“Crowns” — simply defines the beauty of hair for the African diaspora. Black women have been creating heads of art for centuries. These designs uplift the spirit and the nation as part of a regular routine or for special occasions.
On the final Saturday before the launch of the school year, the ChildSavers lobby was transformed into a salon reminiscent of the homes and shops in city, suburban and rural neighbors across America and throughout the world. The special day was designed to prepare beautiful crowns for our clients returning to school for the new year.
Destinee Jackson, clinical supervisor for the ChildSavers immediate response mental health program coordinated the day. Volunteer stylists included her close friends since childhood, Khimani Anthony and Briana Butts, a couple of parents of clients, our administrative coordinator Pam Jackson and another clinician, Darrian Thomas. One client assisted stylists and earned volunteer community engagement hours while perfecting a skill for life. Intern, Victoria Barahona, provided childcare to give parents a respite. Members of the ChildSavers team donated ornaments to compliment the hair.
Girls and young women seated in highchairs, backs steady and heads adjusting to the gentle tugs and pushes of the stylist whose fingers intertwine natural and added hair. The smallest clients sleepily tucked into mothers’ laps with heads resting on shoulders as hair is parted braided and decorated.
The process is short for some and long for others, often several hours. No matter the time, a particular bond exists between the client and stylist as this intimate dance of fingers and hair means closeness.
The results were gleaming faces and majestic crowns of braids augmented by layers of curls, or decorated with beads, bows and metallic ornaments. The traditions continues…
This piece was written by ChildSavers CEO, L. Robert Bolling.
