A journey of self-discovery: Zulaikha Patel on hair activism, identity, and empowerment
At just 13 years old, Zulaikha Patel embarked on a courageous journey as a vocal advocate against hair discrimination. Her unwavering determination sparked a movement, inspiring countless young minds across the country, which led to a global recognition of her impact in the fight against racism.
Give us a brief background on your personal journey with hair?
Growing up in an interracial and interfaith family that is a split between Indian and Ndebele,I had a strained relationship with my my paternal family because of my black identity and curly hair, I experienced a lot of discrimination because of my hair and grew up wishing I had straight hair. I saw women with weaves and I had a period where I straightened my hair back-to-back but I was still not content with that because deep down I knew that is not how my hair was created. In 2014 I began to learn to love my hair and that sparked a journey of self-love with my identity.
You began your activism at an early age, How did your own relationship with hair influence your activism?
My activism began at the age of 13, at the time I knew inherently that I had an issue with my hair, and race was central to that problem. So, in my journey of finding my voice to speak up against racism I began to decolonise my mind, unlocking the shackles, and unlearning the belief of looking at Eurocentric beauty as the standard for beauty.I started to read more about Steve Baker and black consciousness and that ultimately influenced my views and my relationship with my hair and being at the forefront of a movement that seek to advocate against institutionalised racism influenced my relationship with my hair because I then began to see my hair as not just hair but a central core element of identity, asking me to change my hair is like asking me to erase my blackness and you cannot separate the two.
What inspired you to write ‘ My Coily Crowny Hair” and what message do you hope to convey through the story
I wanted to document what was at the heart of my activism in 2016 and also have a permanent reference and positive representation of the African identity through an African voice for children to read. I hope that when children pick up my book it empowers them to feel proud of their existence and their identity and it ultimately empowers their existence and enables them to proudly be themselves because your greatest power lies in proudly being yourself and that awakens a new level of consciousness.
How do you think societal beauty standards impact children’s self-esteem and body image?
Societal beauty standards largely impact children’s self-esteem especially in a world where children are exposed to social media without any boundaries or limitations, when they see something that does not look like them they’re not empowered to feel proud of who they are and they’re also disempowered to love their identity for what it is and - looking at the media currently and what they portray as the beauty standard most children cannot relate to that and that impacts their self-esteem.
What role do you think representation plays in promoting hair acceptance and inclusivity?
I believe representation plays a huge role in prompting acceptance and inclusivity, as well as decolonising what is already represented out there, whether it be in books, media outlets, or television. I believe when people see people who look like them, they’re able to see the significance and importance in their identity and feel a sense of belonging.
Do you think the fight against hair policy in schools has been won?
No, because as long as we have not won the war on racism in this country, we have not won the war on hair policies, The hair policy is a symptom of a greater diagnosis of institutionalised racism and systemic racism, and that require us to change our workspaces and our schooling environments in order for us to win
How can we get the youth more involved in different aspects of activism?
I believe the youth can be more involved by being engaged appropriately and funded - too many young people are over-mentored and underfunded. They need access to resources, such as education, equal access to opportunity and bridge the divide in access across young people in different parts of the country.I believe young people are not as engaged in various aspects of activism, primarily because of being excluded. So, if we can do this whilst making access to funding available to the young people then I think we can get young people more involved in activism.
What impact do you wish your work has on the next generation’s perception of beauty and identity?
I hope that my activism leaves a trail of impact by empowering more people to feel empowered to see the power in their voices and use their voices to effect change around them