The Black Elephant in the Room

Student Illustrator: Jorge Munoz

Student Author: Phoebe Woode 

Apparently, beauty has never been in the eye of the beholder.  When it comes to natural hair worn by predominantly black women, it is often seen as unattractive, unacceptable, and not beautiful.  In recent years, there have been stories all across the U.S. about discrimination regarding African American hairstyles. This is a way to oppress an entire group.  In Karl Marx’s theory about society, he discussed there being a hierarchy based on class.  However, instead of this hierarchy being based on class, it is based on hair. Hair-based discrimination is a modern form of oppression.

This is part of the Annual Poster Session, a collaboration between the Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Department and the Media Arts and Technologies Department, featuring work by social science and illustration students.