Do Black people celebrate one another’s choices about hair?
 
Why is “all-natural” the gold standard for everything but Black hair?
 
Michelle Obama’s hair: Total non-issue or sore-spot topic for some?
 
Is it okay if some career doors are closed to people w/natural hair?
  (If not, can we unite & change this w/ consumer clout? Yes, We Can!)

Let’s Discuss It!

Participant Profiles - Press Release - R.S.V.P. - Directions - Online Marketplace

All hair styles and viewpoints are welcome for a celebration in music, dance, dialogue, film and style. Our panel discussion will be a lively, cross-generational look at the state of Our HAIRitage from a variety of vantage points. Panelists are: professor and author Farah Jasmine Griffin, author and activist asha bandele, natural-hair pioneer Adémola Mandella, style and culture maven Michaela Angela Davis and author and webpreneur Mireille Liong-A-Kong.

Melba Tolliver, the first Black person to anchor a network TV news show, will read from Accidental Anchorwoman: Chance, Choice, Change, her memoir-in-progress. Environmentalist Majora Carter will make remarks and filmmaker Kathe Sandler, (A Question of Color) and author Nana Camille Yarbrough, (celebrating the 30th anniversary of her book, Cornrows) will be interviewed onstage. Author and storytelling artist Rev. Malika Lee Whitney and actress Phyllis Y. Stickney will serve as the evening’s hosts.

Actress Dominique Morisseau will give voice to a diversity of perspectives, dancer Fatima Friday and drummer M’ten Halsey will share their artistry and Khamit Kinks salon will present a mini bridal hair show. We’ll enjoy a video tribute with music and the event’s organizers will introduce trailblazers and standard-bearers they admire. Audience members are invited to bring along their own “Natural Inspiration” friend or colleague. Light refreshment will be offered free of charge and books and CDs by our participants will be signed and sold. (Cash please.)

Participant Profiles - Press Release - R.S.V.P. - Directions - Online Marketplace