What Zendaya’s hair in “Challengers” misses reflecting about real tennis
Hair is personal. The memories of my Ethiopian mother meticulously washing, parting and braiding my hair on a Sunday evening after church are still ever present in my adult mind. My butt still stings from sitting on pillows, attempting to mask the hardwood floors of our living room while she would work for hours, crossing three strands of my curly, long hair. She’d repeat the steps over and over until each braid nearly looked like it was crafted by God’s hands. What “Challengers” misses with Tashi’s hair is how it is used for the empowerment of Black women in tennis. That’s what hair means to Black women. We all have endless memories of getting our hair done and the people connected to it. This is why hair brings us a sense of community, empowerment and identity. It’s a defining physical characteristic for most people but for some Black women, it’s a way of life. Some of the most high-profile Black women also take great joy in the pageantry and transformation of their hair. Zendaya is one …
