Wednesday, March 8, 2023
GCC Adjunct Faculty, Dallas Teat.
'Inside Arizona’s Black Barbershops,’ a project by GCC Faculty Dallas Teat, received a funding grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts. The project explores the history of Arizona’s African-American barbers and examines the complex relationship between these barbers and the surrounding communities. “Inside Arizona’s Black Barbershops” consists of recorded interviews, historic film and video, archival photographs and documents, music, and a narrative.
"Fifteen years ago, I interviewed twelve of Phoenix's oldest and most iconic Black barbers, at that time, to ask how they saw their role not only in the Black community but in Phoenix as a whole. My interviews and studies revealed a complex spiderweb of interesting stories and facts about Arizona’s Black barbers. This history spans the state and has origins in Arizona’s territorial days. Until now, my interviews were limited to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Receiving a Research and Development grant allows me to perform extensive on-site research and interviews not only in Phoenix, but Flagstaff, Tucson, Sierra Vista, Yuma and other remote locations around our state where African-American barbers exist. Inside Arizona’s Black Barbershops” is not intended to mimic, copy, or capitalize on the success of any recent motion picture, television show, YouTube video, podcast, book, or television show. Nor do I plan to make fun of, humiliate, defame, or otherwise portray in a negative manner any individual or institution appearing in, or related to this project.”
The Arizona Commission on the Arts receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.