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A review by loosetoothfool
Don't Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
so much to learn from this book! i think the topic of hair, and all the things connected with it, was a very interesting and clever way to dissect and learn about African culture, colonialism, African American culture and more.
the most interesting parts to me were learning about African indigenous spirituality and way of life. it is true that this is not something that we learn or that is talked about, and there are misconceptions and assumptions about Africa that are completely inaccurate and fuelled purely by colonialism. one of the most interesting things to me was oriki, and the ideas of time of Yoruba, and how black hair styles shows this mix of history and new existing at once and how history informs the present and continues in the present, how this is not the western view of history as just the past, i found that very interesting and would love to learn more about it! i also liked learning about different black hairstyles, and experiences of black people with their hair. i also found the parts about patriarchy in relation to black hair, and relationships etc., very interesting and important.
i personally did not find the bits going into detail about specific businesses and economics very interesting but that is just my personal interest and struggle to understand and focus on that kind of information.
regardless, this was very interesting and well written, with a mix of academic and more casual writing that made it easy to digest and understand. i would love to read more from Emma dabiri and would also love to buy myself a copy of this book to underline and really remember and internalise this information.
the most interesting parts to me were learning about African indigenous spirituality and way of life. it is true that this is not something that we learn or that is talked about, and there are misconceptions and assumptions about Africa that are completely inaccurate and fuelled purely by colonialism. one of the most interesting things to me was oriki, and the ideas of time of Yoruba, and how black hair styles shows this mix of history and new existing at once and how history informs the present and continues in the present, how this is not the western view of history as just the past, i found that very interesting and would love to learn more about it! i also liked learning about different black hairstyles, and experiences of black people with their hair. i also found the parts about patriarchy in relation to black hair, and relationships etc., very interesting and important.
i personally did not find the bits going into detail about specific businesses and economics very interesting but that is just my personal interest and struggle to understand and focus on that kind of information.
regardless, this was very interesting and well written, with a mix of academic and more casual writing that made it easy to digest and understand. i would love to read more from Emma dabiri and would also love to buy myself a copy of this book to underline and really remember and internalise this information.