To instigate heated discussions about which women are allowed to wear certain hairstyles seems to me to be playing right into the chauvinist narrative of a woman being defined by how she looks and what she wears. 2:16 PM EDT, Fri April 1, 2016. Goddess braids are essentially thicker cornrows. No community is a monolith, and you could find a Black person who would say that appropriating our hair isnt not a problem. 'The Bachelor': The Focus on So-Called 'Vulnerability' is a Cruel Way to Exploit Contestants' Traumas, 'The Bachelor' Nick Viall Calls Out Victoria and Anna: 'There's Nastiness At Their Core', Rave Nailz Review: The At-Home Manicure That Completely Exceeded My Expectations, The 5 Biggest Celeb Moments From Paris Couture Week, Ashley Benson and More Celebs Are Obsessed With This Affordable Jewelry Brand. Multiple sources credit the Vedic scriptures of Indian origin with documenting the first evidence of twisted locks of hair as early as 1800 B.C. Reading about Washington's unintentional appropriation alerted me to the fact that I'd been appropriating in the same way Washington was, and I had no idea. What It Really Means: The Day of the Dead, or Dia de Muertos, is a hugely significant Mexican holiday. The politics of hair is becoming another issue that exacerbates the racial divide. But for women of color, that unrealistic beauty ideal is even further out of reach. But we now depend 100% on reader support to keep going. Why You Shouldnt Wear It: The kimono is typically known to be special attire for life events such as weddings, tea ceremonies, funerals, religious gatherings, and more. Black hair has long been politicized and policed in the workplace and beyond. By taking these styles and not giving credit to the originator, they are literally erasing black hair culture. Payals, or anklets, are meant to symbolize the arrival of a wife into her husband's house. Alysia Stevenson is a twenty-seven New York City transplant currently living in Florida with her boyfriend and three furbabies. As these examples show, the consequences of cultural appropriation can be wide-ranging. It's not acceptable to wear the bead on your hair because you're offending black people. They can be worn as unraveled loose waves or as they are style. I do think white people have to be mindful of their privilege, though, and think twice before hopping on the newest trend, especially if it clearly borrows from disenfranchised people.. Its a universal symbol to explain the reality of life. For others, its just a hairstyle. Cultural appropriation in America can be audacious. What if white women raised an objection to black women wearing wigs or extensions with silky textures, pointing out the similarities to their own hair? Now that we have that out of the way this is not about whether white people should wear braids, cuffs or beading, this is about mainstream stores robbing culture and selling it as new to an audience that clearly does not know any better or care to know any better. Your everyday actions dont exist in a vacuum separate from anti-Black racism, so if you dont acknowledge the problem, then youre part of it. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Are you being respectful of that particular ethnic group and giving them credit for their cultural practices? Lady Gaga is pictured attending the 2013 Jingle Bell Ball in London wearing a dreadlock style. As a result of systemic racism, Black people face consequences for wearing dreadlocks that non-Black people do not. Celebrating the art, music, writings, fashion, foods, and religions of other cultures is a good thing but if you're going to enjoy the art of a certain culture, you should want to educate yourself about how those art forms came to be, and honor its artists, too. I cringe when I think about it today, but I was a child, and I really didn't know I was appropriating at the time. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Rita, appropriation from WHICH culture? Henna booths are not uncommon at music festivals but it's important to remember that getting Henna painted on your hands isn't the same thing as applying those stick-on tattoos you got out of gumball machines as a kid and you shouldn't treat it as such. Thats just a tactic by progressive leftists, to make people look bad. You know what that means, right? There are no easy answers, but with some thoughtfulness and care, you can help improve the abhorrent ways our society treats Black women instead of being part of the problem of making our lives more of a struggle just so you can have your fun. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Fortunately, though, there have been a lot of articles written about how everyone should avoid wearing racist costumes on Halloween, and thanks to the very public displays of celebrities appropriating black hairstyles, I think most of us are no longer ignorant to the more obvious ways white people in particular, and Westerners in general, can avoid appropriating. But, if youre going to get your hair done in a traditionally black style, why not go to a black stylist? The differences between us also include things that should be celebrated. The tense encounter focuses on the origin of dreadlocks, which both parties seem to agree is Egypt. