Puss in Boots, 2011

Just about every woman I know is wearing a hat these days. Why? Because we’ve been on strict orders to stay home. And, that means আপনি can’t get your hair cut, colored, blown-out, styled, permed, extended, relaxed অথবা anything else that requires a trip to your পছন্দ salon. For so many of us, our hair is truly an extension of who we are.

Now, image this as a normal দিন and you’re an 11-year old girl who wearing her natural hair (an afro) to school – on picture day. As she faces microaggressions, young Alliyah is faced with the decision to wear her afro proudly অথবা tie it up for her photo....