Women on U.S.-Mexico border weave their hair together in giant solidarity braid as Trump gets inaugurated

photo by Sasha von Oldershausen

"We wanted something that referenced women directly, but that also sends a message about our common heritage and common backgrounds in a broader context,” Nicholson said. “It’s a symbol of collective strength.”

For many women, hair is a deeply symbolic and intimate extension of our being. From the moment our hair is long enough, it gets braided—by our mothers, grandmothers, and friends. It is part of a physical and figurative bond among women. The braid itself, made up of equal parts that weave into one another like arms in an embrace, constitutes something greater than the sum of its parts.

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“It really marks this idea that, yes, we have our differences, but here are our similarities. And we’re binding those similarities in an act of solidarity.”

All the article here

#Politics #Symbolism #Femininity #Strength #Common #Protest

#Braid

#Press

#US

Hair Story: They absolutely represent who I am

I entered the Miss Jamaica World pageant and in order to go further as a selected semi-finalist, I was told to remove my braids. They were considered (*) as an unfair advantage and a misrepresentation of who I am.

25 years later, I am known and recognised by my braids, and rarely have they been an advantage to anything. In fact they may have been a hindrance to my work in certain performing arts spaces. But one thing is certain - they absolutely represent who I am. Or - Who I’ve been for my adult life…. until now.

BM,?, Female, Sierra Leone/Jamaica/USA

#Braids #Identity

(*)= not sure of the transcription for this word