23 Oct (New Video Post) “You can Touch My Hair” by @HairUnRuled – How do you feel?

I mentioned in my 50 Random Facts video that one of my favorite things to talk about is race, I believe it helps to stop ignorance.

I remember this exhibit in the summer and at the time I thought that it was very interesting and good for unruly.com for doing something like this and opening up the discussion on whether or not touching a black women’s hair is ok and informing people about why the natural hair movement has taken place and in some ways why it’s so important.

While watching this video I got kind of emotional strangely. I think the whole natural hair movement is incredibly empowering for women of color and I’m a huge supporter of it but at the same time I was a bit sad seeing us on display and knowing that we have to still talk about this stuff because…well frankly people are ignorant to black hair and culture but oddly fascinated with it because it’s “so different”. It was weird to watch people taking pictures with us with big grins on their face as they pose with a black woman and her hair. I understood all of the women of color coming over though because black women love hair and are willing to talk about it all the time lol.

But as much as I think it’s important to inform the general public about our hair at the same time, I find it a bit weird and it gives me a mix of emotions. I don’t want anyone to touch my hair! I don’t know where your hands have been or what kind of energy you’ve got that you’re now trying to put onto my scalp! Like every other black woman in the world people are always fascinated with my hair, asking if it’s real, how did I get it like that and assuming that I have some type of chemical treatment in it and then they share their sympathy with me about “everything we have to go through” with our hair. All of this offends me.

We’re still the only group that is constantly on display and the topic of a study for someone to dissect  how and why we are the way we are. *Sigh* I can’t wait for the day when we’re not anymore. Even though my emotions were mixed while watching this short film, I still appreciate un-ruly.com for doing something like this and making a very informative video not only for other races and cultures but also for black women and showing a little piece into our day-to-day lives. Thank you Un’ruly ladies!

So now a question for you guys, what do you think? Are you ok with people touching your hair? How did the exhibit make you feel?