[Applause] let’s play a game
let’s play a game
let’s play a game Mina says clap once great modern Mina
Mina says clap once great modern Mina
Mina says clap once great modern Mina says high-five someone next to you
says high-five someone next to you
says high-five someone next to you very good ok
very good ok
very good ok Mina says touch the hair of the person
Mina says touch the hair of the person
Mina says touch the hair of the person in front of you I’m serious
in front of you I’m serious
in front of you I’m serious okay now they touch the hair of the
okay now they touch the hair of the
okay now they touch the hair of the person next to you guys guys Mina didn’t
person next to you guys guys Mina didn’t
person next to you guys guys Mina didn’t say that time come on you know the rules
say that time come on you know the rules
say that time come on you know the rules thank you for playing just want to see
thank you for playing just want to see
thank you for playing just want to see you by show of hands how many of you
you by show of hands how many of you
you by show of hands how many of you just had your hair touched by someone
just had your hair touched by someone
just had your hair touched by someone you’ve never met before
you’ve never met before
you’ve never met before yeah it’s quite a lot of people and just
yeah it’s quite a lot of people and just
yeah it’s quite a lot of people and just by show of hands how many of you were
by show of hands how many of you were
by show of hands how many of you were like now I’m not touching anybody’s hair
like now I’m not touching anybody’s hair
like now I’m not touching anybody’s hair today I’m with you guys I launched the
today I’m with you guys I launched the
today I’m with you guys I launched the no you cannot touch my hair a campaign
no you cannot touch my hair a campaign
no you cannot touch my hair a campaign survey in the summer of 2017
survey in the summer of 2017
survey in the summer of 2017 and just under half of the respondents
and just under half of the respondents
and just under half of the respondents said they had their hair touched on a
said they had their hair touched on a
said they had their hair touched on a monthly basis by people they’ve never
monthly basis by people they’ve never
monthly basis by people they’ve never met before and within that 18% said it
met before and within that 18% said it
met before and within that 18% said it happened once a week as you can imagine
happened once a week as you can imagine
happened once a week as you can imagine unwanted and uninvited hair touching by
unwanted and uninvited hair touching by
unwanted and uninvited hair touching by people you’ve never met before that’s
people you’ve never met before that’s
people you’ve never met before that’s that’s my daily life about a year ago I
that’s my daily life about a year ago I
that’s my daily life about a year ago I got exhausted with constantly saying to
got exhausted with constantly saying to
got exhausted with constantly saying to people don’t touch like thanks for the
people don’t touch like thanks for the
people don’t touch like thanks for the compliment but keep your hands to
compliment but keep your hands to
compliment but keep your hands to yourself
yourself
yourself and I kind of wanted a recorder to kind
and I kind of wanted a recorder to kind
and I kind of wanted a recorder to kind of just press play but I figured that
of just press play but I figured that
of just press play but I figured that prevention is much better than cure so I
prevention is much better than cure so I
prevention is much better than cure so I printed these t-shirts and I started to
printed these t-shirts and I started to
printed these t-shirts and I started to walk around wearing no you cannot touch
walk around wearing no you cannot touch
walk around wearing no you cannot touch my hair and I wore them to supermarkets
my hair and I wore them to supermarkets
my hair and I wore them to supermarkets I wasn’t to work into conferences I wore
I wasn’t to work into conferences I wore
I wasn’t to work into conferences I wore them out socially but why I find is that
them out socially but why I find is that
them out socially but why I find is that lots of people started asking me
lots of people started asking me
lots of people started asking me questions so some people generally
questions so some people generally
questions so some people generally didn’t know that this was a thing even
didn’t know that this was a thing even
didn’t know that this was a thing even though it affects my life I was like yes
though it affects my life I was like yes
though it affects my life I was like yes it’s a thing and some people were like
it’s a thing and some people were like
it’s a thing and some people were like yeah I want a t-shirt that happens to me
yeah I want a t-shirt that happens to me
yeah I want a t-shirt that happens to me so I want to start texting that data and
so I want to start texting that data and
so I want to start texting that data and the survey was born as part of the
the survey was born as part of the
the survey was born as part of the research for the survey I made this bit
research for the survey I made this bit
research for the survey I made this bit of a social experiment Wow it has
of a social experiment Wow it has
of a social experiment Wow it has amazing
