Black Women Stand on NY Street and Allow Strangers to Touch Their Hair as Part of Social Experiment

I think it sounds and looks degrading…as though these women( and other African American women) are animals at a petting zoo. Thanks, but no thanks. I would not do this personally.

I think I get what you’re saying- (especially) a city like New York is relatively diverse so there should already be some curiosity leading people to some acknowledgment that hair of people of African origin is different. However, just a thought- I’m Nigerian, and I live in Nigeria. Since I went natural, I’ve had quite a few people at random ask me if they can touch my hair. They touch it, I’ve had 2 or 3 people pull it to stretch it out without asking lol (shrinkage is a mystery to them) It can be annoying but they do it.… Read more »

This feels National Geographic to me. Or petting zooish like the previous commentor stated. I get what they’re doing but damn it’s so…public!

That being said I do at times allow ppl(who ask)to touch my hair. And yes, I feel like I’m starring in an episode of Nat Geo Wild. I have made allowances for admirers and the genuinely curious because despite some feelings of weirdness, I do acknowledge the intrigue that is linked with our hair.

They made a personal choice to do this, even if it’s viewed as a petting zoo. I personally hate when people play with my hair, It makes my scalp crawl and they might be the person that used the commode and didn’t wash their hands, etc. It’s not black peoples job to educate ignorant people. I wasn’t offended when my teacher ask the black girls in the class how did they take care of their hair, it sparked a discussion about black hair diversity and it educated some people. Some people just don’t know how to be respectful. I had… Read more »

We/I need not take it too personally. It is “their” experiment. I welcome hair touching from my black and white friends (when they ask)and questions about my nature hair too. Perhaps we wouldn’t have to do this if we wore our real natural hair out more. All their hair looks beautiful. #askbeforeyoutouchmyBBA

My irritation with the natural hair community is the assumption that people of other races have negative opinions about our hair, and while definitely dependant upon location, I truly don’t believe this to be true. When I BC’d all the positivity came from white people while my black family and friends seemed to have an endless supply of negative comments. I think it would be more beneficial to have this project, or something very similar, in black communities so that we as a race can appreciate and love our own beauty instead of trying to unnecessarily prove it to another… Read more »

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this post. Without going into a lot of detail (for once, lol) I have spent a good chunk of my life being that representative/educator (obviously not just when it comes to hair, but Black People™ in general) and at this point I am DONE. If other sisters want to go on and demystify what really isn’t that all that frickin’ complicated — and in public, no less — then good for them. I, however, am pretty much over it. And I REALLY have to applaud both the idea of repeating this experiment in a black neighborhood —… Read more »

“A significant percentage of women in the natural community are married inter-racially. Which proves that it is possible for men of other races to form meaningful and substantive bonds with black women without these types of displays.”

That’s the issue right there–The voyeurism that Americans already exhibit way too much of. People of other ethnicities aren’t walking exhibits from EPCOT. Form real, human relationships if you want the experience. Encouraging people to further separate individual human beings that are “foreign” to them into a collection of characteristics is irresponsible.

Do I think it’s a good experiment? Not really. If someone (black, white, or other) decided to touch anyones hair, they should then be asked to fill out a survey or be contacted at a later date to really determine why they felt the need to touch the hair of person A B or C. If it was to be a more productive experiment there should be more of an experimental component that would add to the overall findings. On another note, I would not let anyone and everyone touch/ feel on my hair because who knows when those paws… Read more »

I agree with the writer of this article.

This can also look at why people on the whole think we (black people) are unapproachable and can only be accessible with ‘experiments’ such as these. That would be interesting for me.

Also .… . I am curious … What exactly happens once their hair has been touched? A general chat about hair practices? A little history provided on the politics surrounding black hair? Or do the people just touch the hair of silent hair models and leave?

i have been asked… can i touch your hair when it was long and i wore it out poof style pulled back in a hair tie. it was a colleague, and i thought he was a creeper, but i let him touch it. it’s so soft. he was amazed. i have also been asked how long it is stretched out by a female colleague at work. so i loosened my braid and we stretched it out almost to my waist. i cut it short, but it’s type 3 whatever hair. folks were curious, blacks and whites, when i cut my hair,… Read more »

My opinion is that the fact of people touching your hair is nothing negative. If you allow them to in order to break down prejudice and ignorance, then why not?

Difference are not negative they are beautiful and enriching. They become negative when they are used in a harmful way.

I believe that these ladies did a good thing. Instead of just let people create ‘myths’ around black people’s hair they have engaged them in a way that could lead to talking about racial discrimination within society.

