Empowerment was the root of the message at the Love the Hair You Wear event, a celebration of natural hair, at N.C. A&T this month. 

The third annual event, founded by A&T alumna Vecoya Banks ‘09 as a forum where people could talk about Black hair care and products, drew more than 250 students, faculty and friends to the Alumni Event Center Sept. 13.  

Sponsored by Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent management firm; Circana, a market research company; and MyAvana, a hair analysis enterprise, the affair featured free hair care products and discussions about professional development, social media and mental health.  

“I think this is one of the most fun partnerships that I get to do, and I think the turnout speaks to the fact that the students like it, too,” said Elizabeth Newcomb Hopfer, Ph.D., an associate professor in the fashion merchandising and design program. The program, in the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences, connected with Banks and the three companies to host the campus-wide event after an FCS Advisory Board member suggested the idea. 

Newcomb said the board member, alumna Brittany Hicks, ‘10, is friends with Banks and thought Love the Hair You Wear's message of empowerment aligned with the department’s mission. 

Banks was inspired by her personal experience with hair care to launch the event.  

“It’s not all peaches and cream. When I first started the natural hair care journey, I thought I was going to be able to wash my hair and walk out of the shower and look amazing,” she said. “And that is just not the case.” 

Five A&T students are all smiles as they are each awarded $500 scholarships from Wasserman, Circana and Myavana. Winners were (front) fashion merchandising and design major Kristen Majors; College of Business student Jabria Williams; (back) fashion merchandising and design professor Beth Newcomb Hopfer, Ph.D.; food and nutritional sciences major Chris Carter; College of Business student Destiny Spady; child development program major Tyra Dennis; event organizer Vecoya Banks; and FCS Advisory Board member Brittany Hicks.

Having your hair look good helps boost that confidence, said Imani Gordon, a freshman studying business administration. “For some people, if their hair doesn’t always look the best, they don’t feel the best.” 

“It’s a form of expression,” said Taylor Pitts, a pre-nursing major who said that she appreciated the free products at the event. “I thought that was very generous of them.” 

Marche Robinson, an attorney, entrepreneur, and content creator who spoke at the event, reassured students that it’s OK to be passionate about a lot of different things.  

“You don’t have to be like, ‘I can only do this one thing,’” she said. “You can do 50 different jobs and love it … don’t feel like you need to be in a box.” 

Tracy Hughes ‘14, vice president of talent at Wasserman, said her experience as an A&T student and playing on its basketball team “instilled a confidence in me that I didn’t even know that I needed. 

“Watching people who look like you excel did something to me that has really just allowed me to walk into (all) rooms now,” Hughes said. “That confidence goes with me.” 

The event kicked off with a scholarship breakfast at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. The three sponsors awarded five $500 scholarships, three of which went to students majoring in programs in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. 

“We know that college is not getting cheaper and so these scholarships might be used to help fabric purchases, for projects and for portfolio building,” said Newcomb. “It might be the thing that gets you to a conference or pays for a textbook.” 

Tyra Dennis, a junior studying child development and family relations who received a scholarship, praised the department. “You all are very supportive, and I really appreciate it,” she said. “I know that it’s a blessing.” 

Kristen Morgan said she incorporated her passion for helping people with disabilities in her winning application. “I’ve always had an appreciation for my own hair, and I thought everybody else did too, until I went into the houses and saw how many disparities there were,” she said. A junior studying fashion merchandising and design, Morgan said she met one woman whose hair was being washed with Dawn dish soap.  

“It really means a lot to me,” said another recipient, Food and Nutritional Sciences major Christopher Carter, a senior who described himself as a Black, queer male. “Organizations like (Love the Hair You Wear) have empowered me, have helped me and have really encouraged me to continue to (wear natural hair) for other Black males like me, and Black women as well.” 

The theme of empowerment was evident the day before at an event at N.C. A&T’s Child Development Lab, in which author and A&T alum Eugene Banks ‘09 read his books “Young Black Boy” and “Young Black Girl” to students in the program. 

“All of you have a special spark inside of you,” he told the 3- and 4-year-olds. “It's your job to find it and illuminate the world.” 

Thanks to Andre Pearson, N.C. A&T State University, for select photos.