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Don't Touch My Hair

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Don't Touch My Hair

By: Emma Dabiri
Narrated by: Emma Dabiri
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About this listen

Straightened. Stigmatised. 'Tamed'. Celebrated. Erased. Managed. Appropriated. Forever misunderstood. Black hair is never 'just hair'.

This book is about why black hair matters and how it can be viewed as a blueprint for decolonisation. Emma Dabiri takes us from pre-colonial Africa, through the Harlem Renaissance, Black Power and on to today's Natural Hair Movement, the Cultural Appropriation Wars and beyond. We look at everything from hair capitalists like Madam C.J. Walker in the early 1900s to the rise of Shea Moisture today, from women's solidarity and friendship to 'black people time', forgotten African scholars and the dubious provenance of Kim Kardashian's braids.

The scope of black hairstyling ranges from pop culture to cosmology, from prehistoric times to the (afro)futuristic. Uncovering sophisticated indigenous mathematical systems in black hairstyles, alongside styles that served as secret intelligence networks leading enslaved Africans to freedom, Don't Touch My Hair proves that far from being only hair, black hairstyling culture can be understood as an allegory for black oppression and, ultimately, liberation.

©2019 Emma Dabiri (P)2019 Penguin Audio Gender Studies Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Africa Thought-Provoking Discrimination Social justice

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Critic reviews

Emma Dabiri's groundbreaking Don't Touch My Hair is a scintillating, intellectual investigation into black women and the very serious business of our hair, as it pertains to race, gender, social codes, tradition, culture, cosmology, maths, politics, philosophy and history, and also the role of hairstyles in pre-colonial Africa (Bernardine Evaristo)
I've been pleasantly engrossed this autumn in Emma Dabiri's nonfiction debut Don't Touch My Hair. Part memoir, part spiky, thoroughly researched socio-political analysis, it delves deep into the painful realities and history of follicular racism (Diana Evans)
Groundbreaking...Her sources are rich, diverse and sometimes heartbreaking. Some books make us feel seen and for me, that is what Don't Touch My Hair does. I would urge everyone to read it (Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff)
Most relevant  
I learned a lot, but struggled with the structure or the lack thereof. Many important stories and facts, but the pace seems uneven. I would pause and rewind at times, and zone out at other times.

Mixed feelings

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I loved it. Most memorable a d revealing moment. Chapter 4 How can he love himself and hate my hair. Eldridge Cleaver's comment on black women as representing slavery while white women represent freedom. This was who king for me to hear.

For all black womrn

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The author takes us on her personal journey with her own hair to tell us the story of the african community all over the world. A very informative book, but I also enjoyed Dabiri's ironic and fun style, which makes this book not another history volume packed with difficult terms, but a very enjoable, sometimes even funny, eye-opening book that treats about serious subjects such as slavery, racism, discrimination, white supremacy and African culture.

Hair as the guide through history

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A really fascinating look at the significance of hair and a really interesting look at the long lasting impacts of colonialism. So worth reading!!

Brilliant read it!

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This has to be hands down one of the best informative books on the topic of black hair and it’s history.

It was revelatory from the very start. Unfolding the history of black hair and culture.

Having thick coarse afro hair myself, it was both elevating and inspiring.

A great read for anyone.

Amazing!!

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reader was great. really accessible, loved the examples and blew my mind re maps being woven into hairstyles.
just wow.

fascinating!

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Very informative and interesting. I found it very easy to listen to and will probably listen again but might make notes next time so I can remember and come back to all the history I was so intrigued by.

Loved it

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I really enjoyed this book and it has a lot of concepts that I’d never thought about before in regards to how hair and race are linked. Definitely a must read.

Eye opening book

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This book is amazing. As a woman of Jamaican descent, I found this book to be a reflection of myself. I found my own thoughts and feelings articulated back to me in a way I have never been able to fully express. I have learned things about African culture that I see evidenced in myself and my family. I wish all black people could read this book, particularly those who have descended from slaves, as maybe they can feel connected to the roots and culture that was stolen from them as much as I was. I highly recommend this book, it was a pleasure to listen to and I can't wait to listen to it again. Thank you Emma Dabiri and thank you Audible :)

Fantastic book

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So much to learn from one book. It could easily be a series on the history of African culture

A history & culture lesson in one book

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