White People and Dreadlocks: A Problematic Union

I have several white friends who have or had dreadlocks and we've gotten in many arguments about their hair.  I tell them I don't think white people should have dreads and that it's cultural appropriation.  They say they respect and embrace the cultural roots of dreadlocks; that it's appreciation, not appropriation.  As much as I like my friends, they're wrong. 

The only white people who should even in the least be permitted to sport locks are white Rastafarians.  To me, that seems to be a contradiction in terms anyway which I'm not going to deal with here, but since I'm guessing 98% of white people with dreads don't identify as Rastafarian, then it's safe to say that in general white people shouldn't have dreads.  I don't care about your reasons behind it - get some scissors and cut 'em off.  Please. 

Several years ago when I was even more naive than I am now, I seriously considered getting dreadlocks.  I thought it was cool and counterculture-ish (yes, I was trying to assimilate into that counterculture uniform).  I didn't have a full grasp on the significance of dreadlocks, but I figured since I meant well then it was ok.  Luckily, someone wiser than I pulled me aside and informed me that it was a bad idea.  As a result, I still got a curly, poofy mop that at least pisses off no one else but me.

Though it should seem clear enough that white people + dreadlocks = cultural appropriation, a lot of white people don't get it.  (Surprise, surprise!)  The best way I've found to explain it to them is to remind them that they're white.  Dreadlocks are not devoid of meaning.  By a white person wearing them they are taking on or displaying a symbol that is expressive of a racial pride or a stand against oppression or other meaning that does not pertain to white people.  It doesn't matter what meaning a white person gives their own dreadlocks, dreadlocks already come with meanings that do not pertain to, nor belong on, a white person's head.

The bottom line is that white people can cut off their dreads and recover all the privileges that might have been deferred because of their hairstyle.  It doesn't work like that for anyone else.  I feel like dreadlocks to a degree is just a way of flaunting white privilege - you might as well walk around with a sign saying, "Look what I can do!  I can adopt your culture and still have white privilege!  I can cut them off and get even more white privilege!"  While certainly it's not intended that maliciously, I imagine for many people of color that's the message that comes across.

Since we're talking about hair, the same goes for the "Mohawk."  Actually, what inspired me to write this was a short piece I just read about "Mohawks."  Other concise info on dreads and "Mohawks" can be found here. Those of you white folks with dreads or who have friends with dreads, keep this in mind.  It's not an attack on anyone individually; it's just the way things are. 

PS - I'm thinking of starting a "White People and..." section on topics like hip hop, tourism, wealth, privilege, etc.  Any ideas or suggestions?

Comments

The funny thing about the last few posts listed here is the continuing claim that the whites arguing against Kim were "racist" without actually pointing to a single word, line, paragraph or post that contained anything racist.

And as for the "why do you let us weak, stupid white people conquer your whole continent", no offense or anything, but if you couldn't tell that I was being sarcastic, you're an idiot.

And if white people conquered somewhere around "only" 90% of Sub-Saharan Africa, do I really care? The point wasn't that whites proved themselves racially superior, it's simply that Kim's delusions of racial superiority don't hold up in the face of the facts that a superior race wouldn't have been decimated by an inferior one.

[Frak]

The problem is..White people have no pride in their own culture. White kids are told that "White Pride" is racist. Black pride-black power-latin pride-Gay pride ect...All considered wonderful. People don't even know what white culture is. What are white kids going to do? They copy other ethnic groups. White kids have no identity. Whites must kowtow. This is the result of brow-beating and brain washing. "White privilege" What BS that is. We live in a time when the word "white' is used in place of lame or sucks... "That's so White..." So I agree and lement the fact that white kids are adopting the style, attitude and culture of blacks. (I use the term blacks and not Afro-American because if Whites are white then Blacks are Black) The world is upside down...SO if they want to have that "dreadful" hairstyle..So be it. Things wont change until they realize that they are neglecting their own great culture...That they have reason for great pide in their race.

