Since California became the first state to pass a ban on natural hair discrimnation through their Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, many states have followed the same agenda. However, there are still issues when it comes to natural hair discrimination that is prevelant in America.
The Collegiate Curls of Winthrop is a student organization on campus that is aimed to bring awareness to this issue.
“It was originally founded a few years ago on the campus of College of Charleston but here it was founded in 2018,” Jai’Lyn Lowe, a senior sociology major, said. “Just the fact that there are so many news stories you see like kids getting sent home, kids having to cut their hair, kids being told their hair is not beautiful … [this] organization [brings awareness to these issues].”
CCW empowers natural hair and people of color by being transparent and speaking on this issue.
“Well I think it is big and important because as an African American or just a woman of color it’s cool to see a bunch of other people of color. It’s just representation,” Sydney Gray-McDonald, a junior biology major, said. “You don’t often have clubs like this on other campuses. I am a transfer student so I know that you often don’t see women of color or different ethnicity come together to talk about hair and [skin care].”
Along with this, the organization focuses on skin and hair routines that empower multicultural students on campus.
“[CCW focuses on] any natural hair products that you find in the natural hair section of stores,” Destiny Greene, a junior biology major, said. “Everybody has a different hair texture, different hair pattern so it’s really important … to talk about those because everybody has to buy something that works for them.”
CCW is not only for women but men as well to teach the same practices and empowerment. The organization puts on events frequently. Recently, in conjunction with other student organizations on campus, they hosted a Black History Month trivia event on Feb. 19 and a fashion show in January. For Valentine’s Day, they held an event where people wrote affirmations about natural hair and self care.
The organization also hosts Texture Tuesday on their Instagram @collegiatecurlsofwinthrop where people can post a picture with a hashtag and a picture of their natural hair that will be posted on their account. They also sell t-shirts and sweatshirts with the organization’s name on it.
You can also follow CCW on Twitter @WinthropCurls and through their Facebook page, Collegiate Curls of Winthrop.
CCW welcomes all new members and you can reach them through email at collegiatecurls@winthrop.edu or through Instagram. They meet every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Owens Room G01.
Graphic courtesy of Collegiate Curls of Winthrop
