CDDHS Black Chapter sharess empowering messages with video series

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

“I love my hair because there's nothing quite like [it].” 

“Hair love to me, is loving your hair no matter what it looks like, what it feels like.” 

Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) Black Chapter students are spreading messages of inspiration, celebration, and self-love with the release of Hair Love, a short video created by the student group.

Hair Love, is one of many initiatives the CDDHS Black Chapter has put together throughout February as part of Black Heritage Month. The video features young black men and women from the local high school discussing the history, challenges, and beauty of their natural hair.

Gabby Spencer, head of social media for the Black Chapter, said it's important for young black men and women to know their hair is special, noting that they've long felt discriminated against for their natural hair. 

“Our hair has been a big part of our community…our ancestors weren't able to wear their in public with pride” explains Spencer. “Now we've come to a point where black women and men wear their hair and are empowering and are empowered by other black women and men.” 

Soha Soliman, a group member of the Black Chapter, spoke about the need to share the empowering messages from the video in helping other youth with their self-identity. 

“It's saying that my hair is just not cool, big, trendy, and fluffy, but that it's elegant, gorgeous, class, and classy – it's me, there's a story behind it, it represents me and I wear it proudly.” 

“These young black men and women shared really negative words that have be said to them, about their hair and instead of sitting there not doing anything they recognize that this is an ongoing issue…they wanted other youth like them to feel empowered and to love their hair, and love themselves.” 

The CDDHS Black Chapter was created in response of a number of students being interest in starting a Social Equity Group for racialized students, and now consists of 37 members. The student group is led by staff member Greer Harvey and Trinna Thompson who both expressed pride in seeing the students develop the video. 

The CDDHS Black Chapter has also released video on assimilation vs appropriation, and colourism as well as other content in honour of Black Heritage Month, which can be found on the groups Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.