So…I understand doing something that is shocking and/or usually frowned upon to gather some info/data but I don’t really understand what they were trying to achieve? Are they trying to figure out if “others” are still ignorant about black hair??…why not just walk to the street and ask people questions?…this reminds me of the “Ask a Jew” expo that was held in Germany(I think). A little weird IMO but oh,well…

On another note, if that were me, I would have bitten some fingers off…especially the less than tender ones!!

The only way we can dispute the myths is by telling the truth and sharing who we are culturally with other people. Without people who are willing to openly introduce the culture we would maintain a constant pattern of exclusivity or even mysterium. True, I do not want a random person touching me, but for the parameters of what they are doing I think it is a good idea and I would actively participate 🙂 When we were little girls how often did we “play” in each others hair. I grew up in DC, where the majority of the population was… Read more »

Mixed feelings about this. Makes us seem ‘exotic’… like we’re alien to the rest of society that has ‘normal’ hair. This exotic quality is good and it can be bad — depending on the context. I dunno…

great article!!! im a central american woman, i have straight hair that i wear in braids down to almost my waist.. id get the same respond from people wanting to touch my braids.sometimes they’d ask sometimes they would just touch.. think anything that looks exotic is open season for sone folks…

Hello all, I visited NYC for the first time from London, UK, in June last year. I had a fantastic experience on the whole apart from one afternoon while visiting the Empire State Building. I had a white American lady approach me from behind and say “can I touch your hair?”. It was a surprise to say the least. I said “I’d really rather you didn’t” and carried on with my day. It’s only after the experience with the months between that I have considered the position of the women. From my perspective, I didn’t want to be petted and… Read more »

What’s wrong with allowing people to dip into black culture before returning home to safety? That’s what people do with things new and different. You checkout something new and take the experience home and share it. You begin to see and appreciate and value the differences as well as the commonalities. I think it’s unsatisfied curiosity that can lead to misconception and sometimes harmful speculation. That some feel diminished by this experiment tells me a bit about their life experience. Why do you feel so viscerally about what someone else is doing, because they’re also black, because it reflects back… Read more »

This is why I miss living in New York, there is always something going on like this. As much as people think NYC is so Diverse, that doesn’t mean they aren’t curious. I never understood why people have a problem with someone touching there hair. Your not cutting it, you not washing it, and your not throwing something in it. sooo Why be petty about someone touching it. People play with and touch long straight hair on people all the time. It won’t mess it up. I’m the only black girl at my job and they are amazed at how… Read more »

I was present and I would interesting was that everyone mostly touched the natural and loc’d hair, people rarely touched the relax hair. I don’t see this as degrading, I find this empowering, I tired of black hair being a political statement, it’s just hair.

Your last question was “what are your thoughts on (these) ladies”? These ladies are beautiful and so is their hair but my thought is the whole idea of standing in the middle of the street as a mad woman trying to impose your beauty on WHO in particular???? The ignorant will of course stop and feel/touch your hair but the intelligent knows and would rather go by his/her day business cos its a waste of time. The headline of the exhibit is (YOU CAN TOUCH MY HAIR) and what happens next??? Maybe, I misunderstood the whole concept but this article is… Read more »

so i dont get it. why dont you want anyone touching your hair?? other than the petting zoo aspect i mean? where i m frm you hair in a good style or puffed and it’s like everybody goes fingers first.
and while only sometimes i dnt like it, i dont understand why so many other ppl dont?

so i dont get it. why dont you want anyone touching your hair?? other than the petting zoo aspect i mean? where i m frm you hair in a good style or puffed and it’s like everybody goes fingers first.
and while only sometimes i dnt like it, i dont understand why so many other ppl dont?
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/tumblr_kzjzwcLzPj1qzirl9o1_500.gif[/img]

How is this a social experiment? What are they testing? How is this more than just a display or social *statement*? This sounds an awful lot like the Venus Hottentot to me, voluntary display that it might be. I see what they’re trying to do, but I don’t think it’s black women’s job to become a spectacle in order to collectively dispel white “curiosity and questions.” I mean, we don’t go up to a woman wearing a burqa and say “What are you hiding under there?” Do we next walk around shirtless to show that our breasts look different and… Read more »

