Allison Keye's essay on National Public Radio, "Keep Your Hands Off the Hair," is about the frequent and strange compulsion of others to touch her hair. An African American who does not chemically straighten her hair, Keyes seeks to understand and explain the relationship of a 400-years-old racialized history of assumed permission to her recoil. The essay does not discuss the aspect of gender as another assumption of free access to her body, but it surely exists and is germane to our recent discussions in class.
Nichole Beatty
ReplyDeleteThe quote that i found most intriguing from this article is when the author states:
"Today white people still feel that they have the right to our bodies....My blackness and your curiosity does not give you the right to touch me."
This quote made me question if white people think they are superior to blacks. The article then goes on to discuss how whites had permission to do anything they wanted to blacks. Do you think whites still think they can control and do whatever they please to black people? I also believe that people may not be aware that going up to a stranger and touching their fro, can and IS offensive. Society just needs to realize that there are boundaries on how you approach, treat and act in front of others especially strangers!