My Nappy ROOTS: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage is a stylistic feature-length documentary, celebrating the unique journey of the phenomenon that is Black hair. The film examines the legacy of Black hair care through cultural, societal, and political issues in the African American community over time. It reveals the significance and pride of African hairstyles prior to the first arrival of enslaved Africans to America, where the broader struggle of black people began, to the modern establishment of black hair as an economic mainstay in America. This struggle translates into a billion dollar industry – black hair care – that exists today.

Who am I ? is the question that sparked the birth of “My Nappy ROOTS”

Black hair is a never ending journey, long or short, nappy or straight, hair is historically the crown and glory of African American women and men. My Nappy ROOTS invokes an honest multi-cultural dialog that spreads the spirit of redefining image in terms to inspire African Americans to embrace their unique history and beauty with a strong sense of self.

Each distinctive hair style marks a time in American history, politics, and African American culture. Exploring beyond the surface, My Nappy ROOTS delves internally into the mindset that created the never-ending debate of “good hair vs. bad hair” and the role media plays as the instigator.

The black hair care industry, which is always passionate, sometimes outrageous, and often humorous, can be considered the liberation of Blacks in the United States. This liberation developed from the backs of great African American entrepreneurs created a powerful American industry. From the start of the film, an underlying theme of overcoming obstacles develops into an inspiring story of success and business.

Filmmakers Regi Kimbell and Jay Bluemke have assembled a world-class line-up of celebrities (Vivica A. Fox, Patti LaBelle, Kim Fields, Elise Neal, Malcolm-Jamal Warner to name a few), historians, authors, (A!lelia Bundles) journalists, comedians, hair stylists, barbers, and black hair care industry business icons (George Johnson, Ed and Gary Gardner, Bernard Bronner and others), to provide historical, professional, and personal accounts of their black hair journey.

Read an interview with Regina Kimbell. 

Sunday November 9 at 14:00 PM
Casa Frela
http://casafrela.com/  
47 West 119th St. 
New York, NY 10026 
212-722-8577  

Directions: 
From Downtown Manhattan by Subway: 
Take the “Uptown #2 or #3” train to 116th Street. Exit onto Lenox Ave and walk 3 blocks to 119th Street.

 www.myspace.com/mynappyroots