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

[Fundimential]

Being angry with someone because of the way they look is your choice. Not very wise in my opinion, bucause people will continue to do what they chose to do anyway, and your anger will eat you from the inside. If you feel anything other than compasion for someone, then you don't truly understand them, and when you truely understand someone, you will feel nothing but compashion for them... How I choose to look has no bearing on you whatsoever. We all want to feel happy and content. We all want to feel pleasure. Every individual seeks liberation from opressive habitual thought patters created within our own minds. So if you realy want the goods, don't try to order the world around yourself. Set yourself in order.
I am a white man with blisslocks, and if this makes you angry, I feel for you, and I pray for your peace, and the grace for you to understand. I have stolen nothing, simply alowed nature to take it's corse. My hair takes nothing from anyone, in fact it is an offering to the world. My fearlessness in expressing my truth, breakes ground for others to fearlessley express thier truth...
This whole thing dosn't surprise me that much, because most self proclaimed Rastafarians I've met are racist, arogant, sexist, and narrow minded, althought not all of them, some are actualy very kind...

[alex]

i can't believe people are still posting on this. Scott, deriding people for "cultural appropriation" here is stupid and casts you in a very authoritarian light. White people with dreads may look stupid and may have all sorts of dumb rationales for defending their style. whatever. "culture" pretty much is appropriation, especially in america, where we don't have a long history or many established cultural traditions. america is populated by immigrants, so sharing (and yes, probably "stealing" cultural elements) is bound to happen. it's also a good thing and keeps people open to new ideas and perspectives. and yeah, it's gonna lead to a bunch of dumb looking people. it's a price i'm willing to pay.
let's not let reactionary emotions get the best of us so much here (this is aimed at the lot of folks who post), and be a bit more rational.

[Kev]

Wow, this Blog has lasted a long while. A lot of great arguments on both sides (well, with the decline of some ignorance, and racism here). But I still don’t understand the point in the first blog post. As a “White” Rasta (and yes, I do have Dreadlocks), I don’t see how I’m anymore or less acceptable in the eyes of Jah or members of society then say an African-American Rasta whom has a shaved head. Rastafari is a way of living, not a fashion statement. I know some Rastas that eat meat, I for example, don’t smoke Kaya anymore to meditate. Boo Hoo…. I know many Christians who fuck before their married. We’re all Humans trying to live. Negative judgement of either Cultural or Religious ways, or color of skin, just leads to War and Hatred (Oh, so were talkin’ ‘bout prejudgism) . So why bother? His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings was incarnated long after say, the early Egyptians whom you will often find with Dreadlocks in their mummy tombs. Or even the Celtics who believed a spiritual significance to having hair that represented snakes. Rasta’s know true that Dreadlocks have spiritual connection to those of the Old Testament. And “White Dreadheads”, are doing something they believe in, whether or not it has anything with a love for Jah. I love to see many different people of different cultures with Dreadlocks, and I hope people who want to get them done, natural or not, do. And if you don’t agree with that, next time you see someone with Dreadlocks say “Hi”, cause you both breathe the same air and walk the same earth anywise.
Peace All.

[chickapow]

Seriously people. You say that white people shouldn't have dreadlocks because it is a spiritual statement that many don't believe in. WEll, Guess what? Its only a spiritual or religious statement unless that is what you belive in. My dread locks were formed naturally by not brushing them. Dreadlocks are the natural state of everyones hair regardless of race or religion. It is very true that dreadlocks originated on peoples of many diferent races but primarily white poeple. Chill out, it can mean somethng to rastafarians but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. There is no reason a white person can't embrace nature and get dreadlocks. Plus i happen to think they ar beautiful.

[codell]

because a black person has a ceasor hair cut does that mean there taking from white cultural?

[zito]

If black people can have dreads and not get BS about it white people should to. There should be nothing one race can to and another cant. Besides dreads dont represent oppresion or hatred of the system. ITS JUST HAIR MAN> CALM DOWN>

[Marty]

"Thier will be no peace on earth untill a mans' skin, is as important as his eyes"
-Bob Marley
Sounds like racist bullshit to me. In Jamaica, Rastas didn't grow their hair out just for the opression of babylon (Whites). They also did it to rebel against the government. I am positive that white people had dreads during that time and the other rastas excepted them.

[scott]

Huh? The actual lyrics are:

"Until the color of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the color of his eyes
Me say war"

[Josiah]

It makes no difference what anyone on this this bulletin thinks. Opinions are a dime a dozen so to say. We all are born. We all live and breathe. We all die. Where we go after death is the biggest mystery of all. But the fact of the matter is that the individual is the only true unique thing. Every human being is different. We all have different defects. Regardless of the origin of dreadlocks or what race is typically associated with, having dreadlocks is the decision of the individual. For any mere mortal to judge another mere mortal is simply absurd.

