“It's more than hair … that's why you should care”: the politics of appearance for Black women state legislators

African American women female state legislators navigate the politics of appearance differently from others. Black women's texture and style of their hair and their skin tone influences their experiences as state legislators. In sum, this essay contends that Black women's appearances have led to experiences that are linked to building their self-confidence, internal fortitude, and building their character, which they attribute to assisting them with dealing with adversities. In turn, these experiences impact their practices as state legislators.