Down to the Roots: The History and Tradition of the Black Barbershop (2024)

What does your barbershop mean to you? For the black community, the barbershop, like the church, has long stood as a sacred space for people to gather, converse, and engage in activism, discourse, and grassroots organization.

Black barbershops are self-contained worlds with their own culture, laws, and customs. They are the culmination of craft, etiquette, and tradition that has evolved over 160 years to produce the heritage we look back on now. Just like our hair, the roots of barbering run deep.

Down to the Roots: The History and Tradition of the Black Barbershop (1)

In the Antebellum South, barbers were slaves. In the North, freed black men and low-income whites often became barbers. At that time, only wealthy white men could afford the service of barbering, which meant that, while black barbers began to spring up across the country, they weren’t cutting black hair.

In the 1860s, barbering was an artisan system and a cornerstone of burgeoning black enterprise. Barbers would start as apprentices under the supervision of a master barber until age 18 or 21 then travel city to city to hone their craft and earn their living.

Master barbers were pillars of their communities, often owning their own barbershops where high levels of skill could be cultivated and barbering skills passed down to future generations.

Just like today, the first barbershops were founded on bonds of mutual respect between master barbers, apprentices, and clients. As revered and active community members, master barbers were looked to not just for haircuts, butfor advice and wisdom. While clients came in for a haircut, they stayed for the discussion.

Down to the Roots: The History and Tradition of the Black Barbershop (2)

For the black community, barbering became an entrepreneurial tool to achieve financial success. John Merrick, a great barber and entrepreneur, was born a slave in 1859. By the 1880s, he would own five barbershops in North Carolina: two black, and three white-only, using the profits from those barbershops to found the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.

In the 1880s, barbershops began to combine elements of luxury hotels, spas, and clubs, creating what we now consider “first class” barbershops. These higher-end barbershops allowed their customers to experience luxury, offering a place to linger and enjoy hair cuts, shaves, hot baths, cigars, and a range of goods and services.

“First class” barbershops provided an heir of exclusivity, and would custom tailor their services, even going so far as to monogram mugs, capes, and tools for their most important clients, adding small details and personal emblems that elevated the experience of a haircut and shave into something more: a ritual.

In the 1890s, the German Organized Barbers Union lobbied to pass licensing laws that required barbers to have a degree from a Barber College, nearly all of which refused to grant admission to black men. This forced black barbershops into black neighborhoods exclusively, where they would evolve into a community gathering place and a conduit for black activism.

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In 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression and Jim Crow, Henry M. Morgan established the first chain of barber colleges for black people, allowing black barbers to officially earn their degrees. Black barbers were given more entrepreneurial control and societal prestige, and black barbershops continued to evolve as venues for business, and community organization.

Civil Rights activist Stokely Carmichael first became involved in black activism through his Harlem barbershop. It was recruitments like his that led the FBI to target and monitor black barbershops through their COINTELPRO project during the Civil Rights era.

Down to the Roots: The History and Tradition of the Black Barbershop (4)

During the summer 1966 riots, then-barber Ernie Chambers was featured speaking about the racial divide in Omaha for the documentary film “A Time For Burning.” Chambers would go on to become the longest-serving state senator in Nebraska history, a 46-year career during most of which he was the only nonwhite senator.

Today, black barbers continue to serve their community as leaders, teachers, and entrepreneurs, and the barbershop remains a focal point for gathering, discussing, relaxing, and enjoying the simple luxury of a haircut.

Down to the Roots: The History and Tradition of the Black Barbershop (5)

We at The Rich Barber proudly honor the history and traditions of the past that laid the groundwork for the modern barbershop, and we continue to carry the craft of barbering forward with a spirit of entrepreneurship, evolution, and community.

When you walk through our doors, you become a part of our story. We continue to maintain the legacy of the past while furthering the craft of barbering and the role of the barber to move beyond the barber shop and affect positive social, political, and economic change.

The barbershop is a place you can express yourself, mix with younger and older generations, and learn new things. When you get in that chair, throw on a cape, and talk to your barber about your look, you become part of a tradition that spans generations and continues to work as a force for social equity, financial freedom, and community resilience.

Barbering is a foundational part of who we are, the past we share, and the future we’re building. Together, we can continue to build upon the traditions of the path while paving the way for the barbers of tomorrow.

