Cultural appropriation and White women wearing dreadlocks and braids

Nappy by nature is not a choice

Is it imitation (the best form of flattery) or cultural misappropriation when White males and females wear dreadlocks and braids. Some African American women think it is.

When I was growing up during the 1960s, Black parents used heated appliances so their daughters hair would be straight and easy to comb, just like the White girls. Today we have Caucasian women ( and men) braiding and dreading their hair to imitate African American styles.

Dreadlocks allow black men's and women’s hair to grow long naturally like people of other cultures. Females of other races don’t need that type of assistance to get their hair to grow as it grows long and straight on it's own.

This is why some Black women are offended when they see White females with braids and dreads. What we are doing out of necessity and through trial, error, and sometimes pain, both emotionally and physically, they do for a fashion statement.

What is the purpose?

There is an old saying that when you don’t understand the purpose of a thing, you will abuse it. This is why it is important for women who are not Black to understand the history of what they now have adopted.

Many African American women have no choice but to accessorize and invest in time-consuming styles that complement their unique hair texture. With a braided style you don't have to worry that sweating will cause your hair to become kinky and lead to another trip to the hair dresser.

Women of other races don't have thsi issue and their straight hair isoften difficult to braid so what's the point? Younger generations of women of color are embracing their unique hair texture and wearing styles that leave it in its natural state.

Good and bad hair?

Older Black females like myself grew up in an era where we were taught about good and bad hair. Those whose tresses did not become kinky in the rain or a swimming pool were considered to have good hair.

If your hair reverted when you sweated, swam or walked in the rain and you needed heat to straighten it you wee told you had bad hair. The term bad hair is now regarded as offensive, and many Black women want to rock the tresses they were born with.

We all have free will choice to do with our manes what we desire, but some African American women consider it as culturally inappropriate for White females to copy these ethnic hairdos.

Is there a double standard?

I liken this situation to someone using a cane because they are a fall risk and another person walking with a cane because they want to be cool. If you see a non-Black female with short hair it's because she cut it.

Many African American women have difficulty growing their hair long. Dreads and Braids assist. Wearing these style eliminates the need to perm, relax, or use heat to straighten hair.

Is this a double standard? No it's not. Black women began straightening their hair because wearing it natural could prevent them from being hired for jobs. They did it in order to be able to make a living and feed their families. It was not simply a desire to fit in with White society.

Is it cultural misappropriation?

Those of other races have no purpose for dreadlocks and braids except as a fashion statement which cause some Black women to feel insulted. During slavery Black women were forced to cover their heads in scarves as if their natural hair was shameful.

Madame CJ Walke4r became the first African American millionaire by creating the iron straightening comb so Black women's hair would be straight like females of other races.

Many of today's younger generations reject this and use braids, dreads, wigs, and hair pieces to create the styles of their choice. I know Black men whose dreads are down their backs. They say they will not cut their hair to fit into society's norms.

Should hairstyles be personal and not cultural?

Some people say hairstyles should be personal and point out how many Black women dye their hair an unnatural blonde color? If any White females have complained I have not heard about it.

Not all African American women cite cultural appropriation when they see White women with braids and dreads. At the end of the day there is more freedom now than in the past. Decades ago you did not see Asian women with blonde hair but now we do.