CHICAGO — Arthur Muhammad has labored in Black barber retailers for many years. And he has a transparent thought about what the Black barber store means to the African-American group.
“It is most likely the freest place for African-American women and men to return to,” Muhammad mentioned. “That is the one place the place we might be unapologetically who we’re and categorical our unapologetic views about what we really feel. No matter the subject material is: politics, music, leisure, no matter it could be. That is the place the place your opinion is all the time welcome.”
The right instance of that kind of barber store is the institution the place Muhammad works as a supervisor: Coleman Brothers Barbershop, an establishment on the South Aspect for the previous six a long time.
Coleman Brothers Barbershop, situated at 6802 S. Stony Island Ave., was based by two siblings who moved from Alabama to Chicago within the Fifties, throughout the second wave of the Nice Migration. Richard and James Coleman had simply completed a stint within the army after they moved to Chicago.
In search of higher alternatives, they went to McCoy Barber Faculty after which opened their first location at 63rd Road and Dorchester Avenue. In 1963, they moved to their present location in South Shore, the place their enterprise has remained ever since.
It’s nonetheless owned by a Coleman Wheeler, who’s the son of the now-deceased James Coleman.
However Muhammad now runs the enterprise for the Coleman household, working because the institutions supervisor.
Since its opening in 1963, the Stony Island location has been a haven for notables in Black politics and leisure.
“It has been a who’s who in politics and leisure who’ve made it right here, particularly throughout the 60 and 70s,” Muhammad mentioned. “Muhammad Ali. When Malcolm X can be in Chicago, he can be a patron right here. And naturally, his trainer, Elijah Muhammad. Louis Farrakhan and Sam Cooke would come via. And regardless that it wasn’t his house cease, they inform me every now and then (former President Barack) Obama would patronize our store.”
Lately, the principle patrons are the residents of Chicago’s Woodlawn and South Shore neighborhoods. Regulars often go to each few weeks to get up to date cuts.
“We work with all the kind of types like dreadlocks, dreads and afros,” mentioned Antonio Arthur, a barber on the store.
Arthur used a small object that seemed like a tiny tennis racket to type one younger clients modest afro. “This type right here known as the ‘sponge look,'” Arthur mentioned. “You simply rub it on and it offers the hair a pleasant little texture.”
“I began chopping hair when the Jheri Curl was standard,” Muhammad added. “I imply, I had one myself. However then we went from the Jheri Curl to the low haircut with the waves. Then the bald fade grew to become standard. Then tapered hair with the afro form. Then braids got here in and we had to determine what we have been going to do when the braids began coming in, as a result of that was much less haircuts, proper So they’d go get braided up after which come get the liner and the shave from us.”
“I haven’t got any hair however you would be stunned how many individuals can mess up a bald head,” mentioned longtime buyer Khalid Jordan, who involves the store each few weeks to get his head fully shaved. “You’d assume that is the best factor on the planet, nevertheless it’s not on a regular basis.”
The partitions of the store are adorned with pictures and memorabilia, a testomony to its wealthy historical past. The sounds of clippers, laughter, and full of life dialog fill the air, creating an environment of heat and camaraderie.
“This can be a place the place kids, younger Black males, can come and see gents and perceive what gents dialog is,” Muhammed mentioned.
Final June, the town of Chicago honored the Coleman brothers by designating a bit of 68th Road as “Honorary Coleman Brothers Manner,” a becoming tribute to their enduring contributions to the group.
However Coleman Brothers Barbershop is greater than only a place the place clients get their hair styled. As an alternative, it is a haven for the group — a spot the place the previous and current intertwine, making a legacy that its house owners hope will proceed to encourage generations to return.
“Traditionally (Black folks) did not all the time have locations the place we will go and let our voices be heard — our voices have been all the time stifled when it got here to sure issues,” Muhammad mentioned. “So this barber store, like a variety of Black barber retailers, is a spot the place we will let our voices be heard.”
