April 4, 2024

Author, filmmaker, photographer, and activist St. Clair Detrick-Jules will present Black Hair + Storytelling as a Form of Social Activism at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 16 at CAPA Symposium on the Bennington College campus. It is open to the public.

“Black students are disproportionately disciplined for wearing Afrocentric hairstyles, and Black employees are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work for their hair,” said Detrick-Jules. “The demonization of Black hair as a marker of anti-Blackness has forced the Black community into a complex and often traumatic relationship with our hair.” 

The author will discuss what she has learned through her years-long journey photographing and interviewing Black women with natural hair for her photojournalism book, My Beautiful Black Hair: 101 Natural Hair Stories from the Sisterhood, a large-scale visual anthropology exploring the deep, complex relationships across generations between Black women and their hair. Kirkus Reviews called the book “compelling and inspirational ... a powerful celebration of self-acceptance and sisterhood.” 

From the impact of historical anti-Blackness in the Dominican Republic to discussions about the politicization of the afro and its relationship to the Black Lives Matter movement, the presentation challenges attendees to think about the ways in which they can use hair as an entry-point into conversations about self-love, anti-Blackness, healing from racial trauma, feminism, and community relationships. The talk provides an opportunity for students and others to engage in thought-provoking discussions about beauty standards, gender, race, and identity. 

In addition, the author offers a blueprint for using storytelling—whether by speaking up themselves or passing the mic to others—as a form of social activism. 

“There is a long history of racism and microaggressions relative to policing, demonizing, and vilifying people of the African diaspora for how they choose to unapologetically express and celebrate their hair,” said Alfredo Medina, Jr., Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We are so fortunate to have St. Clair join us and share what she has learned throughout her work, and I am excited for students to learn more about how they can share their stories and the positive impact storytelling can have.” 

Detrick-Jules is a graduate of Brown University and an award-winning documentarian and photographer with features in news sites like The Washington Post, NewsWeek, and NPR’s Strange Fruit. She has presented talks at dozens of colleges and universities, including Dartmouth College, Princeton University, and Vanderbilt University, to name a few. 

A question-and-answer session will follow the talk, which is sponsored by Bennington College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.