Colonial roots of 'respectability' still shape black hair in classrooms, workplaces

For centuries, Eurocentric ideals have shaped perceptions of Black hair, stigmatizing natural textures as unkempt or unacceptable. This colonial legacy continues to influence grooming rules in schools and workplaces across the African and Caribbean diaspora.

Afro-textured hair still often seen as needing control

From schools in Ghana to offices in the UK, conversations around natural hairstyles persist, often rooted in the same 'respectability' standards that emerged during colonial times. In Jamaica, a teenage boy was reportedly removed from class for his afro, despite school guidelines stating hair must only be