Hair is a recurring symbol throughout the novel that reflects the (white) cultural standards of beauty that Genesis longs to achieve. Genesis says, “Where I’m from, if your hair’s not straight, bobbed, pixied, or even braided, then you can forget it” (Chapter 5).

What does Genesis’s relationship with her hair say about her relationship to colorism? Where do these beliefs originate for Genesis, and how are they sustained? Consider the other characters’ relationship to their hair as well. How does it affect their identity and self-esteem? 

Teaching Suggestion: Hair is the primary symbol that deals with The Harmful Effects of Internalized Colorism for Genesis and many of the Black characters throughout the novel. As a class, review sections of the book where hair is mentioned, particularly when hair is referred to as “good” or “bad.” Early in the novel, Genesis shows that she has internalized that to be light skinned with “good” hair, like her mother’s, is the pinnacle of beauty. When she looks in the mirror, she hears the cruel voices of her father and her bullies mocking her with a cruel and culturally insensitive comment about her curly, naturally textured hair.