the hardest part of that was trying to
the hardest part of that was trying to like chase people lift up my shirt to
like chase people lift up my shirt to
like chase people lift up my shirt to Cheryl’s wearing this new can’t touch my
Cheryl’s wearing this new can’t touch my
Cheryl’s wearing this new can’t touch my hair a campaign t-shirt underneath at
hair a campaign t-shirt underneath at
hair a campaign t-shirt underneath at which point they thought I was flashing
which point they thought I was flashing
which point they thought I was flashing them and try and say no no it’s a social
them and try and say no no it’s a social
them and try and say no no it’s a social experiment but what I did catch up with
experiment but what I did catch up with
experiment but what I did catch up with people I asked him how it felt and most
people I asked him how it felt and most
people I asked him how it felt and most of the people in the video said it was
of the people in the video said it was
of the people in the video said it was weird and it was uncomfortable the
weird and it was uncomfortable the
weird and it was uncomfortable the majority of our campaign survey
majority of our campaign survey
majority of our campaign survey respondents said that it felt intrusive
respondents said that it felt intrusive
respondents said that it felt intrusive if not invasive and they were very angry
if not invasive and they were very angry
if not invasive and they were very angry and annoyed that this happened to them
and annoyed that this happened to them
and annoyed that this happened to them one of the things that I find was that
one of the things that I find was that
one of the things that I find was that the majority of respondents were female
the majority of respondents were female
the majority of respondents were female so 90% in fact identified as female and
so 90% in fact identified as female and
so 90% in fact identified as female and the majority of those were black women
the majority of those were black women
the majority of those were black women and girls so we know that this is an
and girls so we know that this is an
and girls so we know that this is an issue that affects black women and girls
issue that affects black women and girls
issue that affects black women and girls more than any other race now a friend of
more than any other race now a friend of
more than any other race now a friend of a friend
a friend
a friend this white guy was saying yeah but Mena
this white guy was saying yeah but Mena
this white guy was saying yeah but Mena you know I went on holiday to India for
you know I went on holiday to India for
you know I went on holiday to India for two weeks and people were touching my
two weeks and people were touching my
two weeks and people were touching my hair and lots of other women were saying
hair and lots of other women were saying
hair and lots of other women were saying oh you know when you’re pregnant people
oh you know when you’re pregnant people
oh you know when you’re pregnant people come up and touch your stomach and it’s
come up and touch your stomach and it’s
come up and touch your stomach and it’s the same thing now I don’t want to take
the same thing now I don’t want to take
the same thing now I don’t want to take that experience away from anybody any
that experience away from anybody any
that experience away from anybody any form of unwanted and uninvited touching
form of unwanted and uninvited touching
form of unwanted and uninvited touching is completely unacceptable but most
is completely unacceptable but most
is completely unacceptable but most women on average only pregnant for nine
women on average only pregnant for nine
women on average only pregnant for nine months so that type of touching will
months so that type of touching will
months so that type of touching will come to an end and I’m not on vacation
come to an end and I’m not on vacation
come to an end and I’m not on vacation on holiday and like many of the
on holiday and like many of the
on holiday and like many of the respondents this is the country that I
respondents this is the country that I
respondents this is the country that I was born in and it still happens some
was born in and it still happens some
was born in and it still happens some people a very small minority said they
people a very small minority said they
people a very small minority said they didn’t mind the touching and again
didn’t mind the touching and again
didn’t mind the touching and again that’s cool but this campaign is really
that’s cool but this campaign is really
that’s cool but this campaign is really targeted at the overwhelming
targeted at the overwhelming
targeted at the overwhelming disproportionate number of black people
disproportionate number of black people
disproportionate number of black people black women black girls that experience
black women black girls that experience
black women black girls that experience this unwanted hair touching when I was
this unwanted hair touching when I was
this unwanted hair touching when I was six years old I was asked to be Mary in
six years old I was asked to be Mary in
six years old I was asked to be Mary in my school playing like get in the park
my school playing like get in the park
my school playing like get in the park and the only other black kid in the
and the only other black kid in the