My initial response to this project was that it looks somewhat degrading. I certainly wouldn’t do it. I get that the purpose is to showcase black hair to people who don’t know, but why not have a symposium? Why not have a conversation about it? Will walking by and touching hair really start the conversation that is necessary to expand people’s concepts of beauty? I don’t know for sure, but I just don’t feel that this is the way to do it. This doesn’t place black beauty on a pedestal. This so-called “exhibit” makes black beauty look like something of… Read more »

I am bi-racial and I have very straight fine hair. When I was going up (I grew up in the black community) friends and non-friends would want to touch or play with my hair. I didn’t like it then and definitely would not like it now. My daughter has thick, long, curly hair and her friends and others are always wanting to play in it. She prefers for them not to. Once, while we were out, a grown woman wanted to touch my daughter’s hair and I screamed, “Do not touch my child!” My son wears his hair in a… Read more »

Ha! They all wanted to touch the big hair

I grew up in Africa and I remember the first time I saw a white person up close. I was curious especially about their hair and skin and eye color because their features were foreign so different from mine and what I was used to seeing. I did want to touch their hair to see what it felt like. People are just curious in nature. This experiment doesn’t bother if anything I am slightly amused and wouldn’t do such a thing. I’ve been natural for nine months. My family was indifferent but I’ve been known to do me. They touched my… Read more »

There a many non-Black people that have never seen or touched kinky/curly/locked/relaxer hair up close. I understand how this could be offensive — petting zoo aspect, however, I think it is overall pretty great. This was simply an experiment worth trying just to educate. There are so many people ignorant of what the people in their society look like. Ignorance creates fear. I’d rather not be feared.

I’m a proud black woman and am also proud of my hair because it’s a part of me. I don’t get this project. We are not to try to make people accept us understand us and love us. We are all different and should be proud of it I don’t think standing on a street corner holding up signs trying to inspire curiosity is the answer. Other races don’t have to explain their hair neither should we. I’ve heard people complain because their boss won’t allow them to come to work with certain natural hairstyles because they don’t like it.… Read more »

What is the point of this experiment? This is what I wanna know. To teach people about black culture/heritage? if that’s the case then why do they need to touch these women’s hair? It says nothing of the culture/heritage, only of their physical appearance. It would be better to sit and have an actual discussion. If the people are just coming up and touching their hair, and not doing anything else to follow it up, it’s pretty pointless ‘experiment’, and is more like a petting zoo, and in turn offensive because we are not animals. And how many people who touched… Read more »

I think people are judging this experiment prematurely. The writer should have not filled more than half of the article with their own opinion. Thereby taking the focus away from the reason behind the experiment and its results. I grew up in Africa and like Sana I too had one or two moments of wanting to touch Caucasian hair. I remember wondering if my green eyed teacher could really see me with eyes that color. Now that I have been exposed to people of all races and from different cultures, I not only have a greater appreciation of other human… Read more »

I also think it’s more important to educate the black community more than anyone else and encourage a love for our hair, skin color diversity our race respecting others and being proud of who we are before we look to teach others about it.

I don’t know if social experiment is the right phrase–she actually calls it an “interactive public art exhibit” which is probably more accurate. I think her point about exposure to natural hair being rare is a fair one–black women are about 6% of the population, natural black women are a significantly smaller percentage, so, especially if you aren’t from a major city with a large black population, it’s likely you’ve never seen natural hair in person. It’s true some people’s “curiosity” is offensive and condescending (I put anyone who just walks up and grabs in this category), but a lot… Read more »

As a white man I find black women’s hair in all it’s forms beautiful to look at and touch. Luckily I found an African wife to put up with me!
We have a two year old daughter and being mixed race her hair is well on the way to looking like the girl on the left. Crazily unruly bu gorgeous !

How embarrassing. Social experiment or not it’s weird to stand on a corner and say, “Go ahead and touch me”. Now all of the men and women can go home and tell the kids about their day, “And I got to touch a black women’s hair!”. I saw this image a few days ago and I looked it up just to add it to this post. The women are not comparable to the dog in the photo, it’s the sign factor and letting people know “Of course you can pet me!” I know I’m going to get negative comments but… Read more »

Although, yes, there are many other ways to break down barriers between races/genders, I have to disagree with this author. Here’s why. I’ve heard that the first step toward good inter-racial and cultural relationships begins with (1) genuine curiosity and awe of something different then who a person is. Nothing malicious and purely curious. This is where the ‘experiment’ comes in. This hair ‘experiment’ provides a place for people who have had relatively little or practically no deep experience/relationship with blacks to (1) learn more about something as personal as someone’s hair and (2) have open communication and start a conversation… Read more »

Touching someone’s hair can be very sensitive, particularly if it is loc’d. We are so accustomed to the mainstream loc culture that have no connection with the decision behind loc’ing. Traditionally locs had a spiritual motivation and the person with locs would take great offense to someone touching their hair. I do react negatively when someone takes liberties and touches my hair, regardless of its texture/style. It is an extension of my person and I do not give you permission, do not touch.

