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Visionary filmmaker Ayana Morris invited audiences to confront and reflect on societal perceptions of Black hair and the intricate relationship Black women have with their crowns through her inaugural mobile art installation, “Don’t Touch My Hair,” a three-day display that launched Oct. 11 and ran until Oct. 13 at Harriet Tubman Square during the Newark Arts Festival.

Morris’ captivating installation offers an immersive experience that explores the nuanced connections Black women share with their hair along with historical themes connected to the history of Black hair including bondage, resistance, embrace, assimilation, and survival, according to a press release. Accompanying visuals are complemented by a poignant poem that highlights the struggles and triumphs of Black women, illustrating how hair serves as a reflection of their quest for survival—from straightening to conform to European standards to using braiding as a means of navigating toward freedom for enslaved individuals.

What’s inside the exhibit?

Videos posted to Morris’ …