Georgetown Lens: Capturing Culture Through Vibrant Hair Representation

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCSC) – For one photographer from Georgetown, representation and education lie at the center of her artistic endeavors, using a distinctive method of hairstyle to achieve her goals.

Marley Canteen possesses a deep enthusiasm for photography. However, as a photographer, her scope goes beyond seizing a moment. There’s a profound message.

“It’s not merely locs. It’s a movement. It’s empowerment. It’s liberation. It’s about freeing ourselves, and it’s about evolution,” Canteen expressed.

Locs, a term for dreadlocks, form the theme of the Georgetown native’s newest photo collection “Loccountry.” Canteen is spotlighting individuals within the Lowcountry sporting this hairstyle, including Marquetta Young and Jeannine Britton.

“Having locs can be viewed as an expression of self-love and a commitment to oneself,” Young, who has maintained locs for nearly two years, stated.

“Our tresses represent our crown. They define our beauty. They enhance the beauty that already exists within us,” Britton, who has worn locs for four years, remarked.

Canteen initially conceived the idea for her “Loccountry” series during the Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration in St. Helena, which celebrates Gullah Geechee culture.

“As I wandered about, I encountered numerous Black women adorned with locs. When I began my locs in 2013, there were Black women with locs, but the overwhelming presence at that festival was striking. I felt compelled to document this,” Canteen shared.

Gradually, locs have fostered confidence among this group of women and men, with the series now featuring over 100 individuals. Nonetheless, the locs have often been associated with charged terminology.

“When I first started my locs, there were so many stigmas attached to me back in 2013,” Canteen recalled. “‘It’s unprofessional,’ ‘they’re unruly,’ ‘racial profiling,’ and similar derogatory remarks. All the labels and stereotypes about locs were prevalent.”

She aspires for the series to illustrate advancement and serve as a platform for educating others.

“Many people are unaware of the true origins of locs, tracing back to slavery and the significance of individuals with locs during that time. Locs symbolized rebellion. Those who wore them stood against white supremacy. They resisted oppression and were judged based on their hair, which likely contributes to the stigma today,” she explained.

With every click and flash of her camera, Canteen aims to unite people, regardless of their backgrounds.

“As many have expressed, it instills confidence in them. It empowers them, and that is precisely what I wish for, reflecting the history of locs,” she stated.

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