and the only other black kid in the schools has to be Joseph and on the day
schools has to be Joseph and on the day
schools has to be Joseph and on the day they gave us this white baby Jesus
now I accept that it is genetically
now I accept that it is genetically possible for two people of African
possible for two people of African
possible for two people of African ethnicity to birth a white child but
ethnicity to birth a white child but
ethnicity to birth a white child but this was the 80s England so I don’t
this was the 80s England so I don’t
this was the 80s England so I don’t think that as a point my school was
think that as a point my school was
think that as a point my school was trying to make so I asked for a black
trying to make so I asked for a black
trying to make so I asked for a black baby they said no and in response when
baby they said no and in response when
baby they said no and in response when all the parents came in I just refused
all the parents came in I just refused
all the parents came in I just refused to smile that was a day that my inner
to smile that was a day that my inner
to smile that was a day that my inner activist was born when I got to seven I
activist was born when I got to seven I
activist was born when I got to seven I started to notice that I was different
started to notice that I was different
started to notice that I was different to my peers that I concluded that I was
to my peers that I concluded that I was
to my peers that I concluded that I was really really really intelligent hermia
really really really intelligent hermia
really really really intelligent hermia so basically this is kind of the age
so basically this is kind of the age
so basically this is kind of the age when they start to notice that I was
when they start to notice that I was
when they start to notice that I was black and so they don’t ask me really
black and so they don’t ask me really
black and so they don’t ask me really really crazy questions like why are you
really crazy questions like why are you
really crazy questions like why are you black and because I was really
black and because I was really
black and because I was really intelligent I’d give these over like
intelligent I’d give these over like
intelligent I’d give these over like elaborate detailed explanations and I
elaborate detailed explanations and I
elaborate detailed explanations and I would say I was boring black and this is
would say I was boring black and this is
would say I was boring black and this is mind-blowing to them because then they
mind-blowing to them because then they
mind-blowing to them because then they would keep asking me but why were you
would keep asking me but why were you
would keep asking me but why were you born black and I’d never considered why
born black and I’d never considered why
born black and I’d never considered why they were born white but I would kind of
they were born white but I would kind of
they were born white but I would kind of say well I just was and we’d go back and
say well I just was and we’d go back and
say well I just was and we’d go back and forth but it became very apparent that
forth but it became very apparent that
forth but it became very apparent that this wasn’t a response they wanted so
this wasn’t a response they wanted so
this wasn’t a response they wanted so not just being intelligent I was very
not just being intelligent I was very
not just being intelligent I was very creative and so I made up stories now
creative and so I made up stories now
creative and so I made up stories now retard the other kids that I was walking
retard the other kids that I was walking
retard the other kids that I was walking to school one day in the pouring rain
to school one day in the pouring rain
to school one day in the pouring rain and it was car drove past me
and it was car drove past me
and it was car drove past me this massive puddle splashed me with mud
this massive puddle splashed me with mud
this massive puddle splashed me with mud and by the time I got to school the mud
and by the time I got to school the mud
and by the time I got to school the mud had dried so hard that I couldn’t wash
had dried so hard that I couldn’t wash
had dried so hard that I couldn’t wash it off and the kids actually believed
it off and the kids actually believed
it off and the kids actually believed this story and they’d be like is it true
this story and they’d be like is it true
this story and they’d be like is it true and I was like yeah and they would go
and I was like yeah and they would go
and I was like yeah and they would go and get their siblings and they come
and get their siblings and they come
and get their siblings and they come back and say tell my story sister while
back and say tell my story sister while
back and say tell my story sister while you’re black and so this became my
you’re black and so this became my
you’re black and so this became my rhetoric that I would go around telling
rhetoric that I would go around telling
rhetoric that I would go around telling people and the fact that they believed
people and the fact that they believed
people and the fact that they believed such a ridiculous story made me conclude
such a ridiculous story made me conclude
such a ridiculous story made me conclude they were idiots and I was really
they were idiots and I was really
