I’m writing because my husband is incarcerated in Bonne Terre Correction Facility, and I send him clippings out of this paper because we are very interested in information coming from our folks. I do want to mention I go and visit my husband regularly, and I’ve noticed the past month that our people come out on visits with their hair all over their heads, straight, scary-looking and wild. I’m so embarrassed by it, I wrote the superintendent and asked if our people could get their hair twisted or braided going to the back because it is very cultural for our people to wear braids or natural hair do’s. Mr. Purkette of Bonne Terre hasn’t confirmed my concern at all. Our Caucasian counterparts come out on visits well groomed. It’s very upsetting, because they sit back and snicker about how God-awful our people look with their hair all over their heads. My husband is also disturbed by this hick law. Which other way can we as black people turn? Those incarcerated loved ones are brothers, uncles, cousins, friends, fathers, husbands. It’s ridiculous.
From Kim – who loves all of our people
St. Louis, MO
D. Shante’s response. Girl, I feel you on the hairgrooming thing, but braids? Who’s going to braid their hair? Men? There’s no way a warden or prison superindendent is going to allow you to braid your kinfolk’s hair while visiting. I feel the natural hair thing too, but one’s hair doesn’t have to be braided to be natural. There are more serious prison issues than men getting their hair braided.