August 5, 2011 | 11:55 AM | By

“Hair Touching”

Journalist and author Denene Millner on why allowing her daughters’ curious friends to touch their hair (after asking permission) is important:


Play in each others’ hair is what girls do. Especially if they’re friends and they’re familiar with each other and they are comfortable in each others’ space. This doesn’t happen if you’re slapping peoples’ hands away and telling them that touching your hair is akin to slave masters examining black bodies on the auction block circa 1836. Around our way, it’s just not that deep.

— www.huffingtonpost.com

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DCentric was created to examine the ways race and class interact in Washington, D.C., a city with a vibrant mix of cultures and neighborhoods. Your guides to the changing district are reporters Anna John and Elahe Izadi. View all posts by Anna →