Meet Wash Day the slice-of-life comic that pays tribute to the beauty and endurance of Black women and their hair. Written by Jamila Rowser and illustrated by Robyn Smith, the 27-page story follows one woman’s natural hair journey.
Inspired by her own wash day routine, Rowser wanted to fill a much-needed void in the comic book space and create a protagonist who looked just like her. Like so many Black women, Kimana, a 26-year-old woman from the Bronx, struggles with caring for her long, thick hair.
Like many naturalistas, Kim experiences highs and lows as she goes through her Sunday washday routine, including finding the right products, girl talk with her friends and catcalls from strangers.
Rowser and Smith decided to team up to tell a story that highlights the personal and societal aspects of Black womanhood. “There’s something radical about a story of a Black woman taking time for herself and taking care of herself in ways extremely specific to Blackness,” says Smith.
To help bring the project to life, Rowser and Smith are running a Kickstarter campaign until May 4th. To learn more about how you can support Wash Day be sure to visit their site.