For many Americans, hair isn’t “just hair.” It has the power to get a person through doors and block them from an opportunity. While many companies are building diverse workspaces with a more relaxed dress code, welcoming everything from sleeve tattoos to alternative hair colors, the vast majority continue to uphold policies exemplifying gross discrimination against natural hair.
The August Meetup was a root-boosted discussion on our hair. We discussed the politicization and societal expectations’ influence on our relationship with our tresses.
The July Meetup took the form of a “virtual healing 101” classroom, as our community from across the globe gathered on Zoom to discuss the education system and share school experiences.
The elements are permanent in our cultural psyche. We witness crowds waving and cheering pressed against metal stanchions, marching bands echoing the streets with a catchy tune to the lead of their grand marshal.
The June Meetup became a virtual parade as our community gathered in our most celebrated garb and brought to the space all that makes us proud. While amid a very active Pride Month and Juneteenth on the horizon,
It’s difficult to imagine the summer of 1969 when the first punch was thrown at the Stonewall Inn. Today, when it comes to celebrating Pride—exciting parades, floats, feathers, rainbow-themed outfits, all in celebration of queer identity— we can also take this opportunity to refamiliarize ourselves with its original roots as a protest against police brutality and homophobic violence.
In the 2022 Netflix documentary White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, millennial audiences are invited to walk down memory lane. The navel-gazing tune of “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit sparks nostalgia as we revisit our generation’s most coveted brand,
Xiaochuan (Sharon) Wang is an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Social Work. She researches the lived experiences of the Asian American elderly community and the mental healthcare disparities faced.
The May Meetup was a momentous wave of emotion for our community as we gave space to tell stories of mixed identities and their effect on mental health.
