Sha’Carri Richardson’s Exuberant Hairstyles Defy Criticism Faced by Black Women
September 23, 2023, 7:30 AM ET
Just before Sha’Carri Richardson dominated the 100-meter final at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July, the 23-year-old star sprinter sent a powerful message to every Black woman who has ever been shamed for her hairstyle and never felt fully accepted to be herself.
Richardson confidently removed her signature bright-orange wig, revealing the braids underneath. She went on to win the U.S. title with the fastest time by an American woman since 2011. In her post-race interview, Richardson proudly declared, “I’m not back. I’m better.” And she was not wrong. Beyond being a personal choice, Richardson’s hair represents distinction, power, and a direct challenge to the criticism faced by other Black women.
Throughout her career, Richardson has showcased an array of different hairstyles, from blue to platinum blonde, red to wavy, sleek to curly. Last week, she concluded her remarkable track season with another viral hair moment when she competed in the Diamond League final without a wig or braids, proudly embracing her natural hair. She described it as the perfect ending to a season that included running the sixth-fastest time ever in the 100 meters and winning the gold medal at the world championships.
These recent triumphs mark a stark contrast from how Richardson was perceived just two years ago when she was disqualified from the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo due to a positive marijuana test. She faced criticism for her lack of humility and responsibility, with some viewing her as a waste of talent. Richardson later revealed that she turned to marijuana as a coping mechanism after learning about her biological mother’s death from a reporter a few days before the national track-and-field championships. However, this explanation did not garner much sympathy. Nevertheless, Richardson confidently tweeted, “I’m sorry, I can’t be y’all Olympic Champ this year but I promise I’ll be your World Champ next year.”
Richardson’s impressive comeback has been an enthralling story in sports, intertwined with her unwavering commitment to presenting herself authentically. Her hair is not simply a form of personal expression but also an engagement with history. Throughout history, Black women’s beauty choices have been used to justify racism and discrimination. Laws have been implemented to regulate Black women’s hairstyles, such as an 18th-century Louisiana law mandating complete hair covering in public to prevent white men from being enticed by braided and intricate styles. It took until 1976, with a landmark Supreme Court case, to prohibit employment discrimination based on Afro hairstyles. Though progress has been made with the CROWN Act, which has been passed in 24 states to address bias against Black hairstyles, the subject remains polarizing. In fact, a survey earlier this year revealed that Black women are two and a half times more likely to have their hair perceived as unprofessional in the workplace compared to their female counterparts.
Richardson follows in the footsteps of influential Black American women who have challenged and defied societal norms surrounding natural hair. Political activist Angela Davis’s Afro became an iconic symbol of Black liberation, while track legend Florence Griffith Joyner’s long, luxurious tresses represented unabashed freedom. Serena and Venus Williams’s beaded braids served as a reminder to young Black girls that embracing their true selves was more than enough.
Luckily, as Richardson fought her way back to the top as the leading female American sprinter, she did it on her own terms—embracing various hairstyles, as well as voluminous eyelashes and bright acrylic nails. Her ever-changing hair has become a symbol of rebirth.
“I’m having so much more fun, and I want people to understand it is not just because of winning,” Richardson recently shared with reporters. “I’m having fun because I’m better within my spirit, within my mind, within my community that I created for myself. That’s the happiness that you guys see. The wins are just the bonus, but it shows when you’re whole within yourself what you will attract.”
Richardson’s hair represents the complexity of her journey, embodying joy, imagination, defiance, authenticity, and excellence—all at once.
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