Former Monroe County Legislator and Master Barber, Willie J. Lightfoot, teamed up with Andre’s Barber Shop and Salon to provide free haircuts to Rochester children on Monday evening. After a violent week in the nation, the shop hosted Cut the Violence to provide haircuts to kids between ages 10 and 17 and begin a community conversation promoting peace.
As 10-year-old Natural slid back into the chair and got comfortable, Lightfoot wrapped a red cape around his neck and fastened the velcro closure. The boy wasn’t smiling, but his body language conveyed his excitement.
“Every kid just wants to get a haircut and be appreciated,” says Natural.
Like many African-American males, he looks forward to regular grooming at the barber shop. It’s a local hangout and a place that has long been considered a safe haven in black communities. Men feel free to gather and share information about sports, politics – and get their hair cut. Historically, the barber shop has also been a place for social activism.
Andre Morrison, the shop’s owner, has offered up the space and his talents for causes like this many times before. With every snip of his scissors, Morrison spoke to and encouraged the young men to stand down in the face of violent activity.
“We’re going to try to give them the right knowledge to walk away and not fuel the fire and some of this negativity,” says Morrison.
Organizers say Cut the Violence is regularly scheduled to take place during this week, because there is usually a spike of violence around the Fourth of July holiday.
Morrison says simply opening his doors and his ear to these children is his small part in the solution.
“It’s welcoming them in so that we can get this message to them at the same time and let them know we’re out here and there’s people out here in the community that care.”
The Pirate Toy Fund also supplied various gifts for the children to take home. Now in its 11th year, organizers say the event has provided more than 2,000 free haircuts and helped steer many boys off the path to violence.
