CULTURE CLASH (Be a Better Human)
GoOd HAir By Honi Alexander
Photo courte sy of Unsplashed.com
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT, YOU ARE MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS, BROWSING IN THE AIRPORT BOOKSTORE. As you quietly turn the pages of a magazine, someone stands next to you and simultaneously asks and touches your hair. It’s me. It happened to me. I quickly leaned my head away from her reaching hand and took a step back. Looking both offended and afraid, she said, “I’m sorry. Your hair is so beautiful and curly, I just wanted to touch it! It’s softer than I thought! Did it take a long time?”
I was already irritated from having my hair hand-checked at airport security. I responded, “No, it didn’t take a long time. This is how it grows, but thank you.” She apologized again. I told her, “I don’t mind your questions but touching without asking is not OK. It’s just hair and yes, it is soft.” She apologized again, and walked away, her straight, blond hair swinging behind her. No, that was not the first time a stranger touched my hair. Yes, they always hand-check my hair at security when I wear it naturally. C U LTU R EC L A S H G A LV E STO N . C O M • J U LY/A U G 2 0 2 1
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