<p>Hair grooming is a culturally significant practice within the Black community. Over the years, some Black people have altered their hair care practices to meet the contingencies of the environment. For example, some Black people straightened their hair to assimilate to White societal standards, which may have led to more desirable financial and social outcomes. However, others refused and wore natural styles, such as afros, during the Civil Rights Movement, to signify resistance and resilience. Black hair has historically been a target for discrimination. Thus, it is important for behavior analysts who work with this population to understand the history and implications behind it, including how texturism, colorism, and internalized anti-Blackness interact and contribute to the development of both internal and explicit biases. This article discusses the history of Black hair and hair grooming practices from before, during, and after enslavement from a behavioral perspective. Considerations for behavior analysts providing services to Black clients will also be discussed. These considerations include: (1) gaining an understanding about medical mistrust within the Black community, (2) using a trauma-informed framework when serving Black clients, and (3) advocating for Black clients when hair discrimination is at work.</p>

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Hair Practices Within Black Culture: Considerations for Behavior Analysts Serving the Black Community

  • Janae’ A. Pendergrass,
  • Marlesha C. Bell,
  • Arielle R. Marshall

摘要

Hair grooming is a culturally significant practice within the Black community. Over the years, some Black people have altered their hair care practices to meet the contingencies of the environment. For example, some Black people straightened their hair to assimilate to White societal standards, which may have led to more desirable financial and social outcomes. However, others refused and wore natural styles, such as afros, during the Civil Rights Movement, to signify resistance and resilience. Black hair has historically been a target for discrimination. Thus, it is important for behavior analysts who work with this population to understand the history and implications behind it, including how texturism, colorism, and internalized anti-Blackness interact and contribute to the development of both internal and explicit biases. This article discusses the history of Black hair and hair grooming practices from before, during, and after enslavement from a behavioral perspective. Considerations for behavior analysts providing services to Black clients will also be discussed. These considerations include: (1) gaining an understanding about medical mistrust within the Black community, (2) using a trauma-informed framework when serving Black clients, and (3) advocating for Black clients when hair discrimination is at work.