Nothing compares to a Black woman and her braids. From cornrows and field braids to crochet kinds, braids are a foundational a part of the Black woman expertise. They carry tradition, creativity, and self-expression in each plait. We spoke with actor, poet, and creator Jaylene Clark Owens about her new youngsters’s ebook, A Black Woman and Her Braids, which started as a viral poem. It has since grown into a robust celebration of Black woman pleasure, magnificence, and cultural pleasure.
Madam J: So good assembly you Jaylene! Are you able to inform us a synopsis of who you might be and your work?
Jaylene Clark Owens: It’s such a pleasure to fulfill you as effectively! I’m an AUDELCO and Barrymore award-winning actress, acclaimed spoken phrase poet, and creator. I’m from Harlem and at the moment residing within the Higher Philadelphia area. As an actress, I’ve graced the stage, movie, and tv. I play Rosie within the hit WHYY PBS Youngsters present, “Albie’s Elevator,” and have appeared a number of occasions on “Legislation & Order.” My spoken phrase poetry profession spans over twenty years, and options work that has resonated with hundreds. My EP, “A Black Woman and Her Hair,” has over 11 million streams throughout streaming platforms and social media. My viral poem, “A Black Woman and Her Braids,” has been tailored right into a youngsters’s image ebook revealed by Penguin Random Home.
MJ: Whenever you first created your “A Black Woman and Her Braids” poem, did you anticipate it going viral?
JCO: I actually needed it to resonate with Black ladies in every single place, however I had no thought it could take off the way in which that it did! From america to Nigeria to Germany, Black ladies all around the world have linked to “A Black Woman and Her Braids!”
MJ: What was your response to seeing influential voices utilizing your poem?
JCO: I used to be extraordinarily excited to see influential voices utilizing my poem! After I noticed Tia Mowry use my poem, I cried tears of pleasure. After I was in elementary college and the academics would ask us to write down about our heroes, I’d at all times write about Tia and Tamera Mowry as a result of I admired their work on “Sister, Sister.” I needed to behave and sing similar to them. “Sister, Sister” nonetheless performs in my home on the every day, so seeing Tia present like to my work was a really particular, full circle second. Seeing individuals like Tracee Ellis Ross, Kandi Burruss, and Kerry Washington use my poem let me know that my work is actually spreading far and large, not simply in my interior circle!
MJ: Do you will have any fond recollections as a baby of getting your hair braided and the way it made you are feeling?
JCO: Completely! My first recollections of getting my hair braided are of my mother cornrowing my hair. These are my fondest recollections due to the love I’ve for my mother. I bear in mind sitting on the ground between her legs with a comb on one aspect, and grease on the opposite. My hair was at all times braided in easy underhand cornrows, typically with colourful barrettes. I bear in mind the primary time I acquired extensions from this braider in Brooklyn, and I fell in love. An particularly fond reminiscence I’ve of getting extensions as a baby is when my greatest good friend, Hollis, and I went to an African Hair Braiding Salon in Harlem and acquired matching field braids, full with the burnt ends that had been the type of the 90s! You actually couldn’t inform us nothin’. I believe that’s why I put that line in “A Black Woman and Her Braids!” “Can’t inform her nothin’ / Please don’t contact it”
MJ: What’s your favourite braided coiffure? Do you favor cornrows, knotless braids, crochet, or any sort of braids?
JCO: I believe my favourite braided coiffure is medium field braids, with the knot at the beginning! Knotless braids are so cute and neat, and they’re actually the braids that impressed “A Black Woman and Her Braids,” however I do love the fullness of traditional field braids down my again! I really like how one can type them in so some ways, getting quite a few kinds out of 1 coiffure! Due to social media I’m uncovered to so many various kinds of kinds, so I actually love experimenting with braided updos, crochet, koroba, and extra!
MJ: What’s one thing you would like you could possibly inform your youthful self about your hair?
JCO: I want I might inform my youthful self that these underhand cornrows are braided from a gorgeous afro that you need to really feel proud to put on. I’d inform her that she will be able to put on her ‘fro in a twist out, a braid out, bantu knots, the probabilities are countless! As a baby, as soon as I felt I outgrew the kinds my mom would do, I felt like I wanted to get a perm and straighten my hair to look lovely. I didn’t even consider the choice of simply sporting my hair out. I want I by no means permed my hair, which induced a lot harm, however it’s a part of my hair story and journey that introduced me so far, the place I’m creating artwork that affirms the fantastic thing about our hair!
MJ: Congratulations in your ebook launch for “A Black Woman and Her Braids.” What are you feeling on this second now that this lovely murals has been launched?
JCO: Thanks! I’m feeling joyous, excited, and affirmed! I’ve spent virtually three years with this ebook so it feels so good to lastly have it out on the planet! I’ve been crying glad tears virtually every single day since its launch as I see individuals responding so positively to the ebook.
MJ: What message do you hope readers depart with after studying your new ebook?
JCO: I hope readers depart figuring out that their hair is gorgeous, significant, and worthy of celebration. I would like Black ladies to really feel affirmed in who they’re and pleased with their braids, whereas all readers stroll away with a deeper understanding of the cultural, historic, and emotional significance of braids. For Black ladies particularly, I would like them to know that they need to by no means really feel ashamed of their braids and that their braids must be accepted in every single place, similar to them!
MJ: Is there any recommendation you may give to these seeking to write their very own ebook?
JCO: In case you are seeking to write a ebook, examine authors who’re writing within the style wherein you have an interest. For instance, if you wish to write youngsters’s image books, comply with different image ebook authors. Take notes on the occasions they attend, the way in which they promote their books, and take any courses that they provide. I realized a lot about how one can market my ebook from learning what different authors have carried out, similar to creator, Luvvie Ajayi Jones.
MJ: The place can we buy your books and ebook tour tickets?
JCO: You should buy my ebook by visiting my web site, JayleneClarkOwens.com, the place you can see a hyperlink supplying you with a number of choices for buy, similar to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop.org, the place you should buy from unbiased bookstores. You should buy ebook tour tickets by visiting the Upcoming web page on my web site, which lists all my occasions.
