Black Hair Is a Safe Sport Issue!: Black Aesthetics, Access, Inclusion, and Resistance

This paper examines the intersection of Black hair aesthetics and three dimensions of safe sport: environmental and physical safety, relational safety, and optimizing sport experiences. Black hair, a fundamental aspect of cultural identity for people of African descent, has been historically stigmatized; an issue that extends into sports yet remains unexplored. Through a predominantly Canadian perspective, we define Black hair aesthetics as encompassing various textures and styles related to real and potential risks of injury, inattention, and disregard in sport contexts. We contend that Black hair is a safe sport issue as it intertwines with risk, safety, and human rights. By exploring Black hair stylization, we uncover its political dimensions and its ability to challenge colonial norms that impact sporting access and success.