If you want to learn more about the history of barbering and the entrepreneurial mindset of the barber, check out my book

Learn the tips, tricks, skills, and insights that a decade of professional barbering and entrepreneurship have taught me and get a roadmap to attracting and keeping clients, mastering your craft, and moving beyond the barbershop.

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Down to the Roots: The History and Tradition of the Black Barbershop (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of black barbers? ›

African-American men's barbering has its roots in slavery when enslavers earned income by leasing enslaved barbers to neighboring plantations and nearby barbering establishments to groom slaves and affluent white men.

What was the significance of black barbershops during the Great Migration? ›

A GLIMPSE INTO THE HISTORY OF BLACK BARBER SHOPS

During times of segregation, these establishments served as safe havens for African Americans, offering them a space to freely express themselves and discuss important issues affecting their communities.

During what period did the black barbershop began to emerge in the United States? ›

Though it's hard to put an exact date on the first Black barbershops, it's said that it was during the atrocities of slavery in the 19th century when Black barbers were first introduced to America.

What is the origin of the barber? ›

The first barbering services were performed by Egyptians in 5000 BC with instruments they had made from oyster shells or sharpened flint. In ancient Egyptian culture, barbers were highly respected individuals. Priests and men of medicine are the earliest recorded examples of barbers.

What does the barbershop mean to Black men? ›

At this point, Black barbers began opening shops in the Black community specifically to serve Black men. These barbershops quickly became a gathering place where Black men could gather to socialize, play chess and checkers, and discuss politics.

Why do barbers wear all Black? ›

A Black Shirt Makes a Good Backdrop

When the service is complete and your stylist is standing behind you, their black shirt won't contrast with any color poorly and the shirt won't be a distraction. In fact, a dark shirt often provides somewhat of a silhouette, allowing the intricacies of the job to be the focus.

What race has the most barbers? ›

The most common ethnicity among barbers is White, which makes up 60.0% of all barbers.

Why do barbershops have the pole? ›

The bloody bandages associated with bloodletting inspired the red and white stripes, while the barber pole itself symbolises an instrument people gripped onto during the procedure to encourage blood flow. Barbers would place the barber pole outside their barbershop, to let customers know they were open for business.

What did barbers do in the old days? ›

Back in the medieval ages, a Barber (or Barber Surgeon) was the only person with the sharp instruments needed for a shave and trim. Because a Barber owned such sharp instruments, which were not so readily available, they also had to perform minor surgeries, dentistry (tooth extractions) and tasks such as bloodletting.

Where did barbershop originate? ›

The barbershop has been around for centuries and has served as an important social institution. The earliest origins of the barbershop can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where barbers were highly respected members of society. In fact, the Roman Emperor Nero had his own personal barber.

Who opened the first national chain of black barber colleges? ›

Country's 1st Black Barber College honored for Black History Month. In 1933, during a depression and the Jim Crow era, Henry Miller Morgan opened the nation's first African American barber college on Erwin Street in Tyler.

What is a female barber called? ›

While some may simply use the term "barber" to denote both male and female practitioners, others prefer gender-specific terms such as "barberette" or "lady barber." Regardless of the terminology used, female barbers share a common passion for the craft of barbering and a commitment to providing exceptional service to ...

Is barber mentioned in the Bible? ›

"Barber" is found only once English Versions of the Bible, in Ezekiel 5:1, "Take thee a sharp sword; as a barber's razor shalt thou take it unto thee, and shalt cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard" (compare Chaghigha' 4b, Shab, section 6).

What are the historical influences of barbers? ›

Belief's, rituals, and superstitions of early civilizations has influenced the barbering profession significantly. Many civilizations believed that hair clippings could bewitch and individual therefore hair cutting was the job of a priest, medicine man, or spiritual leader.

What percent of barbers are Black? ›

In 2022, 44.7% of the Barbers workforce were White, of which 30.7% were women and 69.3% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (24.1%) and Other (15.1%).

What is the historical significance of Black hairstyles? ›

In pre-colonial African societies, Black hair was seen as a symbol of a person's identity. Popular styles like braids, twists and dreadlocks were used to symbolise a person's tribe, social status and family background.

What is the history of black beard? ›

Blackbeard or Edward Teach (c. 1680-1718) is one of the most infamous pirates to have ever lived. Known for his fearsome image and daring acts on land and sea throughout the West Indies and along the North American East coast, his legacy has been the inspiration for many depictions of pirates throughout history.

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