Last year, Kim Kardashian found herself mired in controversy (shock!) and facing widespread accusations of cultural appropriation (also shocking!). What was the controversy that time? It was because Kim had smallish cornrows in her hair – for a photoshoot – and she posted photos on her social media referring to them as “Bo Derek braids.” They are Fulani braids or cornrows, not “Bo Derek braids.” Kim was bashed across the board, for appropriating a hairstyle usually worn by black folks, for not even giving credit to black hair culture for the braids, and for not acknowledging or apologizing for her privilege and ignorance.
One year later… Kendall Jenner stepped out several days ago in LA, with her sister Kylie. Kendall had cornrows halfway through her hair. She wore the cornrows for about a day, getting pap’d with that hairstyle and even posting stuff on her Instagram Stories with the same hair. To be completely fair to Kendall… to my knowledge, she didn’t claim that Bo Derek invented this. So at least there’s that, and yes, I know that’s setting the bar very low. Still, Kendall was accused of cultural appropriation, which isn’t surprising in the least considering her entire family built their empire on culture-vulturing and famewhorism. Some comments online:
“I’m EXHAUSTED of white people constantly appropriating black culture and wearing hairstyles that we are always ridiculed/ chastised for having and just doing it because they want to ‘look different’ or ‘stand out,’ ” wrote one user. “We wear these hairstyles to PROTECT our natural hair from damages but they wanna wear it because it looks cool. It shouldn’t be worn by them period.” Another noted Kendall’s previous controversies, claiming, “She never learns.”
“Yet another time that Kendall Jenner has appropriated black culture,” said one user. “These white women no longer have to think for themselves. They just exploit and steal from black women but are the ones who are praised for it.”
“Can she come up with something else???” someone wrote. “This act is getting redundant now.”
A rep for Kendall did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
I’m not black so I’m keeping my mouth shut. I will say this though: I think if it was a one-time thing, one moment where someone appropriated without understanding what they were doing, it wouldn’t be as big of a deal. But, again, this family does it all the damn time. Kendall and Kylie famously tried to sell t-shirts of their faces superimposed on top of iconic photos of Tupac and Biggie. Kendall knows better. Or rather, she knows what she’s doing.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Yoh .. people rage over everything.
Yup raging over not being able to wear your hair naturally..
Exactly. Just wear your hair however you want. Why do people get pissed off for the simplest things? Ugh.
If you wear your hair this way, I think it should be taken as nothing but a compliment to black culture BUT the issue is that white people wear their hair like this without any concept of the history. Black women should not be ridiculed for wearing their hair this way while their white counterpart wears it as a fashion statement and white people cannot claim that originated with them.
To attack a white woman for wearing her hair this way without any understanding of her way of thinking though, seems unfair. If we all stick to the culture that we are born into and are not allowed to look outside of that, I think it would only breed more intolerance and far less understanding.
@nahema very well stated. I agree with you 100%!!!! The cultural appropriation argument has gone absolutely haywire.
@nahema.
so want to add
I believe because kendall (and really any person in her family) isn’t very deep, that she more likely did the style because it was popular in the 1999 and the early 2000s. That era creeped back….doesn’t make it right or wrong…we just shouldn’t judge people on their hair period. Not everyone can have that slick haired, fake butt, over sprayed, pinterest enthusiast, NF pumpkin spice latte look…
@Nahema: I like what you are saying.
I am huge fan of WAS textile, I have skirts made of wax, and I wear them.
I am from Guatemala, but I grew up in Italy and currently I live in France.
First time I went to work with one of my wax skirt, my African collegues started posing me all sort of questions: “Do you know what is that, do you know the meaning?” They were suprised I had educated myself about the history (thanks to the artisan who made that skirt) I asked them if it was offensive, or if I was doing something wrong, they were fine with me, because through my education I was promoting the culture, it wasn’t just “fashion”. That is the problem.
Recently I went to a wedding, and I was wearing one of my “Huipil” there were a lot of people telling me ” I live your blouse”, and I had to explain that a huipil it’s much more than a blouse, and I was happy to do so.
Some of y’all do not know the history of natural hair discrimination for Black women being at the core of people’s outrage and it shows.
The Kardashian-Jenners have a long history of appropriating Black culture, modifying themselves to have body traits usually featured naturally on Black women as well as fetishizing Black men.
This is nothing new for them but it is interesting to see people trivialize that clan’s need to use Black bodies and Black culture for attention.
Cosign Bonobochick. Also, do some of you realize that black women are not allowed to wear protective or natural styles to work and school? Yes, black women have their hair policed along with everything else.
I’m with you, bonobochick and Enn. To top it off, white girls just look so tryhard with these hairstyles. And those fake fingernails… yeeeech.
@Bonobochick, preach girl, and agree with you. Black women are often times vilify for their hair, but these culture vultures Kardashian/Jenner’s get praised for wearing the hairstyles.
Here to support this. It’s disgusting and should be called out by everyone. The shame alone should make them stop.
Stick around. You ain’t seen nothing yet
New York and California had to pass laws telling employers they couldn’t fire/discipline black women for wearing their natural hair, but do you…
Exactly. Clearly the folks commenting along the lines of “it’s just hair” have no NO idea what it’s like to have black hair and all the discrimination that goes along with it. The Kardashian/Jenner women are tone deaf and some of them are raising mixed babies. You’d think they’d be aware of the issues that their very children may face.. 😔
People who have been oppressed over their hairstyles have a right to rage over it. YOU all may not be aware, but there are schools, countys and many places across America and the world, where Nautral Hairstyles of Black women are frowned upon and BANNED. I AM BLACK and can tell you the agony that comes with wearing natural hair in the workplace. So NOOOO the Kartrashians cannot just where any hair style they want and I will RAGE against it.
This specefic hair style she is wearing has been called Ghetto so often. SO NO- I will not just let it be and get over it. IT IS THAT DEEP>
The problem is 99% of the people who rage over it are not black.
People have a right to rage over such things as well as believe “it’s no big deal.” My problem with this conversation is the complete lack of tolerance and inability to even consider other’s opinions before ripping into them if they disagree.
Dota – I am white and I would gently ask you assuming you are white as well, how many people on this site are black and further ask you how many black friends do you have who honesty discuss racial issues with you? Until I had a black child, i thought I was a nice liberal who thought that I didn’t discriminate. If you go deeper, as I have by necessity, you will find that comments like that are just reflective of your privileged situation in life.
What Penn said above. This cultural appropriation nonsense has gone off the rails, IMO. If people can’t find an issue to bitch about, they create one. I’m black and as far as I’m concerned anyone can wear their hair any way they want.
I love you Carmen.
Yep. Of all the terrible issues of discrimination in the world, protesting against Kendall Jenner wearing her hair that way seems nonsense.
Her clan does much worse in terms of cultural appropriation.
When I was a child (I am from southern Europe) it was common to wear cornrows during the summer and I have never considered that offensive.
ugh they suck, but attention is what they want. They do this on purpose.
My thought ecactly! She did it on purpose because – yay, finally in the headlines again!
Exactly. The second I saw these pics I was like “here we go again”. So thirsty.
It’s ok to offend an entire community because attention is more important.
So sick of this family.
Entire race.
Kitten, I seem to be firmly on my soapbox this am, but FYI considering that race is a bit of a made up social construct, I liked your first choice – community – better.
https://www.racepowerofanillusion.org/
Nothing can make this trick interesting.
I’d say this was done intentionally. She knew what the blow back would be and she did it to create controversy and get the attention. If black women weren’t criticized/demonized for wearing natural hairstyles such as cornrows and dreads, it wouldn’t be such a big deal if others wore them. But black women have lost jobs because of wearing cornrows and have had to file lawsuits over this. It’s damn exhausting.
Of course it was intensional. Her sister got called out for it before, she has been lost in the shuffle and needed to make the front pages again. She made sure to be photographed outside with it and post it on social media. I’m not going to give her the attention she wants besides this single post.
I am not defending her, and I am white, so I can’t say anything about this.
But I remember in the 90’s when these braids were extremely popular, everyone was wearing them, including me. Makes me question everything I know about life and privilege
That’s kind of what I came here to say. I remember everybody wearing this hairstyle in the ’90s and early 2000s. I suppose we were all culturally appropriating, but considering how into ’90s fashion everyone is lately I wonder if it’s more related to that. I mean, even scrunchies have made a comeback.
