Social media can keep us from finding the space and time to really sit down and talk with one another. But there is one place where you can bet on a frank discussion – the barber shop.
This hour, we examine the role barber shops play in American communities – from the cities to the 'burbs.
First, we hear some history about barber shops in the black community — from the days before the civil war and through the civil rights movement into today.
And later, we hear more about how barber shops provide a place for people from all backgrounds to get a haircut and talk about life. Several Connecticut barbers will tell us about their profession from expertise in cutting hair to their ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone.
Are you a barber or do you have fond memories from your local barber shop?
GUESTS:
- Quincy T. Mills - Associate Professor of History at Vassar College, author of Cutting Along the Color Line: Black Barbers and Barber Shops in America
- Lebert F. Lester II - Owner of It’s a Gee Thang Barber Salon & Spa in Hartford, CT
- Anthony Williams - Owner of J.A.W.S Barbershop in West Hartford, CT
- Frank D’Angelo - Lead Barber Instructor at Ace Cosmetology and Barber Training Center in Hartford and Waterbury, CT
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Chion Wolf contributed to this show.
