Don't Touch a Black Woman's Hair! -"Hair Nah" (Video Game)

The Root.com reports: “Hair Nah,” which was created by Momo Pixel, is an interactive game that allows you to design your character, and the goal is to smack away as many white hands as you can. And since its launch, it’s been the talk of social media.

"OOH can I touch your hair!" is a question I have gotten far too often. One day I was at a local deli picking up my favorite sandwich when an older white gentleman said "I'm going to touch your hair" then in an instant reached out and placed his hand on top of my head. I was disgusted and somewhat terrified. My response was "whoa, no, don't do that!" to which he replied "aww it's just hair, I didn't mean it like that." I am not sure what "meaning it like that" meant. In my mind, you absolutely meant it "like that." Like I am an exhibit, like you're fascinated by what my hair can do, like you have a right to touch me anywhere and like white privilege! I was really annoyed. The deli owner (a man) had to explain that he could not harass the customers and it was not OK.

This game is a visualization of how black women feel when this happens and it's NOT EASY. The game nor dealing with the issue is easy! I lost on the second round. The hands were coming in so fast that I couldn't keep up. This is really on par with my everyday experience. I had a white woman tell me once "You have you hair that color and that way because you want attention." My hair was green at the time she said this and we were in the middle of a personal development seminar.

Honestly, it didn't dawn on me until this very moment that her opinion is quite possibly one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. I have my hair this way and this color because I like it! Because it's my hair and I can wear it any way that I please. Because my hair is a part of my expression. I honestly had no idea that people would be so fascinated by it. People being fascinated by my hair is not my problem. Attempting to enter my personal space is not allowed without permission and I'm getting really tired of people asking for permission to "pet" me.

This game is also THE ONLY game I have seen depict locs and braids so accurately. I want to see more characters wearing locs in video games, cartoons, comic books and movies. It is the one hair identity that is not seen very often. Regardless of race or ethnicity, play this game!

PLAY NOW