Directors' Notes from Betty Hart & Twanna LaTrice Hill
On a hot Tuesday evening in September, eight creative, intelligent, dynamic, educated, impassioned and beautiful black femmes gathered to delve into a play exclusively about black women and their hair. How did this subject attract the attention of activists and policy makers, fuel the imaginations of film makers Spike Lee and Chris Rock, and inspire playwright Keli Goff to pen The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls? What is its story? What is its song? What does it say about us?
Some see black women’s hair as a source of our strength and our power. Others see it as a symbol of our feminine mystique. And still more view it as a form of artistic expression. During enslavement times, braided hair was a map to freedom. Later, straight hair represented the desired standard for beauty. More recently, natural looks have come to symbolize our resistance to control. Black women’s hair styles can be fun, glamourous, a fashion statement, or a phase. We can don a wig, put in a weave, straighten, cut or color, let it loc, or grow a ‘fro. Our textures can be curly, kinky, wavy, frizzy, nappy, and straight. We have a kitchen. If you know, you know. If you don’t, ask a black woman and see if she’ll share this “secret” with you. But wherever we go, whatever we do, and however our hair happens to look, it will always be our “crown and glory.”
Phamaly has gifted us with the opportunity to share our hair journeys, hair history, and hair trauma with each other in the rehearsal room. Now, we’re here to share the joys and sorrow behind our hair. We’ve all had strangers attempt to ACTUALLY touch our hair without our permission. We’ve had people ask us if our hair is “real.” We’ve seen magnificent African-American women called ugly names because their beauty and intelligence intimidated some people.
Keli Goff loves black women and loves the mystery that is black women’s hair. We do too. This phenomenal group of individuals has poured themselves into these pieces and we hope you see some of yourself in here as well. We hope you’ll leave here uplifted. Black trauma will never outweigh black joy. Each of the scenes you will witness shines a light on the black experience through the vehicle of talking about our hair. So, will you see a beauty shop experience? Yes, you will. You’ll also be transported into audition halls and law offices, go on first dates and to job interviews, and enter into childhood prayers. Our hair is a vital aspect of our humanity. So, to all black women - we SEE you and we appreciate you! Whether you’re rocking a bald head, short or long hair, hair that you paid for or that grows on your head, we acknowledge your beauty. You are extraordinary! And your hair is just a part of your story. Sit back and gaze through our window into some of the inner lives of black women.
Betty Hart & Twanna LaTrice Hill
Directors of The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks, and Curls
