Celebrating African Americans and displaying their culture in a positive light, the “Black Hair: Black Identity” exhibit is rewarding for people looking to appreciate the culture and those who live it every day.

There was a live DJ and a crowd of people present at the opening of this art exhibit on Jan. 27. Viewers were greeted at the door by a sign that read, “Good hairstyles are not cheap, cheap hairstyles are not good.” This statement has so much depth to it and causes the reader to think about the way they take care of their own hair.

African American women are judged and defined according to the style, texture and overall look of their hair. There are many conversations of what society defines as good hair versus bad hair, natural versus processed and curly versus straight.

Monica Parker Milligan of Diva Designs displayed some of her work as a hair stylist and make-up artist on her model Kellie Johnson.

When speaking about the importance of hair, especially for young African American women, Milligan said, “Let you define your hair, don’t let your hair define you. Embrace every aspect of your hair. Don’t fight it! You have to love and condition your hair for it to grow strong and be healthy. Treat your hair like any other part of your body and take care of it.”

The photographs and art work displayed at the exhibit were captivating and easy to relate to. One piece of particular interest was “Deneen” by So Yoon Lym.

The artist was born in Seoul, South Korea but lived in Kenya and Uganda for the first seven years of her life. So Yoon Lym was not born with the type of hair portrayed in her artwork, but her eye for detail on the African-American girl’s hair was exquisite.

Her eye for the African American culture was very symbolic and was able to catch a good glimpse at how African American women wear their hair.

People outside of the African-American race do not necessarily understand the hair of the race and what it takes to manage it, but the art exhibit was truly able to provide people of all races with a glimpse into their lives and hair.

Once a person can accept and define who he or she is, it becomes easier to accept and be proud of who they are, what they represent, and how they look.