This Hair Belongs

The history of Black hair includes the way white people used it to dehumanize Black people during enslavement and beyond, sometimes by shaving their hair or comparing it to animal fur. Through that horror, however, Black people continue to celebrate their hair and its history. Brown-Wood uses free-verse poetry to tell a compelling and deep history of Black hair, opening with African kings royalty and mythology and making reference to the continent’s characteristic landscapes, plants, and textiles. Paired with Robinson’s gorgeous illustrations, this ode to Black hair imagines it as a kind of crown, making for a special story. The artwork is exquisite: collage-style with layers of color and texture that mimic Black hair and are wrapped around inspirational messages and historical context. The book flows as one moving story of resilience. The back matter includes further details about African history and hair; there are also paragraphs explaining what hair is and Black hair care.