What can I say! It’s always a blessing to return to Rowan University’s Campus for their Politics of Black Women’s Hair Symposium at the peek of Women’s History Month –which also happens to be the same month where the regal work of Solange’s “When I get Home” album dropped– so best believe there was plenty to talk about.

Once I opened up the program with a documentary by Elle Magazine about braids and appropriation in America, the symposium’s intimate space allowed for transparent and honest dialogue to take place for each women or male who were willing to share. The fact that out of 51 states in the U.S., New York is the only state to outlaw hair and hair-style based discrimination, thanks to the Commission on Human Rights is outrageous!

ONE OUT OF 51 STATES.

There is a ton of work that still needs to happen because there are too many loopholes that will allow people of color, and those of the African diaspora, to become penalized and economically disadvantaged for what our bodies do naturally. And that’s just ridiculous. Understanding how important it is for black women and men to live on purpose, while being unapologetically themselves is necessary to challenge the status quo of our society.

I truly thank the women and men, students and faculty, and JoAnna Murphy at the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion and Conflict Resolution. A huge Shout out goes to the give away sponsors ButterFly Body Butter and Red Pill Blue Pill Collective, which are black women owned and operated businesses, for their inclusion as well.

Before you go, check out the video below created by SNJ Today news correspondent, and Rowan Alumni, Isaiah Showell. Everyone’s participation was on point and added so much to this year’s symposium. I’ll see you next year!