Why White People Shouldn't Wear Cornrows -- No, Not Because They Shouldn't "Steal" Black Culture
The real reason white people shouldn't wear cornrows, courtesy of me?
Mainly because they tend to look like shit if you've got dark hair with white scalp peeking out.
But "Hunger Games" star Amandla Stenberg (Rue in the first "Hunger Games") takes Kylie Jenner to task for wearing cornrows in an Instagram selfie because, guess what:
Stenberg: when u appropriate black features and culture but fail to use ur position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards ur wigs instead of police brutality or racism #whitegirlsdoitbetter
Love this ridiculous idea. How many black people have no idea of the political significance of corn rows -- or, for another example, why being a black Muslim is absolutely absurd, considering Islam's ugly legacy of racism and black slavery.
From Think "Progress" [scare quotes are mine], Carimah Townes writes about Stenberg's video, "Don't Cash Crop On My Cornrows":
It should come as no surprise that 16-year-old Stenberg lent her voice to the conversation, as the starlet recently released a video about cultural appropriation called 'Don't Cash Crop on My Cornrows." In it, she talks about the ties between black hair -- twists, braids, cornrows, locks -- and black identity. Linking those styles to the formation of hip hop culture, she explains how the presence of black artists who wore these styles became popular over time, inspiring white celebrities to follow their lead. The problem with this cultural appropriation, Stenberg argues, is that white people are adopting and capitalizing off of elements of black culture while ignoring the systemic oppression of the people they're emulating."That itself is what is so complicated when it comes to black culture. The line between cultural appropriation and cultural exchange is always going to be blurred, but here's the thing: appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated, but is deemed high fashion, cool, or funny when the privileged take it for themselves," she said. "Appropriation occurs when the appropriator is not aware of the deep significance of the culture they're partaking in."
No, you do not need to know the significance of your hairstyle to wear it -- nor do you need to acknowledge and apologize for the fact that Henry Ford was an anti-Semite if you drive a Ford.
More of Stenberg's gems, as explained by Townes:
Stenberg's statement on Instagram is a continuation of this theme. On the surface, Jenner's photo may seem harmless. But much of her brand and image is built around her hair, so she's profiting off of a style that black people are criticized for wearing....The problem isn't Jenner's hair, per se. It's the fact that her image is rooted in black culture, but she's never acknowledged those underlying influences. Months ago, Jenner's filled lips sparked a social media debate about beauty double standards for white and black women. Girls across the country joined in on the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge to make their lips more plump -- leading black women to post photos of their natural features, which have been ridiculed in the past. Jenner is knowingly or unknowingly profiting off of beauty standards that black women and black men are degraded for.
...This isn't to say that white women -- and men -- can't experiment with different (hair)styles. The point is that they need to be more conscious of what those styles mean to the people who birthed them, and be verbal about longstanding social inequalities and institutional racism.
The video with ridiculous Stenberg shows her with straightened hair -- which some black women criticize as "appropriating" "white" culture.
What does this hairstyle mean? Not a fucking thing. Nor is there any meaning when I use a flat iron on my Jewfro. Beyond "straight hair looks sleek, shiny, and pretty."
What Stenberg is asking is this -- that you gnash and feel terrible about your "privilege" every time you engage in something that came from someplace that isn't your particular "culture." Which means...we're all supposed to feel ashamed every time we eat a taco?
The video with Stenberg:
Simple answer:
STFU 'cause you have no right to tell me how/what to wear/do.
Bob in Texas at July 13, 2015 5:51 AM
Bob is correct. Concise and to the point. And does this mean black women have to stop straightening their hair, since that's appropriating from white culture?
Patrick at July 13, 2015 6:04 AM
Right, Patrick. And Bob in Texas. (I also note this above.)
There's a lot of condemnation from black women of other black women who straighten their hair.
