Professional Hair
As a passionate fundraiser, wife, mother, sister, daughter, entrepreneur, advanced-degree holder, and an ever-evolving human being, I am still perplexed by the notion that my hair plays any role in determining my value as a person. I have worked in the nonprofit sector for over two decades and have devoted my fundraising efforts to evoking change by working alongside organizations that uplift and support communities like the very one I came from. Why is my hair even a topic of conversation? Why would anyone´s hair (or appearance for that matter) serve as a rubric for professionalism, skill, or values? Like many women of color, these are the questions I have been forced to grapple with, over the course of my career.
As a proud Afro-Latina, I have faced countless barriers due to my appearance and curly hair. It has been made painfully clear that neither my 20+ years of experience nor my doctoral degree can shield me from the harsh reality that Black women continue to be the LEAST respected and valued members of our society. I have encountered many organizations that gaze upon my beautiful curls while trying to decipher whether I am truly professional or some imposter who has slipped through the cracks. With one audacious decision to wear my hair natural, the depth of my experience and personal character are all painstakingly scrutinized–often labeling me as unbefitting or unworthy. These are the implicit violent acts that women of color are made to endure, each day. The policing of our hair has led to everything from promotion barriers to outright loss of wages. We have been left to cope, heal, rebuild, and overcome these harsh realities, and yet, we continue to thrive in a way that is truly representative of our extraordinary ancestors.
Allow me to set the record straight (no pun intended) -- my hair is a sacred part of me. My hair is a celebration of my strong, resilient, ancestors and my beautiful and colorful culture. I proudly refer to these ancestors as they were the unsung heroes who built our nation–what I refer to as “this old American house.” My hair is part of the fabric of our collective history and the physical manifestation of our legacy. My hair holds this incredible and complex history in each curl, kink, and coil. It tells a story of strength, resilience, and love. It has taken me many years to embrace the love story that dances upon my head, and after finally arriving, I cannot allow anyone to discredit this beautiful story.
If you have read this far, it means that this story may be yours as well. It may be your daughter´s story or your neighbor´s story and I appreciate you for lending me your eyes and heart. With this story, I want to encourage women of color to keep believing. Belief in ourselves, our communities, our culture, and our collective strength is a brave act. By embracing our beauty, learning to love and appreciate our hair, and standing firm in our identities, I hope to provoke a much-needed shift in professional spaces and the nonprofit sector.
