Dr. JoAnne Cornwell is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies and French at San Diego State University. She is also a third generation entrepreneur and beauty specialist. She has researched African descended cultures worldwide, and understands how deeply hair issues relate to cultural identity. This understanding was the driving force behind her decision to found her trademark company, Sisterlocks.
Dr. Cornwell was born in Detroit, Michigan where she remained through high school. Her passion for hair care began at age 4 when she produced her first braided hairstyle in her own abundant, very kinky natural hair. From that point on, she just had to do it herself. “I thought I knew what I was doing, and no one could meet up to my high, 4-year-old standards!” says Cornwell. By the time she was in college, she had become the person everyone else relied upon to do their perms, hot comb treatments, braiding and whatever else had to do with hair care. Her grandmother had been trained in the CJ Walker tradition, and a lot of what she learned as a child came from her. Dr. Cornwell stresses that since the days of Madame Walker, hair care has been at the economic center of black people’s lives, and of our communities. “Vast numbers of our women and men made it over because somebody in their household stood in the kitchen over somebody’s hair. It’s a shame we no longer own the industry!” Dr. Cornwell adds with a touch of sarcasm, alluding to the fact that the majority of product lines geared toward African Americans, and the majority of beauty supply stores nationwide that carry those products, are owned by people other than African Americans.
Today Dr. Cornwell is an active member of the American Hairbraiders and Natural Haircare Association. She lectures widely on topics related to cultural expression in Africa and in the African Diaspora
Dr. Cornwell has toured nationally, carrying her message of self-empowerment and cultural celebration to enthusiastic women (and men!) throughout the country and abroad (London, Barbados, Jamaica…) She has appeared on numerous talk shows and on local cable and network programs, and has given interviews for a variety of radio stations, including the Longhorn Radio Network, a major syndicated network outreaching to African Americans nationwide.
Dr. Cornwell’s two most recent projects include the establishment of the Sisterlocks Lifestyle Journal (2006) and The SisterLodge (2007). The Sisterlocks Lifestyle Journal is the only publication in existence that is entirely devoted to promoting natural hair and affirming lifestyle choices for African descended women. The SisterLodge brings an updated ‘lodge’ concept back into the community and promotes lifestyle enhancement activities that focus on the holistic health of women.
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