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Singer Ani DiFranco is known for her natural, hippie style. These mummies are solid evidence that dreadlocks originated in ancient Egypt based on the timeline of other historical events. What It Really Means: This look stems from a very particular subset of society which does not appreciate being made into weird "fashion symbols" while the reality of their lives is neglected. If we don't, we'll end up culturally appropriating without knowing it. Its just not that easy. She was referencing Winslet's performance in the Steve Jobs biopic, and her graceful, non-defensive response to the Twitter user who called her out proves that she didn't set out to be culturally appropriative. For long hair is given to her as a covering. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The reality is, cultural appropriation does exist, and one of its most prevalent, visible forms is in the realm of hair. By taking these styles and not giving credit to the originator, they are literally erasing black hair culture. Chopsticks in your hair. frogsareprettynice 1 yr. ago sorry, i realize i worded my post badly. Discovery Company. If you put your hair up in a bun or French twist, secure the brooch or pin to a hair comb or a large clip. appreciated. bonafide8n 1 yr. ago What type of braids? Were told that were not beautiful, especially not when we look most like ourselves. This is often accompanied by Dont you have more important things to worry about?. If you casually rock it underneath your look or wear it on a daily basis, you instantly diminish the meaning behind it. None of us are free from being body-shamed about all of the reasons our hair, body, teeth, or skin are not what someone else says they should be. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? That hinders your freedom. Accent braids are one of the easiest ways to add a little extra flair to your normal do. This is what the uproar over appropriation of Black womens hair is really all about. Whether its Afros and black power or cornrows and hip-hop, hairstyles associated with African-American culture can make a statement before their wearers say a word. 30 Beauty Experts Share Their Favorite Cheap Product On Amazon That They Can't Live Without, 60 Dope Things On Amazon Prime That Have A Cult Following, 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Was Partially Inspired By This Viral Fleetwood Mac Moment, 13 Plus-Size Looks From Fashion Week That 100% Slayed, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Cultural exchange is a beautiful thing, but failing to recognize and honor the people who have created and developed all the things you love about a certain culture is one way you could be appropriating without knowing it and it's definitely no way to pay homage to the artists behind the work. It also means leaving something alone if you learn that its not possible to borrow it in a respectful way, like blogger HaifischGeweint did when they researched dreadlocks and decided not to wear them. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Even if you have good intentions and insecurities to blame, don't do this. Meanwhile, a Black woman with dreads gets treated like shes inferior just because her hair doesnt look like a white persons. So if youre wondering why Id take any time away from these pressing issues to worry about hair, the answer is that youve just stumbled upon one of the realities of Black womens everyday existence in the US. When people with power and privilege decide to validate customs and traditions that oppressed people have long been marginalized for by saying This is the hot new thing, then we have serious problems. The problem is the unjust ways society treats our differences not the fact that our differences exist. Cultural appropriation is never as simple as saying, White people arent allowed to do X, period. Its about saying its ethical to consider the context of what youre doing. Often made of alabaster, jade, or pottery, these rings have been found in tombs and were used to secure the hair in wigs for the wealthiest and highest in social class. Thats why theres a difference between cultural exchange when people freely share appreciation for one anothers cultures and cultural appropriation. As these examples show, the consequences of cultural appropriation can be wide-ranging. Cultural appropriation affects the soul of people, a sense of their inherent value, and it also affects their pockets, their capacity to rise above their circumstances through the fair. At worst, you'll look insulting. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Yes, we do have things more important than hair to worry about. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. By Jacquelyn Francis Date November 17, 2015 Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my mom parting my hair with comb at the centre of my head before braiding my long black hair into two elbow-length plaits. They probably saw a how to style mini-buns article in a magazine and thought it was cute, unaware that the proper term is Bantu knots, named after a large ethnic group in Subsaharan Africa. I can attest to how differently people treat Black women depending on the style of our hair. Which braids are cultural appropriation? