This Kent State University Museum symposium is convened in conjunction with the exhibition TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair. The exhibition runs from September 10, 2021 – August 14, 2022, and synthesizes research in history, fashion, art, and visual culture to reassess the “hair story” of peoples of African descent. This symposium surrounds these histories and convenes thinkers and creators from a variety of backgrounds to discuss, engage, and celebrate ideas pertaining to Black history, hair, beauty, and culture. 

The keynote speakers for this symposium are Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, clinical psychologist and hairstylist, PsychoHairapy LLC, and Dr. Crystal Porter, hair scientist and president of Mane Insights, Inc.

This symposium is open to the public and will also be livestreamed online for those unable to attend in person. An overview of this two-day event and a full symposium program can be found here.