Sometimes life comes full circle, and these moments are great! Last week, I had the opportunity to be a keynote speaker for my very first online event for Black History Month.
I launched my business last month, and so far I am so grateful for all the orders that I have had. One of my sales led me to speak about the history of headwrap, and I thought that I would share a part of my talk here.
As a French-African woman, I have always seen headwraps being worn by the women in my family. Whether it was at a family event, a celebration, or on the daily the head wrap is a cultural beauty statement.
What is a headwrap?
A headwrap is a piece of fabric used to protect hair and is also a part of most African attires. In some cultures, it indicates if a woman is married, single, widow or grandmother. The head wrap of course protects from natural elements as well. In some cases, it represents a woman’s spirituality, wealth, and social status within a community. Today, the headwrap is widely used among the Black diaspora and has earned its place in the fashion industry.
Where the headwrap originated from?
The headwrap originated from sub-Saharan Africa. In ancient Egyptian culture, crowns and headdresses signified that the people were close to God, and it would represent their high knowledge. Their attire was also setting them apart from the rest of the people.
The transatlantic slave trade started in the 15th century. During this time known as slavery, the headwrap became a sign of poverty and oppression. It was imposed to the slaves by Europeans slaves' masters. Some colonies made it a law to impose wearing a head wrap in order to discourage plantation owners from pursuing women.
Throughout history, the headwrap went from being a sign of pride and royalty to an identifier for black slaves preventing men and women from showing their hair.
Why do we wear it today?
As a Black woman, I believe that our hair is a crown that requires attention and care. So today, the headwrap is worn for protective styles. It’s a symbol of pride and resilience, and I believe that by wearing it we are unconsciously reclaiming our culture and roots. It is still viewed as a sign of spirituality and prosperity.
Although it didn’t start with slavery, the history of headwrap is a part of our history that has to be known.
This strong story is part of who we are as Black people. This resilience and pride really led me to start my company.
Let’s chat in the comment section! What Black History Month represents to you?
Happy Black History Month!
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