‘This is who I am’: Lincoln hair design students on importance of Black hair in film

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – With the release of Disney’s live-action film “The Little Mermaid,” many are calling for more Black representation in cinema.

And for students at Lincoln’s College of Hair Design, representation of Black hairstyles is particularly important.

Alexandria Hicken, a fourth-session student at the college, spoke about the controversy surrounding the film.

“I’ve seen a lot of controversy with hate and then also love, just because it’s something new in the world,” she said.

Another student, LaJon Barbary, said films like “The Little Mermaid” and “Black Panther” help inspire his own self-expression.

Barbary said he would like to help people have a better understanding of the culture surrounding their hair.

“It’s important to know how to really take care of it and really express yourself in a way to know like, ‘This is who I am,'” he said.