; it’s a symbol of wealth (175). To a discussion on fantasy hairstyles “Wearing the Twin Towers is an honor. My cousin who was twenty-six years old and a mother of two died… on 9/11(10)”. To discovering one’s true self “My mohawk says, I don’t care. To anyone passing by it says, ‘I could care less what you think’ (138)”, to the importance of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural (CROWN) Hair Act of 2020 “I was disappointed because my locks were keeping me from getting a job. So, I wore a wig for my interview… I thought, ‘Don’t lose your job because of a hairdo’ (62)”. The beauty of this book is the diversity of it, from young children to elders who span the globe. The downside of this book is that I wish some of the stories were longer and more in-depth.  Each story is no longer than two pages. If you’re looking for a beautiful coffee table book, I would suggest this. If you’re looking to be more informed on Black women and their hair, I would suggest Tenderheaded: A Comb-Bending Collection of Hair Storiesby Pamela Johnson . If you’re not a reader, Chris Rock’s Good Hair is worth a watch.