Save the Date:
2023 H.E.A.R. Oral History Conference
Sharing South Jersey Stories
Week of February 7, 2023
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Sat. April 22 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Camden County Historical Society
1900 Park Blvd, Camden, NJ 08103
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Follow our socials for updates! |
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Crafting Crowns: The Folklife of Black Hair Stylists in Southern Jersey |
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Crafting Crowns: The Folklife of Black Hair Stylists in Southern Jersey is a Perkins Folklife Center fieldwork project about African American hair artistry and traditions passed down through families and communities in Southern New Jersey. We explore the connection between art and craft as it relates to Black heritage. We listen and watch how Black hairstylists cultivate and share cultural traditions.
The project explores how hairstyling shapes one’s sense of cultural identity, womanhood and personal wellness. Crafting Crowns also explores the deep cultural roots of natural hair styles such as braids, cornrows, and locs. We observe the hair salon as a cultural space, community center, and a business.
At the core of Crafting Crowns are the stories of five outstanding natural hair specialists from Southern New Jersey. These local hairstylists have diverse skills and perspectives on hair styling as independent operators, freelancers and business owners in urban and suburban Black communities. Their life-history interviews and my field observations are documented, photographed and videotaped in the archives of the Perkins Folklife Center for the Arts—accessible to anyone.
As an anthropologist, I have always been impressed by the rich array of African hairstyles ever present in our visual world from fine-art sculpture to Instagram. One’s hairstyle signals clues and cues about ethnicity, gender, status and stage of life. Coiffure designs can tell our life stories in meaningful and powerful ways. The Crafting Crowns hair artisans create dynamic styles that build upon African American heritage and tradition. Each is distinctive in their personality and approach to the work, but I was struck by some common “threads” in their stories:
Firstly, each of the four stylists gravitated toward natural hair care at a very early age, one as young as five. They practiced on their dolls first, quickly moving on to siblings and classmates who were willing to serve as their earliest hair models. Several stylists attribute their success to South Jersey public school teachers who set the bar high for hard work, perseverance and following your dream.
Fatima Grant, owner of Snatched N Hooked Natural Hair Spa & Boutique, credits her Camden upbringing with providing her with the tenacity, grit to thrive in her business. Grant has developed a tailored boutique services approach to the natural hair community. Grant envisions her salon is a space of true relaxation. She calls it the “The Exhale Hub” where you can literally come and just take a breath from life’s demands and anxieties. The Salon also distinguishes itself within the industry by centering hair health and wellness, and helping folks who are experiencing hair loss.
Being inspired by the women in their lives was another common thread. Atiya Johnson, owner and operator of Jana’s Hair Studio in Clementon, New Jersey, lamented the hair industry’s reputation for hard work with limited income potential. Besides her mom, Wanda Dickerson, who established a salon in the 1990s, Johnson cited the African-American hair care specialist, entrepreneur, activist and self-made millionaire Madam CJ Walker (1867-1919) as a role model.
Apart from this legendary Black woman entrepreneur, Johnson credits her mother Wanda Dickerson, who established a salon in the 1990s, as an inspiration. Establishing Jana’s Academy, Johnson became the first African American woman to own a cosmetology training center in New Jersey.
Education is another important theme within the Crafting Crown participants’ salons. For Talaya Loftin, owner and operator of Laya’s Touch Holistic Hair Care, an independent hair center, educating clients and community about their health is a key component to her salon. Her hands-on approach, literally feeling the hair by touch, helps her to develop an individual hair care plan for her clients. She wants you to leave with a leave with a maintenance plan that you can do at home or in her shop. Stress reduction is the goal.
As a young girl growing up in a predominately white New Jersey small town, Loftin is attuned to the needs of women and girls who struggle with their natural coils. She strives to change the European beauty identity in the curl-endowed and to help them to understand that this hair lineage, their “crown,” is something to wear with pride. Loftin also highlights the importance of a nutrient-rich diet, herbs and supplements, natural hair and body treatments and a balanced lifestyle.
Hair has an amazing power to express our personal styles and sentiments, collective beliefs and identities, historical memories and more. Hairstyling can mark a moment, a celebration or heartbreak. As the artist Sonya Clark reminds us, hair is a repository of our DNA that connects us to our ancestors and to each other.
The Crafting Crowns hair artisans keep a finger on the pulse of today’s African American hair culture, trends and stylistic developments the field. All five spend their precious little time off poring through books, adding training courses to their schedule and following their natural-hair gurus. Their dedication to the African American hair and beauty heritage community makes them undeniable assets to South Jersey folklife and an inspiration to female entrepreneurs everywhere. I’m so excited to follow them on the journey, and hope you’ll join me for my next “Report from the Field.”
Paulette Young, Ph.D.
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Call for Performers: World Stage 2023
Building Community Connections Through World Music Experiences
Deadline to Apply: March 15, 2023
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Back by community demand!
The Perkins World Stage concert series is dedicated to bringing diverse cultural expressions to our Center. Each summer, the World Stage Series presents concerts, dance parties and workshops of world music on the beautiful Moorestown lawn, with the goal of presenting a cross‐section of music and dance from around the South Jersey/Philadelphia region.
This year, the World Stage theme is “Culture Crossings,” celebrating diversity and commonalities across music. We’re seeking: Latin and Afro-Cuban musicians, Eastern European and klezmer musicians, fusion, worldbeat, and folk and traditional musicians from all cultures and backgrounds. We’re seeking soloists, ensemble acts, dance groups, and workshop leaders.
For more details, and to apply to become a paid performer in World Stage 2023, please follow this link and apply by March 15, 2023:
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We hope you will consider this opportunity, we would love to collaborate! Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. |
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Perkins Center events are supported by our amazing volunteers! This is a great way to get a behind the scenes pass to all you favorite Perkins programs like our exhibition openings, concerts, and events.
Join us!
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We Want to Hear From You!
How do the arts impact you? And how does Perkins Center impact your life?
We want to make sure our programs are serving our community's needs and need your feedback to make that possible. Take this 5 minute survey today!
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The mission of Perkins Folklife Center is to preserve, perpetuate and build awareness of South Jersey’s rich cultural history, traditions and folk art. The purpose of the folklife center is to honor lasting cultural traditions, highlight the humanity of the handmade, and support the work of folk artists and entrepreneurs as community leaders in South Jersey. Our program is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Email folklife@perkinscenter.org for more information. |
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Perkins Center for the Arts supports the health and well-being of all its members, faculty, and visitors. Beginning March 27, 2022 Perkins has adopted an universal "mask-optional" policy. At this time, Perkins' public programs are all mask optional. We thank you for your patience and continued support. |
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GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY |
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