History Tag

Getting braids—single plaits, cornrows or any style that weaves together three strands of hair—is a rite of passage for a lot of Black women in America. Who can remember spending hours as a baby sitting on the ground between a loved one’s legs as your tresses were rigorously intertwined? And today as adults a lot of us frequent salons for more expertly crafted masterpieces. Nevertheless, unlike a number of our popular styles, equivalent to finger waves and rod sets, braids are greater than mere aesthetics. They bind us together. They're an integral a part of Black culture—past, present and future. ANCESTRAL ROOTS  The invention of ancient stone paintings depicting women with cornrows in North Africa shows that braids date back 1000's of years....