I was super against scrunchies being back, but I have super long hair that I tie up when it’s wet, and my hair stylist told me that scrunchies are so much better for wet hair than the regular hair elastics. So I wear them while my hair is wet now. And it makes sense, because I only wore them in the 90s, and my hair was much smoother back then (much less gray too, hahahaha!)
Just because it was done 20 years ago doesn’t make it okay.
It’s not okay.
@Enn I didn’t say it was okay. Just that it might not be about trying to appropriate, but doing a throwback to the 90’s looks that everyone is doing now. I don’t expect Kendall to be very aware of it being appropriation. And I do think that this family has a huge issue with appropriation.
I’m biracial, but am white passing, so I don’t think I get to decide what people are okay with or not, even if I have my own opinions on it.
It wasn’t okay in the 90s and it isn’t okay now. At that time, many Black women who wanted to work office jobs had to straighten their hair. They still feel compelled to in many jobs today. Kids are, in 2019, banned from schools for wearing natural hairstyles, like braids.
@Christina please read my comments. Nowhere did I say it’s okay because we did it in the 90’s. Just that it happened, and 90’s fashion is making a comeback, and I suspect that’s more the reason for her hairstyle. Doesn’t mean I think it’s okay and great. -_-
Arizona, I didn’t intend to be hurtful to you personally. Kendall has a big platform and she is socializing in wealthy circles. Some are her Arifan American friends who don’t seem to know or tell her the history, and the people trying to work for the Kardashians sure aren’t going to tell them because they want a paycheck. I am Mexican American with a biracial daughter in a mixed family. What I’m saying is that it simply never was okay no matter what the “inspiration” was, and minorities were ignored all those years ago when they said it, and I heard it discussed on the regular while watching the larger culture embrace it. When Bo Derek did it, many of the people I grew up with wondered why it was okay for her and not them. Peaches and Herb were big in the 70s, and so was Patrice Rushen, and they wore braids, so it seemed ok in the entertainment business for minority women, but not at regular jobs. This history just is.
My daughter passes for non-Black, but not White. She takes up space, and it makes some white folks uncomfortable, and some Black kids at her HS expressed that she didn’t look like a Black woman. I’ve had to teach her about our light skinned privilege. Growing up in a Black community in Southern California made me respect the way that working class Black folks have to code switch down to their scalps. When I stopped straightening my big, wavy hair, all sorts of people thought that something was wrong. I just didn’t want to do it anymore, and it shouldn’t matter that I want to wear my natural, mixed race, crazy-crazy ass hair.
Again, I mean no offenses to you personally, and I apologize for being insensitive to what you said.
Thank you for such a thoughtful response, and I apologize if I was too snappy above. As someone who has gotten “what ethnicity are you” and “what’s your heritage” their whole life, it gets old, very quickly. And I also straighten my crazy, mixed-race, poofy hair – I’m not comfortable enough with it to not straighten it, which contributes to me being white-passing as opposed to looking mixed. I certainly don’t have the experience with having to code switch – my experience has primarily been that of a white woman, despite my ethnicity. I try to be respectful of that, but sometimes fail.
It’s so ridiculous to me that this is still an issue in 2019, but so is the fact that we have literally Nazis still. It’s depressing.
I’m white and also wore this hairstyle in high school when I could find someone to do it to my hair for me. And I used to say “no homo” as a joke. Thankfully I am more educated and culturally aware and have stopped behavior I know better.
Clearly she knew this would get a reaction. It’s sad that she and her family refuse to move forward on their cultural sensitivities especially when they are raising their children who do share that history.
Right? I was a cheerleader in the early 2000’s and I braided our whole teams’ hair to look like this for competitions and games. It was the most efficient way to keep ALL hair out of our face. I never ever associated it with black people.. just as an efficient hair style. Whoops.
@LaaLaa, I don’t think people wearing their hair in that style is white privilege. I personally like the style and if I want to wear my hair in that fashion, why not. I’m not being malicious or trying to get attention. But she is. And that’s where the issue comes into play. Just like the commenter who said the sisters are morphing their bodies. Plus, this is a PR stunt. Nothing more, nothing less. I’d give her props if she tried to put some kind of positive spin on it but it’s all just attention seeking BS.
@Seraphina, it is a form of white privilege to get to appropriate a hair style that when worn by black women is admonished and often not allowed. If I put my hair in cornrows it’s to protect it. When I wear braids it’s to make my hair more manageable. It may happen to look good but it’s a necessity. However as a poster mentioned prior these styles when worn by black women are discriminated against. So much so that recent laws have been passed to make this illegal. So while a white woman can wear a hair style with no repercussions when we do it, it’s bad. Therein lies the problem and therein lies the inherent privilege.
@Scotchy, I can say that where I work black women can wear their hair in that style without repercussions. In fact, many do. That is why I stated the first comment. In fact, I don’t know of anywhere I have worked where it was frowned upon or have repercussions.
Seraphina, the US military only started allowing twists, braids, etc. in 2014, and even then, they limit the size (diameter) and number. Just because you’ve never experienced or witnessed the restrictions doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Sadly, it’s more common than you’d think, which makes laws against this form of discrimination necessary.
@Seraphina,
Your response reads to me as someone that doesn’t actually want to learn about what WOC with afro hair face. It reads as dismissive and honestly unless you are a WOC with afro hair. You don’t really know what it’s like. Perhaps, listen, take a pause from trying to prove why it’s all ok and see why we have feelings about it. The fact is, States have had to pass laws to ensure that women wearing their hair natural are not discriminated against. That means it’s happening. Period. You not seeing it in your personal work space doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. It is.
Have you ever asked your co-workers if they have ever experienced discrimination when wearing their hair natural in other work environments?
I personally have experienced discrimination when working in an office while wearing my hair natural. So I stopped wearing my hair natural.
So I know first hand it’s happens.
Anyhow hopefully you glean something from this massive forum or maybe you won’t I cannot control ones ability to be empathetic.
Either way wishing you a great holiday weekend.
Your experience is not the only experience. Others were not that lucky. A nice young man at my job had braids, his boss told me it looked unprofessional and he needed to do something about it. His boss was African American also, as was this young man.
@scotchy, I have never been told I am not empathetic. But I like how you insult in an underhanded way and then wish me a great weekend. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder. Not a good look.
@Seraphina,
You read what Scotchy said and responded like this? Wow.
People like you make me realize that humanity will never overcome this racial divide. Because for it to happen, a whole lot of White people will need to…change. (In 2019, still only a very small percentage of White folks understand racism and have the strength of character to recognize and acknowledge the biases they harbor.) And change, real change, requires self-inspection and an ability to admit wrongdoing — whether the wrongdoing is intentional or not. But the people who need to do that can’t seem to manage it.
Scotchy doesn’t seem like she has a “chip on her shoulder.” She seems calm and trying to explain something. To educate. But accusing Black women of being unreasonable and angry is textbook casual racism. It’s part of the gaslighting trinity. And you just did it.
As for never being told you weren’t empathetic. Well, humans are catty and hypocritical. We judge and talk and gossip about people behind their backs all the time. We’re two-faced. So, just because nobody has directly acknowledged a lack of empathy on your part, to your face, doesn’t mean people think you’re empathetic.
I remember when I was growing up and kids would come back from vacation in Barbados or Bermuda and they were very tan and had cornrows or braids with beads and we all thought it looked so cool.
@kitten, when (and where) I was growing up, girls at school would vacation in Bali and Thailand and always come back with these braids complete with the coloured plastic beads. I was always so jealous! To this day, when women and young girls visit these places you will be harassed (or let’s say almost begged) by street vendors to let them braid your hair as a source of income for them. I have never done it for a myriad of reasons which now includes cultural appropriation but I do feel bad saying no when I know they rely on tourists for that business.
Genuine questions here as this is a topic I’ve been grappling with: if I had a daughter who wants to get her hair braided, what should I tell her in a way she will understand? It almost feels like I’m saying “no, it’s not appropriate because that style belongs to a culture you were not born into”. Similarly, if she wants to dress as Pocahontas as that is the character she most loves and admires, is that also cultural appropriation? I don’t want her desires to offend anyone but it also feels equally problematic to tell a young person they can only dress up like characters that “look like them”, so to speak.
There’s not as much “tourist braiding” in the Bahamas as there used to be now.
