MAMP Podcast Episode #7: “The Pain and Beauty” of Black Hair

On episode 7 of the My American Meltingpot podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Gillian Scott-Ward. In 2013, Gillian was a psychologist working at Barnard College. But when she decided to go natural, her whole world changed. On the show, we discuss how Gillian went from college psychologist to award-winning filmmaker with her debut film, Back to Natural. We talk about the “beauty and pain” of having Black hair in America and all around the world.

Have a listen.

As the co-author of the book, Hair Story:Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America and a self-described hairstorian, it was a real treat for me to be on the other side of the microphone interviewing someone else about Black hair history, politics and culture. Gillian and I share our experiences talking to women and men about the significance of Black hair when it comes to issues of identity, culture and individual agency. And while it may seem unbelievable, Gillian makes the claim that Black people in the United States enjoy more freedom with their hairstyles than Black people in other parts of the world. That being the case, we still have a long way to go before Black hair oppression is a thing of the past and all Black hair is free.

The most uplifting part of our discussion was when Gillian talked about the enthusiastic response Back to Natural has received from diverse audiences all around the world. She has seen her film embraced by people of every racial and ethnic background and continues to see the film’s impact after every screening. “People want to talk about Black hair,” said Gillian. Back to Natural is an excellent way to start that conversation.

Resources from the Show

To schedule a screening of Back to Natural for your group or organization, check the Back to Natural website. You can also see where the film is being shown on their screening schedule.

Follow Back to Natural on Social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

To read more about the history, politics and culture of Black hair in America, check out my book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America.

If you want to experience a real celebration of natural Black hair, live and in person, visit CurlFest.

If you want to listen to another podcast that goes deeper into the history of Black hair in America and you want to hear more Lori, check out this episode of the Poised and Polished podcast I recently appeared on with host, Esta Fiesta.

Gillian mentioned that her next film was going to be about healers and that she started filming Reiki practitioners in Grenada. Here’s a basic explanation of what Reiki is   and here is an article from Essence magazine about Black women embracing Reiki.

One more thing…

If you enjoyed this episode, and I hope you did, please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also leave me a comment right here on the blog. The more ratings we receive, the easier it is for other people to find our show. Thanks!