PS My old curly hair style (with shorter hair) was based on a picture of a black woman I saw in Vogue. We all "appropriate" what we think might look good on us, and really, there's no requirement that politics be involved and you aren't a bad person if you don't know that your style was, oh, first worn in ancient Greece by slaves.
Amy Alkon at July 13, 2015 6:17 AM
Got a 'flash' picturing you w/short curly hair. Whew! Need to sit down.
Bob in Texas at July 13, 2015 6:20 AM
Shorter Bob: what business is it of yours?
All hail Bob!
I remember something my father told me: is it in your way, or causing you problems? no? then maybe you should leave it alone.
I R A Darth Aggie at July 13, 2015 6:22 AM
FIFY
Jeff Guinn at July 13, 2015 7:06 AM
The frustration comes from the fact they feel it takes a white woman to make those traits attractive and desirable in general society.
The Kardashian's popularized many traits originally negatively associated with black women in this country, like a big ass (Kim's is artificial btw). Kylie is following in her big sisters steps by artificially altering herself. White girls get butt jobs not just fake tits for the first time ever thanks to the likes of the Kardashian's.
I don't AGREE with the view because a big ass has been seen positively in other cultures (Italians, Brazilians. Hispanics). True not in American culture until recently but that has more to do with the races mixing freely without that taboo aspect that was common before and changes in demographics.
Corn rows have also been negatively associated with blacks. But it isn't skin color or race that suddenly makes these things popular. It's social status. JLo made a big ass and corn rows popular too (please don't bring up Bo Derek). You can wear whatever you want when you're rich. You don't need an employers approval and you've got enough free time, money, status and connections to make it trendy and "high" class. Like black nail polish, sweat pants and tans.
Ppen at July 13, 2015 7:08 AM
Dear minority groups: You're all a bunch of idiots. I say this in the nicest possible way, but it's true. Why are you so wound up about "cultural appropriation"? This is what you want to happen. It's through elements of your culture entering the larger culture that mainstream America gets more comfortable with you and learns to accept you. Yov've heard of Chinese food, right? How do you think that happened? It didn't happen by way of people of Chinese descent protesting about "cultural appropriation" every time someone opened a Chinese restaurant downtown. And through that, Chinese people are accepted as a part of the mainstream culture. You keep saying you want to be accepted, so why do you keep sabotaging it?
Cousin Dave at July 13, 2015 7:08 AM
Cousin Dave is exactly right. Cultural appropriation is the way acceptance is gained. I do not think it coincidence that a large influx of "African American" style music into popular music genres preceded and continued during the civil rights era. If you respect another culture enough to adopt elements of it into your own lifestyle (for instance, my family has always done the Asian/ Japanese practice of taking off your shoes at the entrance of the house, since it was something my mom grew up with in Hawaii), you are actually adopting a piece of their identity, and learning to appreciate it.
spqr2008 at July 13, 2015 8:25 AM
Cousin Dave, because they don'twant to be accepted. But I suspect you realize that. Complaining is very profitable. The longer you're oppressed, the more free stuff you get from the government.
If someone ever says to me, "Check your privilege," I think I'll say "Go fuck yourself."
Some people who happen to be minorities have managed quite nicely to parlay their oppression into privileges of their own.
Patrick at July 13, 2015 8:28 AM
If Amandla Stenberg, whoever she is, can convince just one white person not to wear dreadlocks, then I wish her Godspeed in her mission to change the world through text-message speak.
Kevin at July 13, 2015 9:14 AM
I read this the other day and it seemed so apropo:
"What does it mean to be white? To construct a civilization whose decline is marked by outgroup altruism and ingroup malice."
