In Donning a fa(ça)de I argue personal experiences in the Dutch afro barbershop show black men don a fa(ça)de. Unbuilding this will present the barbershop is built on mutual care and thus contains queerness, demonstrating the potentiality of a barbershop beyond singular black masculinity.
This thesis contains three chapters, each highlighting a “space” in the barbershop where tension tends to run high: the façade, waiting area and barber chair. I employ queer vernaculars and storytelling (italicized), as I wish queer black people feel seen through the writing. Most of this language originates from black and brown trans women, who have always been at the forefront of queer rights. My utmost gratitude to them, they deserve better eternally.
Supervised by Maia Kenney.
Gratitude for Ornelo and Gray.