White people can’t have dreads and that’s okay pt.2
My last post got a lot of feedback and comments and I’ve figured out where I went wrong…
I assumed you guys had basic reading comprehension and knew how to use this amazing free site called GOOGLE!
So I’m going to break it down soooooo far, that unless you’re actually stupid, you’ll understand
One last time…
These are dreadlocks:
These are matts:
And THESE are Jata:
Dreadlocks are culturally significant to Africans and people of African decent and while not everyone agrees with this (like with anything/everything) it is understood that this is a significant part of African culture. African Americans especially ask that other cultures not appropriate this culture. While no one can stop you, we don’t want this part of our culture that has for so long been denied to us -and is some places STILL denied to us- to be taken and appropriated by others. Dreadlocks take a lot of time, effort, and care to upkeep. They do not form because of lack of maintenance or health. (Freeform dreadlocks will be discussed in a later post)
Jata are defined as “ropelike strands of hair formed by matting or braiding hair.” And they are typically worn by monks or spiritual leaders from Indian cultures. The God Shiva is depicted as having Jata and spiritualist also have Jata for religious purposes. And while I’m not Indian and can’t speak very much from person/cultural experience on this topic I do know that it is wrong to use Jata as an example to try to prove that “all cultures had dreadlocks.” Also, just because western historians were too lazy to properly make distinctions between culturally important hairstyle instead of labeling them all as “dreads” doesn’t mean that we have to continue the ignorant style.
Matts happen when someone of ANY HAIR TEXTURE doesn’t maintain, wash, or take care of their hair. Some people say that this is “natural” and like to call these formations “dreadlocks” as you can see in the pictures above they are very very different. Dreadlocks have gotten a bad representation because 1) Racism, plain simple, please don’t try to argue this. 2) Misinformation and ignorance & 3) The stereotypes matt-wearers -especially white people- perpetuate. A lot of white people and/or nonblack people who have matts call them “dreadlocks” and talk about how “easy” they are because they don’t have to wash their hair, take care of their hair, or maintain their hair. This is definitely not the case. Matts are in no way shape or form dreadlocks. Dreadlocks form on afrotextured hair and while SOME white people do have thicker textured hair it is still asked that since they are not of African descent they do not try to imitate dreads! African Americans especially are harassed, bullied, and even assaulted for wearing their natural hair. It’s not right for us to face this harassment only for white people to wear our styles while misrepresenting us.
Culture is an amazingly wonderful thing that everyone can experience. But while there are open aspects to every culture there are also closed aspects. And that’s okay.
If you are a nonblack person and you have matts but used to call them dreads that doesn’t make you a bad person. If you continue to misrepresent dreadlocks and learn nothing from this post but “It’s just hair!!! I can do what I want!” Then yes, you are then in the wrong.
Not let’s clarify something:
POC wearing western clothing and adhering to western culture is not in ANY WAY similar to cultural appropriation. Western culture was FORCED ON US and is still FORCED ON US to this very day. All aspects of western (European/American/White) culture are open as far as I know. If you are confused about if something is considered to be cultural appropriation ASK VARIOUS SOURCES!!! Particularly people from that specific race/ethnicity/culture. I know all those aren’t synonymous but it’s best to ask various sources from that culture.
Some in the comments of my last post said “Nose rings originated in India! Does this mean that only Indians can have nose rings?” If Indians or people of Indian descent (like a majority) asked for other cultures to stop wearing nose rings because it is culturally significant to them and the style has been misrepresented I would not get one and I would support their decision.
TLDR; White people and nonblack people cannot and should not have dreadlocks nor should they try to imitate them.