they were idiots and I was really intelligent many years later my birth
intelligent many years later my birth
intelligent many years later my birth mother ie Berber tell me stories about
mother ie Berber tell me stories about
mother ie Berber tell me stories about when she would go to work and she would
when she would go to work and she would
when she would go to work and she would take her Nigerian lunches so she would
take her Nigerian lunches so she would
take her Nigerian lunches so she would have her goosey you know Cassie Garre
have her goosey you know Cassie Garre
have her goosey you know Cassie Garre and her colleagues would say what’s that
and her colleagues would say what’s that
and her colleagues would say what’s that smell what are you eating what is that
smell what are you eating what is that
smell what are you eating what is that and she would look at them and she would
and she would look at them and she would
and she would look at them and she would say I am eating worms I am eating snake
say I am eating worms I am eating snake
say I am eating worms I am eating snake I am eating insect and she said Samina
I am eating insect and she said Samina
I am eating insect and she said Samina sometimes you just have to tell these
sometimes you just have to tell these
sometimes you just have to tell these people what they want to hear
people what they want to hear
people what they want to hear they think I’m a savage so I will act
they think I’m a savage so I will act
they think I’m a savage so I will act like one
like one
like one my serving yourself learn to tell people
my serving yourself learn to tell people
my serving yourself learn to tell people what they I thought they wanted to hear
what they I thought they wanted to hear
what they I thought they wanted to hear by the age of eight I had convinced for
by the age of eight I had convinced for
by the age of eight I had convinced for the kids that my hair is made of sponge
the kids that my hair is made of sponge
the kids that my hair is made of sponge because of course being black it
because of course being black it
because of course being black it couldn’t be made of hair but by nine my
couldn’t be made of hair but by nine my
couldn’t be made of hair but by nine my different start had become more of an
different start had become more of an
different start had become more of an embarrassment and Ike remember going on
embarrassment and Ike remember going on
embarrassment and Ike remember going on a residential and on the first night all
a residential and on the first night all
a residential and on the first night all the girls had to shower and I was more
the girls had to shower and I was more
the girls had to shower and I was more developed than my peers so we get into
developed than my peers so we get into
developed than my peers so we get into the showers and Mike prepares went
the showers and Mike prepares went
the showers and Mike prepares went fascinated by my body so much so that
fascinated by my body so much so that
fascinated by my body so much so that they took it in turns to run into my
they took it in turns to run into my
they took it in turns to run into my shower and to grab me here and to grab
shower and to grab me here and to grab
shower and to grab me here and to grab me here to see what it felt like and at
me here to see what it felt like and at
me here to see what it felt like and at the time I tried to laugh it off but it
the time I tried to laugh it off but it
the time I tried to laugh it off but it was humiliating it was so humiliating
was humiliating it was so humiliating
was humiliating it was so humiliating bit for the next three days I didn’t
bit for the next three days I didn’t
bit for the next three days I didn’t wash and every day the girls would say
wash and every day the girls would say
wash and every day the girls would say come herecome shower and I was like now
come herecome shower and I was like now
come herecome shower and I was like now I’m not going and by the third day I
I’m not going and by the third day I
I’m not going and by the third day I couldn’t tell whether they wanted me to
couldn’t tell whether they wanted me to
couldn’t tell whether they wanted me to shower because they still wanted to grab
shower because they still wanted to grab
shower because they still wanted to grab my hair or to see me naked or whether
my hair or to see me naked or whether
my hair or to see me naked or whether it’s because I smelt so bad because one
it’s because I smelt so bad because one
it’s because I smelt so bad because one of my guy friends turned to me and said
of my guy friends turned to me and said
of my guy friends turned to me and said Samina you stink I couldn’t be me the
Samina you stink I couldn’t be me the
Samina you stink I couldn’t be me the rest of that day the room were kind of
rest of that day the room were kind of
rest of that day the room were kind of spread through the school and over the
spread through the school and over the
spread through the school and over the next couple of weeks I can member being
next couple of weeks I can member being
next couple of weeks I can member being pulled out of my class and sent to the
pulled out of my class and sent to the
pulled out of my class and sent to the headmistress his office and as I got
headmistress his office and as I got
headmistress his office and as I got there there was a male doctor in the