"Some people insult those who disagree with them by questioning character or motives instead of focusing on the facts. Name-calling slaps a negative, easy-to-remember label onto a person, a group, or an idea. The name-caller hopes that the label will stick. If people reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative label instead of weighing the evidence for themselves, the name-caller's strategy has worked."

[Sujewa]

Action = Actual Meaning
Symbol = Merely the statement of intent, not action.
First, it's just hair. Do what you want with it, it's a free country.
Second, dreadlocks as a symbol of spirituality or cultural heritage - fine, but a symbol is only a symbol (relatively meaningless as an event that affects other lives).
To demonstrate that you are in fact "spiritual" or "peaceful" or interested in justice or whatever, do those things that prove this (helping people in need, basically). No matter how much you insist otherwise, a hairstyle is just fashion. Giving a hungry dude some food, now that's proof of some kind of "higher" values.
And on Race:
Race = Entirely Fabricated Political Tool.
The potential of an individual human cannot be measured through that persons physical appearance. Race is a method of population control used by elites in ALL human civilizaions (sometimes for good, sometimes for evil). Race is not real, it's a forced or voluntary behavior pattern. In a liberal capitalist individualist society such as the USA, those who think outside of the pack mentalities (such as race) will achieve more faster.
At this point in time on this planet, the most successful societies are capitalist, individualist societies (perhaps w/ the exception of Japan :), and contrary to the belief of some radical leftist types, the wealth and success of the 1st world countries were not achieved through oppressing others (if that were so, then any civilization or nation that oppresses others would be able to replicate 1st world successes. all nations have oppressed, but few build wealth & productivity the way current 1st world nations have done it). SO the secret to success is not race or colonialism, etc., it's: capitalism, entrepenuership, law & order, work ethic, respect for individual liberties (those are at least the biggest items).
A hairstyle is a very trivial matter. No matter what, it is only a symbol.

[jessica]

Hey. im white, 1/2 italian and 1/2 jewish. umm... is it wrong for me to want drealocks becuase they look awesome? If it's "counter racial" for me to get dreadlocks, then all u black girls with hair extensions and straightening irons better cut it out. Why is it wrong for me, a jew italian to want my blonde waves dreaded, but its perfectly fine for a black girl...or guy (andre 3000)... to get a straight 'doo?

[andy]

its just hair, to some people dreadlocks are a symbol of their religion, but if you don't believe in that religion, or you don't believe and an organized religion to begin with then dreadlocks are just a hairstyle.

[Guilty]

I'm not even sure why I came back to this site, but I thought I'd see how far we'd progressed/regressed in the last month. And I see that most of us remain cool, but bits of smegma continue to accumulate on the knob end of this august site.

So, to Frak: Are you suggesting the concept of white privilege is a myth? If so, you need to stop smoking dat pipe.

And to the sanctimonious loser who thinks everyone else is an idiot: By your token, maybe blood transfusions and all those other useful innovations should only be given to blacks -- or perhaps you reason every aspect of the technological enlightenment was instigated by a white? (I recognize the irony in your comment, but I can't help retching at what seems to reek of the old belief that we Africans were all running around eating each other and shouting mumbo jumbo before the white man came along, cut our hair and gave us clean plaid shirts to wear with our leg irons.)

On a related note, for my part, I actually think black women should minimize the frying, straightening and glueing of random s*$t on their heads (and I'm a black woman!), because I worry that they pursue this method of beautification for all the wrong reasons. Come on, ya'll, remember being the kid in the class who couldn't shake your naps because our hair, like everything else about us, was "wrong"? When was the last time you saw a black woman with "natural" (naptural) or locked hair on any of those stupid magazines that allegedly have the low-down on what it means to be cool and beautiful? I object to such alterations because I think they encourage us to buy into the lie that we are not good enough just as we are: that we have to bleach our skins and stick a horse's tail on our heads, and ape people who naturally have light skin and straight hair, just to be worth a dime.

