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 revisit our show on 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 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, which originally aired on February 24, 2017.