there there was a male doctor in the
there there was a male doctor in the office and the head was down another
office and the head was down another
office and the head was down another teacher and they had concluded that it
teacher and they had concluded that it
teacher and they had concluded that it was unusual for someone my age to
was unusual for someone my age to
was unusual for someone my age to develop so they wanted to examine me and
develop so they wanted to examine me and
develop so they wanted to examine me and they pulled open my skirt and my
they pulled open my skirt and my
they pulled open my skirt and my knickers and looked down to see that I
knickers and looked down to see that I
knickers and looked down to see that I had hair and I returned to class when I
had hair and I returned to class when I
had hair and I returned to class when I got home that evening my foster mother
got home that evening my foster mother
got home that evening my foster mother Jean was absolutely furious when she
Jean was absolutely furious when she
Jean was absolutely furious when she found out and she called the school she
found out and she called the school she
found out and she called the school she said a few angry words and then she put
said a few angry words and then she put
said a few angry words and then she put the phone down and she turned to me and
the phone down and she turned to me and
the phone down and she turned to me and she said I did not give permission for
she said I did not give permission for
she said I did not give permission for that to happen to you said I’m really
that to happen to you said I’m really
that to happen to you said I’m really sorry
sorry
sorry she said it takes all types of people to
she said it takes all types of people to
she said it takes all types of people to make a world and there’s absolutely
make a world and there’s absolutely
make a world and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you and I was very
nothing wrong with you and I was very
nothing wrong with you and I was very grateful for my mother for saying that
grateful for my mother for saying that
grateful for my mother for saying that because it does take all types to make a
because it does take all types to make a
because it does take all types to make a world and if we appreciate difference
world and if we appreciate difference
world and if we appreciate difference and it’s not such as this intrigue that
and it’s not such as this intrigue that
and it’s not such as this intrigue that we feel a right or an ownership to go
we feel a right or an ownership to go
we feel a right or an ownership to go and touch and maybe if other mothers
and touch and maybe if other mothers
and touch and maybe if other mothers shared that story with our daughters
shared that story with our daughters
shared that story with our daughters then perhaps we wouldn’t be seen as too
then perhaps we wouldn’t be seen as too
then perhaps we wouldn’t be seen as too much of another and my childhood may not
much of another and my childhood may not
much of another and my childhood may not have been so humiliating
in 1810 a woman named starchy Bartman
in 1810 a woman named starchy Bartman was taken from
was taken from
was taken from Africa and brought to the UK she had
Africa and brought to the UK she had
Africa and brought to the UK she had distinct features she was a black woman
distinct features she was a black woman
distinct features she was a black woman she had a large behind and they put her
she had a large behind and they put her
she had a large behind and they put her on display in Piccadilly Circus and
on display in Piccadilly Circus and
on display in Piccadilly Circus and thousands of eyes of the people become
thousands of eyes of the people become
thousands of eyes of the people become year-on-year to stare and to point and
year-on-year to stare and to point and
year-on-year to stare and to point and to touch fascinated intrigued curious
to touch fascinated intrigued curious
to touch fascinated intrigued curious and she survived for five years in the
and she survived for five years in the
and she survived for five years in the UK and when she returned so I went and
UK and when she returned so I went and
UK and when she returned so I went and so she survived for five years in the UK
so she survived for five years in the UK
so she survived for five years in the UK and when she died doctors and scientists
and when she died doctors and scientists
and when she died doctors and scientists were so fascinated by her body they made
were so fascinated by her body they made
were so fascinated by her body they made a plaster cast and they preserved her
a plaster cast and they preserved her
a plaster cast and they preserved her organs in museums until the 1970s and in
organs in museums until the 1970s and in
organs in museums until the 1970s and in 2002 Nasser Mandela sent for her to come
2002 Nasser Mandela sent for her to come
2002 Nasser Mandela sent for her to come home where she received a burial well I
home where she received a burial well I
home where she received a burial well I think about the experience I had at
think about the experience I had at
think about the experience I had at school with my peers and I think about
school with my peers and I think about
school with my peers and I think about the women who answered the no you cannot
