Andis® Company Partners With the Conscious Kid to Deliver Education on Healthy Racial Identity Through ‘Books to Barbershops’ Program
STURTEVANT, WI (November 2020) –– Andis® Company, a global leader in professional barbering tools and education, has teamed up with The Conscious Kid to support barbershops across the U.S. to supply two award-winning children’s books that affirm healthy racial representations of Blackness and Black identity to barbershops free-of-charge. Andis® Company, through the Andis Foundation, sees the importance of barbershops in supporting communities by building relationships, fostering communication and educating today’s youth. Through the powerful reach of barbershops, the #AndisBooksToBarbershops program is designed to counter anti-Blackness, support social equity and promote long-term change.
The first book in the set, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James, serves as a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of Black boys and their self-perception when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.
The second book, Hair Love, is tender and empowering. Written by Matthew A. Cherry and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair — and a celebration of fathers and daughters everywhere.
“Barbershops are more than businesses. They serve as community hubs where customers discuss the state of their communities – and the world– building connections that last lifetimes,” said Laura Andis Bishop, Andis Co-CEO. “With the #AndisBooksToBarbershops program, we are excited to support The Conscious Kid’s mission of driving forward a critical conversation educating and empowering children while supporting community barbershops across the nation.”
Barbers can sign up to secure copies of these books for their business at https://www.theconsciouskid.org/andis. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some barbershops may not be permitted to have books in their facilities. Please follow the recommended safety guidelines and protocols and use these books when it is safe to do so.
To learn more about the #AndisBooksToBarbershops program or Andis® Company, please visit their website, Instagram or Facebook. To learn more about The Conscious Kid, please visit their website, Facebook, Instagram or Patreon.