Think y’all are getting ruled up for nothing. These women are all smiles. If they’re ok with people touching THEIR hair then I’m fine with it. People are just curious. Anything different from us will spark curiosity. And it’s a fact that black women are known for “don’t touch my hair.” Here’s their opportunity to touch.

So.…out of the 3 which one got the most touches?

I don’t let adults touch my hair due to my known boundaries; no part of my body should not be touched without my consent. Period. The only time I find it permissible to let another human being touch my hair is when a child does it. Children typically don’t see racial divisions until later in their development and are curious about everything. My Japanese-American friend’s five year old daughter touched my hair for the first time a few weeks ago and exclaimed with overwhelming wonder, “You have dragon hair!” Although I am certain that dragons have scales, her limited vocabulary… Read more »

That’s kinda weird i don’t know what to think of this.

I like the idea of this experiment. I think it gives the power back to them (the girls doing the experiment) and to black women in general. And it’s a fun and easy way to get a conversation going. A way to break the ice, so to speak. I grew up in an area with very few black people. I don’t think I had any black friends until I moved to NYC to go to college. And yes, I was always curious about what black people’s hair felt like to the touch. It’s not my fault I didn’t have black… Read more »

“Black hair is unique. It requires different care techniques and routines.”

White hair is unique. It requires different care techniques and routines.

I’m just sayin’.

“I fear that a display like this allows some people the opportunity to dip into black culture for an experience before returning to the ‘safety’ of a significantly less diverse world.” Wow. It’s not like they are allowing people to apply blackface and “live amongst” us. Calm down. I don’t understand why people touching black hair is such a big deal. It is not odd to be interested in something that differs from one’s own experience. People are ignorant because they do not know better. Give them the facts and they are no longer ignorant. That’s how education happens. If someone… Read more »

Random people DO ask to touch my hair a lot when it’s out in a fro and I don’t have a problem with it, as long as they ask first and don’t startle me. They usually give me a ton of compliments after they do too about how soft it is and how do I take care of it. It’s like previous people have said, they’re just trying to learn about it. With the whole natural movement we ourselves are learning about our own hair, I don’t see the problem with other people learning about it as well along with… Read more »

it is werid but again i dunno them . if they wanna them touch then go for it. it is their own hair, not mine. If they ask me, I will say no. Only my family can do it after I ask if they know how to handle it gentle and wash hands

I get more compliments with a wash n go. “how did you get your hair like that?!” I love replying “I just washed it and it dried”. lol I don’t mind the stares & questions but don’t touch my sh*t!

I am Hispanic and have natural hair and I have random people come up to me and ask me questions/touch my hair. When I started going natural, I started dating an Asian man, my mother said that my bf was used to “good” hair and would leave me as soon as my hair grew out to its natural state. Five years later we are still going strong, he loves my hair and can’t stop playing with it, and he can have a whole conversation about hair products and techniques.I think the important message to take away here is that we… Read more »

Reading this made me wonder if it was really 2013. Most people do not care about black folks hair. Most people do not care if your hair is curly, straight, big, short or long. They just do not care. I’m natural and I wear my hair out 80% of the time in a wash & go, it is about shoulder length, un-stretched. No one, has ever asked to touch my hair unless we were talking about hair already. I don’t get odd looks. This article makes it seem like folks look at black women as some kind of science experiment and I… Read more »

Seems like there might be a better way to introduce someone to ethnicity. So what happens after they touch the hair?

I’m sorry, this just seems too much like a damn petting zoo to me. No thank you.

Relaxed or natural, I don’t want people(strangers)touching my hair!!! For me, hands in the hair has always been an intimate issue — trust, communication, bonding, love — much like a stroke of cheek or face… Strangers can not touch my hair.

Hair is apart of my body. To invite someone to touch my hair is the equivalent of inviting them to touch any other part of my body. Inappropriate for complete strangers, not to mention immature.

