Weve seen a wealth of celebrities including Miley Cyrus and the Kardashians appropriating Black culture, plus countless fashion designers sending white models down their runways wearing locs, braids and baby hairs. It is important to remember the distinction between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. Awad GH, Norwood C, Taylor DS, et al. Where can you see cultural appropriation? Additionally, it is important to be aware of the power dynamics at play, as wearing multiple braids can be seen as a form of cultural appropriation or even exploitation. Is it just to be edgy? If you want to err on the side of caution, stick with braided styles unique to your cultural heritage. The Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative (CIPRI), founded by Monica Moisin, connects designers with traditional textile artisans within a framework that ensures that the artisans . "[The examples] go on and on and on, but it's ultimately about power and disrespect," noted Lester. This is because the hairstyle has deep roots in the cultures of enslaved people and black people who wear them these days often wear them as an expression of cultural identity. Cultural appropriation is everywhere, especially within advertising and fashion. So, I hope this shows everyone that you can't accuse someone of something if you do it yourself, I think if a person genuinely means well wearing it is inspired or likes the style of the culture or country than it is ok but if it is clear that they are making fun of a culture than I completely find why people find it offensive. This style, then and into the present day, takes up to eight hours to create. Malaka Gharib, her grandfather Floro Mercene and her husband, Darren Vandergriff, wear traditional Filipino clothing at her grandfather's birthday party. It is important to recognize the difference between the two, as one can lead to understanding and respect, while the other can lead to misunderstanding and disrespect. [Edited by Moderator], About Adele:She is dressing like a Jamaican because she wants to celebrate the culture, so she is using Jamaican culture in a good way.But if you dont want to do something good with it, just dont do it, *sorry if Im going to be rude*I think people should wear what they want to wear, dont be forced to wear clothes that U dont like!I do not like cultural Appropriation. If youre going to wear multiple braids, its important to do your research and make sure you understand the significance of the style., I also think its important to be aware of the power dynamics at play when it comes to wearing multiple braids. We received a question about a topic that comes up frequently when we talk about appropriation of Black culture: hair. Braids are a significant part of a black women's identity and can be dated as far back as 3500 B.C. In other words, they go way, way back. Every time the cultural appropriation debate sparks on online platforms like Instagram and Twitter, many Black commenters simply say, Credit is all we want. So in a case like Draguns, in which she intentionally wrote a lengthy caption detailing the origin of box braids, is this appreciation or appropriation? One of her followers commented and told Rihanna to stop using the phrase as she did not belong to a Native American group. YouTuber Nikita Dragun, who is Vietnamese and Mexican, made headlines for wearing gray box braids to show her love and appreciation for all the gorgeous black women in my life and also to those that follow me, she wrote on Instagram. My uncle lent his shirt, which he had dry-cleaned and pressed before giving to Darren. One of the most common examples of cultural appropriation today is when a Caucasian of any sex gets cornrows, box braids, or dreadlocks, or does their edges. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Lilly Singh, host of A Little Late with Lilly Singh, has been called out throughout her career for modern-day blackface, wearing baggy clothing, cornrows and dashiki on her YouTube channel. Additionally, according to a study published in 2014 in theJournal of Black Psychology, cultural appropriation in the beauty industry can lead to mental health issues, particularly among people of color. in African culture. Following the outcry, the Braid Bar released an apology: It has come to our attention that we have not given enough consideration to the cultures that we have drawn from in creating The Braid Bar, particularly black culture. However, a lot of black hairstyles have been wrongly seen in the past as untidy and unprofessional which has lead to people being treated unfairly in schools and at their jobs. May sound harsh, but get over it. The beautiful maang tikka, or hair accessory falling down the part in the middle of the hair, marks a . Across social media, critics are calling out this lack of diversity while crucially noting Selfridges additional miscalculation: the appropriation of black culture. Not all braids are cultural appropriation. Anyone can appropriate Black culture, including non-Black minorities, according to Keisha Brown, an associate professor of history at Tennessee State University. Fashion brands have often been accused of cultural appropriation because people feel as if some parts of the industry take traditional clothes from cultures without paying proper respect. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. In the 1979 movie, "10," Bo Derek, ran down a beach with her hair braided in cornrows. i think people should wear what they want without people either making fun of them or bullying them. But fashion and beauty are never as superficial as they seem. Beauty and Body Image Concerns Among African American College Women. In contrast, Jenkins, a British white writer and sociologist, argued that cultures borrow from one another out of respect and curiosity, and that to imply otherwise can lead to anxiety about everyday cultural exchange. The law prohibits race-based hair discrimination denial of educational or job opportunities because of the choice to wear hair naturally or in braids, locs, twists or bantu knots. If you went ahead with something and it turned out to be cultural appropriation, you can "try to make yourself educated [so] that you don't do it again," added Lester. To field these questions, we assembled a panel of Angelenos willing to answer so folks didn't have to ask their friends, or even strangers. She recounts her own complicated relationship with her natural hair, as a girl and a woman, to try to help give context to the complex issue of appreciation versus appropriation. I know my family was excited, too. It trivialises that culture and reduces it to a fashion fad. Cultural appropriation can be wrong in two ways: when it causes harm that violates a right, or when it causes profound . Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! Plus, I loved how it looked. We have a term within the Black community . That, in a nutshell, sums up the essential problem that cultural appropriation throws up, and why we need an honest, critical and high-profile discussion about it. Many believed if a woman was able to afford the time and cost of these braids, she was a woman of wealth. hide caption. These types of legislations continue to foster the dilemma of Double Consciousness that W.E.B. I don't exactly see why there's a problem, unless they are doing it just to annoy or be offensive to that culture. Additionally, wearing multiple braids can be a great way to embrace different cultures, as it can be a form of appreciation and admiration. Every call-out of cultural appropriation sparks a "sharing vs. stealing" debate. 2015;41(6):540-564. doi:10.1177/0095798414550864. She wonders whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same things. As people dress up in different costumes, you can use the opportunity to explain why dressing up in specific cultural attire is not necessarily a good thing. Historically, in African culture, braids were a way of signalling your tribe and your status. For many black women, we wear our in braids as a protective style. It's taking those cultural identities andpretending they are part of your background. But wearing a barong to Tatay's birthday party this, I felt, was not appropriation. Appreciation is when someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture in an effort to broaden their perspective and connect with others cross-culturally. i wish people would stop making fun of other people. It is my understanding that french braids generally aren't considered cultural appropriation, but . Unfortunately, this is often where the discussion stops. When your hair is braided, the individual strands are less likely to break or damage. I saw on the news that people thought that Adele was showing culture appreciation and that many people who celebrated Jamaican culture didn't find it offensive. In the United States, cultural appropriation looks like pop stars dressing up as Geisha girls, social media influencers donning Native American headdresses, and White people wearing cornrows, dreadlocks, or box braids. Cultural Appropriation and Hair. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to wearing multiple braids. Do with your hair what you like. Or when a white woman was praised for inventing the silk head wrap, which Black women have worn to protect their hair for decades. It is important to recognize the distinction between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation, and to be aware of the power dynamics at play. Overall, this article has explored the controversy surrounding multiple braids. The debate over whether or not it is culturally appropriate to wear multiple braids has been ongoing for some time. Black people wore braids to grow their hair and to label them. In particular, styles like cornrows, box braids, and Senegalese twists have their roots in African culture and were used as a way to express identity and individuality. Was Darren appreciating? Racism 101 Asked And Answered: Celebrating Multiculturalism Vs. We understand that it is our responsibility, as a company with a broad social media following, to teach and spread the knowledge of where these ideas, practices and skills originally come from and the stories that come with them. So what?!? Potential effects can include depression, anxiety, feelings of inferiority, isolation, low self-esteem and internalized oppression. So many people cultural appropriate on a daily basis it's not a big deal, if it was, then people should not eat foods that come from another country because that counts as "cultural appropriation". She may be one of the first contemporary examples of celebrities appropriation of Black hairstyles, but she certainly wasn't the last. This article will explore whether or not it is culturally appropriate to wear multiple braids, and what lessons we can learn from this discussion. Upon the release of the ad campaign, the Braid Bar found itself dealing with a knotty dilemma. But what happens when we start to talk about Black appropriation among other minority communities? Adding to the irony, the account also showcases a poster that states never apologise for being who you are. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news. Ultimately, we sought to understand what we can learn from this discussion. And usually, the culture that is being appropriated has been or is marginalized. One was banned from attending the school prom, while the other was removed from the school track and field team. We'll also explain the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation and how to bridge the gap between the two. Idk, I just dont get it Everyone is told to be yourself and all that but then when they try to express themselves because they like a certain style or culture everyone gets angry because they are not black or they are not Jamaican. Racism 101 Asked And Answered: Why Is Racism Portrayed Mostly As A Problem Between Black And White People? At all. I often asked my parents if I could keep the style until the first day of school to show the plaits off to my other classmates. Carnival is a traditional celebration of Caribbean and black culture that takes place every year, but it was a virtual event in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. When taken up in mainstream media circles, the debate around cultural appropriation is often reduced to the following question: is cultural appropriation really just another name for cultural appreciation?