From the civil rights and Black Power era of the 1960s through
antiapartheid activism in the 1980s and beyond, black women have used
their clothing, hair, and style not simply as a fashion statement but
as a powerful tool of resistance. Whether using stiletto heels as
weapons to protect against police attacks or incorporating
African-themed designs into everyday wear, these fashion-forward
women celebrated their identities and pushed for equality.
In this
thought-provoking book, Tanisha C. Ford explores how and why black
women in places as far-flung as New York City, Atlanta, London, and
Johannesburg incorporated style and beauty culture into their
activism. Focusing on the emergence of the “soul style”
movement—represented in clothing, jewelry, hairstyles, and
more—Liberated Threads shows that black women’s fashion
choices became galvanizing symbols of gender and political
liberation. Drawing from an eclectic archive, Ford offers a new way
of studying how black style and Soul Power moved beyond national
boundaries, sparking a global fashion phenomenon. Following
celebrities, models, college students, and everyday women as they
moved through fashion boutiques, beauty salons, and record stores,
Ford narrates the fascinating intertwining histories of Black Freedom
and fashion.