Another example of the reality of racism against PoC by whites.
heh. Let’s rethink this. White stoner kids on campus going through all the trouble to get dreads because its “cool” is the point here. Being black (at least in this culture) comes loaded with a lot of other biases that this white person gets to opt out of. That ability to opt out of the racism and the bullshit misconceptions that come with being black is where the annoyance comes from. Being a minority group is rarely if ever a vacation, and to have aspects of your self and your culture cherrypicked over so that people love your food or your clothing or your slang but very little else about the group is a bizarre effing experience.
Damn! I really wish I’d written this!
White people vacationing in “tribal print” and clunky jewelry, take note.
Having dreadlocks is not indicative of race, really, at all. And getting dreadlocks is really not much trouble at all, as the natural state of the hair is to lock up without brushing. Naturally, there are people who lock up their hair because theyre obsessed with and fond of appropriating another culture, but thats not always the case.
I am a Caucasian woman and I had dreadlocks for a long time. I did little to nothing to get them, and I loved them and have been really thinking about letting my hair lock up again.
Some notable historical and mythological figures/cultures who had, or are thought to have dreadlocks are:
John the Baptist
Shiva (Hindu God)
Early Scottish Clans are believed to have locked their hair.
The Maasai
Many ancient Egyptians
Many Rastafari
The Baye Fall
SADHUs!!! Really, check out some Sadhu’s locks sometime. Theyre amazing.
Some Buddhists (there is a sect that generally favors locked hair, I apologize I cant remember the name but I will get it for you if youre curious)
Some Celtic Druids locked their hair.
Vikings were also believed to have worn their hair in locks.
No one specific race or culture has a monopoly on dreadlocks. It is the natural state of human hair when left alone. Yes, curly hair locks better, and some ethnic groups hair locks easier or quicker…but most human hair, when left alone (meaning no brushing, using residue free shampoos, etc) will lock up on its own.
As a Caucasian who naturally grew my locks, I got VERY tired of the label slapped on me that I was a hippie, stoner, Rastafari wanna-be. Being Caucasian and having locked hair is not directly indicative of any of these things, no more than being Black with dreadlocks is indicative of a thug lifestyle. Each person who decides to lock up their hair does so for different reasons. Some of them superficial, some of them appropriative, but most of them highly personal.
*I want to quickly add that my list was by no means all of the cultures that presently lock, or historically locked their hair. Locking the hair seems to be relatively universal and something shared among MANY ancient cultures, both Black and non-Black.
(via thegoddamazon)
