White people with dreads/box braids rant
Let’s examine the fact that despite really having no issue with white people with dreads and locs, white people acted super defensive, attacked me, called me a racist, withdrew their support and got super upset. Let’s examine the fact that my argument amounted to “hey let’s examine why black people dread and braid their hair” and it was met with “well if black people can straighten their hair then why can’t I loc my hair”.
Let’s examine the fact that because I am a black woman simply speaking on the subject of white people with brads and locs that white people, with dreads, attacked me not even realizing that I had nothing against them and said very clearly that I don’t believe in stopping people from doing whatever they want with their hair.
See, my issue with white people with dreads and locs is NOT that they have dreads or locs. It’s the entitlement. It’s the blind dismissal of the conversation around black hair, the complete and utter lack of understanding of what it’s like to be BLACK, have dreads or have braids and be profiled as a criminal or dirty because of it. It’s white people yelling in my face “IT’S JUST HAIR” when I’m trying to explain to them what I deal with with my hair as a black woman. It’s the fact that it’s “just hair” to white people, and a choice between employment and unemployment for many black people. It’s the fact that white people with dreads, all too often don’t understand that we live in a society with Eurocentric beauty standards and how that is the EXACT reason why you will see white people with dreads or braids who just happen to be artistic or part of some sort of counter culture. Because for white people having these hairstyles goes against the norm. Getting your hair braided is “unique”. Getting dreads is “edgy”. Because it veers away from Eurocentric beauty standards that tell black people every single day of their lives that their hair texture isn’t pretty enough or isn’t acceptable. And those standards pressure black women, specifically, to put harsh chemicals on their head to have straighter hair that is less threatening to white society. Hair straighteners are literally called “relaxers”. Relaxers are sometimes even put on CHILDREN’S heads so that they can have a better chance at life. This is the message that is taught to us from a very early age. Fortunately with the Naturalista movements and the power of the Internet, black women are teaching their children to love their texture more and more each day. There’s decades of deprogramming that has to take place. That’s what we’re dealing with.
Of course with the reclaiming of our natural hair comes people looking at styles we use and wanting to try them on themselves. I don’t personally have a problem with this objectively. I really honestly don’t. MY PROBLEM is when people do this and then proceed to attack black people for having specific feelings about white people who do these styles. I am never the kind of person to tell someone what not to do with their body or their hair. If you want to ‘dread’ your hair up then go do it. Do you boo. However, don’t sit here and speak down to black people about dreadlocks or box braids because they feel some type of way about it. LISTEN to what’s being said. When you yell things like “it’s just hair” to a black person, you’re demonstrating the underlying issue here. Which is that to YOU it’s just hair. Because YOU can opt into a style so that you can feel and be unique or cool etc etc. These styles for many black people are a means of either protecting their hair, revering their culture or essentially coping with their hair texture or fully embracing it in it’s most natural state.
I literally had an emotional breakdown the other day because i was so frustrated with my hair texture. That’s a result of a society that tells me that i shouldn’t even leave the house if I haven’t done something with my hair because of what my texture communicates to society. That’s a very real thing for me and for many black women, specifically. PLEASE respect that, that’s all I’m asking. Literally that’s all.
It’s really hurtful to see so many white people, with dreads or box braids attacking black people and being super racist while wearing hair styles that regardless of how you want to twist it or view it, were popularized by black people how have been doing these styles literally since ancient times. Every culture has some sort of braiding technique. Do not tell me that you got your dreads because the Vikings had them, the Vikings didn’t have dreads, they had plaits. You’d know that if you gave fuckall about the Vikings. Just because it may look like a dread to you, doesn’t mean that it IS a dread. Honestly-just spend an afternoon watching white people on youtube dread their hair and then watch black people getting their hair dreaded, there may be similarities, but the process is different and it’s different for a reason.
I am never gonna be one of these people that gonna tell you to cut your hair. I personally think Brooke Candy looks super badass with dreads. I’ve seen several white girl with dreads who I think look equally as badass. I don’t have a problem with white people with dreads, I have a problem with white people with dreads or braids that go out of their way to attack, dismiss or silence conversations about black women and their hair. This was the point of my video and I think we really should examine the fact that a BUNCH of white people got really offended because I’m black and I’m talking about braids or dreads. They didn’t stick around to hear me say that I have zero problem with white people who braid their hair or dread their hair. They literally jumped to conclusions and called me a racist. THINK about that
Think about the fact that a white girl with box braids is referred to as “brave” and “unique” and black women who commonly wear the style are seen as dirty, ghetto and poor. We HAVE to examine these things and I feel like many white people with dreads opt out of this conversation and that’s my problem. Nothing more, nothing less.
So before I end this rant, let me bottom line something: If you want to unsubscribe from me or unfollow me because I"m speaking out about the issues I face as a black woman when it comes to my hair texutre, then you were never here for me to begin with. I am sick and tired of specifically white people who adore me when I’m dragging misogynists, transphobes and white men, but get caught in their feelings when suddenly the conversation is about them. I had SO many white people catch feelings about that video that it’s pretty bizarre. My cister even messaged me like “are we good?” like I DON’T hate you, I just want everyone who wears these styles to be aware that these hairstyles are coded as edgy and unique on white people, because they stand in opposition to Eurocentric beauty standards and how those Eurocentric beauty standards impact black people. Just think about it, that’s all I’m saying.
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