Looking through the lens of black business history; Beauty Shop Politics shows how black beauticians in the Jim Crow era parlayed their economic independence and access to a public community space into platforms for activism. Tiffany M. Gill argues that the beauty industry played a crucial role in the creation of the modern black female identity and that the seemingly frivolous space of a beauty salon actually has stimulated social; political; and economic change.From the founding of the National Negro Business League in 1900 and onward; African Americans have embraced the entrepreneurial spirit by starting their own businesses; but black women's forays into the business world were overshadowed by those of black men. With a broad scope that encompasses the role of gossip in salons; ethnic beauty products; and the social meanings of African American hair textures; Gill shows how African American beauty entrepreneurs built and sustained a vibrant culture of activism in beauty salons and schools. Enhanced by lucid portrayals of black beauticians and drawing on archival research and oral histories; Beauty Shop Politics conveys the everyday operations and rich culture of black beauty salons as well as their role in building community.
#88972 in Books 2000-05-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .90 x 6.00l; .95 #File Name: 0252069366288 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Intense Book You Can't Put DownBy Shawn M. WarswickIn this 1999 work; Chana Kai Lee presents the life of the iconic Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer is new light. Using a plethora of sources (both primary and secondary); Lee attempts to rescue Hamer from her role as civil rights icon and show the complexities of her life; the good and the bad; the tragedy and the triumphs. While it would be easy to fall victim to the desire to present Hamer in a triumphalist light; Lee does a remarkable job focusing on the costs of Hamer’s struggle for equal rights without allowing the story to become a tale of woe.Lee used a variety of primary and secondary sources to create her narrative; as well as various manuscript collections located throughout the United States. Rather than comparing Fannie Lou to another activist; Lee looks at her life and how her character and involvement in the Civil Rights movement changed over time. Furthermore; the author notes she wanted to restore balance to the story of Fannie Lou’s life; “I have tried to suggest that returning that pain to Hamer’s personal history gives us a more complete measure of what it meant to live her life.â€The great strength in Lee’s work is its honest portrayal of a woman who meant so much to the Civil Rights Movement. As Lee herself said; she wanted to give a “more complete measure†of Hamer’s life; showing both the achievements but also the pain; so we could understand what it was like to live the life Fannie Lou lived. (Lee; 180) There is no doubt she achieved her goal; as she delivered a well-written and balanced account of the life of one of the greatest figures of the civil rights movement. The only weakness is that; because of the amount of pain she lived through; it becomes easy to focus on just the negative; and not the positive aspects of her life and accomplishments. This is one book everyone should read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. poorly documented and a very sorry reading experience I don’t have a suggestion for a better book on Fannie Lou HamerBy C. WilsonThis is a poorly written; poorly documented and a very sorry reading experienceI don’t have a suggestion for a better book on Fannie Lou Hamer. This in not theone to read.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. YOWZABy The Sassy CountessWho tells this kind of history? I would have never heard of her had I not had to purchase this book for my class. I am so proud to say that this was a required text. It should be! And; it should be everywhere.