Same, Kitten. The Boston-Bermuda cruise…I came back with cornrows…
@yourcousinvinny
Late answer but since no one had answered please know that I appreciate that you are grappling with this. As a mixed race person who has lived in Thailand and been to Bali many times don’t feel bad saying No to braiders. I am sure you are spending money elsewhere in the tourism industry when you are travelling. These braiders do not braid hair because it’s traditionally Thai or Balinese- it’s something that has spread all over the world from African and Carribbean vacation places. To my knowledge Thais do not usually braid their hair that way. If you are on vacay and feel braids would mean you wouldn’t have to brush your daughter’s hair for a week and she loves them- by all means, don’t feel bad. If more little white kids wore braids and had black dolls, maybe life would be a bit different.
Our fifteen-year old is quarter black and wanted to be Pocahontas for carnival/halloween 4 years ago because she felt her hair looked like Pocahontas’ hair – we didn’t know if it was a good idea, either, but it’s not exactly Blackface. She tried to find a Native American friend to ask if anyone would feel offended, but hey we live in Europe, try finding one. In the end she was Pocahontas for a day and a pretty smurf for another day. She kept telling boys dressed as cowboys that they had stolen the land of her forefathers. It may have been a tad inappropriate but we need to let our kids try stand up for themselves and show they can be representatives of the world without offending anyone or pretending they invented something that has been around for centuries.
There should be little black Annas and Elsas and Olafs and maybe some little blond ‘Pocahontases’.
Thank you for caring.
Not where I’m from. I mean I guess I saw more white celebs wearing them then but nothing notable in my former city. Did people do these styles themselves back then? Daily or leave in for a while? I don’t know about black hair but on my hair it would be messy after the first night, straight hairs would be poking out everywhere. Honestly that’s probably another reason white people dont do this that often. If it was convenient for us more of us would probably be asking why can’t we wear that too?! Kendall obviously didn’t wake up like that, someone did it for her. and it’s not even the best style for her. I suspect she wanted a headline
White people don’t do it because braids aren’t culturally-signifcant to colonizers. Seriously.
Additionally, we don’t typically need a tight style to protect our natural hair.
but they weren’t any more acceptable in the 90s, more people just know better after 20 years.
also, @Arizona, kendall is absolutely aware of this being appropriation because this complaint has been made against her most famous family member for the same hairstyle years ago. she just doesn’t care and wants attention, good or bad.
Aren’t Fulani braids and cornrows different though? Similar, but different?
I also, quite frankly, don’t think she’s smart enough to connect the two things.
The 90s version was hair pulled back with butterfly clips not braided, it’s still not great for appropriation but its not what Kendall has here: https://jkstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/n-BUTTERFLY-CLIPS-570.jpg
Plus just last year her sister made headlines for doing the same thing, she KNOWS better but wants an easy headline.
I don’t think that is what she means. She’s talking more like Madonna’s hair in Human Nature, which is not with butterfly clips. It definitely was a thing in the 90s (which, as a black woman, I always thought was a bit odd).
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XPL_qGqSJxA/hqdefault.jpg
No one can lay claim to a hairstyle. Cornrows have been around since millenia. Look at bronze age art and you will find them there. She can do whatever she wants with her hair.
Exactly.
I know. I’m so so tired of this convo.
Yeah, we should go smash all ancient greek and egyptian pottery, they’re totally appropriating modern black culture.
Oh, AnnaKarinina, would that you were asked to leave a job because of a hairstyle, or have your kid kicked out of a school because of a hairstyle, or be forced to sue because you were forced to leave someplace because of your hairstyle. Punk kids had Mohawks to draw attention. People of color have hairstyles to care for our hair and to feel comfortable. When punk kids got kicked out of places, they were not conforming to society. Women of color, particularly Black women, are just trying to get to work without spending hours trying to look like a White person. Why is that so difficult to understand?
I’ve got nothing but empathy for your point of view. Discrimination against non-white hair should not be tolerated along with all the other “whitening” kinds of standards. What I would like to understand is how giving Kendall Jenner publicity is productive?
@annakarenina Generally speaking, when the topic is about something that impacts black women, you should listen to what they have to say because they live it every damn day.
Who said anything about smashing anything?
What you did here is an example of casual (sometimes unintentional) racism. You’re framing Black people as violent and out of control.
Voicing a critical opinion about the appropriateness of a problematic celebrity’s braids is not the same as advocating for violence against said celebrity. But by injecting the (false) notion that people who know more about “hair politics” (typically Black women) want to “smash” things, you’re infusing the conversation with casual racism; you’re contributing to the (false) notion that Black people are violent and dangerous; you’re also insinuating that Black people are dumb oafs who don’t think before reacting and would ruin historical artifacts over a hairstyle; you’re trivializing the experiences of Black women and amplifying harmful stereotypes, which only serves to uphold White supremacy.
amen. cultures mix, learn from each other, we often don’t even know who did it first. and who cares? it’s your hair and nobody can tell you you can’t do what you want with it. and about discrimination of black women… if some black women are discriminated against because of their hair do, the solution is not to ban the hairstyle and shout at other people for wearing it, but to insist on EVERYBODY’s right to wear it. how does me not being able to wear it help a black woman? how is she more free if I’m less free?
I am too tired to discuss hair styling and cultural appropriation with white women today. Not at the end of a grueling week of work and apartment hunting. The conversation around Taylor Swift a few days ago was draining enough.
So I’ll just say: of course, it’s cultural appropriation and of course, Kendull is doing it for attention.
Same same. Discussing black issues with white women is tough when a lot of them are White Women™ and they just won’t listen, stay in their lane or start invoking permissions given from NBPoC relatives. They think they’re incisive but that ain’t how it works.
For what it is worth, I am white and appreciate reading your comments. I know it’s not your job to educate celebitchy message boards especially after a long week (my youngest son has been asked to leave his preschool till he is accident free potty trained so I am barely surviving being a working parent) and so I wanted to thank you for sharing.
This hairstyle is not for Kendall, her klan sisters or me. I have my minor hair issues but I have never been made to go home over my natural hair and can appreciate something without having to have it. I hope you all have a good weekend.
I hear you. As soon as I saw the headline I knew white women would be scrambling here to White Feminist all over the comments. People are addicted to outrage? Check! People can do what they want with their hair? Check! Black people didn’t invent braids? Check! I hope your weekend is fun and restful.
I got sucked into it a bit because my feed didn’t refresh fast enough to see some of ya’ll down here feeling the same way I am feeling. I don’t know why I bother.
I’m a white woman who just wanted to say I support your message.
I’m trying to convince other white women to read Uses of Anger by Audre Lorde. Because she effectively communicated why we need to support woc instead of making everything about white guilt.
Girl same. The comments on this thread from white women who don’t get it and don’t want to get it are giving me a damn headache. It’s exhausting.
Nor should you have to educate white women when Google is free. I’m sorry you’ve had a rough week and hope you can relax this weekend.
Sending an e-hug. These women don’t get it, never will get it and don’t want to get it. The fact that state legislatures have to tell employers they can’t discipline POC for wearing the hair in ways that protect the hair that comes out of their head should tell you it’s not “just a hairstyle.” This is the epitome of white privilege.
I’m a white lady and I’d like to ask a question I cannot find an answer to online. If someone would be kind enough to answer I’d appreciate it. For the record, I’ve never had my hair in cornrows and don’t intend to.
Is it our goal, as a society, to eventually reach a point where anyone can wear their hair in whatever style they want without it being considered offensive? For instance, in 100 years, should cornrows still be forbidden for white-passing folks? 200 years? I don’t begrudge anyone their sensitivities or feelings on the issue in this current day and age.
It’s strange that cornrows would be considered “unprofessional”. It’s literally a nice, neat style. 100% believe POC should be able to wear it to work. Personally, I think the only restrictions that employers should have the right to place on employee’s hair should involve safety and maybe limit it to “hair colors found in nature”.
Hi Kumquat. I appreciate your openness to listening and learning.
As has been stated, the issue is that black women – whose traditional hairstyles these are – have been discriminated against for these styles. And they still are, every damn day.
And policed. Look at Michelle Obama – gracious, graceful, professional. Not to mention a caring person who wanted to do things like encourage kids to exercise and eat well.
She got policed for showing her lovely toned arms. Imagine the sharknado that would have erupted had she ever appeared without straightened hair.
It is still considered not ok for black women to do this, by many (bigoted) people. It’s written into many company dress codes. Still.
It’s a perfect example of institutionalized racism.
So Kendall wants to just waltz in and do it for attention. It’s not fair. It must be incredibly galling!
Until this country can deal with the horrible history of slavery – how it was written into the law of the land that black folks were less than human – this shit ain’t going away.
