Summary of Phoebe Robinsons's You Can't Touch My Hair

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

#1 The fear of black hair has been an ever-present part of America’s social history. Black hair is usually a reminder of Otherness, and people have historically not handled Otherness well.

#2 Black hair is still treated as an object that does not belong to us, but is fair game to be discussed, mocked, judged, used, and abused.

#3 Black women’s hair is not just expensive and time-consuming, but also a means of preserving their quality of life and how others treat them.

#4 Black women’s hair doesn’t meet beauty standards, and they are often subjected to negativity because of it. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt, shame, embarrassment, and confusion about who they should try to be and whether it’s better to fully be themselves or not.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Apr 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669385059

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Insights on Phoebe Robinsons's You Cant Touch My Hair

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The fear of black hair has been an ever-present part of America’s social history. Black hair is usually a reminder of Otherness, and people have historically not handled Otherness well.

#2

Black hair is still treated as an object that does not belong to us, but is fair game to be discussed, mocked, judged, used, and abused.

#3

Black women’s hair is not just expensive and time-consuming, but also a means of preserving their quality of life and how others treat them.

#4

Black women’s hair doesn’t meet beauty standards, and they are often subjected to negativity because of it. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt, shame, embarrassment, and confusion about who they should try to be and whether it’s better to fully be themselves or not.

#5

Black women’s penchant for perming/relaxing/straightening their hair is a Black People Secret. It is not the concern that other black people have when they start straightening their hair at an early age.

#6

The experience that most black girls have is one in which their hair is transformed from its natural state. When I see the pictures of me pre-hot comb, nothing registers. I was only six years old when my mother started straightening my hair.

#7

I had very thick, kinky hair that my mom would always have straightened or permed. I was usually happy with the results, but I wanted my hair to look like the black women I saw on TV.

#8

I learned that having a weekend was a white thing. My white