As the movies would say, based on true experiences:
“Hi! You’re black! That’s really cool. Can I touch your hair? No? Are you sure? Maybe just a little? That’s really cool. So, I had this argument with this guy yesterday, he was black, and he said I had a bunch of privilege and was all racist and shit, can you believe that? I mean, I’m here talking to you, right, so I can’t be racist! How stupid is that! I think it was reverse racism, honestly. Do you know Octavian Butler? I love his work. And Samuel Zelazny, he was awesome too. See? How can I be racist? One of my friends back in Podunk, he’s this Oriental guy, HE doesn’t think I’m racist. We were joking about how bad he drives and shit, and he was laughing too, so that can’t be racist…”
This rant comes from the world of science fiction fandom, but is I suspect drearily familiar to a lot of people in other walks of life as well. The hair touching thing seems to an uniquely American thing, as all the examples I’ve read about are from various African-American bloggers recounting e.g. how their white co-workers would “rub their head for luck” or enthusiasted about how cool
their dreadlocks were. I’ve never heard about this happening in the UK or the Netherlands, which doesn’t of course means it doesn’t happen here as well…
palau
August 27, 2009 at 3:53 amMy kids always had old ladies rubbing their heads and goinh ‘Awww, haven’t they got lovely curly hair? I have to pay the hairdresser for that.” Ditto comments about their skin colour and sunbeds. The really annoying thing about it is with old ladies, it’s actually meant well and seen as a friendly overture which makes it almost impossible to put them straight without seeming a churl.
My elder son has the hopefully unique distinction of having his head rubbed by then foreign secretary and our then MP David Owen (offstage hissing from Martin)when we were introduced at a municipal carol service. What an arse.