And until we fix that as a culture, a little respect goes a long way.
Personal share: I’m a white chick who, years ago, got braided extensions for a trip to the desert. It was for practicality but also for fun. I chose bright anime’ colors, and opted for long individual braids, not rows, because they’re really versatile as far as styling. I thought it looked beautiful and it was super easy to care for.
This was 15ish years ago. It never occurred to me that it was disrespectful. (The black braid salon wasn’t going to turn down the work – if they had an opinion they kept schtum.)
Would I do it today? Aww, HELLS no. I don’t want to be a Rachel Dolezal looking asshole. (Not that I was trying to pass with all that bright fake hair. If anything, my then inspiration was the anime’ girls.)
But I’m sure some black ladies saw me and shook their heads in dismay. Sorry about that. (Props to the little black girl who saw me at the grocery store and yelled, “MOM! LOOK! SHE’S GOT FAKE HAIR!!!” (I was all, “that’s right, I do.)
TBH, I’m way more sensitive to the issues than I was 15+ years ago. Thank you, TheRoot. (It’s a great place to learn.) Thank you, brain, for being smart enough to actually listen to black women patiently explaining the issue, again and again. I hear you. I know it’s exhausting. You deserve better.
Do I miss it? Aww, HELLS yes. It’s a beautiful, practical style. But it’s so much more important to respect the feelings of the black community. Which have been made clear.
I live smack dab in the middle of a very mixed part of a very mixed city. I’d like to think the clueless comments around this are from people who do not have experience with much of any PoC. (Perhaps other than in service jobs.) Or maybe they just like Kendall. I’m not attacking anyone. It comes from ignorance.
But I will say that it is not difficult to learn more, to stretch a bit, to try to consider what it would be like to walk in someone else’s shoes.
Most folks commenting here can learn at leisure, and then take a break and check out for a while if it gets overwhelming.
*This is not an option for black folks. They have to live with this BS (and worse) being shoved in their faces, all day every day.* It’s bleak.
You’d be hurt and upset by it too. *I’m* upset by it, and I have the white privilege gene.
It’s just that I can see past my own nose. And I am a Poor, so I understand struggling against an unfair system. FWIW, I’m afraid of the police, too. But not usually afraid that they are going to kill me.
I think listening – really listening – and then taking respectful action is the only legit approach for white women.
Will we? Some of us are, at least. We need to work to get the other 47% on board! We should all be sisters in the struggle for equality.
@some chick, great post. A lot of it imo is lack of exposure to other cultures. I grew up in all white areas. Literally. It wasn’t until I started living in more diverse areas that I started seeing how POC are treated by people. And I really saw it when I started dating my non white husband. It was so shocking. We even get dirty looks sometimes. He can’t walk into a room without being stared at. He’s also big in addition to being non white. People are intimidated by him or if they’re girls, want to sleep w him. Women LOVE him. He’s mixed race, part Native American, African American, Filipino and Caucasian. Both his parents are mixed race. He’s a gorgeous man with lovely almond shaped eyes, caramel color smooth skin, and nice full lips. I must admit, I’m a bit biased ; )
Anyway, back to the subject. As a white woman, I had no clue how much racism there is towards minorities. But I would NEVER tell someone that what they are feeling is not valid, as if my opinion counted for more than their opinion. Which is what some of these white people on here are saying by their words. Idk whether it’s ignorance or arrogant, either way, it’s messed up. Your post is very lovely, I wish more people were like yoy.
Thanks for the nice messages, ladies. You rock. And thanks to those who get it and LISTEN.
Sarah, I feel you, lady… good luck with the move.
Yep. Too damn tired every day. I already had a white man mansplain West Indian carnival to me (I’m Jamaican and Bajan), so no energy for this. Good luck with house hunting!
Oh my god. I wear a ponytail every day, should I be concerned that I’m somehow offending someone somewhere because of something? Christ. It’s hair. Wear it how you want.
this is a dismissive comment. it doesn’t sound like you’ve done much research into the social history of black women’s hair and the struggles that still come up for example in HR with just wearing their hair naturally while white women are praised for wearing cornrows. please read up, there is a lot more to this that you are missing.
Ya ok that’s fair. I did not realize that it was an issue to the extent of job losses and whatnot, I just thought it was being ticked off because of being copied, hence the dismissiveness of the comment. That’s absolutely ridiculous, because it IS just hair, and anyone anywhere should be able to wear it how they want without fear of repercussion, and having to have a law passes to protect your right on how you wear it is insanity. I had no idea, so my apologies.
Good exchange, Olive and Gutterflower. Props to GF for listening! Listening is so important.
Listen-it’s not just about the cornrows. It’s about the fake tans, the enhanced buts & lips, & cornrows to make themselves resemble black women, even though their actual relationships with black women are problematic. This, cherry picking from black culture for money has been their foundation.
As a black woman who can’t wear these hairstyles to work because I would be in HR faster than you can say Kardashian, let her wear her braids while she refuses to acknowledge why the others don’t/can’t and I’ll hand her a can of Pepsi and everything will be ok.
Same. I graduated last spring and I realized soon enough that if I wanted to find a job, I would need to ditch the natural hair. So hello, wigs, weaves, sew-ins and hundreds of euros spend to transform the hair I was born with.
White and non-black celebitches whining that it’s just hair really don’t understand how privilege they are.
Thank you. Some of these comments are willful ignorance. How many times do we have to say black women LOSE THEIR JOBS for wearing natural hairstyles like cornrows.
That is f’d up! I want to yell and ask you how on earth a hairstyle could put you in HR, but sadly I know how.
@HK9
I’m not Black, but I am a WOC so hope you don’t mind I chime in. I completely see where you are coming from. As an Indian woman, if I wore a saree to the office, I’d be in HR too. The protocol is to just be as pleasing to White people as you can and to not offend White people. That is what I’ve learned in the real world. It is sickening knowing you’d be in HR for wearing your hair in braids or cornrows. This sh*t needs to change. If White people can’t understand why this is a problem, they are only showing how ignorant they are.
And a White woman wearing a Sari at the office on casual Friday wouldn’t be spoken to in most cases. I’m sorry that you are forced to understand due to experience, but grateful that you get it.
@ME that sucks, because 1. I know you’re right, and 2. I would LOVE for my coworkers to be able to freely express/show their culture at work (/in their lives).
many of those things don’t have anything to do with black people. women want fuller lips because that’s considered sensual, you look younger,etc. tan is now popular because now it’s associated with having money to go on vacations. before being fair was fancy because the aristocrats didn’t have to work outside and get tanned. and even the big butts… I have a big butt naturally, many black women don’t have big butts, so I don’t think being curvy is a black characteristic.
California just passed a law that allows black people to wear their hair however they prefer. Think about that please: a law needed to be passed in 2019 so people of color can wear their hair naturally and not be fired or removed from school. Yes it could be a 90s throwback etc but part of the criticism of Kendall having cornrows stems from it being a trigger for some people who faced discrimination their whole lives for having Afro hair.
A voice of reason in an ocean of ignorance and callousness. Thank you @CuriousCole.
Once again, I would like to thank the Celebitches for teaching me something I don’t know. I read the story confused as to why there would be such outrage over a hairstyle and thinking surely no one culture can “own” a way of wearing their hair. However, I am gobsmacked and saddened to learn from this thread that WOC have faced disciplinary action and consequences for wearing their hair a certain way and that something like a law has to be passed to make this illegal. WTAF?
I also did not know that a POC could be lead to HR, etc. I work at a HUGE corporation with every different kind of culture/color of skin known to man. And here’s the thing, women and men of color at the office have always been able to wear cornrows, braids, etc. So, I never even knew this was a thing. We even hired an Indian woman a couple of years ago and she wore her native clothing to work. (Which I was always fascinated by, it was gorgeous!)
So, now I’ve been educated. So thank you. 😉
This.
I think New York has passed or will pass a similar law protecting natural hair styles on the job.
And isn’t it still an issue in the military that Black women have a very limited range of how natural hair can be worn?
Everybody of every race has a limited range of hairstyles in the military.
bonobochick – Yes, New York also passed laws on natural hair, like BytheSea noted. But 2017/2018 most of the military branches (I think Marines might be holding out?) lifted restrictions on hair, allowing black women to lock their hair. Until last year though, WOC had to endure/pay for chemical straightening or wigs to comply with regulations.
