Purdue Black Cultural Center to continue discussion on natural hair
February 5, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Black Cultural Center on Tuesday (Feb. 11) will continue its campus discussion of natural hair with "Our Crowning Glory: Kinky, Curly, Puffy, Wavy" at Fowler Hall.
Tanisha C. Ford, author of "Liberated Threads: Black Women and the Politics of Adornment," will discuss the ways black women use beauty culture and fashion as a form of resistance and cultural and political expression. The 7 p.m. event is free and open to the public.
Ford is assistant professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies at the University of Massachusetts. She received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University, where she was a Ronald E. McNair scholar. She earned her master's degree from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate in U.S. history from IU.
"Since we all engage in the politics of adornment on an everyday basis and must contend with the issues related to our personal fashioning choices, Dr. Ford's presentation will both enlighten and challenge us," said Renee Thomas, director of the BCC.
A roundtable discussion will follow Ford's talk. Purdue faculty members Nadia Brown and Marlo David will respond to Ford's presentation. Brown is an assistant professor of political science and African American studies, and David is an assistant professor of English and women's, gender and sexuality studies. Aria Halliday, M.A. candidate in American studies, will moderate the discussion. Free samples of natural hair products will be available.
"Utilizing a live Twitter feed, the audience and roundtable panelists will consider their own place and space within the discourse of beauty culture and natural hair," Thomas said.
Audience members will be able to ask questions and pose comments to Twitter with the hashtag #CrowningGlory or tweet the panelists directly: Tanisha Ford (@SoulistaPhD), Nadia Brown (@BrownPhDGirl) and Marlo David (@afrointelligence).
The discussion about hair will continue on Twitter, on the Black Cultural Center's Natural Hair Blog, and at the interdisciplinary natural hair symposium "Let's Talk Hair," sponsored by the Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs and the BCC, from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 25.
Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, mailto:gmcclure@purdue.edu
Source: Renee Thomas, 765-494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu
