Black to My Roots: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart – C ARTS

Black to my Roots is an exploration and celebration of African American hair, looking at the stigma, the joys and the tribulations that come with it.  The Seattle based company returns to the Edinburgh Fringe after winning a Fringe First award in 2002, this time also bringing their sister show, Hair’s Breath to the stage. 

Using a series of monologues, poems, and songs written by Kathya Alexander and Renescia Brown, we are transported to the salon, to school, and to our mother’s house, experiencing all the huge ways in which hair impacts African American women in every context of life.  Brown and Alexander’s work includes a number of humorous monologues, with moments that are all too relatable, yet are carrying a heaviness beneath the surface.  We have multiple monologues set from a child’s perspective – still naive to the ways of the world.  Their naivety makes for combative arguments with their mothers – why aren’t they allowed to take swimming lessons, or why can they not experiment with their hairstyle?  The childish pouting makes for an amusing watch, but the further we watch, the less funny it becomes.  Instead, our attention is drawn to the sacred nature of the hair and the role it has played in generational traumas and celebration alike.  The writing takes us on a journey from being young and foolish, to growing older and wiser, finally understanding the role hair plays in a black woman’s life.

The cast of five take on this play with gusto, singing, dancing and powering their way through the material.  Each woman commands the stage, bringing a heartfelt fun to the room, while emphasising the injustices black women face with conviction and sincerity.

We are shown a video projection which brings fact to the fiction, discussing the results of a 2017 survey carried out by haircare brand, Shea Moisture.  Through this powerpoint we see the real-world implications and biases that black women face – asking us what is “good” hair?  Black to my Roots holds such significance in the theatre scene even 23 years after its first performance at the Fringe.  The writing is still fresh and resonant, which sadly isn’t necessarily a good thing – has nothing changed?  This is why the awareness this show promotes is of the utmost importance – not only is it entertaining but also holds great educational value that we can carry forward and pass on to others. 

Black to My Roots: African American Tales from the Head and the Heart has finished its run at the Fringe this year as of the 17th of August at C ARTS | C venues | C aurora.  I highly recommend visiting https:/www.fringeofcolour.co.uk for more POC stories.

For more information see https://res.cthearts.com and https://www.thebtmrproject.com

Reviewer: Jessie Martin

Reviewed: 16th August 2025

North West End UK Rating: