DR

Age: 30-64 years

Occupation: Graduate Student, Researcher

As she is often in predominantly white spaces, DR is deliberate about wearing her natural hair.

“I am very intentional about showing up with my natural hair, because for me it’s part of establishing that I am unapologetically Black in this space,” she said. “Our positions matter.”

In education, there is more understanding of racial issues than in some other fields. DR previously worked in the legal field, so she recognizes that experiences vary. Regardless of whichever field she is in, she makes the choices that are most important to her.

Hair has been a large part of DR’s identity for a long time. She did “the big chop” (cutting out a relaxer) in 1997, “before it was cool.” Some barbers refused to do it at first, and people tried to talk her out of it. Her mother told her, “you’re going to look like a boy!” Even still, DR cut her hair and grew her natural hair back, because it was her choice. “I needed to untether myself from what I had inherited about what hair meant,” she said. “I stepped into strength when I cut my hair.”

DR connects her hair to Blackness, culture, and making a stance.

“My hair, as a Black woman, is part of expression — identity expression, artistic expression, cultural expression, and power expression — and I can do all of that just by walking in with the hair I have,” she said. “That for me is pretty amazing, it’s freeing, and it’s really fun.”