#motivations

@x-soapbox-xasked:

So in the story I am writing, hair is worn in different styles to indicate life paths chosen by the wearer, (for instance Magi have dreads, Elders have long braids, Monks cover there hair in a colored pomade). It is inspired from different regions in Africa, with different hairstyles pulled from different traditions. The royal families in this world are gifted with a magic that was gifted to them from the Gods of the world, and who in the family is the next to inherit the throne is decided through who inherits that particular kingdoms royal hair color instead of birth order. My question is, since all of my characters are black, and the hair colors associated with the royal family line are mostly common European hair colors, does making that the signifier for being a ruler come off as sort of eugenics -y or like black people with “white” features are better then other black people? 

My reasoning behind making it this way 

The hair colors reflect the biomes and/or elements of the kingdom’s they rule- for instance the main character has bright copper hair, because the land she rules is a bogland with an extremely high iron content that causes all the water to be a bright copper. 

I want it to be a celebration of hair diversity and show that “exotic” hairstyles worn by black people aren’t dirty and are a real thing to be proud of and to bond over, and I would hate to undermine that by still putting “white” hair colors over others. 

I’m mixed race, and I’ve always worn my hair natural, and I was raised in a white family in America so I don’t trust my own perceptions here and would really appreciate WWC input! Thank you all for all the hard work you do!!

Since you have magic in your world, I assume it’s some kind of fantasy story. Given that fact : you can do anything. Literally, you make the rules of your world. If one should have green hair since they’re from a region with a lot of rainforests or something like that, you can do it ! I don’t see a problem with the hair colors as long as the hairstyles for afro hair stay true to what that type of hair can do. Actually, it would be pretty cool to read different types of hair braiding in various colors. You have the opportunity to write a pretty cool story using African traditions and putting a little bit of magic into it. It makes me think of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi : one of the characters is a Black dark skin girl with white hair. Your story, your rules !

Just make sure to praise everyone’s features, may they have fancy hair colors or normal ones. Uplift how they showcase their culture through clothes, make-up, hairstyles etc.

Last thing : “white” hair colors are not a thing, Black people can have any type of hair color, including bright copper. We’ve seen it a few times in the Caribbean. It’s rare, but it exists !

Good luck for your story, I’m sure you can achieve a really good world building by letting your creativity free.

- Mod Lydie

I want it to be a celebration of hair diversity and show that “exotic” hairstyles worn by black people aren’t dirty and are a real thing to be proud of and to bond over, and I would hate to undermine that by still putting “white” hair colors over others.

I would recommend making sure some of those royal hair colors are dark. So, shades of black and brown. Otherwise, you would not be doing anyone favors in terms of normalizing African hairstyles. Not really. There’s something to be said if only light and unique hair colors are associated with the royal family.

Presenting “unique African hairstyles” but adding the twist of their hair by making it a more colorful or exotic color reads as you making them more palatable for the consumer. In the same way creators will put a light or mixed race Black person in a role over a dark-skinned person, or give them light colored features (eyes, hair, etc) to make them special. This happens with other BIPOC as well. Read into the “green-eyed Asian” trope.

Black people can just be Black without unique eye and hair colors. Black people are still deserving of representation without a “cool” feature to make them more appealing or beautiful. If you’re using a gateway to ease people into accepting them, then you’re not exactly normalizing it.

Consider the unique shades in black and brown

There’s all sorts of tints and undertones to consider.

From blacks with red or blue undertones, gray blacks, and all the shades even within those categories. Perhaps there’s a certain tint the “Chosen one” should match the most, like the wings of a special bird, the eye color of an honored creature, a natural formation, body of water, etc.

Cultural blending

Mixing and blending different cultures without respect is also not helpful in terms of attempting to represent and show culture through a fantasy lens. For example, having a region that’s Fantasy Nigeria (West Africa) but their hair has traditions from Eritrea (East Africa) “just because” reads to me as homogenizing, as if they’re interchangeable and there’s no history, cultural or regional considerations to these styles, which there would be. 

There may be overlap and similar styles worn across the continent, but blending them at random is questionable to me. If there’s cultural sharing, you may want to show that’s what is happening.

The more you take from these countries and give them a recognizable fantasy representative, the more you’ll have to be mindful with the liberties you take. Sometimes, the line between creative liberties and misrepresentation is thin. Yes, it’s a fantasy and you can technically do as you please. But there’s still a real audience reading your book. You’ll want to be respectful to the actual people who live in those places.

Narrow your focus

Your goal is to normalize African hairstyles. That’s a whole lot of ground to cover, as the continent is vast with so many cultures within. I’d recommend narrowing your focus onto a few regions, while only touching lightly in other areas. At least until you feel like you can handle such a large undertaking of representation

Check your motives and get feedback

You mention being mixed race but I’m not sure if that includes being in the African Diaspora.

Please determine if this is an undertaking you’re equipped and willing to take on. Making it your job to normalize African cultures, as a non-Black person, is not something all will welcome, so do expect some pushback depending on your reader, especially if they find depictions disrespectful. There’s the risk of Savior and exotification attitudes easing in, if you’re not careful. Criticism can be useful feedback, so keep an open mind.

Listen to beta readers from the groups is going to be a good idea. Showing them your intended ideas will give you the best feedback vs. any assumptions I can make about your story.

~Mod Colette

Check out some relevant posts:

High Fantasy World Building, with Real World Inspiration, Fantasy PoC & Fetishization

How To Blend Cultures (Without Making Impossible Mixes) 

Blending Mythos Respectfully 

Representation in Avatar the last airbender 

~Mod Colette