informational speech outline: History of Black Hair
Uncovering those Roots
Specific Purpose: Inform the audience on the history of Black Hair
Thesis Statement: Through history, African Americans have changed to fit the times and so their hair has developed a statement about those historical changes.
Introduction:
I. Attention-getter: My Hair Story
II. Establishment of ethos: Through a bit of research and a book called Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America, I understand more about African American Hair.
III. Thematic Statement: If sometimes you wondered about black hair (i.e. how can it do all those things or better yet why) you must first understand the history behind the hair.
IV. Preview: Today, I’ll share with you the history of black hair from its origin in Africa, to its bondage in America, to the ideology of black and finally the most recent changes in Black hair.
[Transition: So, let me take you on this journey starting in Africa]
Body
I. Black Hair Prior & During Bondage (1400-1899)
a. Africa: Hairstyles indicate status within the community
b. The Most trustworthy individual in Society: hairdresser
i. A person spirit is in the hair ii. Doing hair consumed time of both individuals iii. Boone (1986) describes hair braiding sessions as “times of shared confidences and laughter; the circle of women who do each other’s hair are friends bound together in fellowship”
c. The Slave Trade enter the picture
i. In order to reduce the spreading of lice heads were shaved ii. Herreman from the New York’s Museum for African Art states “a shaved head can be interpreted as taking away someone’s identity”(Byrd, 2001) iii. Different texture of hair means different place of work iv. Good and Bad Hair ideology occurs because straight hair is translated to economic opportunity and social advantage
[Transition: From these moments of insecurity lead to the belief that nappy was “no good”]
II. Nappy…I think Not (1900-1964)
a. Madam C.J. Walker the first self-made female
Specific Purpose: Inform the audience on the history of Black Hair
Thesis Statement: Through history, African Americans have changed to fit the times and so their hair has developed a statement about those historical changes.
Introduction:
I. Attention-getter: My Hair Story
II. Establishment of ethos: Through a bit of research and a book called Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America, I understand more about African American Hair.
III. Thematic Statement: If sometimes you wondered about black hair (i.e. how can it do all those things or better yet why) you must first understand the history behind the hair.
IV. Preview: Today, I’ll share with you the history of black hair from its origin in Africa, to its bondage in America, to the ideology of black and finally the most recent changes in Black hair.
[Transition: So, let me take you on this journey starting in Africa]
Body
I. Black Hair Prior & During Bondage (1400-1899)
a. Africa: Hairstyles indicate status within the community
b. The Most trustworthy individual in Society: hairdresser
i. A person spirit is in the hair ii. Doing hair consumed time of both individuals iii. Boone (1986) describes hair braiding sessions as “times of shared confidences and laughter; the circle of women who do each other’s hair are friends bound together in fellowship”
c. The Slave Trade enter the picture
i. In order to reduce the spreading of lice heads were shaved ii. Herreman from the New York’s Museum for African Art states “a shaved head can be interpreted as taking away someone’s identity”(Byrd, 2001) iii. Different texture of hair means different place of work iv. Good and Bad Hair ideology occurs because straight hair is translated to economic opportunity and social advantage
[Transition: From these moments of insecurity lead to the belief that nappy was “no good”]
II. Nappy…I think Not (1900-1964)
a. Madam C.J. Walker the first self-made female
References: Banks, I. (2000). Hair matters: Beauty, power, and Black women’s consciousness. New York, NY: New York University Press. Boone, S.A. (1986). Radiance from the waters: Ideal of feminine beauty in Mende Art. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Byrd, A.D., & Tharps, L.L. (2001). Hair story: Untangling the roots of black hair in America. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. Jones, L.L., & Jones, J.H. (1971). All about the natural. Clairol Books, Inc.