I woke up in the wonderful city of Metarie, La. ( 9.16.16) The first thing I did was grab my phone and check to see what happened over night. BallerAlert had a clap back post regarding Marc Jacobs NYFW. In this show his models wore dreads. According to the readers there were a lot of Caucasians featured wearing this hairstyle.
Fast forward to about ehhhh 2 years ago.
I kept hearing this term, appropriation. I had no idea what it meant Then I watched Amandla Sternberg's Don't Cash Crop my Cornrows , different articles, YouTube reactions etc. that followed.
I wear my hair natural. Meaning that I wear it in its natural state. I try to minimize heat and harmful products. There are a lot of people who think that natural hair is unprofessional. They believe that your hair has to be in a certain way to gain respect from others.
Clearly that is a lie.
A lot of people think straight hair is beautiful. I struggle with that thought myself. I straighten my hair when I want to feel pretty. So I associate straight hair with being pretty. WHERE on earth did I get that? Because my hair has always been curly. There's been texture to my hair that took a process to be straighten.
The Kardashian/ Jenner's get a lot of flack for appropriating black culture period. I've said it before, I enjoy watching them because I feel like I am watching apart of my family. I think that's why I like them so much because they give me a sense of familiarity. I don't think about them being half Caucasian and half Armenian. I see that their friends look like my friends, they party, they have families,they fight, they struggle with depression, anxiousness, weight problems, clothing struggles, vacations, etc.
The only problem that I have is that women of black culture aren't allowed to wear and be who they are because others feel that isn't appropriate. But others of another race can do the same thing and its " high fashion" or a new trend.
Culture Vultures are a real!
If there wasn't a gap in acceptance and understanding I don't think there would be a problem.
I personally think there is appropriation across all cultures. Especially in America. We are truly a melting pot. When you think about wigs, weaves, hair dye, tanning, waxing, brows, butt injections, implants, etc. All of these things represent a particular culture and now women pick and choose what they want to look like. There's not one person who is born with thick thighs, a small waist, jet black straight hair, with light eyes, and plump lips These are all different types of heritages copied and pasted.
I think acceptance of people no matter who they are should be recognized and appreciated.
The topic of appropriation has come up recently a lot in the media. I don't really hear it so much in the community that I live in, but that doesn't mean that it isn't worth speaking on.
I'm only 28. There was a lot of things that were decided, accomplished, and changed before I even entered the world. I no doubt believe that I have been sheltered from a lot of things and people.
Please keep in mind.
I can only represent myself.
Respect that I have opinions that may vary from your own.
The first time I knew there was a difference in black girls and in white girls hair techniques was around the 2nd grade. I was on a school bus heading out on a field trip. One of my classmates, L, had pigtails. I'm not sure why this stood out to me but I told her if she had a third pony tail our hair would like. L said, " I'm not Black" And I told her okay and.... The look on her face changed and she changed the subject.
That moment always stood out in my mind.
Because I'm black we can't have the same hairstyles?
I kept hearing this term, appropriation. I had no idea what it meant Then I watched Amandla Sternberg's Don't Cash Crop my Cornrows , different articles, YouTube reactions etc. that followed.
I wear my hair natural. Meaning that I wear it in its natural state. I try to minimize heat and harmful products. There are a lot of people who think that natural hair is unprofessional. They believe that your hair has to be in a certain way to gain respect from others.
Clearly that is a lie.
A lot of people think straight hair is beautiful. I struggle with that thought myself. I straighten my hair when I want to feel pretty. So I associate straight hair with being pretty. WHERE on earth did I get that? Because my hair has always been curly. There's been texture to my hair that took a process to be straighten.
The Kardashian/ Jenner's get a lot of flack for appropriating black culture period. I've said it before, I enjoy watching them because I feel like I am watching apart of my family. I think that's why I like them so much because they give me a sense of familiarity. I don't think about them being half Caucasian and half Armenian. I see that their friends look like my friends, they party, they have families,they fight, they struggle with depression, anxiousness, weight problems, clothing struggles, vacations, etc.
The only problem that I have is that women of black culture aren't allowed to wear and be who they are because others feel that isn't appropriate. But others of another race can do the same thing and its " high fashion" or a new trend.
Culture Vultures are a real!
If there wasn't a gap in acceptance and understanding I don't think there would be a problem.
I personally think there is appropriation across all cultures. Especially in America. We are truly a melting pot. When you think about wigs, weaves, hair dye, tanning, waxing, brows, butt injections, implants, etc. All of these things represent a particular culture and now women pick and choose what they want to look like. There's not one person who is born with thick thighs, a small waist, jet black straight hair, with light eyes, and plump lips These are all different types of heritages copied and pasted.
I think acceptance of people no matter who they are should be recognized and appreciated.
