Stock photo.

Queens

Portraits Of Black Women And Their Fabulous Hair

by Michael Cunningham; George Alexander

Available editions of Queens

	9780385514620, Hardcover, Bantam Dell Pub Group, 2005 $6.99 (Good) Other copies of 9780385514620

Publisher Notes

From intricate braids to relaxed, flowing tresses to dreadlocks to Afros, black women have literally used their heads to express themselves and showcase their ideals of beauty. In more than fifty gorgeous photographs accompanied by vivid, personal narratives, QUEENS explores the fascination with hair and beauty that has long been a part of African American culture.

A host of women tell their personal hair stories and female hairdressers explain why they devote their lives to making black woman feel like royalty. A gallery of portraits taken at black hair shows throughout the country is juxtaposed with photographs taken in Africa, bringing to light the almost uncanny connection between the innovative 'dos of contemporary African America and traditional African styles.

“When we found out the baby was a girl, my husband said,
‘Okay, a girl. Alright, that means we’re going to have hair issues.’”
–Lynn Godfrey

“I set my hair money aside like it’s a bill...It’s like paying the phone bill, the electricity bill, the gas bill. I don’t play about my hair.
–Nitiya Barry

“When I see myself in an afro I feel more powerful than when
I wear my hair permed and straight. I feel like I can take on
the world. –Thoundia Bickam

A natural sequel to Crowns, by turns moving and funny, QUEENS is the ultimate all-occasion gift book, perfect for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Mother’s Day, and birthdays.

Synopses

Photographer Michael Cunningham and author and journalist George Alexander have captured here the trinity of black women, hair, and beauty salons. Angela Garner says that "The beauty salon is the one great thing we get to share as African American women. It's therapeutic." Tisch Sims says that wearing fantasy hair makes her feel "like a goddess, a queen." From the afro to the ponytail to dreadlocks to braids to relaxed hair to fantasy hair; from "good hair" to bad hair days, in this book black women from the United States, Africa, and London explore the fascination with hair and beauty that has long been a cherished part of African American culture.--From publisher description.

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