Disentangled

Even before we get to introduce ourselves by name, our hair has already started to tell stories about who we are, where we are from and where we are at. Our hair is tangled up in the interplay of race, gender, class, nationality, sexuality, power and beauty. It is an avid storyteller and a consummate performer – whether we like it or not. If our hair could talk, what stories would it tell about us?

(Dis)entangled delves into the intricate and deeply personal relationship between Black individuals and their hair, exploring – through a collection of diverse experiences – the profound significance of hair as a conduit for self-expression, resilience, and collective memory within communities around the world. Each story illuminates the complex tapestry of experiences surrounding Black hair, shedding light on its intersections with gender, race and identity. Through the voices of those who have walked this textured path, the book ultimately seeks to empower readers to embrace their own unique journey of self-discovery, one strand at a time.

Author Biography

Johanna M. Lukate is an author and academic based in Berlin, Germany. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cambridge and appeared on the TEDx Cambridge University stage with a talk about The Psychology of Black hair. She is a Research Fellow at the Max-Planck-Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity and has been a Fox Fellow at Yale University (USA). (Dis)entangled is her first book.