An exhibit in Newark inspired by the Crown Act is making an impact in the community through arts and culture.

Nestled between the trees at Harriet Tubman Square in the Brick City sits a new fixture - a mobile exhibit celebrating Black hair over the years.

Heavily inspired by the Crown Act, Don’t Touch My Hair, was created by filmmaker and Newark Native Ayana Morris as part of the Newark Arts Festival.

"I wanted to create a beautiful sensory experience and all the portraits. Each woman represents a different decade and the relationship of hair to that movement,” says Morris.

The exhibit aims to challenge societal norms surrounding Black hair while also being a celebration of it.

"It is my mission to be a silent ambassador for the Crown Act and use this experience to champion it and to help people understand why it’s important and why we say don’t touch our hair. It’s so much more than a request it’s really a rallying cry."

The Crown Act is a bill that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or style, particularly styles associated with race or national origin. Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation for New Jersey in 2019.

"As Black people, I think we’re a bit frustrated with being ostracized because of the natural texture, the natural hairstyles that we choose to rock our hair in,” says Morris.

The interactive experience invites visitors to walk through a modified shipping container with 3D hands hanging from the ceiling, symbolizing the intrusive act of touching a Black woman’s hair. The mirrored walls feature portraits of Black women sporting hairstyles tied to pivotal moments in Black history.

"I believe that the community deserves to see things like this. I believe the young girls and women in this community should be able to see a beautiful reflection of themselves, and why not Newark?” says Morris.

The traveling exhibits head to Miami next for the international art fair, Art Basel. It will remain in Newark until Nov. 15. It’s free and open to the public on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the food truck festival at Harriet Tubman Square and Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.