A decree demanding that women of African descent, slave or free, should cover their hair and heads with a knotted headdress and refrain from "excessive attention to dress".
Tignon Law was enforced with the intention to shame women of color, suppress creative expression and diminish the threat to the social status of white women during that time.
Despite laws that tried to suppress the flyness of African descendants, they protested in colorful ways.
According to historian Carolyn Long, "Instead of being considered a badge of dishonor, the tignon became a fashion statement.
The bright reds, blues, and yellows of the scarves, and the imaginative wrapping techniques employed by their wearers, are said to have enhanced the beauty of women of color."
8 comments
I love it when you all post things about Black History. I have never heard of this law until I received the email from you all a few weeks ago. Since then, I have thought about this and about how much stuff I don’t know about Black History. Please keep up the wonderful and informative work that you all have been doing so far. I am so ecstatic to be a customer and to see you all become even greater than before.
Thank you so much for such an important history lesson. I definitely feel beautiful and regal when I wear my crown……. head wrap!
Wow! Thank you so much for this wonderful history lesson. I had never heard of this law. Also, it is my first time on your site and I am ECSTATIC because all of your wraps/turbans are beautiful. Hoping to get my hands on one of the turbans when they’re back in stock :)