CuriousCole – I should’ve scrolled down before commenting upthread about the same thing. Thank you. And yes, New York passed a similar law. Meanwhile, in response, several federal courts (*sigh*) came out and said that hair is not immutable and if you’re disciplined for wearing locs or cornrows or box braids, you should go home and remove them.
Which is bullshit. No one is going to look at my out of control Merida looking hair and send me to HR. But they will send a woman of color with natural hair there. Screw that noise.
Curioussole thank you for that comment. You saved my phone as the ignorance of some my fellow Caucasians almost made me toss it at a wall. As a white woman I am embarrassed at some of the easy privilege of the people refusing to even try to understand the point of view of black women. I am so white I glow in the dark, so I don’t know about the perspective of this issue from the standpoint of a black woman. I did, however, grow up in a smallish southern town and was born with super curly hair. I was grilled by friends of my parents, strangers, church members, and even peers relentlessly about my hair. I was teased and one of the “insults” (particularly from racists of a certain age) was to imply I might have African American heritage to explain my hair. I cannot begin to understand this issue from the context of an African American woman, but by God I do understand what it is like to be borderline harassed because of the hair you were genetically born with. I finally grew up enough to respond to these bullies and idiots by telling them…”if you don’t like my hair the door also opens out.” BUT BLACK WOMEN DON’T HAVE THIS LUXERY WHICH IS THE FLIPPING POINT!!! Laws had to be passed to protect job statuses for African American women to wear their hair in ways that are genetically and culturally determined. Refusing to take a few minutes to educate yourself and instead insulting people is peak white privilege. Why is it so hard to understand that other peoples’ culturally different viewpoints can be valid?
Liz, your description of yourself sounds just like my daughter! People ask her, “are you Puerto Rican or something?” , as if they have a right to grill a perfect stranger about this!
Gail exactly. “You hair is so curly are you going to cut it?” “Why do you have such curly hair, have you tried to straightened it?”
Ummm sorry have we met? Do I know you?
Can I just also add that I was very very ignorant about white privilege and my own ignorance of viewpoints and accidental insults I may have made when I was young and dumb. However, have never been prejudice, and some of these comments seem to be from folks who think lack of understanding of their privilege makes them bad or evil. Here is my very unsophisticated thought here. You can be not a bigot and still be ignorant of how the world has subtly rewarded you for your appearance. You can also read sites like this with an open mind and learn how to appreciate the subtle things that even open minded people overlook. Acknowledging that all of us can grow and be better, more inclusive, less likely to accidentally be part of the problems that have just now started to be talked about is a good thing. Instead of making smart a$$ed comments about pony tails read about how white culture often injures other groups by 100’s of tiny cuts and expand your understanding. I have tried and still try to do that and I promise it doesn’t hurt a bit. I will now climb down from my soapbox. Thanks for your time.
Look, these women have built their careers and brands off cultural appropriation, proximity to, and imitation of blackness. However, I will say Kendall and Kourtney are the least guilty of this. Whereas the other 3 seem to have spent the last decade trying their hardest to cosplay and morph into their black female friends before discarding them, Kendall has kept a bit more to herself. Point is, cultural appropriation is nuanced and there was outrage against Kim because she was obviously capitalising without crediting, whereas Kendall is just wearing the hairstyle, and the half up half down cornrowed style has not been exclusive to the black community so I honestly can’t muster any feelings about this. I will say though, white people don’t get to decide what is and isn’t cultural appropriation of a culture that’s not their own. So, if you’re a white person that doesn’t care about cultural appropriation, I would recommend learning more about the concept, instead of broadcasting how little it matters.
Kendall is not the least problematic, she just weirdly gets away with it more because her surgery is less in your face and relatively attractive. I agree with your last two sentences, but you contradict yourself before that. Kendall does not get a pass from me.
Hey @Gingerbread, why do you think I contradicted myself? I am a black woman and was just trying to express why I can’t muster the energy to care/be upset by this. I’ll confess I don’t follow Kendall super closely but from what I’ve seen she doesn’t partake in the kind of black cosplay her siblings love so much in terms of their black male fetish, altering their bodies to a caricature of a black women, hair/make-ups/wigs etc. etc. I respect that you don’t want to give her a pass, but for me, her wearing the braids is merely eye-roll worthy.
But what about the BLM activist cosplay in the Pepsi commercial? I feel like that really epitomized her utter lack of understanding of what people of color go through. I mean, I know it wasn’t her idea but she should have seen the utter ignorance of the premise that Pepsi presented to her.
@Kitten, what upsets me is that the Kardashians are surrounded by Black folks: supposedly friends and on their payroll. Does NO ONE in their circle discuss this with them? They know about braids because LA is culturally diverse, and there are tons of Black communities that have been there since the beginning of the City. They are surrounded by Black people who don’t have the courage to stand up to them about this issue, and I think it’s because everyone around them are depending on them for a paycheck. And a lot of us depend on White folks for a paycheck, and it just sucks. Everybody can’t be Ana Devere Smith, but damn!!!
I guess weren’t giving Kenboring enough attention y’all.
So much ignorance in these comments and it’s not even noon yet. I’m so tired of people minimizing, trivializing and dismissing the feelings of Black people. Some of you folks are really clueless and it shows.
+100
+1000
Exactly!
Yup.
White woman here speaking solely to other white women: the fact that you feel at ease explaining in a blip why it’s ridiculous how everyone is getting offended speaks volumes of your privilege. Of course you wore your hair in certain ways blah blah blah but it wasn’t ok then and one would have hoped that between adolescence and now more people would have heard PoC expressing their frustrations and listened and educated themselves on what appropriation is and why it’s hurtful and damaging. But nah it’s easier to say something is not a big deal when it has never affected you. Stop being all hmmmph dismissive and maybe think for a second if it hurts you AT ALL to sit down and learn some things.
Tell it. I wish I could say that these comments were an anomaly but those of us who have been around here for a long time know this is just par for the course. We need to do better, white women.
ALL. OF. THIS.
Fellow white women – please sit down and fire up Google to find out why this isn’t “just hair.”
Yep. I am appalled at the white women on this thread trying to dismiss the feelings of women of color on this subject. It’s depressing and enraging to me all at once. Talk less and listen more, FFS!
…and it’s not just about hair, either. It’s about a whole world that treats WOC as “less than” just because. “The hair” is just another symptom of the disease of systematic racism.
I’m white so obvs I don’t know how POC feel. But I see a lot of typically black culture being worn by white people and them not getting harrassed for it like black people would. Braids, dreadlocks, cornrows, weave were used against black people by whites, saying they were too dirty, etc.” It’s sad that takes white people wearing it for it to be accepted. I remember when nasty bitches would give black women shit for wearing “weave.” And they probably still do. Now white people are wearing weave and it’s called extensions. And “boxer braids.” Hypocritical that white women can wear black hairstyles and it’s cool. But black women have been told they need to straighten their hair, wear it natural, etc etc in workplaces. But now white women wear weave to work, oh I’m sorry, EXTENSIONS, and it’s cool. No, not cool at all. It’s the double standard that would really piss me off if I was black. Not to mention if a black woman dyes her hair blonde, then, oh, she’s trying to be white. I’d be pissed if I was black. I’m embarrassed some days about my fellow whites. No matter what the issue, you have to make it all about you. For example, black lives matter. Then insecure white people say all lives matter. Don’t leave me out! The point was black people were getting killed left and right by cops, obviously not all lives matter. Gtfoh w that shit about caring about everybody and not seeing race, bullshit. I went to community garage sales this weekend, and my friend and I kept running into this nice black lady and her kids. They didn’t get the warm welcome we did. Some of you fellow whites are so ignorant, it makes me sick.
*sits back and claps* you get it (coming from a mixed girl).
Right on. I’m white but grew up mostly around people of color and unless white people have direct, first-hand experience they have NO understanding about their level of privilege or the amount of subtle or blatant discrimination black people face on a daily basis. I grew up pissed off that my non-white friends were treated differently, that they were erased, stereotyped, caricatured and/or ignored in popular culture, that THEIR cultural contributions were ignored or co-opted for profit and glory by the dominate white culture. Black people have the right to define and own what is theirs – their own experience, their own culture and their own f*8ing value.
Hi guys, we are fostering a young African American girl, who has asked us to please take her please put her hair in cornrows. I don’t know the first thing about them. We live in a town, where there isn’t a salon dedicated to textured hair. Is that the correct term? I’m so sorry if it isn’t! I’m learning and trying to use correct terms. I’ve never had to say it in English and I know the term that I heard growing up in Spanish is wrong! Is it possible for me to learn how to do this off of the internet or should I make an appointment in a different city? I’m totally ok with driving the 2 hours to a different city to make sure it’s done correctly for her.
