As my father once said, “Black people are truly unique, there’s no one else like us.” That’s how I feel when I think about how black women all over the world wear their headscarves. From the Muslim women of Somalia to the women of the Caribbean islands or the city girl in Brooklyn, New York, we all know how to turn a cover into a fashion statement.
As my father once said, “Black people are truly unique, there’s no one else like us.” That’s how I feel when I think about how black women all over the world wear their headscarves. From the Muslim women of Somalia to the women of the Caribbean islands or the city girl in Brooklyn, New York, we all know how to turn a cover into a fashion statement.
For this photoshoot I thought about all those women and I tried to capture their spirit and their style in my photos. Wearing a headscarf can make you look mysterious, elegant or spicy.
Usually when I wear a headscarf I cover my whole head with a bun or a knot on the side. I like to combine the wrap with a shiny jacket and a nice pair of jeans to get a loose but sophisticated look.
For me, wearing beautifully printed headscarves on my head is a way to show that I am in touch with my roots. Take the pioneer and leader, Harriet Tubman, who always wore an ivory headscarf as she led her people to freedom. That said, this is more than a fashion statement; it is a symbol of strength from the past, in the present, and into the future.
The deadline for this contest falls on the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. When it comes to our past, the first thing that comes to mind is the diligence and hard work he did to advance civil rights and human rights. He fought not just for black people but for all of humanity. He didn't think about himself when he brought the world together. He stepped over the pain of the past that the white man had caused him in an attempt to bring black and white together.
Of course, there are many aspects to our culture, from clothing to political leaders; we hold a unique position on many occasions. Today, I wear my headscarf as a reminder of the countless black women who have represented us both spiritually and culturally. In some ways, the headscarf represents poverty and inequality; for me, it represents enduring strength and beauty.