the women who answered the no you cannot
the women who answered the no you cannot touch my hair a campaign survey and I
touch my hair a campaign survey and I
touch my hair a campaign survey and I compare that to the experience of Sarah
compare that to the experience of Sarah
compare that to the experience of Sarah Brightman I have to say that the actions
Brightman I have to say that the actions
Brightman I have to say that the actions keep repeating themselves this
keep repeating themselves this
keep repeating themselves this fascination with black bodies when I say
fascination with black bodies when I say
fascination with black bodies when I say black bodies I include black hair has
black bodies I include black hair has
black bodies I include black hair has been around for centuries so is the
been around for centuries so is the
been around for centuries so is the motivation for touching hair different
motivation for touching hair different
motivation for touching hair different to the motivation for those that went to
to the motivation for those that went to
to the motivation for those that went to see Sarah Baartman I said that again is
see Sarah Baartman I said that again is
see Sarah Baartman I said that again is the motivation the same for touching
the motivation the same for touching
the motivation the same for touching hair as it is for the actions that
hair as it is for the actions that
hair as it is for the actions that happen to Sarah Baartman in 1889
happen to Sarah Baartman in 1889
happen to Sarah Baartman in 1889 humanzees were first founded by a guy
humanzees were first founded by a guy
humanzees were first founded by a guy named Carl Hagenbeck and he traveled the
named Carl Hagenbeck and he traveled the
named Carl Hagenbeck and he traveled the world and he took tribes don’t be a
world and he took tribes don’t be a
world and he took tribes don’t be a freak in trials and he presented them in
freak in trials and he presented them in
freak in trials and he presented them in Europe and in the Americas and people
Europe and in the Americas and people
Europe and in the Americas and people would come to stare and to see and those
would come to stare and to see and those
would come to stare and to see and those whose existed until the 1960s and I
whose existed until the 1960s and I
whose existed until the 1960s and I think to myself had I been born a few
think to myself had I been born a few
think to myself had I been born a few decades earlier could this girl have
decades earlier could this girl have
decades earlier could this girl have been me hundreds of thousands of people
been me hundreds of thousands of people
been me hundreds of thousands of people came to point and to stare into view and
came to point and to stare into view and
came to point and to stare into view and they even had signs and they would say
they even had signs and they would say
they even had signs and they would say don’t feed the natives they’ve already
don’t feed the natives they’ve already
don’t feed the natives they’ve already eaten many women in the responded to the
eaten many women in the responded to the
eaten many women in the responded to the survey said that people touching their
survey said that people touching their
survey said that people touching their hair it felt like being petted in a zoo
your hair looks like my pubes is what a
your hair looks like my pubes is what a group of lads chanted at me as I walked
group of lads chanted at me as I walked
group of lads chanted at me as I walked down bristol harbour side I’ve never
down bristol harbour side I’ve never
down bristol harbour side I’ve never touched an afro before are the kind of
touched an afro before are the kind of
touched an afro before are the kind of comments that people respond when I tan
comments that people respond when I tan
comments that people respond when I tan them after they’ve just grabbed my hair
them after they’ve just grabbed my hair
them after they’ve just grabbed my hair you can touch mine is a common response
you can touch mine is a common response
you can touch mine is a common response I get in meetings or at conferences as a
I get in meetings or at conferences as a
I get in meetings or at conferences as a trade-off for exchanging hair touching
trade-off for exchanging hair touching
trade-off for exchanging hair touching one women said to me well if you haven’t
one women said to me well if you haven’t
one women said to me well if you haven’t so beautiful people wouldn’t touch it
so beautiful people wouldn’t touch it
so beautiful people wouldn’t touch it after I went up to her and said don’t
after I went up to her and said don’t
after I went up to her and said don’t touch my hair again is the motivation
touch my hair again is the motivation
touch my hair again is the motivation different because the actions are still
different because the actions are still
different because the actions are still the same a 14 year old girl from Bristol
the same a 14 year old girl from Bristol
the same a 14 year old girl from Bristol wrote in and said that she was in the
wrote in and said that she was in the
wrote in and said that she was in the shopping mall and a group of girls came
shopping mall and a group of girls came
shopping mall and a group of girls came I started playing with her hair from
