FAYNIA, The Story and the Hairitage
Some of you may ask what does FAYNIA mean?
Why FAYNIA?
FAYNIA - A Celebration of Black Beauty and Resilience
My name is Dr. Janice Knox, and I created FAYNIA from a deep-rooted belief in the strength, beauty, and resilience of Black women. Growing up in Richmond, California, as the fourth of fifteen children, I witnessed firsthand the systemic racism that tried to diminish our worth and dim our light.
From an early age, I was relegated to "home-making" classes, denied access to the college preparatory track that could unlock my potential. But I refused to be defined by others' limitations. With an unwavering determination, I fought my way onto the path that would lead me to college, medical school, and eventually, a career as an anesthesiologist.
Throughout my journey, I carried with me an unshakable pride in my Black identity. I did not seek validation from the predominantly white male-dominated medical field. Instead, I drew strength from my roots, from the legacy of those who came before me – the fighters, the dreamers, the trailblazers who paved the way for our voices to be heard.
As I navigated the tumultuous decades of the 60s, the civil rights movement, the assassinations of our leaders, and the resurgence of hate that surfaced during the Obama and Trump presidencies, one thing became clear: our culture, our history, and our very humanity were under constant attack.
And at the center of this assault stood a symbol of our beauty and identity – our hair. From the mocking of Olympic champion Gabby Douglas to the banning of natural hairstyles in workplaces and schools, our crowns of glory were targeted, ridiculed, and deemed "unprofessional."
It was then that I realized the importance of embracing and celebrating every aspect of our Blackness, starting with our hair. During a visit to Sierra Leone, where I received my second citizenship, I experienced a sense of freedom and pride that I had never known before. It was there that I discovered the word "FAYN," meaning gorgeous, beautiful, and "IA," representing hair.
FAYNIA was born from this realization – a bold declaration that our hair, in all its glorious forms, is a testament to our resilience, our strength, and our unwavering self-love. Whether natural, braided, twisted, or adorned with wigs and extensions, our hair is an expression of our identity, and we will wear it with pride, never again allowing it to be a source of shame or ridicule.
Through FAYNIA, we reclaim our narratives, our histories, and our power. We celebrate the beauty that radiates from within each and every one of us – Black women, men, and children alike. Our hair is our crown, and we will wear it with the dignity and grace that has carried us through generations of struggle and triumph.