But that being said, people should do whatever they fcuk*g please, so long as no one else is hurt in the bargain.
Peace.

Let's see, sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.. funny thing is the name NIGGER, (nigga) did hurt, does hurt, and always will. There is nothing Dreadful about 'Dreadlocks' or 'Locks', but someone (Europe) never identified with this. In fact, one wouldn't say that wearing a shirt is appropriation, nor having hands, or legs; these things we have in common. It was the dreadful Locks, and the dark skin that was used to seperate us for the 'norm'. This was given as the reason for 'us' to be less than, and different. If this 'style' was something white american ever really identifed with, no one would ask the question (Appropriation).

[Frak]

Yes, "Guilty" You read me correctly..I said that "White privilege" is BS! I don't "smoke da pipe" either-But Of coarse it's advantageous for you, as a black woman, to keep that myth going. I have personaly been the victim of "Black privalage" many times during my 25 years of life. Somehow,I know that most of the people here love that idea-They think that because I'm a white guy with blond hair- that I Should suffer at this point in history...Off topic.I know..I apologize.

"The point wasn't that whites proved themselves racially superior, it's simply that Kim's delusions of racial superiority don't hold up in the face of the facts that a superior race wouldn't have been decimated by an inferior one."

If the superior human race catches a cold, is it the virus that is now superior?
Kind of interesting, but why must the 'inferior' race insist on distorting history in their favor? Respect of all other cultures and/or differences should be a human quality, but the inferior's history has and continues to show that the word has never been a part of their vocabulary. Case in point...the inferior peoples are attacking a culture, 'race' that are defending their right to believe and live as they wish; and validating it the same words that they use to go to war with these people, 'genocide', but what the hell happened in Louisiana...but I bet you'll defend that too. Greed is the God of the inferior, so how do you beat that with reason.

To the last poster: I'm not sure what you mean by

"Respect of all other cultures and/or differences should be a human quality, but the inferior's history has and continues to show that the word has never been a part of their vocabulary."

Er, what exactly does this mean? Your entry is as garbled as your logic. I notice you abandon the use of inverted commas around the word "inferior" pretty quickly. Your claim that respect of other cultures has been lacking in the so-called inferior ones (er, would you like to be more explicit about which ones you mean? Or are you one of those clever folks who thinks a black person in, say, Bermuda, is the same as another in, say, Somalia) is not only spurious but indicative of a great and yawning ignorance. I advice you to read a bit and get out more. Or perhaps not: you may prefer to stay proud of the fact that you represent the very model of bigoted ignorance that makes so many of us inferior types uncomfortable.

PS: You make mention of what happened in Louisiana, but don't bother to expand. You may have lost yourself another opportunity to to display your smug but misguided concept of the way the world works, but don't let that disappoint you. There's plenty time and space left on this site to fill us in.
PPS: I see little in history to suggest that there has ever been a culture that has (a) not considered itself more enlightened than others, and (b) hesitated to decimate other cultures for self-interest.

[thomas]

hi i am thinking about getting dreadlocks and well let me just say you are all taking this too far. im white and have curly hair and well i want to change my hair and get dreadlocks. i think they look good not because i want to be black or pose or whatever. If it is true that before rastas there was dreds then whats the big deal? if i dont wash my hair or comb it my hair will dread naturally so what is the problem ?

thomas: dunno, but you might have to use wax. think dreadhead/knottyboy/naani do good products.
good luck!

[scott]

thomas,
I would urge you not to get dreadlocks (obviously). You may feel this discussion has gone a bit overboard, and it's true that hair style is not the most important thing in the world. It's not important who had locks first, and the connection to Rastafarianism isn't even that relevant. What is important is the significance of dreadlocks to (some) black folks in today's culture. It might mean nothing to you, but it does mean something to others, and I feel you need to respect that.