I started playing with her hair from
I started playing with her hair from behind and when she turned and asked him
behind and when she turned and asked him
behind and when she turned and asked him to stop they laughed and walked away is
to stop they laughed and walked away is
to stop they laughed and walked away is the motivation different because the
the motivation different because the
the motivation different because the actions are still the same another woman
actions are still the same another woman
actions are still the same another woman talked about her boss’s boss walking
talked about her boss’s boss walking
talked about her boss’s boss walking past her desk every day playing with her
past her desk every day playing with her
past her desk every day playing with her hair she said it happens not just to her
hair she said it happens not just to her
hair she said it happens not just to her but to other women always of color is
but to other women always of color is
but to other women always of color is the motivation different because the
the motivation different because the
the motivation different because the actions are still the same a father
actions are still the same a father
actions are still the same a father talked about his daughter begging to
talked about his daughter begging to
talked about his daughter begging to have her straighten because the touching
have her straighten because the touching
have her straighten because the touching it can become relentless and mother
it can become relentless and mother
it can become relentless and mother talked about having to braid her child’s
talked about having to braid her child’s
talked about having to braid her child’s hair every day because the touching had
hair every day because the touching had
hair every day because the touching had come too much is the motivation
come too much is the motivation
come too much is the motivation different because the actions are still
different because the actions are still
different because the actions are still the same we live in this world that is
the same we live in this world that is
the same we live in this world that is systematically unequal so we have
systematically unequal so we have
systematically unequal so we have designed it to favor one group over
designed it to favor one group over
designed it to favor one group over another and over another and we start to
another and over another and we start to
another and over another and we start to say terms like unconscious bias and
say terms like unconscious bias and
say terms like unconscious bias and micro aggression and macro aggression
micro aggression and macro aggression
micro aggression and macro aggression but I would argue that we should really
but I would argue that we should really
but I would argue that we should really be saying racism the motivation hasn’t
be saying racism the motivation hasn’t
be saying racism the motivation hasn’t changed the actions are still the same
changed the actions are still the same
changed the actions are still the same if you imagine that we were to describe
if you imagine that we were to describe
if you imagine that we were to describe words as people then I would argue that
words as people then I would argue that
words as people then I would argue that power would be the grandfather prejudice
power would be the grandfather prejudice
power would be the grandfather prejudice would be the grandmother and together
would be the grandmother and together
would be the grandmother and together they have given birth to racism now
they have given birth to racism now
they have given birth to racism now racism hooks up with ignorant and they
racism hooks up with ignorant and they
racism hooks up with ignorant and they create micro aggression if you imagine
create micro aggression if you imagine
create micro aggression if you imagine that micro aggression is raised by
that micro aggression is raised by
that micro aggression is raised by ignorance and racism what do you think
ignorance and racism what do you think
ignorance and racism what do you think she’s going to become every time you put
she’s going to become every time you put
she’s going to become every time you put your hands in my hair without my
your hands in my hair without my
your hands in my hair without my permission you are her and
permission you are her and
permission you are her and every time you asked my permission and I
every time you asked my permission and I
every time you asked my permission and I say no you are also her and every time
say no you are also her and every time
say no you are also her and every time you see it happen and you don’t call it
you see it happen and you don’t call it
you see it happen and you don’t call it out and we don’t have systems in place
out and we don’t have systems in place
out and we don’t have systems in place to stop it from happening
to stop it from happening
to stop it from happening you are her I call hair touching hair
you are her I call hair touching hair
you are her I call hair touching hair attacks every black person black woman
attacks every black person black woman
attacks every black person black woman black girl deserves the same privileges
black girl deserves the same privileges
black girl deserves the same privileges as our peers so we deserve the right to
as our peers so we deserve the right to
