Skip to content

Museum object · Photographs and Still Images

Untitled (Wigs Parisian protest)

ca. 1963; printed 2018

Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
Visit the source record ↗

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A black-and-white photograph of Grandassa model Nomsa Brath protesting in front of the Wigs Parisian store front on 125th Street in Harlem, New York. Brath's hair is cropped into a short afro style and she is wearing a white, sleeveless, knee length dress, black high heels, and sunglasses. She is also wearing a protest placard over her torso that reads [NATURAL···YES! WIGS···NO] above a cartoon illustration of two women, one with natural hair styled into a top knot and the other wearing a blonde wig. The cartoon woman with the natural hairstyle has her eyes closed and is holding out her hand in a stop signal towards the woman wearing the wig. To the right of Brath is another female protester wearing a placard that reads [DON’T BE A / JACKASS… / BE / NATURAL!] above an illustration of two women and a donkey. On the far right is a third female protester.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2021.26.4

Continue exploring Series 1

Arts, Music & Culture →Civil Rights & Public Life →Business & Enterprise →Everyday Life & Community →

Explore all Series 1 cards →