Resourcefulness: How Braids Were Used to Free Slaves

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Our culture, language, traditions and so much more were stripped from us so slave owners could completely invade our lives and control us. We could not speak in our native tongue unless we wanted to be tortured or killed. Taking our language away would prevent slaves from organizing and forcibly overcoming slavery. Once our language was stripped from us, we found other sources of communication. One of the sources of communication was hair braiding. Yes hair braiding.

Styles we simply look at as protective styling meant so much more during slavery. In Africa your braid patterns identified what tribe you’re from. They could also identify your age, religion, marital status, and social and economic status.

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During slavery braids were often used to relay messages between slaves, signal that they were going to escape, or even used to keep gold and seeds to help them survive after they would run away. So despite the slave master’s efforts to keep slaves from communicating without their knowledge, they still found a way. Our creativity and resourcefulness will never cease to amaze me.