People want to know about how different cultures take care of their hair. Let them. I don’t see the big deal, as long as someones asks nicely and is respectful. I hang out with many people who don’t have kinky hair. They always wanted to know how I did this or that to my hair. They were shocked I don’t wash my hair everyday or I put oil INTO my hair, etc. Y’all don’t act like you don’t do the same thing to other cultures. This is a fun way to do it. Just cause we are black woman doesn’t everything… Read more »

I do not think it is is degrading at all, as the people out there are willing to showcase hair textures. It is more degrading when people when people touch without asking a person (invasion of personal space) or make false, ignorant assumptions or conclusions about Black hair as a result of not being educated. Being hostile towards exhibits like this can make naturally curious people be afraid to ask questions and learn because they fear getting verbally attacked and/or hostile stares. I have seen this happen. I think we need to need to TAKE BACK certain stigmas… and be… Read more »

This is POWERFUL. Yes, take away the secrecy and fear around our hair. Not only amongst white folks, but for us. This, in my mind, is not for the white gaze or experience, this is for us! We must free ourselves from these worry of what “they” think, and how it effects “them.” It reclaims something that slavery, white supremacy, self-hatred and media have taken away. Our freedom! The varied responses to this social experiment are intriguing to me. We live in a world that appears to be diverse, but we have very little real, tangible knowledge about one another.… Read more »

Why can’t this social experiment be pushed a little more and find out how many people touched each head?

Sounds like a petting zoo to me.…but what do I know.

I get what they were trying to accomplish with this experiment, but it just seems so weird to me. It’s almost like a human petting zoo. Not trying to be funny, but seriously… black women standing on the street and random folks come by and stroke their hair. How in the world is that not weird? Why do we always feel the need to make others comfortable with everything about us? Yes our hair’s texture may be unique and I understand other people being curious, but was this really the best way?

I thoroughly enjoyed this article. I understand that some of you never may have experienced this. I have locs and I certainly have. I applaud the ladies for their bold statement and acceptance of their own hair choices. As Black people, how others feel about our own hair in its natural state is a direct reflection of how we have felt or continue to feel. The “never touch a black woman’s hair” statements. Listen to what you say about our different hair textures and your own thoughts concerning our hair. We can not get angry if our own hair has… Read more »

Very provocative. Are we educating or putting ourselves on display once again?

I grew up in a mixed community but I never had the chance to ask those around me about their hair because of the fear of being rejected for not knowing something that was so common to them. I applaud these women for breaking the boundaries and opening a dialogue for those that may not have had that chance to ask. You can read all you want from books, magazines and the internet but hearing, seeing and feeling something in person is the best way to learn about almost anything.

@Jarmelia It depends where you live. I identify with those that have experienced odd looks and people asking to touch our hair. But then I live in the second whitest city in the U.S

Okayyyyy so what was the outcome? How many people touched each girls hair? I mean the whole point of a social experiment like this would be to note on peoples reactions and who they touched more right?

We are all being watched/studied and some twisted anthropologists is writing it all down.

I’m opposed to strangers touching me period, hair or otherwise. However I think they originally framed this as and exhibit/art, the use of the word experiment already leads people to a negative space, which as long as their hair isn’t being touch shouldn’t really bother them. If these ladies are okay with it, and it may have educated one person then more power to them.

I don’t think the experiment is only directed at white people. Those are just the pictures provided. I think this could be beneficial for a black person to go and touch their hair. As person with natural hair. I get people of all races that want to touch my hair but most are black women who have relaxed hair. They are curious and want to know if it is soft to te touch. They tell me they are afraid to go natural because they think their hair will be hard or dry. But after they touch my hair, they see… Read more »

Jessiebyrd, I could not AGREE MORE.

I’ve only had one non-black person touch my fro and I let her know that it was NOT cool and to not do that to anyone else in the future. But I have had SOOOO many black folks ( a lot of men too) feel comfortable with straight up touching my hair without asking. The color of ones skin does not mark how curious they will be nor give them a pass to invade personal space. They too should ask and I’d be open to having a discussion with them.

This is so cool!!! Awe guys why does everything have to always be so political? I think we sometimes read waaaay too deep into things and make issues out of nothing! Black people are a minority in some areas and people are just curious! It doesn’t mean that they’re ignorant or anything bc they’re not spending hours learning about our hair.… I mean how many of us have really spent hours learning about their hair? I’ve touched many of my white, Indian friends’ hair out of curiosity and they aren’t the least bit offended but enjoy and invite questions! I… Read more »

I feel like some people need to calm down. It’s not as big of a deal and as sacred as people are pretending. It’s just hair. Its not like they’re asking to cut a lock of it off…I think the experiment is great, although it would be more interesting to find out which head of hair received the most touches, which one was liked more the participating parties and why. I’m an African American female who went to an international college and studied in Japan. I wore my hair natural, straight and braided. It didn’t matter how my hair was styled… Read more »