Matt at July 13, 2015 9:19 AM
Canada's Top Ten List of America's Stupidity, includes:
"Number 9) Only in America ... could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General and roughly 20% of the federal workforce is black while only 14% of the population is black 40+% of all federal entitlements go to black Americans - 3x the rate that goes to whites, 5x the rate that goes to Hispanics."
http://conservativebyte.com/2014/07/canadas-top-ten-list-americas-stupidity/
Dear Ms. Stenberg:
The U.S. Constitution guarantees various rights. Freedom of expression is generally within the ambit of the First Amendment. That allows Ms. Jenner to wear a style as ugly as cornrows. It also allows you to publicly display your ignorance, and permits me, and others, to respond to your display.
Wfjag at July 13, 2015 10:21 AM
Well, I guess I know what I'm doing to the 3 girls hair this week....
momof4 at July 13, 2015 11:18 AM
No more tacos or Thai food for you! That's appropriating another culture.
And no more jazz music, blues, or blues-based rock music either. No more seasoned fried chicken (before the slaves spiced it up, Southern fried chicken was pretty dull.
No more white-owned sailboats tacking against the wind (invented by the merchants and traders of East Africa).
And, taken to the extreme, does this idiocy mean African-Americans can only use technology and culture that originated in Africa? No more democracy (Greek), no more precedent-based court system (England), no more English (England - although based on the Ebonic flapdoodle, that ship may have already sailed.).
OR can we put aside the stupidity and just enjoy what we've created together?
Conan the Grammarian at July 13, 2015 11:58 AM
So let me get this straight.
A girl with european and african lineage is upset at a girl with european and middle eastern lineage over hair?
They are both about as equally "white" as the other
If the Jenner can be called out for "appropriating" a hair style that cant really be proven to have originated in africa*, why cant the Stenberg be called out for appropriation when she has her hair straightened?
Also hasnt Stenburg called out people for appropriating her jewish heritage as well?
Seriously it must be so exhausting looking for ways to be offended all the time.
*Elaborate hairstyles most likely developed in the middle east in tandem with higher civilization as it is a sign of wealth to be able to afford to waste resources on such frivolous shit
lujlp at July 13, 2015 12:03 PM
I appropriated a cute Japanese girl forty years ago, and I'm not giving her back!
MarkD at July 13, 2015 12:27 PM
You can take my Thai food from my cold dead hands Conan!!!
But I have no use for the taco. Burritos are much better.
Ben at July 13, 2015 12:28 PM
"..In it, she talks about the ties between black hair -- twists, braids, cornrows, locks -- and black identity."
She clearly doesn't care enough about her own black identity to ditch her Swedish surname. Talk about appropriation!
Jim at July 13, 2015 1:31 PM
Swedish? With a name ending in berg I assumed Jewish. She is appropriating Jewish culture to help her career
lujlp at July 13, 2015 2:32 PM
Hold it. At 1:42, the narrator of this idiotic video says, "Katy Perry uses ebonics and hand gestures and eats watermelon..."
Eating watermelon is cultural appropriation? Seriously?
I've eaten watermelon since I was a child. And why do we act like only blacks like watermelon? Who doesn't like watermelon?
I think, if someone says, "Check your privilege," I'll say, "Check yours."
Seriously, who gave anybody the license to be anyone's moral compass or the arbiter of when someone is gloating in their "soi-disant" privilege.
I wouldn't take criticism regarding my attitudes or conduct from anyone but close friends. Now total strangers, because of their minority status, feel they have the right to police my conduct.
Patrick at July 13, 2015 2:35 PM
Bo Derek rocked corn rows before most of the children whining about cultural appropriation were born. The Vikings and Celts braided their hair (and beards!) hundreds of years ago. So did the Greeks and Romans.
So, does this mean that African-Americans have appropriated Viking culture? Of course not, and neither do the white girls who get corn rows. It's hair, a fashion statement, not a frelling SJW call to action.
Kat at July 13, 2015 2:46 PM
Amandla Stenberg in that video sounds like she has been well indoctrinated (i.e., brainwashed) by her "ethnic studies" professor.
In other words - she is full of crap.
charles at July 13, 2015 4:47 PM
I don't care for watermelon Patrick. We are a small oppressed minority. Even my father turns his face against me when he eats of the red beast (so he can spit the seed out).
