Meaning ❉ Colonial Epistemicide gently describes the systematic dispossession and devaluation of knowledge systems, particularly those concerning the nuanced understanding of Black and mixed-race hair. This historical process often supplanted autochthonous wisdom regarding hair growth, care, and cultural significance with external, often ill-fitting, perspectives. For textured hair understanding, this meant a disruption in the natural growth of collective knowledge, obscuring generations of inherited practices that honored the distinct structure of curls and coils. In systematizing hair care, it led to the adoption of principles that overlooked the inherent needs of these hair types, making routines less intuitive and more challenging to align with true hair health. The practical application of care suffered, as individuals found themselves navigating a landscape where ancestral methods were dismissed, hindering the confident implementation of practices truly suited for their specific hair formations. Recognizing this quiet dismantling allows us to gently re-center our heritage, guiding us toward a more harmonious connection with our hair’s inherent beauty and needs.