I’m not really sure how to feel about this. I respect these women for their choice however I know I don’t like for people to touch me/my hair, mostly because it happens frequently without invitation. Right off the bat, it strikes me as making black women “public/common property”.Asking questions and being curious? Awesome! Touching me and invading my personal space? Never ok. I know these ladies made their intentions clear (the signs) but I’m concerned when so many people don’t necessarily need an invitation (this includes other cultures as well as blacks). So it’s not so much about race but… Read more »

Could you please tell me if there is any hard data out there about Black women with natural hair marrying inter-racially. I would love to see that if you have it. Thanks!

Lol, that’s funny cause I live in San Diego and any time that I get my hair in braids or wear it out slightly natural, I’m still transitioning, people always ask, “Can I touch it”? Lol, always say sure unless they look unclean. It makes me laugh, but if it helps them understand the difference of my hair from their hair then I’m ok with it. This was all volunteer for the women to allow strangers to touch their hair. If you don’t like hands in your hair then don’t volunteer, simple as that. I think its great.

I don’t care what ethnicity one is. If you aren’t a significant other, close friend or close relative, do not touch my hair. Even then, I’m not going to let anyone that has touched this and that in public to lay a finger on my head. I don’t know where your hands have been, ew!

I commented on this on another blog…no thanks, can’t stand folks touching my hair (with rare exception-such as a question and answer dialogue which results in someone asking can they touch it). It makes me feel like someone’s pet. The first 2 things that came to mind when I saw this concept was ‘petting zoo’ and Saartjie “Sarah” Baartman. On display for others to see and poke and prod under the auspices of learning. No thanks.

“And on an unrelated note, those colored locs and that curly fro are FIRE!”
.…. and the permed sister?
I love this idea BTW. If you did this in the country I now live, you would still be on the side of the road…It wouldn’t have ended.

For me, the most important part of this exhibit are the signs reading “you can touch my hair.” It is true that the onus is placed on Blacks to educate whites about who we are, but while I object to that on principal, I also understand that curiosity is natural. My concern is that, by indulging that curiosity, we further support the ideal of us as “other.” (The world is seen as “white” and “other,” rather than as a range of diversity situated in the voice of the experience of one. White people are not often challenged to recognize that,… Read more »

The fact that people are so obsessed about not having other people touch their hair is kind of scary. I understand people randomly touching you is weird but if someone asks, what is the big deal?

Although i understand what everyone is saying about it always falls on us to educate others about us as black people. My question is if we don’t then who will? I think in doing this experiment it shows people that our hair can be worn in different ways same as their’s. There is no one way how a black woman should look and this experiment shows that. It shouldn’t be our job to educate them but i for one take is as my privilege. I love answering questions and in some cases i am not opposed to the touching as… Read more »

I appreciate the social experiment. We are so segregated in our daily lives, that we live in a world of stereotypes. These women allow others to approach them and learn that not all “black hair” is alike. It has different texture, waves, body, feel. It starts a dialogue. If you can’t access the experience in real life, how can you learn? Intellectualism only goes so far.

I think their signs need an addendum like you can touch my hair ‘just for today’ because this behavior in my opinion too closely ressembles petting.

No. Uh uh HECK NO!!! I don’t know how many hands I have popped for touching my hair without my permission. Now yes, there are specific people who know they can just touch my hair without asking and there are those who I will most likely say yes to if they ask, but a random stranger just touching my hair and me being on display to let them touch it? Nope. Not going to happen! This “experiment” is dumb. Where’s the data? What were they testing? I swear we repeat history too much. This is just a minor parallel to… Read more »

I don’t agree with this experiment. Why do Black people have to explain everything about ourselves down to our hair? Why are we looked upon as a different specie? It’s hair. Our hair comes in different colors, lengths, textures just like any other race. I’m not downing the women who participated in the experiment. Maybe they’re more open-minded then myself but I’ve experienced way too many simple-minded questions about my hair from other races. It’s not my responsibility to explain how my hair can be curly one day and up to my ears (wash and go) and the next day… Read more »

nice

I think this is fine, because these women gave the strangers permission to touch their hair. When people just suddenly touch your hair because they feel like it, without asking, I think they’ve crossed a line. This is a forum designed for touching, so there’s nothing wrong with it. A lot of people mean well when they touch hair, they are just curious, especially when the hair is not like theirs. Curly haired white women complain about the same thing. People don’t ask and just touch their hair, ruin the curl definition they worked so hard on and create frizz,lol. But… Read more »

It irkes me to the core that society treats us as if we always have to explain ourselves to them! No one whether black, white or purple needs to know anything about me. If I wanted you to know something, I would volunteer that information.

