To relax, or not to relax?
Why not? Whatever. Your hair has gone through several stages of change: Youâve braided, straightened, curled, permed and locâd, and tucked it beneath a turban, a do-rag, scarves, wigs and Kangols. Itâs been shaved, picked, plucked, pulled back and done up. There were times when you fought your own hair, and you donât want your children to go through that. So look for âGlory: Magical Visions of Black Beautyâ by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, and call the kids.
As photographers, the Bethencourts say that they consider themselves âcultural storytellersâ who believe that Black culture has been âundercelebrated.â For far too long, for instance, black children were led to believe that their hair and skin were ânot long enough, not straight enough . too dark or too light.â As the Bethencourts noticed the somberness in the faces of the children they photographed, they recalled personal memories of childho