Can I Touch It? The Fixation on and Demonization Of Black Women’s Hair
A Talk by Dr. Ashley Garrin , Dr. Chelsea Johnson and Tiffany Peacock , MA
About this Talk
British activist Dr. Mena Fombo is the founder of the "No, You Cannot Touch My Hair" campaign, showing how unwanted hair touching is an issue that has been and still is rooted in racism not only in America, but around the globe. Uninvited hair touching is a violation of personal space and demonstrates a casual disregard for our physical autonomy. America's complicated and problematic relationship with Black women's natural hair is part and parcel of the unwanted pawing problem. How might we subvert and recast society’s gaze on our hair—regardless of texture or style—as fundamentally worthy of respect and dignity?
