Created a mygoogle map to reflect US States that do not require a license to operate a business braiding and/or styling African Textured Hair.

Janice Johnson
February 12, 2019

Project Contract

My project mission is to bring awareness to the fact that discrimination concerning the cultural practice of braiding and/or providing African American natural hair services (particularly Sisterlocks & braids) existed in California until 1999. As well as emphasize the hair journey of African American’s in America, and how our hair practices/styles continue to conflict with American Beauty Standards financially, politically, socially, and on a personal level.

Particularly I plan highlight the efforts undertaken by Dr. Joanne Cornwell, founder of Sisterlocks(™) to challenge the State of California Barbering and Cosmetology Act and regulations violate Due Process and Equal Protection rights. Dr. Cornwell had to legally fight in court for the right to allow Hair Braiders and Sisterlock Consultants not be required to obtain a cosmetology license to perform natural hair services in California. Overall, I will celebrate the 1999 Sisterlock Court Victory allowing for Sisterlock Hairstylists and/or Braiders of African textured hair to no longer be required to spend (1,600 hours) and at least $5,000, at a government-approved cosmetology school to legally practice their craft.

Primarily, I think this topic fits the course objective because of the issues concerning African American hair issues dating back to slavery in this country. It is my objective to help paint a picture of the difficult hair journey experienced in by African American women in this country, and educate others, or shall I say bring awareness to the plight and current state of affairs. The legal obstacles involving the ability to own and manage a business that improves the condition of African Textured hair instead of damage it, and the fact that the laws in California hindered the process of improving our hair maintenance techniques.

My intended audience is anyone interested in how the Sisterlocks victory was won by Dr. Joanne Cornwell California, and some of the reasons why she had to challenge the State of California Barbering and Cosmetology Board

Overall goal of project is to bring out the fact that discrimination existed in California when it came to black hair practices. The conflict with hair braiders and Sisterlock™ practitioners being required to obtain a cosmetology license to provide cultural hair services that have been practiced at home for years. Services that are beneficial to African American hair textures.

The primary conflict is for the others to gain a level of understanding that braiding and/or Sisterlocking African textured hair is a cultural practice that practitioners should not be required to obtain a cosmetology license American Natural Hair workers experienced in California or
anywhere else in the world. Sisterlocks and Braid services are services are practiced in 75 percent of the United States, and internationally, i.e., United Kingdom, etc.

I plan to organize and present the information in a digital format including various mediums, i.e., posting court documents, video, audio images. So far, I am thinking that to establish frames of reference I will research issues (challenges/discrimination) that African American slaves experienced with their hair and styling techniques up to today. I want to explore the irony of our hair struggle mainly considering how Dr. C had to go to court in California. Black Natural Hair Images is a major issue within the United States and abroad, but for this class I want to focus on the court victory involving Braiders and Sisterlock Practitioners in California although the are some states where it is still illegal to braid hair or provide natural hair styles as a business. There are still states that have on-going cases in court, and a few that have won court victories since California.

I plan to use MyGoogle maps to reflect the number of Sisterlock practitioners in California, and if I get time create another layer to show the number of states that have Sisterlock Consultants and Trainees. I might use a timeline to show the history of African American hairstyling techniques since slavery.

As far as the theme, I have not narrowed it down yet, but it will be one provided in WordPress, as for plugins …I am not sure what those are yet. The layout will consist of menu of options to view on the left margin that will allow the visitors to review other related news articles, YouTube videos of Interviews from YouTube, the Court Case. My site will be inviting and easy to use. I plan to post related natural hair issues involving African American Women, i.e., Army’s Ban on Some Popular Hairstyles Raises Ire of black Female Soldiers. I plan to post images/ photographs of Sisterlocks and braided styles. In addition, I want to check library archives Sacramento to check of related newspaper articles and or video clips that have circulated prior to 1999.

Bibliography – I plan to include a reference section on the website
Milestones:
Feb 22 – Finalize archival content to be included on project site
Feb 26 – Complete all research
Feb 28 – Finalize images and videos to be included on project site
March 5 – Complete all website text and narratives
March 21 – pending
April 4 – Complete Draft of entire site due
April 25 – Final Version of site due
Distribution of Labor: I am working alone

History of Sisterlocks hair business practices in California ( A Hair Style Technique designed for African Textured Hair).

There are several states in the US that require Sisterlock Consultants/Practitioner’s and Hair Braiders to obtain a Cosmetology License to style African Textured Hair, as well as a Natural Hair License.  I know Florida is one of them, and in the State of Utah it was illegal to have a business braiding African Textured hair, and I think it is currently still in effect.   *Must research.