Product Description

Exploring the significance of hair in African American culture, this book examines how women have redefined beauty for themselves and used their hair as a symbol of self-confidence and advancement. The author discusses what the various methods of wearing hair mean to family and friends.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32088 in Books
• Published on: 1996-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

From Booklist
Rooks takes an interesting look at the social and political implications that hair has held for African American women. The six chapters discuss hair and its connection to black pride, race, advertising, gender, and women's magazines. She has used advertisements from different periods to trace representations of hair, which she then analyzes to show the political implications for women. She notes that discussions of hair in a political context have taken place in the mainstream press; however, the similarities and differences between the hair of women from the dominant culture and the hair of women of African American descent have never been fully explored. Rooks digs deep to describe how beauty and culture have politicized African American women and demonstrates that Western definitions of beauty are often not endorsed by African American women. Although Rooks' work is written in an academic style, the content is so compelling, readers will be intrigued by the quotes and footnotes rather than overwhelmed. Lillian Lewis

Customer Reviews

You'll refer to it over and over again
I used this book in several college papers I wrote as an undergraduate student, a paper I published on the politics of hair among children of African decent, and I still read it today. Rooks talks about hair and African women in advertising, popular and political culture and she really explains the historical contexts of these hair issues. A great read for any student, and non-student who is interested in diging a little deeper in the hair issues sorrounding African women.