Crown of Times
A play coming to Robsham Theater this month explores the wounded history of Black hair culture, and how it has been shaped by American politics, music, and fashion.
Crown of Times will be presented on September 20 at 7 p.m. and September 22 at 2 p.m. , marking the play’s debut on a collegiate stage. Written and directed by activist, poet, and painter Yvette Modestin and network writer/producer Michele Avery, Crown of Times opened in 2023 to sold-out crowds at Boston’s Museum of Science.
The play uses music, imagery of Black hairstyles, intense monologue, and historical narration to explore Black women’s deep, complex relationship with their hair from the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter Movement. In each decade, characters recognize that their hair deeply reflects their experiences—ultimately changing, becoming more empowered, and influencing the next decade.
The word “Crown” in the play’s title is a reference to the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, which prohibits discrimination based on hair style and texture. When the bill was first introduced in the United States Congress in 2019, there were no legal protections for natural hairstyles in American schools and workplaces. The CROWN Act passed the House of Representatives but its companion bill stalled in the Senate; attempts to revive the legislation have thus far been unsuccessful. Twenty-five states—including Massachusetts—have adopted similar anti-discrimination measures.
Carroll School of Management Assistant Professor Njoke Thomas (Lee Pellegrini)
The Robsham presentation of Crown of Times is the result of efforts by Njoke Thomas, an assistant professor in the Carroll School of Management, who saw the play with former BC School of Social Work faculty member Tyrone Parchment and was inspired to have it staged on campus.
“We were both completely moved,” said Thomas. “Dr. Parchment suggested I apply for a grant from the BC Institute for the Liberal Arts to bring Crown of Times here.”
The institute, which hosts conversations and supports programs that examine and advance liberal arts education, awarded Thomas the grant as an incubator project for possible future college tours of the play.
Redefining Black hair by repositioning it as a Crown, according to Modestin and Avery, the play serves as a heartfelt tribute to Black women, Black culture, and individuals navigating their self-identity journey—and as a love letter.
“We noticed in conversations while writing this play that when folks struggled with their identity, the struggle often began with their hair,” explained Modestin. “Hair was something we loved. We wanted to show the depth of that love and how that love has been superseded over decades by negative connotations.”
“No matter who you are, when you come to see this production, you’ll learn something. Identify with something. Walk away with something. You might walk away with more questions, but that’s the purpose of art,” said Avery. “You are not alone. This is for you.”
This free production is sponsored by the Institute for the Liberal Arts and the Winston Center for Leadership Ethics. Find more information here.