Definitely check to see if there are any salons in neighboring towns or cities that specialize in black hair. You’re going to want a professional to make sure it’s done properly. Are you in any local Facebook groups for fosters? They might have recommendations.
YouTube has good tutorials. You will also need to buy the right hair products for her hair (needs more moisturizing). Good luck!
You tube has some great videos. Also my friend does hair and she teaches other women how to cornrow their children’s hair. Maybe if you take your foster daughter to a salon in a different city they can teach you about braiding and products and how to keep the hair moisturized. I’m black so I used to practice on my own head. Maybe you can get a practice head to do braids.
I love that you foster children, thank you for opening your heart and home
Love white women doing backflips to explain cultural appropriation and racism to black women who have already explained to you the years of discrimination we have faced for our hair. Kids are still being kicked out of school for their natural hair, penalized, having a sharpie used to color in their line and fade but yeah “it’s okay bc i was a cheerleader and we did it and Shaquira was the one that did it for me.” I hope celebitchy keeps this comment cause y’all need to learn. You need to be quiet and listen to black women and other people of color when they are explaining historical significance of certain actions. But y’all will be the same ones yelling “not all white women” when black women say we don’t trust y’all and check your sister. Shout out to the few celebitches here who always get it. The rest of y’all can continue yelling about how progressive you are and how you wish Obama was still president and your best friends baby sister’s boyfriend is black. We see y’all and always will! Deuces!
Great post 👍
The whiteness in these comments jumped OUT.
Truly. Some non-black ladies are doing some Olympic-worthy back flips to defend Kendull’s right to APPROPRIATE black culture. Simone Biles would be so proud.
I know this is not relevant to this story but you mentioned Simone. Did you know her brother was just arrested for a triple murder? Insane story.
@me, WHAT? THAT’S CRAZY! Off to look it up
It has always struck me as weird that WOC would catch flack for their preferred hairstyles. They always looked perfectly fine to me and I have seen them do some really interesting and rather pretty things with their hair, like adding decorative bits. They look good, but then I am not racist. I do remember one young lady where I used to work who did truly beautiful things with her hair, almost like an improvised headdress. So naturally the white women in charge let her go, although she was a lovely person and good at her job. Ugh.
They do this once every few months yeah. Anything to remain in the news cycle.
I’m Southeast Asian. I took some time to read and understand why this is an issue. Try it. When I was younger I did not understand but now I do. You can too.
exactly, i’m white and i used to not get it when i was younger, until i educated myself. google is free.
if anyone doesn’t understand why this is cultural appropriation, there’s no excuse for not taking the time to read up on this instead of just refusing to learn something and posting a dismissive & ignorant comment here.
The white women in these comments making excuses for this and telling us to get over it cause “it’s just hair..” Y’all are purposely ignoring the issue and it’s exhausting. I’m tired…
Girl. The same ones who say this miss the obamas and try to tell me that someone said they are woke. I have time today but I’m exhausted. Some of the Celebitches get it and thank goodness for them. Some of these other white women are so progressive until it comes to pain black women experience because of our hair.
I didn’t understand it too .. I’m Indian and I live in India… no one gives me shite for wearing a saree to work .. but if that happened and then I saw a white women being praised for wearing a saree – I would mind it too … so I get why it’s not just a hairstyle … put very simply – I think it’s unfair
I’ve lurked on celebitchy for years, but wanted to pop up and LOLOLOL at blaming celebitchy for being negative and hard on women when that’s your own willful ignorance. As a white woman I am constantly blown away at how we continuously throw temper tantrums over the idea that we can’t possibly have every single thing that we want as soon as we want it. There are woc in here saying exactly why this a bad idea and some how, mind bogglingly, the whole argument is still being steered in the direction of where white women are feeling annoyed and why we should pay attention. If y’all want braids so badly go put in some fishtails and tie them with a scrunchie and leave the rest alone. It’s not that hard.
My gosh. I now finally truly understand ‘white feminism’ and it is exhausting. Is it that hard to see a different perspective and where our sisters are coming from? Apparently.
I can’t fathom how one can NOT understand that ‘professional’ workplace appearance guidelines are also a white standard. I have had bosses that told me they liked my hair that was inspired by a black friend and she got admonished for the same hairstyle at the same damn job. That was 21 years ago now. Open your minds. Please. For the love of humanity.
The problem is there are a lot of White people (not all) that don’t like being told what they can’t do by POC especially. How dare we? LOL it’s a taste of their own medicine but they can’t handle it.
I wonder if not taking things personally can be done for some people? It’s so simple. We can’t take these experiences and stories that our fellow Celebitches tell us as a personal attack.
We all have to vent at times. From venting and understanding a different perspective, a different culture, we can learn so much.
Fellow white ladies, please stfu, listen, and accept!!!
How about the all the business this generates for black owned hair salons? They charge $80 to that. Let them eat cake bitches!
I bet most of the White women that get their hair braided get it done by White hair stylists…so please stop with your b.s. Maybe some people don’t put money above all ?
Ladies, hey. (Really) white woman here. I feel the comments in this post are getting a bit acrimonious.
I personally learned a lot from other posters. There’s a need for legislation to prevent discrimination against WOC wearing their natural hair?? My goodness.
This is clearly a complicated, sensitive issue, with deep economic and historical ramifications. Let’s try and go back to a place of respect for each other. Listening to each other is always a good start. I’m not sure this is where this conversation is going.
This needs to be the header now. Your post of remembering dignity and respect in every article.
I really wonder what the conversation is like with the Karashian/Jenner girls when backlash like this comes out.
“OMG like they’re just totally jealous of us !!”
lol yeah right more like…
“OMG mom it totally worked. I’m top story on the internet today !!!”
It’s disgusting. She was feeling so left out of the news cycle so all Duh-ll had to do was repeat something they know gets attention in a negative light since publicity is all they want or care about.
Ok… as a woman of color here, what is the matter with non African Americans wearing cornrows ? Why do black women flock to buy white hair to be weaved in ? Why do they perm, silk wrap so it will be straight ? ( like non African Americans) Why dye it blonde, wear blue contact lenses ?? If “we” are so proud, and upset by this, what exactly is that saying about our culture? My hair is all natural , as is my daughters. I’ve taught her how to take care of her natural God given hair , and it’s beautiful !! Give up the cultural appropriation thing….. KJ looks damn good with the cornrows imo
Most hair used for weaves comes from India. That’s INDIAN hair if you must know…not White women’s hair. The rest of your comment I won’t reply to because others have already said better than I could upthread.
@ME
Thank you for saying this because isn’t it taken off in a religious ceremony before sold to vendors?
@N
Yes. In India there are many Hindu people that sacrifice their hair to temples. The hair is then collected by companies from North America/Europe and made in to weaves/wigs. The temples make money off these hair “donations” but no where near what those companies make. If the people shaving their heads only knew how valuable that hair is !
This comment is trolling AF but I got time. First off hun. The term WOC is a broad one, so unless you’re black this subject probably doesn’t affect you at all. Secondly weaves aren’t made with white hair sweetie. Weaves and human hair wigs (which btw- they make synthetic wigs too – which is what I wear- no real hair involved!) are made with INDIAN and BRAZILIAN hair. In other words – hair from WOC. Not white. And since you want to brag about being natural perhaps you should educate yourself about WHY black women wear their hair straightened or in weaves in the workplace. Because we can be FIRED for wearing our natural hair. Thirdly – your comment is ignorant AF.
Very true. Indian women don’t get enough credit for their beautiful hair.
Most hair for extensions/weave/wig etc comes from india and is then shipped and sold to the west, it is processed, bleached and dyed to suit each individual woman and ironically, most customers are white women.
There is a ton of reasons (read: baggage, discrimination etc) behind black womens hair and it goes WAY back. Female slaves, as an example, had to cover it.
It is exhausting to think about it all but yeah hair is a womans “crown” after all but it sucks that it holds so much importance in this sick world.
“Most hair comes from China,” Javonté Anyabwelé, former CEO of Madali hair extensions, once explained to us. “Almost all the hair on the market is made in China, even if the label calls it Brazilian, Peruvian, or Malaysian.”
The same article did mention Indian hair, though.
I don’t know you personally, but I LOVE YOU, Valiently Varnished!!!