What if someone appropriated a style or trait of yours that held deeply rooted significance to you, and just threw it around and used it in a way that was completely devoid of meaning? In my opinion, that it was white people are doing with dreadlocks.

So, Like are you saying you would date O.J?
(gigles), you're still a clown.

[i will never tell]

dreadlocks are not just a black thing. they originated in asian, african, and some middle eastern countries. buddhist monks wore dreadlocks along with alot of other people through out history.even samson from the bible had seven locks. although most people are not sure whether he was black or white. dreadlocks is not just a black thing. i am black and i have seen many whites with dreadlocks. some of then are nice and some of them are not so nice. its all a matter of taking care of them.saying that dreadlocks is only a black thing is like saying eating rice and beans is only a black thing, or being properly educated is only a white thing. where do you people come up with these ridiculous notions. white people if you want to lock your hair go ahead. i am black and i will not be offended by it. and thomas before you lock your hair you might actually want to section it. just letting it mat up naturally does not yield good results. like somebody said earlier visit naani.com. they are really good.

[scott]

"i will never tell" aka Wendi aka brandy aka Dema, funny how in the last comment you say you are black, but in an earlier comment you talk about "our white ancestry". Looks like you're really just a troll and a poser. Talk about appropriation!

[natty oddsocks]

If a white man wishes to have dreadlocks because he sees God through the black mans eyes, then he is no longer white but a white rasta, a follower of the rastafarian belief of "one love" . A unification of all races.. the colour of your skin is not an issue when the white mans intentions lean towards his love in God. people who have them for a fashion statement dont need to cut dem down , but need to simply understand what they also symbolise somthing immensly spiritual and accept the consequences of ignorant peoples perception. good topic disscussion btw, peacex

[Sex pos fem]

I'm black and I don't see a problem with whites getting dreads. We don't know if the white people in question are actually white. They may even be black, or part black, which in America is black. And obviously if they happen to have dreadlocks they might be assumed black. I don't think it's "appropriation", I think the PC police has stooped to a new low by attacking well meaning, at worst naive, at best inspired youths.

The only time I would call something appropriation or co-opting is if it involves marketing, perpetuating lies about that culture, and erasing of that culture for profit: for example, Orisha paths or Afro-Diasporan paths such as Vodun being marketed as Voodoo for films and scam artists, depicted as evil, and causing the erasure of any understanding of authetic Vodun. Not someone who's been on earth for all of two decades, may even be black, who decides to do something inspired and respectful like become a Vodun initiate or completely out of the scope of attack like attend Mardi Gras.

The Vodun Mambos et al could sit around whining about white youth sporting Mardi Gras beads, which has nothing to do with the problem of ignorance surrouding Voodoo vs. Vodun, or they can do what they've been doing which is to educate people. If you're upset that white dreadwearers might not know the meaning of what they do, then do something about it. Get the word out. Tell people what the vow or purity and the 77 commandments are, at least so they can know what the discussion is about. Then, you can even take advantage of white middle American interest, not in a deceitful way that embarasses that culture, but in a way that benefits both of you. Look how Eastern religions spread like wildfire from the time Western Humanists took a liking to Swami Vivekenanda. You can't talk about the gym now without Yoga crossing your mind. Buddhist monks themselves benefit from teaching those classes, even to all white audiences. They are secure in the fact that all can be exposed to their spiritual gifts. Look at Holiness Pentecostalism, which is a black and now white mixed tradition, if you want a black example. African dance is another. Historical durges need not apply.

Granted, I can understand if there's a strong religious significance and people find it sacreligious. But everyone who wears dreadlocks uses the term spiritual for starters. Secondly, dreadlocks have secular political meanings so they're not in a completely ethereal or sacred realm that is striving purely to guard against the profane. Third, dreads aren't always limited to blacks who are Rastafarians.