I personally think it is extremely rude to ask to touch anyone’s hair, no matter what the race. Why would anyone think it’s okay to ask someone to touch their hair, or worse yet, reach out and touch without asking permission? Bad manners either way. It reminds me of being pregnant and perfect strangers rubbing my belly. WTH?? Do people normally go around rubbing one another’s stomach? There’s something called personal space and boundaries. Don’t cross them.

This makes me sick. Just like animals at the zoo. Disgusting. And you actually have people not seeing anything wrong with this. Smh. Typical brainwashed Americans.

I personally love this, and think it’s a really quirky, fun idea. 🙂 I’m also kind of shocked by a lot the comments left underneath it. I’ve never found somebody asking to touch my hair rude — it’s something you’d naturally ask if you were curious, right? And given the rampant popularity of wigs and weaves, ‘naturalistas’ are still quite rare (at least in the UK, anyway), so a lot of people will have never seen things like twists and afros up close before. Why should they be made to feel bad for wanting to learn more about something alien… Read more »

I think this is a great idea. For those of you against, you all are the main ones who will appreciate this “social experiment” once they explained what resulted from it. And it’s not even negative or degrading in my opinion. They volunteer THEMSELVES, so why are YOU offended?

[…] we posted about the “You Can Touch My Hair” social experiment. The article elicited a lot of strong reaction — from people who thought it was empowering […]

No other race — EVER — has to explain themselves like the Black race. No other race would ever think “Hey … let’s take the mystery out of my hair — let people touch it” …it’s ridiculous. How about other races who constantly reject, deny, dehumanize, humiliate, ostracize, mock and disrespect — how about THEY start putting THEIR MANNERS ON DISPLAY.

Ok but ultimately I feel like this was a slight cooning. It’s not my problem that people are either offended, fascinated or confused by my hair, so it’s not my job “make them” feel comfortable about it. That’s like me allowing white men to slap my ass all day at an Slap A‑Sistahs-Ass convention, because I want them to feel comfortable around me and not fetishize me, b/c my sexuality is still something they “want to understand” and experience. That JUST like my hair, is not my damn problem. I don’t give a damn how odd my hair seems and… Read more »

I thought that picture was for my icon… ugh.

This simply baffoonery and reminiscent of circus animals or going to the zoo to touch the caged animals!!! Sickening display!!!

Some black women still behaving like black bed wenches on the plantation!!

Those of you who are jumping this experiment as something bad and saying “it’s not our job to educate the ignorant” are kinda hypocrites. So you’re saying that when somebody asks a genuine question about our race you automatically call them ignorant; you don’t bother to educate them on that matter so they can go tell there friends that what they assumed was way off and rude. You have to understand that even though their questions may seem dumb too us, its just curiosity since nobody really bothered to educate them on race and culture besides two pages out of textbook.… Read more »

I am guessing the lady with the afro got the most touches.

Natural always the best

the thing is, is that *it’s not our job* as black women to educate them. that’s the point people are making. i didn’t ever have to touch a white person’s hair to know about it… none of you reading this did either. i watch tv and learn about it because they’re hyper-represented and talk about it and have hair commercials for it, learn about it like it’s the standard for hair when we’re in science classes, etc. Think about it. if we got that same type of representation we wouldn’t HAVE TO let anyone touch our hair in public like we’re… Read more »

Unfortunately the road to CONFUSION is paved with good intentions This is really about white and non-black validation on the part of the black women who participated OR created this “social experiment” and is the same thing as saying, “See, my hair isn’t so bad, not as bad as you think and I’m going to let you put your hands on my personal body to prove it.” it is seeking ACCEPTANCE using “hair” as the vehicle and this kind of behavior demonstrates that we do NOT understand racism/white supremacy and that racism (on the part of whites) has NOTHING to do… Read more »

@ Pam…WOW! There isn’t enough time to go into detail with you on everything you wrote and how I personally disagree with you at a 99.9% level! I don’t think it is per say acceptance as it is taking the “mystery” out of black natural hair. Right or wrong, our natural lack hair is very unique! It is a mystery to our own black people who barely see or wear their natural hair from all the: perms, relaxers, Wigs, Weaves, and fake braids. Don’t get me wrong weaves and such are great. I have a stand-by wig ready but I… Read more »

if our natural hair is beautiful and we really believed that why would it be necessary to have (probably white) strangers touch it?

why would that even be a thought in our brain computers?

definitely looks like we’re seeking some sort of validation by doing that

otherwise, what would be the point? what is really being accomplished by doing that?