It’s sad. White folks discriminating against Black women who then are compelled to buy hair from women of color in other countries who are very poor, but ALL of these women do it to work and live in peace and to feed their families, all due to the Anglo need to control and/or dismiss the rights of other individuals who aren’t White. A Black woman in Maryland is buying straight hair from China advertised as Malaysian or from a
Woman in India. And, if the woman in Maryland is broke, she is forced to buy synthetic hair so that her white boss feels
More comfortable with her in the room.
If everyone could wear fake hair as a fashion choice, this wouldn’t be an issue. I feel for my Black and Afro-Hispanic relatives and sisters.
All I can say is, in real life, most of us (black people/women) don’t care what anyone does with their hair.
It’s mostly a social media phenomenon.
Braid away.
Lol. Most of us?? Please speak only for yourself on this topic.
Just when I think I’ve started to understand the depths of my white privilege the bottom drops out and I realize there is so much more and I don’t have a fucking clue. I just want to say that I am sincerely sorry for all the unfair disgusting bullshit. I’m going to continue to listen and learn and send my love out into the world. I’m trying to educate my children so they can be better.
Sending you love and strength. XO
That’s sweet
I’ve learned a lot from reading all the comments thus far – thank you.
I think she looks stupid I remember her wearing that huge nose ring and looking stupid too. She just seems ignorant as fuck and boring at that blah.
I mean…if its for a photoshoot, she might not have had a lot of say in it. Then again its the Jenner’s/Kardashians and they do this kind of stuff all the time.
Unless she’s walking the runway for Dior, she is famous enough to have some say. I don’t think that she was papped en route to a runway show. Also, if she gave a damn she could get clauses in her contracts stating she won’t wear insensitive styles, etc. She’s not a poor noob just starting out.
I remember in the 70’s when my grandmother wore an Afro. The hospital where she worked sent out a memo stating afros and cornrow hairstyles were prohibited. Next day all the black women wearing ugly ass wigs. 2019 while looking for work, my mom asking did you were your hair in an Afro on the interview? I work in the beauty industry and wear a fro. I do know others who have mentioned when they were fro,faux loc or cornrows etc they are treated a certain way. 57 years old y’all.
My gosh I can’t believe this thread. I am a white woman. I don’t understand all of the issues involving cultural appropriation. I am trying. In the meantime, if someone tells me that something hurts them, I don’t do it. There are plenty of other hairstyles
I think my comment was lost rather than submitted…
There are women in here saying really violent hurtful things to Black women. There are NOT two sides to this issue. This family has actually commodified every aspect of Black women’s bodies for substantial profit.
As Black women, we are told we are undesirable all the time, but strangers grab us, touching our bodies and hair. IF we get hired, we then get fired for wearing our natural hair at work. Our hairstyles, our lips, our breasts and our butts are seen as attractive when purchased and installed on white women’s bodies. All of the culture we create – fashion, beauty, music, art – is appropriated for immense profit, not only by white people but other racialized communities. None of this is appreciation. It’s racism and theft.
When people show you who they are, believe them. A lot of people in this thread are showing who they REALLY are.
CC after pony tails and top knots Intentionally messy buns are the next target. Come on. It is so much harder to tie yourself into a topknot to justify your ignorance than to try and grow up a bit and accept you don’t know everything. So many kinds of not good in your attitude about this.
Until black kids aren’t sent home for wearing braids and black people aren’t turned down for jobs or fired from them for wearing their hair braided, loc’d, fro’d all the way in 2019, I’m giving white people shit for wearing BLACK hairstyles. I’m doing the lord’s work. I guess some of y’all can die mad about it.
No more French braids for me, either…I’m not French.
LOL the French Braid originated in North Africa and then was adopted in France. Nice try though !
@me, lol!
You don’t mention what type of job. There are some occupations where hairstyle does matter. A person’s hairstyle could be a hygiene issue or could endanger the person. ‘Guess we’re to assume you weren’t interviewing for a job that involved food, medicine, or machinery?
Then you need to learn to read, because commenters above have specifically mentioned, for example, corporate jobs, teaching jobs, and the military, among many others. Nice try tho.
@Bytemoi, are you implying that Black hair isn’t clean?
I hear White people brag that they haven’t washed their hair for days, on a regular basis. They usually laugh when they say it. I’ve had dreadlocks for years and my hair is ALWAYS clean.
In parts of Mexico close to the Caribbean, little girls wear their hair like the K above. Although much of the African presence has been (willfully) erased by the powers that be, there are vestiges of the African presence in that part of Mexico. Mexican mothers are not appropriating black culture. It has been there since the 1500 & maybe a little before and has been syncretized. It is not uncommon to see many of the young girls at a wedding or other celebration with partial cornrows.
What I hear from the black women here is pain–pain that anything natural to black women is bad including braided hair, shapely butts and thighs, and full lips. Yet when those very same attributes are put on a lighter women, those features become fashionable and valorized.
To be hated is not easy. To have specific aspects of the “self” hated, only to be celebrated when embraced by white women, is tough business. Social media gives black women the opportunity to articulate the pain and anger that has been relatively hidden.
For some women on CB, it is tiresome to have to listen to the voices of the oppressed (notwithstanding the varying degrees of privilege these WOC may possess), but this is our new world. Try some empathy. Don’t be deplorable.
Well said.
I love the phrases “culture-vulturing” and “fame-whorism.” Brilliant, funny and true.
As someone white living outside the US, i never realized all the history and cultural significance that is connected to hair and hairstyles. Just wanted to say that this community helps me open my eyes and educate myself so thanks for sharing your perspective and insight.
She just came back from Jamaica. I’m assuming that she got her hair done while she was there. It’s not that serious people. If she shouldn’t be getting it done, it shouldn’t be offered on the streets of Jamaica.
People shouldn’t be paying for sex with children either, but that’s “offered on the streets” of some other countries, so does that make it ok when someone does it in the States? Seriously? Your logic is quite flawed.
The appropriation of Black culture is so prevalent that most of the time, i just side-eye and move on. I’ve had dreadlocks for YEARS and if I got upset every time I saw some White person with dreads (usually looking VERY jacked up), I’d go crazy.
THIS family though is different. I’ll take the time with them because they’ve made BILLIONS stealing from Black women, starting with Kim who LITERALLY stole from a Black woman.
It’s possible that this little girl has no idea what her hairstyle represents. Has she even graduated from high school? But this family does this ALL THE TIME and the their target is ALWAYS Black women. That’s not an ‘coincidence’ and it’s not ‘innocent’. They know they can target Black women because the society they live in doesn’t value Black women.
If a Black woman walked into her job with her hair like that, there would be talk. Until that Black woman has the freedom to wear her hair anyway SHE’D like to, Little Miss Jenner might need to think twice about how she wears her hair. If she thinks at all.
In California it’s illegal to discriminate based on an African American woman’s hair choices. No joke.
The world has gone crazy with the whole cultural appropriation thing. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist at all (blackface for example is rude and definatelly inappropriate,in any circumstance).
I’m just saying that I cannot for the world understand how a simple hairstyle or dress that originates in a certain culture/race, and which is worn by person not belonging to that particular culture/race, can ever be considered offensive.
It’s not white women’s fault that black women are trated unfairly in their workplace or at school because of their natural hair. I see absolutely no connection between this and a white woman not being allowed to wear cornbraids..wth?.. Call me tone deaf and insensitive. I just would prefer to call myself grounded and having common sense.
“It’s not white women’s fault that black women are trated unfairly in their workplace or at school because of their natural hair.”
ARE YOU SERIOUS ???????
@ME
Your sense of humor is really appreciated. This thread could be a sociology course. And I almost smashed the phone this AM after seeing this comment take us back to the very beginning.
@ N
Ha ha thank you. I had enough yesterday but I guess I love self torture because here I am again today lol. This comment was so gross and it makes me so angry. I really have to leave now lol…have a great day !
Jane–did you read any of the previous comments before you commented?
Here’s the thing: white women ARE allowed to wear cornrows, etc. We just get shade for it. We don’t get fired for it.
Black women get policed for being their natural selves in their natural state. They are told that they are unprofessional in their appearance.
The world went crazy with the whole white colonialism thing for centuries. What a pity to take a smidgen of criticism over something that does not take anything away from you! We are finally just beginning to be in a place where black women are in a position to take a stand, and we are in a position to take a goddamn seat, shut our mouths, and listen.
I’m exhausted listening to fellow white women constantly complaining about someone throwing shade for real transgressions. I’m exhausted trying to explain it. My fatigue is NOTHING compared to what black women experience dealing with ignorant white women who claim to be on their side, but then throw a fit when we are told something we’re doing isn’t cool.
