"White folks ain't got hair like us": African American Mother–Daughter Hair Stories and Racial Socialization

Abstract:Limited research focuses on the memories that shape African American mother–daughter bonds and racial socialization. Informed by Marva L. Lewis's hair-combing interaction paradigm that emphasizes the role of hair in African American mother–daughter relationships, this study analyzes qualitative data from 13 African American female college students to explore mother–daughter dynamics, race, and hair. Multiple experiential themes emerged in the data: recognizing differences in hair texture, making doll choices, and daughters requesting permission from mothers to alter their hair chemically. Participants identified being between the ages of four to 14 years old during the experiences and expressed a range of feelings that centered on sadness, anger, and confusion. The findings address an indisputable void in understanding the internalized stories about hair that shape African American racial identity and racial socialization.