Comments on: My dreadlock contribution.….….….politics of black hair and cultural appropriation http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/ we're all mad here Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:33:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dreia http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/comment-page-1/#comment-31588 Dreia Thu, 14 Dec 2006 03:07:05 +0000 http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/#comment-31588 IMHO, the cultural appropriation issue can get way, way out of hand. I've been at the frontline of this issue at times simply as a white woman whose naturally curly hair most easily is maintained in "black" hairstyles. One needs to distinguish between the wearing of a style which is common in many cultures and does not necessarily have a meaning (for example, a hat - such as a fedora) and wearing a style that has religious/ritual/cultural meaning when ignorant of that meaning (such as a yarmulke). I think one can wear dreadlocks without being Rastafarian because dreadlocks are common in many cultures. Look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadlocks Wearing dreadlocks "to look like a Rastafarian, because it's cool" is a totally different matter. The whole question is one of intent, and it's hard to gauge intent just by looking at someone. IMHO, the cultural appropriation issue can get way, way out of hand.

I’ve been at the frontline of this issue at times simply as a white woman whose naturally curly hair most easily is maintained in “black” hairstyles.

One needs to distinguish between the wearing of a style which is common in many cultures and does not necessarily have a meaning (for example, a hat — such as a fedora) and wearing a style that has religious/ritual/cultural meaning when ignorant of that meaning (such as a yarmulke).

I think one can wear dreadlocks without being Rastafarian because dreadlocks are common in many cultures. Look:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadlocks

Wearing dreadlocks “to look like a Rastafarian, because it’s cool” is a totally different matter.

The whole question is one of intent, and it’s hard to gauge intent just by looking at someone.

]]> By: Sokari Ekine http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/comment-page-1/#comment-12751 Sokari Ekine Mon, 18 Sep 2006 21:13:24 +0000 http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/#comment-12751 Came across this by accident. Excellent. I live in Granada Spain where half the under 30 white population have locs but speaking with people I find no consciousness or understanding of what they are doing. It began to irritate me soon after i arrived here. Its such an insult and i feel like i am personally being stolen or as you say appropriated. I feel like publishing Colin Kennedy Donovan and Qwo-Li Driskill post in Spanish and sticking up posters everywhere. Came across this by accident. Excellent. I live in Granada Spain where half the under 30 white population have locs but speaking with people I find no consciousness or understanding of what they are doing. It began to irritate me soon after i arrived here. Its such an insult and i feel like i am personally being stolen or as you say appropriated. I feel like publishing Colin Kennedy Donovan and Qwo-Li Driskill post in Spanish and sticking up posters everywhere.

]]> By: Dork Nation » Blog Archive » Cultural Appropriation Type of Post http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/comment-page-1/#comment-10025 Dork Nation » Blog Archive » Cultural Appropriation Type of Post Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:24:08 +0000 http://wonderlandornot.net/2006/07/20/my-dreadlock-contributionpolitics-of-black-hair-and-cultural-appropriation/#comment-10025 [...] This is a white woman who felt it necessary to cut her locs. [...] […] This is a white woman who felt it necessary to cut her locs. […]

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