Live Uncomfortably

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I just got a 50’s style, ivy league haircut at an all black barbershop.

I’m white. It’s no secret. People can tell from the second they look at me. Being that I’m white, I grew up in a white family. I lived in a white neighborhood with mostly white friends. I never had much exposure to different races. It was comfortable to remain friends with people like me.

The other night I was walking with two of my white friends when we passed a barbershop that looked straight out of the movies. In fact, parts of Barbershop were actually based on this very shop. There were zero white people inside.

My friends and I noted that it would be funny to get a haircut there. Would the music come to a halt? Would everyone stare at us? I’m 23 years old. I know better. I live in one of the most liberal cities in the most liberal state. But why do I still feel like getting a haircut here is a big deal?

The next day I set out towards the shop hoping to put myself in an uncomfortable situation. I took a deep breath as I walked through and door and…I was welcomed. I was seated right away and my barber was friendly. I told him what kind of haircut I wanted - short and 50’s style. I wondered what he thought of that. It’s probably not a cut he’s used to giving.

While we talked, my barber revealed himself to be the most typical LA guy EVER. He was a Chicago transplant who moved to Los Angeles to persue an acting career. On the side he does stand-up comedy and is going to be releasing a rap album shortly. “I realized once you move out here that you have to have more than one thing going,” he said. If he would have told me he dabbled in modeling too, I might have lost it. Everyone in LA is the same.

There was only one moment during my hour spent in the shop that me being the only white person in there was highlighted. And it happened to be brought to light by the shortest guy in the place, who also happened to have a faux-hawk with a one inch razored line circling his head like a halo. About 3/4 of the way into my haircut he turned to me and said, “Is that the Harvard?” The people around us laughed. “Wait! Is that Conan O’Brien?” Now the whole shop could hear. “Nice to meet you Conan!” Everyone in the shop busted up. Just as I was about to fire back with something clever related to his “halo-hawk,” LeBron James drove the lane for a dunk and everyone went back to their business.

I ended up with a great cut and an even better time. The shop is absolutely amazing. Everyone who works there has a personality and looks like they honestly enjoy their jobs. This is the place to get a haircut.

I don’t think most people are racist. I just think that we limit our own experiences everyday to that which is comfortable.  Interacting with another race is something I don’t do everyday. This narrows my range of possible experiences. More than anything, I want new experiences to keep my life fresh.