[Defense of the White Man]

Dreadlocks were used by every culture every race since the dawn of time (before the comb). I see absolutely (coming from a Black man) with whites wearing the dreadlocks, some Rastafarians don't even wear dreads. Not all people who have dreads are Rastas, this is article is saddening that people's education has come to the point that they think certain hair styles can only be applied to certain races. Yes, you're going to pull the afro outta your ass... fuck you it's natural... if you were to not comb your hair for a year, you would get dreads. Of course there are much faster ways, but that's beside the point. Dreads, have no true religious significance to the Rastas, it is nearly just counter-cultural. In conclusion let things be, you are extremely close minded(close mindedness is obtained from ignorance of what others say, such as this article, I gave it a chance gauged my opinion and compared. Not just blindly attacked) about race and what is expected of all of them. You neglect to think why people want them. I asked a few of my white friends why they wanted them, they stated they wanted them due to the level of respect you would obtain from these locks.

~Mugen-san, defender of truth and infinity.

[Australian white guy]

Your rant just screams of racisim in itself. The people who urged me to get dreadlocks are black Rastafarian from Ghana whom dreadlock their hair to avoid vanity. I dont identify myself as a Rastafarian. (even tho i have been invited too) And I have yet to come across a Rastafarian who was insulted by my dreads. You need to open your eyes alittle and realise that there is a world outside your little home town. I assume your Amercian, and well the entire world know that Amercia stuggles with racial equality, and is chocked with preverted religious views. Perhaps its time for you to catch up with the rest of the world, Hmm?

"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."

Buddy, anyone with dreads, black, white yellow red and blue are forced to cut their dreads to gain any well paying job. Dreadlocks are a lifestyle for anyone. I found this site while at a Rastafarian party. I was the only white guy in the house. 32 black Rastafarians had a good laugh out of your views. We then partied and I had my dreads tightened.

Bottom line, none of us thought you had any idea what you were talking about.

[reall]

white privilege? everything really is relative, because as a north african i can look around and see black privilege too. many black people in america are missing the underlying issue, its not about race privilege, its about economics. there are privileged classes in america, a poor white faces hisown struggles and a poor black faces these and others. all whites are not the reason for this...the upper class, no matter what race(but mostly white) are the reason for it. many poor whites arrived in this country like my family, with nothing, and nowhere to go..and like blacks in 1865. we cannot devide ourselves up, without unity our voice is just wild accusations and conspiricy...you cannot judge the struggles someone has been through by the color of thier skin is my point...

[that gurl]

This is for the original poster guy. Hey listen. I don't even know if you read these anymore but here it is:i am pagan- as
i am a practising wiccan, i have been since i was a child. Christianity STOLE a lot of elements from the "old religion" that i practise- even sunday as the day of worship is a pagan symbology (get it SUN DAY?)Chrisitans in the bible practised worship on the Sabbath- Saturday...As for the pentagram: i would like to thank all of those goths who are uneducated about its meaning for associating it with devil worship and anarchy- it has nothing to do with it actually as in Pagan religion there is no devil not even a HELL!! So as you can see i have to put up with that sort of irking shit all of the time- but it doesn't bother me...therefore i think that you should know that i sport a head full of causcasian dreads...i would never, never ever get dreads with the idea of cultural and racial appropriation! Cultures borrow and accumulate all of the time- it's just a fact of global diffusion, get it...plus: dreadlocks are a racially universal style found dating back to the begining of time (for goodness sake Neanderthals had 'em!) and across culturally barriers- caucasians, aboriginees, negroids and asians have embraced and utilized dreadlocks in mythology and cultural celebration- the early christians had 'em, australian aboriginees have 'em, look at Hindu mythology and find out about Ganges, what about Genghis Khan? what about lamas and monks?
Next time you go on a rant about some supposed racially appropriation due to hairstyle remember these helpful hints:
1) just because people are white doesn't mean that they are nazis or KKK...
2) your comments are in fact just as racist
3) being racist to white people is still racism!!

BTW my uninformed friend.... GO DO SOME RESEARCH YOU FOOL!!

Until you smarten up

screw you.

[Daanyaal]

I'm a white guy born in Africa and there's one thing i notice between white people from Africa and White people from America. White Americans try to find a reason for what they wear, what they listen to or how they appear to other people. African whites don't give a shit. If you feel its ok to do what you do, then do it. If any body judges you for what you regard as your own, then smile and tell them how sad it must be to leave in a world governed by the whims of similar disillusioned people. Do what the fuck you want. If it doesnt hurt, chill. You Americans have got to learn to unwind.

