Kieran Dodds,photographer from Edinburgh,has spent over ten years capturing the essence of red-haired people. It started with Scottish identity in 2013,but soon expanded worldwide,including places like Perm, Russia and Treasure Beach, Jamaica.
After his 2020 book, Gingers, he realized he'd overlooked Americans. That led to a flood of stories from the U.S. "I thought,'wow, of course,the whole world is in the States,'" he said, seeing America's diversity.
A Native American man with red hair piqued Dodds' interest in the genetics behind this trait. His new book,Gingers of America,includes Joshua Elliot from Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma,who shared his German, English, and Swedish ancestry—potential sources of his ginger hair.
Dodds found many Native Americans aware of their European roots,often explaining red hair. Scots and Irish marrying Native Americans was new to him. Lottie Wahkinney, a Comanche girl from Oklahoma with Scottish grandparents,embodies this blend.
On his travels, Dodds met many, like Lakia Jones, Cherokee girl whose red hair stood out in her family of black-haired relatives. "Everyone thought, since I was about eight, that I dyed my hair," she said.
In Alabama, known for civil rights and space history,Dodds saw vibrant Birmingham, full of culture. He met Rachel Releford, who spoke about perceptions of her biracial family. "When I go out with my daughter,people think I am her nanny," she shared.
Henry Davis, from Alabama, recalled his childhood red hair passed to his son. family’s uncertainty about their ginger roots shows the mix of genetics and heritage. Dodds also met the Smith family from Burke,Virginia, showing ginger hair's diversity.
As a redhead himself,Dodds knows the stigma of ginger hair. He contrasts the term ginger with vividness of red. He sees ginger hair as "golden thread" linking American history and identity.
One standout was Cali Trawick,an Alabama boy with European, African-American,Hispanic, and Indigenous ancestry. His family history reflects America's melting pot. Trawick's grandmother faced barriers in interracial relationships, showing past challenges.
In Scotland,13% of people are naturally red-haired, much higher than the global 2%. Dodds estimates 4% of Americans are red-haired, suggesting a "city" of 14 million redheads in the U.S.
Dodds' journey uncovers a unique American identity, where people recognize their diverse roots. Every American has a migration story,including Native Americans. This makes exploring ginger hair not just personal,but a reflection of the American experience .
Through his lens,Dodds captures more than hair color; he tells a story celebrating connections among people. His work reminds us of shared humanity beyond appearances,showing how something like hair color unveils deep stories of identity and heritage.