as our peers so we deserve the right to go to work and to not be attacked we
go to work and to not be attacked we
go to work and to not be attacked we deserve the right to have an education
deserve the right to have an education
deserve the right to have an education and to not be attacked and we deserve
and to not be attacked and we deserve
and to not be attacked and we deserve the right to go for dinner with friends
the right to go for dinner with friends
the right to go for dinner with friends and not be expected to be the educator
and not be expected to be the educator
and not be expected to be the educator of all things black hair black history
of all things black hair black history
of all things black hair black history black hair care many of the respondents
black hair care many of the respondents
black hair care many of the respondents were angry at the responses that come
were angry at the responses that come
were angry at the responses that come when you challenge things so I asked
when you challenge things so I asked
when you challenge things so I asked them what can we do what can be done and
them what can we do what can be done and
them what can we do what can be done and they came up with three things one they
they came up with three things one they
they came up with three things one they said that the touches just need to stop
said that the touches just need to stop
said that the touches just need to stop touching so if you’re someone who
touching so if you’re someone who
touching so if you’re someone who touches whatever you need to do put a
touches whatever you need to do put a
touches whatever you need to do put a memo a post-it note on your computer
memo a post-it note on your computer
memo a post-it note on your computer educate yourself but stop touching –
educate yourself but stop touching –
educate yourself but stop touching – they said that more education and
they said that more education and
they said that more education and awareness was needed and that looks like
awareness was needed and that looks like
awareness was needed and that looks like more representation in mainstream media
more representation in mainstream media
more representation in mainstream media more history in schools and not just one
more history in schools and not just one
more history in schools and not just one month I hope that this talk today is
month I hope that this talk today is
month I hope that this talk today is helped to raise some awareness in
helped to raise some awareness in
helped to raise some awareness in education but don’t be complacent Google
education but don’t be complacent Google
education but don’t be complacent Google YouTube exists so if this reaffirms your
YouTube exists so if this reaffirms your
YouTube exists so if this reaffirms your position or if this is new to you then
position or if this is new to you then
position or if this is new to you then learn share and three last but not least
learn share and three last but not least
learn share and three last but not least they said that we need to call it out
they said that we need to call it out
they said that we need to call it out more we all need to call it out more
more we all need to call it out more
more we all need to call it out more what does that look like I’m gonna tell
what does that look like I’m gonna tell
what does that look like I’m gonna tell you I’m gonna split us through the
you I’m gonna split us through the
you I’m gonna split us through the middle you guys have a hero don’t when I
middle you guys have a hero don’t when I
middle you guys have a hero don’t when I point you’re gonna say your word and you
point you’re gonna say your word and you
point you’re gonna say your word and you guys over here a touch it’s two simple
guys over here a touch it’s two simple
guys over here a touch it’s two simple words and this is how we call it I guys
words and this is how we call it I guys
words and this is how we call it I guys that was weak
that was weak
that was weak it’s two simple words if anybody who
it’s two simple words if anybody who
it’s two simple words if anybody who doesn’t understand or doesn’t know isn’t
doesn’t understand or doesn’t know isn’t
doesn’t understand or doesn’t know isn’t hasn’t experienced this yet this is how
hasn’t experienced this yet this is how
hasn’t experienced this yet this is how you call it I I want to hear it loud
you call it I I want to hear it loud
you call it I I want to hear it loud like these guys at the front I want to
like these guys at the front I want to
like these guys at the front I want to hear one more time how do we call it out
Angela Davis said I am no longer
Angela Davis said I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change but
accepting the things I cannot change but
accepting the things I cannot change but I am changing those things I cannot
I am changing those things I cannot
I am changing those things I cannot accept I extend that to you and I say if
accept I extend that to you and I say if
accept I extend that to you and I say if the motivation is truly different then
the motivation is truly different then
the motivation is truly different then we need to let our actions be that
we need to let our actions be that
we need to let our actions be that change thank you
change thank you
change thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment