Global Crowns: Black Women's Emotions and Experiences with Natural Hair across the Globe

The Global Crowns project investigates the complex emotions and social dynamics surrounding natural hair for Black women across different cultural and geographical contexts. Despite the progress made by initiatives such as the CROWN Act in the United States to combat hair discrimination, the lived experiences of Black women globally remain underexplored. This research expands beyond the U.S. context to examine how Black women from Cuba, Brazil, France, Burundi, and the Americas navigate societal pressures and cultural significance tied to natural hair. Using a combination of ethnographic fieldwork, in-person interviews, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for data analysis and translation, this study gathers rich, diverse narratives from Black women about their natural hair. Through AI-assisted thematic analysis, we examine recurring themes of identity, anti-Blackness, and empowerment. The project underscores the global resonance of hair discrimination and the need for legislative and societal reforms beyond U.S. borders. By capturing these narratives, Global Crowns not only documents the emotional toll of natural hair discrimination but also amplifies the voices of Black women in global conversations about beauty standards and racial justice.