Key Points
- Hackney Museum displays the “Hairmoji” campaign by Rise.365 to promote hair texture diversity in emojis.
- Rise.365, a Hackney-based community interest company, partnered with Dove to highlight the lack of black and mixed hairstyle emojis.
- The free exhibition Stories Woven In Strands: Texturism and the campaign for hair representation runs until 29 November.
- The campaign features four emojis representing afro, cornrows, locs, and braids.
- A local maths teacher incorporated Hairmoji-inspired characters into school workbooks.
- Melissa Stevenson of Hackney Museum praised Rise.365’s work and encouraged community support.
- Despite 4,000 emojis available on the iPhone, none represent mixed or black hairstyles.
- Rise.365 has formally proposed these emojis to the Unicode Consortium for inclusion.
- Previous similar efforts, like New York’s Rhianna Jones’s #AfroHairMatters petition, were rejected by Unicode, citing existing curly hair emoji coverage.
Why is Hackney Museum showcasing the Hairmoji campaign now?
As reported by Isabella Yanis of East London Lines, Hackney Museum currently hosts a free exhibition titled Stories Woven In Strands: Texturism and the campaign for hair representation, which showcases the “Hairmoji” initiative led by Rise.365. This Hackney-based community interest company advocates for young people’s lives and local community empowerment. The exhibition is open to visitors until 29 November and aims to raise awareness of the limited portrayal of black and mixed black hairstyles in digital emoji sets.
Melissa Stevenson, Assistant at Hackney Museum, told East London Lines that “Rise.365 is a very self-sufficient group of young people,” highlighting their dedication and hard work. She also encouraged the public to support the Hairmoji campaign during its display.
What does the Hairmoji campaign represent?
The campaign comprises four newly created emojis representing popular hairstyles among black and mixed communities — afro, cornrows, locs, and braids. These styles had not previously been represented despite the vast array of over 4,000 emojis available on platforms like the iPhone.
Founder teams from Rise.365 collaborated with Dove, the well-known cosmetics brand, to launch this initiative. Dove’s involvement helped broaden public attention toward how emojis have historically lacked diversity, particularly for black hair textures.
How is the local community reacting to Hairmoji?
Community engagement has been evident, including contributions from local professionals such as a maths teacher who integrated Hairmoji-inspired emoji characters into school workbooks, enriching educational content with culturally relevant symbols.
The campaign’s visibility at Hackney Museum has drawn praise for giving voice and representation to underrepresented groups, fostering pride and cultural recognition through digital media.
What challenges has the campaign faced in the past with emoji representation?
Rise.365’s current proposal to the Unicode Consortium — the authoritative body for emoji approval — calls for adding these hairstyles into the standard emoji set. They emphasize that inclusion would
“not only represent black and mixed-race people accurately but also educate individuals globally about the beautiful diversity of black culture and hairstyles.”
A similar movement six years ago, led by New York freelance writer Rhianna Jones, advocated for “afromoji” and “dreadmoji” to capture afro and dreadlock hairstyles. Jones amassed over 70,000 signatures on her #AfroHairMatters petition but faced rejection from the Unicode Consortium. The body stated the current curly hair emoji “was designed to reflect a variety of hairstyles,” thereby denying the specific representation sought.
Why does the Unicode Consortium matter for emoji representation?
The Unicode Consortium standardizes emojis worldwide, making their decisions crucial for how cultures and identities appear in digital communication. Inclusion in their official set means global platforms like Apple, Google, and social networks can use and display the emojis universally.
Representation in emojis holds social and cultural significance, impacting visibility, acceptance, and pride among communities seeking recognition in mainstream media and technology.
What is the significance of this exhibition for broader cultural diversity?
By hosting the Hairmoji campaign, Hackney Museum not only provides a platform for Rise.365’s voices but also challenges the tech industry to diversify the range of emojis. “Stories Woven In Strands” addresses the concept of texturism — discrimination based on hair texture — highlighting the need for cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in everyday digital interactions.
Melissa Stevenson underlines this by praising the youth-led initiative’s hard work and urging visitors to support the campaign, seeking wider social awareness beyond the museum walls.
About Rise.365 and Its Role in the Campaign
Rise.365 functions as a community interest company dedicated to youth empowerment in Hackney. Their innovative approach combines activism with cultural education to promote representation through digital media.
Their partnership with Dove, known for campaigns championing diverse beauty standards, strengthens the impact and reach of Hairmoji, bringing attention to systemic gaps in emoji diversity.
What Next for Hairmoji and Emoji Diversity?
Hackney Museum’s exhibition ends on 29 November, but Rise.365’s campaign continues in pursuit of official emoji inclusion. Success would mark a landmark victory for representation, reflecting the true diversity of global communities.
Public support and advocacy remain critical, echoing earlier petitions like #AfroHairMatters and pressuring bodies like the Unicode Consortium to reconsider their stance on emoji diversity.
Visual and Community Impact of the Exhibition
As seen in photographs shared by East London Lines journalist Isabella Yanis, the exhibition showcases the four unique hairstyles represented by Hairmoji. These images underline the campaign’s creative effort to make visible what has been historically overlooked in digital culture.
This exhibition invites visitors to reflect on texturism, cultural identity, and the role of digital icons in shaping public perception of race and beauty.
