ABSTRACT
A hundred years ago, … there were churches in Philadelphia, in Virginia and in New Orleans which had a pine slab on the outside door of the church and a ne-tooth comb hanging on a string. And when you tried to go into the church you had to be able to stand beside that pinewood and be no darker than that, and take that ne-tooth comb and run it through your hair without snagging. at’s how you could get into the church. (“Intra-Racism,” 1) Hair has long been a social marker of gender, race, and even class.
