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African-American students share the meaning behind their hair and how others could be more sensitive

African American students say that their hair is an extension of their culture.

African-American students shared encounters with people making unwelcomed advances and touching their hair. According to these students, they welcome curiosity knowing their hair styles are rare sights on campus. However, they said instead of being talked to because they are different, they want to be asked about their culture.

Sabrina Domrique, a junior majoring in peacebuilding from Oklahoma, said hair is special to different cultures. “Hair is an extension of culture, of myself and how I express myself.”

Domrique added, “Hair is something that is worn traditionally, like a way clothing is worn traditionally. It’s a way to unify within the culture. Hair is an expression of culture. It’s a representation of culture, but it isn’t all who we are.”

At times, Domrique said, “I feel like a museum exhibit because people just stare at my hair or want to touch it. People kind of treat you like a zoo animal, they just want to touch your hair and objectify you. You look so different to them.

“When I embrace my natural hair, sometimes I feel like I’m a walking novelty. People will come and talk to me, just because I look different and they classify me as exotic.”

Domrique said attention drawn to her hair has made her feel different. “People have conversation with me only because of my hair. It’s the only thing that interests them. That makes me feel disheartened because I’m more than my hair.”

Standing up against being objectified for her hair, Toni Shipp, a communications major from California, said, “If you’re fascinated by our hair, we aren’t offended. The thing is, I’m not a dog. I don’t want to be a pet. I’ve had people unwelcomingly come up to me and just grab my hair and touch it.

“I don’t want people touching my hair. I don’t know where your hands have been. It takes so long to get it done. People can just mess it up easily. It’s kind of frustrating and disrespectful. It makes us feel like some kind of object.”

Jackie Morris, a junior majoring in social work from Virginia, said, “When I put it in braids, or if I have my natural hair out, people will just go and touch it.”

Recalling an encounter when someone touched her hair, Morris said, “I was waiting outside for class my first semester. I had it out in a ‘fro.’ This girl comes up to me, who I’ve never met in my life and started touching my hair. She was like, ‘Wow, I love it. Can we take a picture?’ I’m thinking, ‘I don’t even know you.’”

Redefining identity

Shipp shared on the importance of hair in African-American culture: “Our hair is a large part of who we are. It’s identity. Our hair was deemed by others for a long time as ugly, unkempt and not nice. We came to a point where we fully accept our hair and style it in different ways to own it, as a way to reconnect to the roots that were ripped from us.”

With Shipp’s thoughts in mind, Domrique said, “Some people identify with their hair. Some people don’t. It’s a personal choice. I think too often people are classified by their hair. I have very African-American hair, but I’m not just African-American. I love that I have African-American hair and I love that part of me, but it’s not all I am.

“It’s a hard balance because people are curious,” Domrique said. “It’s okay for people to be curious. I think it’s about asking the right questions. Ask more questions that relate back to the culture, rather than talking about it just because it looks different.”

Writer: Will Krueger