The Reach

This piece captures a deeply violating moment—a white colleague reaching out and touching my hair without consent in the workplace.
What might seem like a harmless gesture to some is, in truth, an act loaded with power, entitlement, and disregard for personal boundaries. It left me feeling exposed, diminished, and dehumanized—a silent intrusion in a space where I should have felt safe and respected.

How many times must this happen before we name it for what it is? Is this not a form of harassment? And when it does happen, what is the right response—for the person violated, and for those who witness it?