Why You Were Taught Your Hair Was the Problem | Dr. Toshua Cornwell-Clark Explains

In 1786, the Spanish colonial governor of Louisiana ordered free women of African descent in New Orleans to cover their hair. More than two centuries later, states are still passing laws so Black people can wear their hair the way it grows.

Sociologist Dr. Toshua L.

Cornwell-Clark spent more than 30 years in the beauty industry, and she argues that the pressure behind those laws never went away. She calls it the colonial costume.

In this conversation, Dr. Cornwell-Clark explains the colonial costume framework and why she named her book Eternal Black Eye.

She defines texturism and explains why straight hair became the measure of what looks professional. She describes the toll that constant straightening takes on Black women, and she explains why she finds it sad that the CROWN Act had to exist at all.

She also talks about the messages Black families pass to their children and where she believes healing begins. CHAPTERS 0:00 The 1786 order to cover Black women's hair 0:55 What she saw in salons and classrooms 1:32 The colonial costume, defined 2:30 Why she named it Eternal Black Eye 3:21 How the healing starts 5:04 Texturism, explained 6:20 The toll of the Eurocentric beauty standard 7:55 Who profits from Black hair 10:14 How America views Black hair 11:26 The CROWN Act 12:30 A global standard of beauty 14:40 The messages we pass to our children 16:25 Healing the black eye 17:14 Close Music: "Let's Groove" by Hotham is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

License: Let's Groove - Hotham | Royalty Free Music. Stream: Support by RFM - NCM: ABOUT THE GUEST Dr.

Toshua L. Cornwell-Clark, Ed.D., is a sociologist, the creator of the colonial costume framework, and the author of Eternal Black Eye.

Eternal Black Eye on Amazon. FOR EDUCATORS Free classroom discussion guides for my history and civic series are available to free subscribers on Substack: https://substack.com/@iamestherdillard Full educator resource bundles are available on Etsy: Subscribe to The Color Between the Lines for stories about the history behind the way we live now.

Your story matters. #BlackHistory #CROWNAct #NaturalHair #BlackHair #ProtectiveStyles #HairDiscrimination #Texturism #Colorism #TignonLaw #BlackWomen #Sociology #EternalBlackEye #GoodHair #BlackHistoryLessons #CivicEducation #TeachingHistory #EducatorResources #TheColorBetweenTheLines #EstherDillard Powered by Amplified Voices . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.

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