When I initially chose to research beauticians and their roles in the Civil Rights Movement, I did not give a thought to the histography. I have to say that I am truly thankful that my topic has been researched more than I had originally thought. Quite a bit of research has been conducted on beauticians and their activism within the African-American community. The scholarship comes from increased interest by historians in local and statewide movements during the Civil Rights Movement. During my research, I fought stories and instances where beauticians came together to mobilize their community and in the case of Anne Moody, using the salon as a space to decompress from a sit-in. I am interested in these relationships and connections between African-American women with each other and their community that has emerged during my research.
However, I have had a few successes. The stories of Ella Ramsey Martin and Ruby Parks Blackburn merge perfectly with the secondary research that I have read. There has been a fair amount of written work about Ruby Blackburn that I am thankful for. The Atlanta Daily World has been helpful when tracking down the names of some shop owners. I have successfully found the name of the Madame Walker Beauty Shoppe and have found an oral history by Ella Martin which I will look into further. Despite the challenges, it seems to be coming together.
