The afro, a striking display of Black identity, has been misunderstood for centuries. When enslaved Africans were brought to America during the 15th century, their hair was forcibly shaved to strip them of their cultural identity. Even after emancipation, many Black people turned to straighten their hair to fit into white society. Madame C.J. Walker’s invention of the hot comb during the Reconstruction Era allowed Black women to smooth their curls, hoping it would ease social acceptance. The afro’s resurgence during the Civil Rights Movement, however, was not about fitting in, it was about standing out. Worn proudly by the Black Panthers and icons like Angela Davis, Nina Simone, and Nikki Giovanni, the afro became a powerful statement of resistance and Black pride.