I wasn’t going to comment but… “It’s not our job to educate other people” So it’s not black women’s job to educate other people on black women’s hair. Then you tell me whose job is. White people. Asian people. This is most like the reason we have the myths about our hair right now. No, we as black women have to teach others about our hair if we want them to know anything about it. I don’t know about many of you, but if I have a question about my White or Asian’s friends hair, I’m going to ask them,… Read more »

people would touch our hair anyways. one way or another. Its funny, I actually dont mind other people touching my hair. (as long as they ask first.) I actually like what they are doing here. Our culture is really obscure and misunderstood, which leads to the establishment and reinforcements of stereotypes. I think a lot of people could learn from this. We dont want to be misunderstood, right? Then we need to show people what the african/african diaspora is really like, and its not all what they see on MTV and the news.

I avoided looking at this post until now since the headline itself produced a jarring internal reaction and after reading the comments I understand why. I must agree with the outlook that experiment is not helpful. It is not the Black community’s responsibility to educate other cultures about our hair. No one else needs to do it either because it really doesn’t need to be done. Our responsibility is to educate ourselves about our hair and our beauty and after decades of neglect that is exactly what we are doing. I came to this conclusion thinking on my current environment, living… Read more »

This social experiment is definitely a great idea, not only for other races to understand black people and their hair. But for black people to understand that beauty does not lie in having your hair straightened. This exhibit displays the real beauty of the black hair, the fact that you can braid it, leave it natural or wear a weave. We have beautiful hair because unlike other races, we have a lot of options. Black hair is beautiful in its different shapes and forms. I have had my hair natural for over 6 years. I don’t criticize women who get… Read more »

When I first saw a post for this social experiment, I had mixed feelings about it. One I am a African American woman who chooses to wear my hair natural in a work setting where it can be deemed unprofessional, and with in a week I get at least 6 questions on my hair. I read in many of the comments that it is OUR JOB to educate people on our hair. I totally dis agree with that statement, the only person whom I am personally responsible for educating on hair is my child. I will answer most questions that… Read more »

Sorry but I rather NOT be a part of a human petting zoo. Why is it that we as black people always have to be dissected and place under a microscope to be understood? If you can’t understand the basic concept that straight hair isn’t the default hair and like most physical features, hair comes in a variety forms then simply touching my hair will not make you understand that. You can be curious and ask questions but you don’t have to go so far and make yourself out to be an exhabit.

Of course it is our job to educate people about our hair. Obviously other people do not have our hair so how else would they be educated about it unless we tell them? Obviously letting them educate themselves on our hair has not been working and the reason why are having this conversation. Personally I think it is rather silly for people to say it is not our job. This is done entirely too much in this community. Seriously we do have to step up and take responsibility. BTW we also need to educate ourselves first. When you have women… Read more »

It looks like a petting zoo. I, personally, would feel like an animal standing there. I wonder what the viewers who got to pet the hair took away from the experience :s

This exhibit is another way of making us feel “othered”. I should not have to allow myself to be touched, poked, and proded by strangers in order to make them feel comfortable with my features. Instead, I would feel better if this exhibit was for black women who think they cannot wear their natural textures; as a way to educate other black women about the beauty of our hair. And if it is our responsibility to teach white folks about our hair, then this site and others like it should suffice, as there is a plethora of information in these… Read more »

I guess I’m among the few who doesn’t care if someone touches my hair…If they ask why not? Some people don’t even ask and I’m actually not that offended, simple curiosity. And here’s a little secret: I like touching White people’s hair! GASP!

Some of ya’ll crack me up

[…] Black Girl Long Hair […]

I think people are taking this way too serious. It’s a learning process, come on people!

So it’s MY job to dispel all white people’s misconceptions about blacks? NO! Do you realize that people have full time jobs where they teach about the meaningful aspects of black culture and history? They’re called teachers and professors. If a white person really wants to learn anything, they ought to take a class or read a book. If you think touching hair will educate a white person, then they must have been so foolish that they can’t grasp that straight blond hair is not the norm for hair, with all other hair colors, types, and texture being a mutation.… Read more »