Just think for a second about the difficulties we as women face compared to cis/het white men. Now imagine on top of that, having to deal with racism. Sure, we face may criticism for our appearance in general if we aren’t thin, beautiful, young, whatever. We aren’t going to get fired from our office, hospital, or military jobs because of it. The total BS that black women face for simply existing is 1000X that. They are policed for natural appearance, volume of speaking and laughter, what they name their children, right to express anger and injustice. Black women with mental illness get murdered by police. Black women being pulled over and not acting like they are happy about it get thrown into jail and then killed by corrections officers.
We weren’t vocal enough with our white sisters when they voted for Trump. We respected their wishes when they said they “didn’t like to get political.” All the while, black women were rallying for Hillary even though she was behind the sentencing disparity of crack vs. cocaine. Black women didn’t let Roy Moore get elected. Black women started Me Too only to have it co-opted by white women. They are saving our stupid asses from ourselves.
Can we sit down and shut up and not complain about how unfair it is that we are simply criticized for appropriating a hairstyle? I will call you tone deaf and insensitive. Being grounded with common sense means listening to others and having the courage to admit that you aren’t perfect and trying to do better. I mean, congratulations for not donning blackface, I guess.
Standing ovation.
@Jane white supremacy and racism is why black people wearing their hair naturally are treated unfairly so actually not right to say it’s not white women’s fault – white women as a group help to uphold white supremacy. And white women take part in this discrimination. Did you miss the referee who made a wrestling student shave his locs off before competing in a match last December?
As for black people wearing their hair straight or in weaves- lots of people who aren’t black wear wigs and weaves just for a certain aesthetic. Lots of people with curly hair straighten it. Curly hair tends to be more delicate and some people may find straight hair easier/quicker to style. But also black people features including hair has been mocked for hundreds of years so sadly whilst it may “just be hair” for some black people wearing hair straight could also be about conforming to society norms.
I generally don’t have an issue with different races wearing cornrows, locs etc if it’s from respectful place and people aren’t trying to claim somebody else invented it eg Kim K calling cornrows Bo Derek braids. But it would be nice if those people acknowledged that the very hairstyles they can just try on for fun and a new look, can cause a black person just working with what comes out if their scalp naturally, to be discriminated against.
In 2019 kids can still get kicked out of school and people discriminated against in the job market in lots of different countries for wearing their hair in styles like locs or cornrows. Someone wearing hair in a fro can be told it looks unprofessional.
All I see is plastic and fillers
Hit up that awful Lilly Singh who does this all the time.
I guarantee you she won’t be wearing braids on her new late night talk show.
I guess black women need to stop dyeing their hair blonde because it offends me
Your attitude offends me. You only had to read a comment three above to know why it’s not the same.
Spoken like a true Becky! By the way, their are some tribes in Africa who are born blonde hair and blue eyes. Your ignorance runs so deep.
^there
Are you able to listen to the real people who are affected by things without being flip and insensitive?
Idk how you could read all the comments above and still say a jackass comment like that..
Any woman or man can wear their hair however they want IMO
Did you just want to have the last word? Go back and read this thread, because your sparkles and sunshine does not erase the discrimination others suffer for wearing their hair how they want. Maybe you meant should not can.
Ignorance is bliss, so stay in your little ignorant world Becky.
oh wow we are enraged about braids today
Just “angry black women syndrome” right? Stay ignorant.
I get really frustrated when I see comments from ignorant white people that dismiss/ignore the experiences of black people. How hard is it for them to zip it and listen to black people when they speak? Black people need more allies to step up and listen to them. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be for them 😔
I’m a British Pakistani Muslim – in my experience, I do find that white people are very much in a bubble of their own and haven’t really stepped out beyond what they are accustomed to. I think lack of exposure to other cultures breeds ignorance thus comments like ‘it’s just hair or a bit of fun’.
People who genuinely want to learn about the politics of Black hair should read “Hair Raising” — it explains it all. Yes, Black women’s hair has been politicized and used as a tool to otherize and subjugate for hundreds of years. It’s not just “hair.”
Hair “policing” starts early even in in liberal Southern California. My 10 yo black daughter just went from wearing braids with extensions to doing her own hair naturally at her request as she is riding horses a lot these day and helmets do a number on braids. She worked with our stylist at her salon to figure out the best way to condition and manage her hair day to day. and she is rocking it. Cue going back to school and having white kids ask her why her hair looks so different? I tell her it’s not her job to have to explain black hair to ignorant (and rude) white kids, her true friends don’t ask and don’t care. Its exhausting for her to have to talk about her hair.
But you are hair “policing” white people. So that’s Ok? How do you know those white kids weren’t just curious. I would never question a black persons struggle for equality or try to understand because I’m white. But I am sick and tired of being labelled because of my race. You don’t know me or what I’ve had to overcome. The only time we will flourish as humans is when we realize we are just people. I can’t trace my family tree because my ancestors were crofters and put on a boat by the British. In 1803 sent on a boat across the Atlantic. I don’t get why everything has to be a black or white issue why can’t we all learn.
Oh the struggle! Cry me a river dear white woman who’s had to overcome the atrocities of being born white and privileged!
I suggest you be quiet and read what some of these wise women had to say or google, google and google!
Kiza… oh the poor dear kids not being able to touch my daughters hair or get all their rude questions answered. That is not policing my sweet woman it’s setting appropriate bounderies
As I said, polite normal white kids don’t do it.. just entitled clueless ones.
Let’s deconstruct your comment.
“But you are hair ‘policing’ white people.”
No. People are trying to explain the cultural significance of white people choosing to wear these hair styles. Laws aren’t needed to allow white women to wear these styles. They can, without professional consequence. Compassionate white people listen, learn, and then stay away from these styles because they understand the underlying social implications. Now, if some white women, like yourself, want to defend this look even after hearing the reasoning, fine. Braid your hair up! Nobody is stopping you. And that’s the point. Nobody is stopping you. But what you can’t stop is people criticizing that ratchet, insensitive decision.
“How do you know those white kids weren’t just curious.”
This is a common white privelege statement. It’s annoying because black folks — of all classes — are rarely given the benefit of the doubt. But white people enjoy that perk throughout life.
“But I am sick and tired of being labelled because of my race.”
You’re sick of it? Again, this is classic white privelege at work. Not only are you making sure to re-center whiteness, but you’re completely ignoring the psychological, political, and social hurdles that Black folks must navigate daily that you have no idea about because you don’t have to deal with them. And the chances that anyone labeled you anything are between slim and none. You’re just reacting to traditionally marginalized people speaking up. Bottom Line: You don’t like constructive criticism about the impact of your behavior. You are committed to the idea that you are a “good” person, and you can’t handle someone suggesting that you may not be as “good” as you think you are. (It really has nothing to do with good and bad, btw — but that’s another conversation for another day.) Adding insult to injury, you can’t see that you likely hurt and criticize people on a daily basis because you refuse to educate yourself about implicit bias and casual racism. You refuse to learn what you’re doing wrong. So, your plea is frustratingly hypocritical.
“The only time we will flourish as humans is when we realize we are just people.”
This comes off like you’re blaming people of color for not being chill enough to get on with life. Even though you have zero experience being Black in this world, you offer up a trite, cliched comment as some sort of signifier that YOU’RE fine and POC are over-sensitive. In reality, White folks are the ones who need to change and root out the implicit bias seeded deep within them as a result of socialization.
“I can’t trace my family tree because my ancestors were crofters and put on a boat by the British. In 1803 sent on a boat across the Atlantic.”
Look, your ancestors might have had it rough because they were part of a landowner-tenent situation. And yes, indentured servitude sucked. But indentured workers are not the same as slaves, and, most importantly, it doesn’t carry the same social and political legacy. Crofters were given opportunities and dignities that Blacks weren’t. And, let’s face it, poor or not, your ancestors enjoyed the social and psychological priveleges of whiteness, which you also enjoy.
If you want to learn, why aren’t you listening?
I have GOT to stop reading anything Kardashian related. They will consume and vulture anyone and any thing and at the end of the day what do they stand for? The dollar sign? Egregious and obscene privilege? Reality TV hustling? Plastic surgery gone wrong? The joke is on us if we grant them any time or money.
This was so on purpose. She knows. She knows exactly what she’s doing. I didn’t realize the thirst was so real with this trick.
Why does anyone care?