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 2023 Cable News Network. As University of Richmond professor Bert Ashe writes in Twisted: My Dreadlock Chronicles, the better question is, Who hasnt worn dreadlocks at one time or another?. Box braids specifically have their origin in South Africa, dating back to 3500 B.C. Many people are wondering about this topic after the most recent public example of Black hair appropriation: Kylie Jenners cornrows. We're an independent feminist media site led entirely by people of color. Ancient Egyptians wore similar rings during the New Kingdom Dynasties 18-20. Box braids specifically have their origin in South Africa, dating back to 3500 B.C. By In recent times, hairstyles have increasingly become a politicised, racialised issue that women are expected to have a stance on. Cornrows, not "boxer braids", originated from the African and Caribbean culture as a protective style as well as a cultural expression for many years. As stated in a article The wearing of beads and hair ornaments on braids, remain an unmistakably African tradition, upheld by black womenand men in many instancesacross continents. Relatives initially worried they might jeopardize job prospects; a professor advised her to straighten her hair if she wanted to make it in broadcast journalism. I, as an African-American woman, cultural appropriation is a bitch and it becomes a problem when non-whites act like these beads/braids/dreads stem from their cultural (Example: Kim Kardashian and those fucking "Bo Dereck" braids, even though Bo came out herself and said she stole the style from African culture). This year's Met Gala theme China: Through the Looking Glass was just begging for cultural appropriation, which led many starlets to play it safe with . Obviously, no one can stop you from wearing your hair how you want, so, if you still want to wear a braided hairstyle, there are steps you can take before making your way to the salon. Maishas past work includesCommunity United Against Violence(CUAV),the nations oldest LGBTQ anti-violence organization, and Fired Up!, a program ofCalifornia Coalition for Women Prisoners. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Updated Non-Black people wearing their hair in dreadlocks is cultural appropriation. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There are Black people speaking out against police brutality who dont speak the names of Black women killed by police. Cory Goldstein responds to viral dreadlocks video: UPDATED. Got questions about why people get mad when white folks wear traditionally Black hairstyles? Some of my earliest childhood memories are of my mom parting my hair with comb at the centre of my head before braiding my long black hair into two elbow-length plaits. But it still doesnt mean their word stands for their entire culture. Recently, the US actor Amandla Stenberg accused some white female celebrities of cultural appropriation for wearing hairstyles usually associated with black women; there was heated debate over Kylie Jenners cornrows; and this week the BBC is running a debate series on the political issue of African womens hairstyles. Sure, white people can wear locs, she said in an email. It's possible to delight in the glory of a particular culture's skill in jewelry-making without, you know, insulting them by wearing it completely out of its intended context as a cute thing at Coachella. Strangers occasionally approach her for drugs. Dreadlocks are part of the costume for Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Why You Shouldnt Wear It: You should never simplify or downplay this significant part of the Indian faith, especially as Sikhs continue to be victims of hate crimes for wearing turbans. Heres your answer: This conversation isnt just about hair. The woman contends that dreadlocks belong to my culture, and the man says it doesnt matter.. This would mean me having to reconsider my whole make-up routine. In recent times, hairstyles have increasingly become a politicised, racialised issue that women are expected to have a stance on. A white woman who wears dreadlocks is acting on her privilege to have that hairstyle and still get by, and even to get positive attention for her hair. From the moment black people were forcibly brought to North America and the Caribbean, our hair has been politicized. No? Some think Cultural Appropriation leads to unnecessary frictions. Cornrows are very similar to Dutch braids but according toblogger Azizi Powell: With Dutch braids only some of each portion of the hair is braided, but with cornrows all of each portion of the hair is braided to the middle of each braid., To get a good Dutch braid, we hit up hairstylist and braid pro Sandra Yang of JudyInc in Toronto for tips:For Dutch braids, part hair with arat tail comb because you want the part to be perfectly straight and in two sections, says Yang. This is because they are not a historical style of a single cultural minority group. If one Black person says its okay, you have one persons opinion, and thats a start. As a result of systemic racism, Black people face consequences for wearing dreadlocks that non-Black people do not. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". There are feminists who fight for women but wont even acknowledge that our issues are worth fighting for. If a headdress has no religious significance to you, dont put it on. Like many, she does not care for how they look on some white people. Fulani braids, for example, come from the Fula people and its common for Fula women to add beads or cowrie shells to the braids. Im proud of my Blackness. Now, the public is weighing in. Since then, they've been part of African culture for centuries, and have spread all over the world. However, if you change your voice to sound more like an ethnic group that is different from yours, that is cultural appropriation. I do understand the symbolism of hair, especially to black women who, like black men, have had to endure taunts and insults about their natural physical appearance in the past.