Crown & Code: The Politics of Black Hair

How did Black hair become a symbol of race, identity, power, and resistance? In this episode of Dis A Fi Mi History Podcast, host Wendy Aris sits down with Dr. Shaunasea Brown to explore the complex history of Black hair from the era of transatlantic slavery to the present day.

Discover how European beauty standards shaped ideas of "good" and "bad" hair, influencing generations of Black communities across the Caribbean and the African diaspora. Dr. Brown examines the historical roots of hair discrimination, the social and professional pressures surrounding hair straightening, the health and emotional impacts of chemical treatments, and the legal battles that have challenged workplace discrimination.

The conversation also explores the rise of the Natural Hair Movement, cultural identity, self-acceptance, and the ongoing work of dismantling harmful stereotypes while reclaiming Black beauty and heritage. Through history, research, and lived experience, this episode highlights why hair is far more than appearance—it is a reflection of culture, resilience, identity, and freedom.

Whether you're interested in Black history, Caribbean history, race and identity, social justice, genealogy, or the history of beauty standards, this episode offers powerful historical insight and meaningful discussion.

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BIO:

Dr. Shaunasea Brown is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University whose research focuses on Black Canadian Studies, Black feminism, womanism, and the politics of Black women's hair. She earned her PhD in the Department of Humanities at York University, where her interdisciplinary scholarship examined the artistic practices of second-generation Black Canadian women of Caribbean descent and their contributions to community care, identity, and cultural expression.

Dr. Brown's research explores how race, gender, beauty, and representation shape the lived experiences of Black communities in Canada and throughout the African diaspora. Her work examines Black hair as a site of identity, resistance, self-love, and cultural politics, challenging Eurocentric beauty standards and highlighting the historical and contemporary significance of Black hair. She is the author of influential publications including "Don't Touch My Hair": Problematizing Representations of Black Women in