Ben at July 13, 2015 5:22 PM
I once saw a woman with crop circles in her cornrows. That would be weird, to be sleeping and have a miniature alien spacecraft land on your head.
JD at July 13, 2015 10:41 PM
She's appropriating Hollywood to be a millionaire!
Reduborchestra at July 14, 2015 12:23 AM
Fried chicken and watermelon became stereotypical black food because they traveled well and could be eaten at room temperature.
If you were a black family traveling through the segregated South, you didn't always have the option of stopping at a local diner. So, you brought your own food and ate a picnic.
When the great migration northward happened, blacks brought their traditional Southern foods with them. To Northerners, these dishes were new and were associated with the black folks who they saw preparing and consuming them. To Southerners "soul food" is just food. My white ancestors grew up on fried chicken, grits, watermelon, ham hocks, etc.
Conan the Grammarian at July 14, 2015 8:37 AM
What this is really about is sharpening tribal boundaries. If anyone can wear anything, eat anything, and listen to any type of music, how can you keep people in your political power block? If we got rid of all the words English has appropriated from other languages we would barely be able to speak, and not speak about food at all (listen to Chopped sometime...). This is what the French do and it makes for some silly laws (you can't call it "le hamburger" on a menu...
Craig Loehle at July 14, 2015 9:53 AM
Hoax: "African-American".
Think about this. Africa is bigger than Europe, North America and Australia combined. The actual diversity between people on that continent is greater than that of all three of those other continents.
You simply don't use the term correctly because of the "PC police". You don't call a German a "European-American" because you don't have to make a special effort on their behalf, and as long as any people as a class gets a special break, you will continue to lie about them in everyday conversation to pretend things that are not true.
Radwaste at July 14, 2015 11:58 AM
Conan - I don't know who told you that, but Northerner's ate Fried chicken long before Northern migration and used cold chicken for picnics too. Fried Chicken and waffles had been popular since the Dutch arrived here through the 50s. And while my Manhattan raised parents (in the 30s) and myself ate watermelon because it was cheap. I loved it because it was fun to eat and compete spitting the pits with the others.
And PS, "soul food" is Southerner food.
Who appropriated who?
I hope this young lady sues all the locals in the Caribbean who make a living corn-rowing the white hair of tourists! Shame!!
CatherineM at July 14, 2015 8:26 PM
And that Leontyne Price--appropriating Italian culture!
KateC at July 14, 2015 10:51 PM
CatherineM,
Most of the Northerners I've met didn't grow up on fried chicken and found it "exotic."
They were unfamiliar with chicken dipped in flour and deep fat fried. To them, "fried chicken" was simply a piece of chicken cooked in a hot pan with a little bit of oil.
My mother is from Chicago and first encountered breaded and fried chicken when she moved south after marrying my dad.
I don't know where "here" is for you, but if fried chicken has been a staple of your diet, you're unlike most Northerners I've met over the age of 40.
Properly fried chicken (not that KFC crap) is delicious and deserving of a better representative than what has become of the restaurant chain founded by Colonel Sanders.
Conan the Grammarian at July 15, 2015 9:36 AM
It is fast food Conan. Quality isn't the goal, uniformity is. Being able to go into a store anywhere in the world and at any time, order something, and get the exact same thing you would anywhere else is the goal. There is value in knowing what you are getting yourself into, even if it isn't that good. This is the same reason there are something like 12 chicken mcnuggets. They are made out of molded liquefied chicken, not chopped chicken bits.
Ben at July 15, 2015 6:44 PM
I get the fast food. Uniformity is what Ray Kroc strove for with McDonald's.
It's just that if KFC is someone's only idea of what fried chicken is, that person is missing out on one of the great comfort foods.
The difference is that McDonald's is almost no one's sole idea of a burger.
Conan the Grammarian at July 15, 2015 8:05 PM
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