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Go Ahead and Rub My Hair
It’s a microaggression that won’t offend me
Do you want to rub my hair?
Do you want to touch my hair?
Go ahead! No, really! Go ahead.
I know why you want to. My black hair is unlike any other group of people.
It looks different. White hair looks similar to Chinese, Indian, or Latino hair. It falls down, straight or curly; short, shoulder-length, or longer. There are some differences, like colour and texture.
But those differences don’t cause interest, do they?
Look at the Black man’s hair. It’s tightly curled. It doesn’t move, even in gale-force winds. It can look as rough as a bastard file, or as smooth as a calm sea.
Of course, it evokes interest.
Again I say touch it. Give it a rub and experience its coarseness. There’s nothing like it.
I know that you’re curious. Why wouldn’t you be? You’re human. Anything that looks different demands exploring, and we explore with our senses. If you don’t touch, you miss out on an important part of satisfying your curiosity.
I appreciate that you asked and that you’re interested. You do have to be careful though. Some of my brothers and sisters are offended by this interest and…
