I completely understand we are fascinating creatures created with unique fabulosity BUT we are not animals at a petting zoo.

Sage Steele, an anchor for ESPN, was interviewing UFC fighter, Chael Sonnen. As she is asking him a question, he answered her question with an unrelated question, “Can I touch her hair?” Again, I get it we’re pretty fucking dope but no you cannot touch my hair! I wish I could understand the fascination people have with our hair but I don’t. I have never walked up to a white person (or any person for that matter) and desired to run my fingers through their hair.

Steele clapped back at the people criticizing her on social media with long speech about diversity. But what I’m starting to believe is that most black women don’t want to be perceived as angry or rude by saying no, so they allow it. Steele was definitely in her feelings with her response and she completely lost me with her “good hair” comment (you’ll have to read it for yourself) but if you want to let people touch your hair, that’s your business but I will not. Why, because I can embrace diversity without making myself a tourist attraction.

She gave a very long drawn out speech about being bi-racial and people calling her father a sell out for being with a white woman and people looking at her sideways for having a white husband. There is clearly a lot of pinned up frustration in her but again embracing diversity and accepting people for who they are has nothing to do with letting people touch me.

Some may think it’s no big deal but I would compare it to a pregnant woman not wanting people to touch her stomach. Yes, a pregnant belly is fascinating and intriguing to others but that doesn’t give you the right to walk up and touch my pregnant belly. Some are ok with it, most are not. Do we then get upset and snap back at the pregnant women who vent about people invading their personal space by touching their stomachs? Should we then tell pregnant women who don’t like strangers touching their bellies to appreciate the fact that they are blessed with the ability to carry children because so many women can’t?

Maybe we should be more culturally sensitive Mrs. Steele and learn more about our “diverse” history because in the 1800’s they had what they called “human zoos.” And in these zoos black people were held behind gates where white people would feed them and pet them like they were animals. So excuse me if I don’t want people petting me. Given the rich history behind being black in this world, it’s kind of hard for some of us not to get offend when someone asks if they can touch our hair. And yes most people would prefer if you to ask before grabbing a hand full of their hair but don’t get offended when I say no.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCcqtkRSB60]