HAIRCUT DAY WITH DAD

For a father and son, a barbershop outing is special, even magical.

Secured in his booster seat with his breakfast burrito in hand, a young Black boy grins as his father drives to the barber shop. When they arrive, they’re greeted by an array of Black men, all varying in complexions, ages, and, of course, hairstyles (some still in progress). The duo have developed a routine: They study the chart listing different styles (“The fro, the high-top fade, the flattop, lightning bolts in the side, maybe a clean shave?”) before settling on the same thing (“Short high fade as usual”). As sports games play on TV and other patrons play chess, they wait until it’s their turn in the chairs. That’s where the magic happens, with our young narrator envisioning barbers in magician garb turning his and Dad’s fly but lengthy hairdos into something truly their own. It’s clear both from Mikai’s warmly conversational prose and her detailed vignettes, packed with detail and personality, that this is an incredibly special time and place for father-and-son bonding. The two of them treasure the day but make sure to cherish and care for themselves and one another even more.

A vibrant example of both Black joy and self-care.