Let’s be honest—Black women’s hair has been politicized, policed, and prodded at for far too long. We’ve worn it straight, coiled, locked, twisted,
Let’s be honest—Black women’s hair has been politicized, policed, and prodded at for far too long. We’ve worn it straight, coiled, locked, twisted, braided, natural, covered, uncovered—and yet, the obsession remains. But here’s a thought: maybe it’s time to shift that concern toward topics that truly matter. You know, the kind that uplifts communities, challenges injustice, and respects Black women as whole human beings.
So, in the spirit of real progress and minding your business with purpose, here are 50 things to talk about instead of Black women’s hair:
1. Why the maternal mortality rate for Black women is so high—even in wealthy nations.
2. How Black women are underpaid and overqualified in nearly every industry.
3. The urgent need for mental health resources that actually center Black women’s experiences.
4. How racism shows up in medical care and shortens Black women’s lives.
5. The brilliance and contributions of Black women in STEM, art, literature, politics, and activism.
6. Why Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs—and why they receive the least funding.
7. The historic and ongoing erasure of Black women from feminist movements.
8. How colorism harms girls from the moment they enter the world.
9. How to dismantle misogynoir in schools, workplaces, and digital spaces.
10. How Black girls are punished more harshly in schools for simply existing.
11. Food deserts and the fight for nutrition access in Black communities.
12. Environmental racism and how it impacts Black families.
13. The sacredness of Black joy and why it’s revolutionary.
14. The stories of Black women who survived abuse and built healing spaces for others.
15. Black maternal legacy: the strength, sacrifice, and wisdom passed through generations.
16. Why it’s still revolutionary when a Black woman rests.
17. The cultural significance of Black hair and why it’s not yours to legislate or mock.
18. How beauty standards were never made with Black women in mind—and why that matters.
19. What happens when Black women go missing and are ignored by media and law enforcement.
20. The role of Black women in leading social justice movements across centuries.
21. The need for safer birthing environments for Black mothers.
22. How anti-Blackness is embedded in global media.
23. The criminalization of Black girls for defending themselves.
24. How Black women navigate and resist the expectation to perform strength 24/7.
25. The lack of mental health support for Black women survivors of violence.
26. How gentrification disrupts and displaces Black communities.
27. Why Black women deserve soft life, not just survival.
28. The deep wisdom in Black grandmothers’ stories and proverbs.
29. The ways Black women build mutual aid networks out of necessity and brilliance.
30. The cost of being “the only one” in predominantly white spaces.
31. Why loving Black women out loud is an act of rebellion.
32. The pressure on Black women to raise and save everyone but themselves.
33. How media tropes reduce Black women to angry caricatures instead of full humans.
34. How Black women experience grief in a society that offers no space for their tears.
35. The connection between reproductive justice and racial justice.
36. Why Black women deserve healthcare that listens and believes them.
37. The history of forced sterilization of Black women in the U.S. and beyond.
38. Why pleasure, leisure, and softness are part of liberation for Black women.
39. The role of Black women in preserving language, heritage, and culture.
40. How prisons and the school-to-prison pipeline disproportionately harm Black girls.
41. The stories of Black women inventors, healers, and innovators who changed the world.
42. How often Black women are gaslit in relationships, workplaces, and politics.
43. The impact of spiritual traditions passed down through Black women.
44. Why Black women deserve protection—no conditions, no exceptions.
45. Why advocating for the safety and freedom of Black women worldwide must be a global priority.
46. The legacy of Black women authors, poets, and storytellers who shape the world.
47. The criminalization of poverty and its effect on single Black mothers.
48. How Black women create art that moves entire movements.
49. Why Black women don’t owe anyone an explanation, performance, or apology.
50. How you can show up, stand back, and amplify Black women’s voices instead of centering your gaze on their hair.
Please stop the concern trolling. Start the real conversations. Black women are whole human beings. Black women are whole worlds. Show respect by expanding your focus.
*Notice how inconsequential hair becomes next any one of these issues. “Don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s all small stuff.”-Richard Carlson
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