Book review by Anang Tawiah: Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair, edited by Tameka Ellington and Joseph L. Underwood,

Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair, edited by Tameka Ellington and Joseph L. Underwood, structured according to your three-part book review format, followed by a chapter-style breakdown with highlights, and finalized with an SEO article bundle.

Part 1 – Three-Part Book Review Format

1. Overview & Significance

Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair (2020) is a richly illustrated exhibition catalogue rooted in research from history, fashion, art, and visual culture. Co-curated by Tameka Ellington and Joseph L. Underwood, this 200-page volume reexamines the “hair story” of African-descended peoples, spotlighting the complex cultural, aesthetic, and political dimensions of Black hair. It brings together historical artifacts—like combs and haircare tools from hair pioneer Willie Morrow—with works by artists such as Sonya Clark, Lorna Simpson, Mickalene Thomas, and Alison Saar, exploring themes like hair politics, color hierarchies, and identity through acts of display (University of Chicago Press, TEXTURES).

2. Strengths & Limitations

Strengths:

• The book bridges multiple disciplines to tell a layered story of Black hair—past, present, and future—making it appealing to scholars, artists, and general audiences alike (University of Chicago Press, TEXTURES).

• Its visual richness—from historical implements to contemporary art—makes it impactful as both a scholarly artefact and a coffee-table statement piece.

Limitations:

• As a curated catalogue rather than a traditional monograph, it may not present linear narrative progression or in-depth textual analysis of each theme. Readers looking for chapter-based scholarly exposition may find the material thematic rather than sequential.

3. Legacy & Contribution

Textures stands as a milestone in celebrating Black hair not merely as an aesthetic or style choice, but as emblematic of history, politics, resistance, and joy. It reframes hair culture as central to identity and cultural expression. The book—and its associated exhibition—has impacted public understanding by acknowledging the deep-seated aesthetics tied to hair, as well as serving educational and artistic communities (TEXTURES, Cornell Chronicle).

Part 2 – Chapter-by-Chapter (Thematic) Breakdown with Highlights & Examples

Though the catalogue organizes content thematically rather than by chapters, it can be broken into three principal sections reflected in the exhibition:

Theme 1: Community & Memory

This section traces the communal rituals and memory-making around Black hair—from ancient scalp care to contemporary salon spaces.
Highlight: An ancient Egyptian figurine depicting women combing a child’s hair illustrates early hairstyling as an act of care and community. Paintings by Annie Lee highlight the salon as a site of connection and tradition (Cornell Chronicle).

Theme 2: Hair Politics

Here, the text confronts hair as political terrain—where standards, power, and resistance intersect.
Highlight: Sonya Clark’s Black Hair Flag transforms the Confederate flag with bantu knots and cornrows, creating a striking commentary on national identity, heritage, and resistance (Cornell Chronicle). Also included are iconic images like Angela Davis’s Afro emerging from a wanted poster, reinforcing black radical identity.

Theme 3: Black Joy

The final section celebrates creativity, pride, and resilience that flow through Black hair expression.
Highlight: Displayed artifacts include Willie Morrow’s tools (inventor of the Afro pick), and diplomas from early Black beauty schools like Poro College—symbols of innovation, self-determination, and joy in cultural aesthetics (Cornell Chronicle).

Part 3 – SEO-Optimized Article Bundle

Below are four structured article outlines designed to enhance search visibility on topics inspired by Textures: