Elizabeth Acevedo, Afro-Latina Identity, and the Politics of Hair
A powerful exploration of hair, heritage, and self-acceptance through the words and experiences of poet Elizabeth Acevedo.
Spoken Word, Beauty, and Identity: Elizabeth Acevedo’s Story
Elizabeth Acevedo is a renowned Afro-Latina poet whose work challenges conventional narratives about beauty, identity, and belonging. Through her spoken word, particularly her celebrated pieces like “Hair” and “Afro-Latina,” Acevedo offers an unflinching look at the politics of hair in Latinx communities, the struggle with self-acceptance, and the celebration of African ancestry.
The Politics and Power of Hair in Latinx Communities
Within many Latinx communities, hair is not just about appearance—it’s a marker of history, culture, and even respectability. For years, the notion of “pelo bueno” (“good hair”)—sleek, shiny, manageable, and often straight—has dominated, implicitly (and explicitly) denigrating other hair textures as “pelo malo” (“bad hair”). This Eurocentric standard dismisses natural curls and kinky hair, equating them with wildness, untidiness, or even inferiority.
- “Pelo bueno” is often prized as ideal, associated with whiteness and social capital.
- “Pelo malo”—curly, kinked, or Afro-textured hair—is stigmatized, leading to internalized shame or pressure to conform through straightening and chemical treatments.
- Family members, especially mothers, may reinforce these standards, urging children to “fix” or “improve” their hair.
This dynamic forms the central struggle in Acevedo’s poem “Hair,” where her mother’s request that she “fix” her hair echoes generations of cultural pressure:
“My mother tells me to fix my hair. And by ‘fix,’ she means straighten. She means whiten.”
Growing Up Afro-Latina: Straddling Two Worlds
Acevedo’s experience captures the tension between pride in one’s roots and the pressure to assimilate. Raised in a Dominican household in the United States, she was surrounded by reminders—some subtle, others not so much—that her natural hair was different.
- Teasing from family or friends about “wild” or “unruly” curls.
- Questions like, “What are you going to do about your hair?”—usually implying the need to go to the salon and straighten it.
- The intersection of racial and ethnic identities: being Black in Latinidad, and Latina in Blackness.
- Struggles with language, accent, and trying to fit in: choosing Happy Meals and “Barbie hair” over traditional foods and family traditions to gain acceptance.
This process often led to self-rejection, as Acevedo describes in her other acclaimed poem “Afro-Latina”:
“I hated caramel-colored skin. Cursed God I’d been born the color of cinnamon. How quickly we forget where we come from.”
Heritage on Our Heads: The History in Hair
For Acevedo and many like her, hair is not merely a personal preference—it’s a living archive. Each curl and kink carries ancestral dreams, colonial histories, and the memories of those brought across oceans. In the poem “Hair,” Acevedo asks us to see:
- The “stranded,” “ship-wrecked history of hair”—an evocation of slavery’s legacy and African descent.
- How hair became a battleground in the struggle between erasure and self-affirmation.
- The concept that ancestral presence “spirals” in curls, making each strand a site of resistance and remembrance.
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These ideas frame hair as reclamation—not only of beauty, but of story and self-worth. The act of rejecting chemical straighteners or resisting Eurocentric standards becomes a way to honor the resilience of those who came before.
Challenging Eurocentric Beauty Standards
The relentless push towards Eurocentric ideals has been perpetuated not just by media, but within homes and salons. Acevedo points to the stereotype that “Dominicans do the best hair”—often meaning they’re adept at making Black hair look less Black.
- Salon culture can reinforce the idea that straight and silky equals “professional” or “beautiful.”
- Natural textures are frequently equated with being unkempt or unruly.
- Young girls and women internalize these lessons, sometimes striving for assimilation by rejecting their natural hair.
Acevedo’s bold assertion—“You can’t fix what was never broken”—is a declaration that natural Black and Afro-Latina hair is not an imperfection, but a beautiful, integral part of identity.
Personal Growth: From Rejection to Self-Love
The journey towards embracing her natural hair was neither quick nor easy for Acevedo. She describes years of feeling pressured to hide her curls, straighten them, or otherwise “fix” her appearance. The path to acceptance required:
- Unlearning the belief that curly, Afro-textured hair is a flaw or a problem to be solved.
- Recognizing that these standards stem from a history of colonization and anti-Blackness.
- Finding inspiration from other women—peers, artists, activists—embracing their natural textures unapologetically.
Embracing her curls allowed Acevedo to reclaim pride in her African roots and challenge the microaggressions that shaped her early life. It is a declaration that hair—like language, skin color, and cultural practice—is a birthright, not a problem.
Passing On Pride: Generational Change
One of the poem’s most striking moments comes as Acevedo imagines braiding pride into her future children’s hair. She expresses a longing to instill self-love in future generations, breaking the cycle of shame and silence.
- Braids become metaphors for connection, legacy, and affirmation—tools for imparting cultural pride.
- A vision for children born “in love with themselves,” unburdened by internalized beauty standards.
- Emphasizing that love can be expressed through the rituals of hair care—the “curtain of curls” becoming a blanket of protection and pride.
This hopefulness is a hallmark of Acevedo’s message: that the next generation can inherit resilience and confidence, not just the burdens of discrimination.
Hair as Political and Artistic Expression
Through both poetry and public speaking, Acevedo makes hair a political act. Embracing natural hair asserts a right to be seen, heard, and valued—a rebellion against imposed silence and uniformity.
- Poetry performance provides a space to voice suppressed stories and validate diverse experiences.
- Art can offer healing and solidarity, inspiring others to liberate themselves from restrictive beauty norms.
- The viral impact of Acevedo’s poems underscores a societal hunger for authenticity and representation.
As social media platforms amplify these messages, young Black and Afro-Latina women see themselves reflected in Acevedo’s determination and love for her heritage. This representation is not just empowering; it is necessary for cultural change.
Reclaiming Language: From Shame to Celebration
Acevedo’s work also unpacks the power of language in shaping identity. Phrases like “pelo malo” carry prejudice, while family language or “broken English” can become sites of embarrassment. Yet in reclaiming her roots, Acevedo:
- Chooses to honor Spanish and Spanglish as integral parts of her voice.
- Affirms foods, rhythms, and traditions once rejected under peer pressure.
- Turns words of rejection into sources of pride and belonging, both privately and on stage.
This linguistic embracing mirrors the journey with hair: A move from denial to celebration, fueled by self-awareness and cultural pride.
Challenging and Changing the Narrative
Elizabeth Acevedo’s poetry and activism signal a broader shift in the conversation about beauty and identity in Latinx and Black communities. Her visibility and candor have inspired countless young women to “live out loud” and reject narrow definitions of worth.
| Traditional View | Acevedo’s View |
|---|---|
| Pelo malo = undesirable, needs correction | Pelo malo does not exist; natural hair is beautiful |
| Conformity to Eurocentric beauty is success | Acceptance of heritage and difference is liberation |
| Family pressures to assimilate | Generational healing and pride in Afro-Latina roots |
This table underscores the transformative work being done both in art and daily life, as more individuals question old narratives and rewrite their own.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the poem “Hair” by Elizabeth Acevedo about?
A: “Hair” explores the cultural pressures Afro-Latina women face to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, the historical weight carried by natural Black hair, and the journey from shame to pride and self-acceptance.
Q: What do “pelo malo” and “pelo bueno” mean?
A: “Pelo malo” means “bad hair” (typically curly, kinky, or Afro-textured hair, viewed negatively in some Latinx communities), while “pelo bueno” describes straight, silky hair that is often unfairly privileged.
Q: How does Elizabeth Acevedo challenge beauty norms through her work?
A: Acevedo challenges beauty norms by embracing her natural hair, writing about her experiences, and inspiring others to reject anti-Blackness and Eurocentric standards. Her poetry reclaims pride in Afro-Latina identity.
Q: Why is hair considered political in many Black and Latinx cultures?
A: Hair in these communities is a symbol of history, resilience, and resistance. Choosing to wear natural styles can be a form of defiance against assimilation, and a public affirmation of one’s ancestry and cultural pride.
Q: What impact have Acevedo’s poems had on cultural conversations?
A: Her poems, widely shared online, have spurred more open discussions about colorism, racial identity, and beauty politics, encouraging younger generations to embrace their natural features and cultural roots.
Key Takeaways
- Elizabeth Acevedo’s work is a catalyst for introspection and change within Latinx and Black communities.
- Her poetry confronts and corrects damaging beliefs about “good” and “bad” hair.
- Moving from shame to pride, Acevedo situates the politics of hair within a broader conversation about identity, resistance, and generational transformation.
- The reclamation of natural hair becomes a public declaration of love—for oneself, for one’s ancestors, and for future generations.
References
- http://aintilatina.com/2015/10/22/afro-latina-poet-elizabeth-acevedo-hair/
- https://pirpoetry.com/2024/12/02/hair/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/news/a47980/elizabeth-acevedo-afro-latina-hair/
- https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/texts/afrolatina
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPx8cSGW4k8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-DrDINervE
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