As for white privelege, these kids are visibly paying their dues by being seen in public. Unless they have a penchant for feeling maligned or condescended, they've done some homework. One can only say "I just think it's cool" for so long, even in one's own head pun intended). They face alienation from both white middle America and members of the counterculture they hope to embrace. If they're not written off they're second-guessed. They're either being obsequious and fawning towards black people or they're part of an inadvertent racist conspiracy to undermine us. The only people who are being obsequious now are extremists who will split every kinky hair until young persons who are just being young at worst feel foolish for using black ink pens.

One last thing, all the arguments about black people who have straight hair being brainwashed, please save it. Not all black people will straightened hair are agency-less saps. They wear the hair in some instances because it looks interesting or suits their identities, for example as middle American conservatives. Inversely some blacks who wear dreads know nothing of the history, and are camping out to try a trend that they will abandon as soon as there's an opening at the firm. Meanwhile some whites will keep their dreads. Others may abandon them and feel like they're selling out on themselves and the cultures they have embraced. Others may accept change but never forget what they learned in the past. And so on. Anyone liberal between the ages of 18-35 seems to be going through a pitiful phase, and everyone 35 and over who's conservative seems to be a hypocrite who has already sown wild oats. There's no way of psychically channeling someone's hidden motives for doing whatever they're doing any point in time.

[ken]

i did not read this whole blog due to is insanity but i think all who read this should know that dreadlocks are cultural for not only africans but indian, germanic (WHITE PEOPLE), aisian and middle eastern people. if you look in the past of (most) any culture you will find a history of dreadlocks. for example look in the bible or any ancient egyptian priest or pharaohs; they had dredlocks! look at the traditional indian priests. take the greeks for example! the warriors wore dreadlocks so they would look more fierce! now to white people. the vikings wore dreadlocks!!! the vandels wore dreadlocks!!! the anglosaxons wore dreads!!!! the scotts wore dreads!!! so before anyone shoots off their mouth and says that white people have no right to wear dreads do some research. if you don't believe me ask an Archeology student or teacher. dreads were the origional hairstyle and in my eyes are ok for everyone!

[Kevin]

If you knew half as much about the roots and history of dreadlocks as you claim, you would probably realize that dreadlocks did not originate with Rastafarians. Many ethnic groups (not including neandrathals) have worn them throughout history including, Hindu holymen, African tribesman, Celts, the Vikings, and other groups in Europe. Its ridiculously ignorant to clump all white dreadlocked people in with the small percentage that are trying to be pseudo-rastas. Its a hairstyle, not a religion.

Thank you for the link to this site: http://www.makezine.org/mohawksdreads.htm

I stumbled across your writings because I have off and on considered dreading my very curly coarse hair (of eastern europian and jewish descent) but something has never quite sat well enough with me to actually do it. I don't think this needs to turn into an anger argument, but it can certainly be seen and understood when one takes off the blinders of white privelege. If one becomes angry and defensive at the mention white privelege, look it up, learn about it and let it sink in. It's not personal, it's societal. And we are all a part of it. Anti-racist white folks take personal responsibility for a situation created by the founding fathers of this country knowing that if nobody does, things will certainly never change.

[a ninny mouse]

I'm not trying to argue, I'm only here to make a statement:

Funny how the author of this blog defends blacks when they say things which could be construed as racist... If a white person were to say the same things about blacks I'm sure he would call that person a racist. Is that why you wrote this article, Scott? Are you a racist?

[Tulip]

Racism is systemic. For example, capitalism is racist. White privelege exists because of systems like capitalism and imperialism and globilization. Scott is not a system. Scott could be prejudiced. I am prejudiced against religious fundamentalists. I would guess that Scott could be too.

[zollo]

Scott you are a complete and utter wanker! I've never heard such drivvle about 'appropriation'.Get this you ignorant twat:I am a Cherokee(y'think I like having cars named after my people?..A Nation that took in many many escaped slaves..remember? or have you ever known?)and I've been wearing locks for over 20 years.Does that make me a fake?Time to expand your mind and get over it