Anushri Joshi Week 2

Opinion on A Hair Piece

An important aspect of the writing by Paulette M.Caldwell is the manner in which she weaves her personal story as a black woman into cases that have put other black women in positions of weakness or discrimination. Yet another thing that I enjoyed was the manner in which she says that ordinary things like hair can have a large impact on a persons identity and how they perceive themselves. I connected this reading to the Ted Talk related to intersectionality and how Black women when taking cases to court are asked to prove discrimination in one or the other rather than on the basis of both together. The author brings out an anecdote regarding reactions to her hair in braids and out of them while also noting how it might not have been an intended act to make her uncomfortable. Its also important to note the parallel between what’s meant by intersectionality in relation to black women and how the idea of a frame limits it. Paulette also notes that during the case of Roberts there are certain limits to what the court thought was discrimination which must be changed. The methods taken are simple such as acknowledging and spreading information regarding the same.