Hair Raising: Beauty, Culture, and African American Women [Paperback]

Noliwe M. Rooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

A Choice Outstanding Book Award winner Rooks's excellent book is a welcom entry in the feminist debates about American 'beauty culture.' . . . Readable, accessible, and helpfully illustrated."--Choice "Rooks digs deep to describe how beauty and culture have politicized African American women and demonstrates that Western definitions of beauty are often not endorsed by African American women. Compelling."--Booklist "Hair Raising is insightful, engaging, and imaginative, and even musical. Rooks harmonizes her voice as a scholar analyzing hair with her voice as a black woman talking politics with other black women, in salons and parlors, to the rhythms of combing, brushing, braiding, and straightening. . . . This is a must-read!"--Gloria Wade-Gayles, Professor of English and Women's studies, Spelman College "Rooks deconstructs dominant cultural notions of femininity and/or beauty with humor, dignity, and a defiant sassiness. Read this book!"--Joanne M. Braxton, Frances and Edwin L. Cummings Professor of American Studies and English, The College of William and Mary We all know there is a politics of skin color, but is there a politics of hair? In this book, Noliwe Rooks explores the history and politics of hair and beauty culture in African American communities from the nineteenth century to the 1990s. She discusses the ways in which African American women have located themselves in their own families, communities, and national culture through beauty advertisements, treatments, and styles. Bringing the story into today's beauty shop, listening to other women talk about braids, Afros, straighteners, and what they mean today to grandmothers, mothers, sisters, friends, and boyfriends, she also talks about her own family and has fun along the way. Hair Raising is that rare sort of book that manages both to entertain and to illuminate its subject. Noliwe M. Rooks teaches in the history and African American studies departments at Princeton University. She was the associate editor of Paris Connections: African American Artists in Paris and a winner of an American Book Award.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Rooks takes an interesting look at the social and political implications that hair has held for African American women. The six chapters discuss hair and its connection to black pride, race, advertising, gender, and women's magazines. She has used advertisements from different periods to trace representations of hair, which she then analyzes to show the political implications for women. She notes that discussions of hair in a political context have taken place in the mainstream press; however, the similarities and differences between the hair of women from the dominant culture and the hair of women of African American descent have never been fully explored. Rooks digs deep to describe how beauty and culture have politicized African American women and demonstrates that Western definitions of beauty are often not endorsed by African American women. Although Rooks' work is written in an academic style, the content is so compelling, readers will be intrigued by the quotes and footnotes rather than overwhelmed. Lillian Lewis --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Noliwe M. Rooks is an assistant professor of English and the coordinator of African American Studies at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She was the associate editor of Paris Connections: African American Artists in Paris, winner of a 1993 American Book Award.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 2nd printing edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813523125
• ISBN-13: 978-0813523125
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll refer to it over and over again, September 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hair Raising: Beauty, Culture, and African American Women (Paperback)

I used this book in several college papers I wrote as an undergraduate student, a paper I published on the politics of hair among children of African decent, and I still read it today. Rooks talks about hair and African women in advertising, popular and political culture and she really explains the historical contexts of these hair issues. A great read for any student, and non-student who is interested in diging a little deeper in the hair issues sorrounding African women.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hair Politics, August 26, 2001

By 

"divastate" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hair Raising: Beauty, Culture, and African American Women (Hardcover)

Excellent resource for delving into the Politics of black hair in America. From jobs, to advertising, to day to day living hair affects African Americans in ways culturally and historically that many groups never confront. Great resource for women of all races to learn the political truth behind black hair.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Personable and Deep Book..., November 7, 2008

By 

~Sunshine~ "Energee" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hair Raising: Beauty, Culture, and African American Women (Paperback)

I think that this was an awsome read. It talks about how African American women relate things with psychology, culture and hair. To me this book was very personal. For many women hair is more than just hair and there are lots of complexities as to why we wear our hair the way we may, or who makes those choices and how society may feel about ourt hair (rather straight or kinky).