[jen]

there's a lot of posts here, but the one that makes the most sense is the last one .. daanyaal you're fucking spot on- hair means different things to all sorts of people, and that's nice, everyone should do whatever they like with it for whatever reason they wish.. and we can chat nicely about what it means to each person. i respect black people white people.. all people..
i've got fake dread extensions - mostly cause they mean i don't have to do anything to my (naturally crazy frizzy/curly) hair, and partly cause i like the way it looks.. that doesn't mean i don't know anything about rastas etc and respect everything they are- just that is not my personal reason for my hair choice....
chill out you lot ranting about what means what and what is 'right' and 'wrong' who makes up these crazy rules .. just live and enjoy.. x x

[Snej]

ALL HAIR DREADS UP, NO MATTER IF THE PERSON'S WHITE OR BLACK OR ASIAN, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME!

I strongly adice you to visit http://knottylocks.tk read a little in the forums and shut the fuck up. Thank you.

[Dreadlocked White and English]

Dude.. all I can say is that the argument against white people having dreadlocks because it's cultural appropriation is a load of rubbish.

Have a look at wikipedia and learn something about the history of dreadlocks would you.

Celts, Vikings, Egyptians, Greeks - Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Hindu's you name it - have all worn dreadlocks at some point in their history... and thousands of years before the Jamaicans at that.

Rasta only began about 70 years ago.
If you want to criticise anybody for cultural appropriation then criticise the Rastafarians for copying the idea from Indian labourers working in jamaica in the late 19th Century.

[Rachel P]

I am on this site becasue I am a white girl that is thinking about getting dreadlocks.

The argument about white privledge etc. is an interesting one. its true white's with dreads can cut of there dread and have good cred for being white.

there is an interesting book I read some time ago titled "Everything But the Burden: What White People Are Taking from Black Culture" by Greg Tate (writer in NYC's "Village Voice") it does not necessarily talk about dreads, but it speaks to the other stuff that white people take on which originated in black culture.

if you want to explore the subject further, it is definitly worth checking out.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/076791497X?v=glance

[Mike]

Previewing your Comment
I think that a persons choice of hairstyle shouldn't be your concern, they say that when we talk down about others it is because your own life is missing something and you have to rely on others or else they would just be bored with their own pathetic life. Whoever wrote the first paragraph is wrong, it doesn't matter what hairstyle you have or your race, every culture has worn numerous hairstyles including braids and locks even the vikings , greeks and Kelt's. People these day's just don't know any better and are still racist. It's natural for one to be prejudice, it is in human nature, most of you will be dead in 100 years so you're opinions mean little and people will always be ignorant, just don't let other people's trips on reality try to change you. It's just sad how everyone has to profile everyone these day's, it seems today in society all within a second you are judged and everyone seems to know everything about you... ha ha that is what we call profiling, it is funny how a man these day's almost can't go around with long hair and a beard without someone trying to mess with him, so what if a guy wants to look like predator big fucking deal, and when he looks like everyone else in boring society they seem to not care. I think it's just funny how people have gotten these day's and they say we are all enlightened but most are no better than tyrants hundreds and thousands of years ago recycling hatred and that is just human nature.
anyways peace --- Grow your dreadlocks don't be afraid of the wolf pack! - bob Marley

[ChocoTaco]

Ya know, This blog made me think that perhaps white americans aren't as blind as I thought....then I read the comments and I lost my faith in ya'lls all over agian. Props to the author though.

[dopedanny]

you know the oldest dreads known were found on egyptian mummies right? and that various pieces of roman art work show celts and gauls with dreads? that they prized the celt 'snaked-hair' gladiators the most for their valour? there are preserved bodies in italy that have drealocks. my long hair cat starts to get dreads if its fur isnt brushed every few days! They're the most natural hair style, they dont belong to any race.

Hi. I think that in some ways I can identify with black discrimination... Mine however was slightly different. The discrimination started when I opened my mouth and someone heard my northern accent, when I played with the black kids oblivious that none of the other white kids were doing it, when people took a look at my queen sized body, when people saw my mother was/is hispanic, when people realized that I thought differently and acted differently. Discrimination happens in all colors. Yes, I can expect someone who is racist to not be able to figure that a little white girl could fathom what it's like, but I know. One thing I've learned is that no matter how much crap I got for being a fat, wierdo yankee, it was nothing compared to the black opression that went on in that same area. However much I don't condone discrimination in any of it's forms, I understand how anger and pain can be too deep to practice COMPLETE tolerance. Make of that what you will.

[Brian]

you know look around you do you think the world
would have so many problems if people tried to tell people what they can and can't do? As long as you don't smell like a dirty phish head
that hasn't bathed since the cross country tour started 5 weeks ago I don't really give a flying #&!* I can relate this to adolescents saying "I called that" or "I got dibs" There are way worse things to be worried about in the world than that

[jojo mporampora]

he's right white + dreads = stupid

[Mason]

I'll bet you didnt know that rastas originally got the idea for dreadlocks from indians. They have been in many different cultures throughout history, even in europe.