I’m very familiar with your argument; I’ve heard it many times. It was part of my inspiration to write this post, so I’m sorry if I didn’t explain myself clearly enough.

What I mean is that I respect the work black people are doing to reclaim the ability to wear their hair as they wish. This is something enslaved Africans were denied, and given the many current examples of discrimination against black people with locks I listed above, it’s still something they are denied today. It’s painful.

I don’t see stories of white kids having their hair cut off at sporting events. Of white kids being expelled from school for hair. Of white people legally being denied jobs for locks. I’ll likely never face the same discrimination in my lifetime for a hairstyle. I acknowledge that, and I don’t wish to be a walking reminder of that for those who face discrimination for their hairstyle choice.