This is the question that The1Janitor answers in his vlog below, offering some interesting perspective on cultural appropriation.
When white people ask him whether they should wear dreadlocks — a question he says he gets a lot — he explains that he gets the impression that they think that dreadlocks are a part of black culture. Here’s his response to that:
As far as I know, dreadlocks are mostly associated with the Rastafarian movement from Jamaica. And, as far as I know, that’s not a racial movement. And beyond that locks are worn in other places like Africa and the Middle East and Asian for many different reasons, sometimes spiritual or religious reasons.
Now I am not African or Jamaican or Rastafarian or even remotely spiritual or religious at all. Yet no one has ever accused me of cultural appropriation for having dreadlocks.
He makes a good point.
Culture is, itself, a political and politicized thing and it’s subject to social construction. Whether something counts as cultural — as opposed to, say, rational or biological or universal — is something that people figure out together in interaction, not always consciously. Dreadlocks aren’t African American, they’re lots of things to lots of people. But they also are African American, because Americans do tend to associate them with African Americans. This isn’t reality, though, it’s socially constructed reality.
Moreover, cultures are always changing, often in response to interaction with other cultures. So, to say that a thing like dreadlocks, even if they were African American in origin, could never be borrowed by another cultural group is both overly rigid and inevitably false.
His conclusion: “You’re allowed to like stuff, but you do have to take history into account,” including stuff like power and inequality.
I don’t necessary agree with all of his examples, but I like how he pushes us to think more carefully about cultural appropriation by putting the idea of culture front and center.
Here’s The1Janitor (I apologize if you encounter an ad):
Hat tip to @antoniojc75!
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 25
Peter Hanley — January 8, 2015
I don't know much about dreadlocks, but in a similar vein I was accused of "stealing" my haircut, the misnamed 'mohawk' (see below), from Native Americans by my niece, who was essentially repeating what she had been told while touring some sort historical site or museum by a guide.
It was annoying, since I "stole" my haircut from the other punks around when I was coming up in the late 1970s/80s (no one has ever asked for it back) - I'm sure there was some glimmer of Native American haircuts, but for the most part the mohawk was about punks and punk and the amount I identified with and wanted to be identified with that - my assumption is that for non-Rastafarian folks that sport dreadlocks there are a number of cultural movements that they may feel as attached to as I did to punk.
In my irritation, I did a little searching (by that point I had an inkling that perhaps the mohawk wasn't an innovation discovered only by Native Americans) and discovered that the basic idea is actually pretty old - the earliest known one actually comes from near Dublin, Ireland (which coincidentally is where a lot of my DNA collected before being forcibly shipped to the US in the late 1800s). So I guess I could say that the Pawnee Indians stole Ireland's haircut....
But that would be churlish, so I won't.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohawk_hairstyle#Historical_use
Lex Luthor — January 8, 2015
I'm sensitive to concerns about appropriation. Clearly some cultural
appropriation is disrespectful and objectifying-- I'm thinking of things
like white frat boys holding "Gansta" theme parties. But are we really
going to say that it's unacceptable to adopt any styles or symbols that
do not arise from one's "own" culture? I get the impression in some of
my (super liberal) social circles that this is the new standard.
That road seems
to lead to reifying social boundaries and essentializing groups in a
way that feeds all sorts of unhealthy outcomes. In order to make sure I
wasn't appropriating from other cultures, I'd have to decide what
belongs solely to pure EuroAmerican culture, and stick to that. Can I
braid my hair around my head, or is that style too similar to something
an African American woman might wear? Is it OK to listen to nonwhite
musicians? Can I wear that wool hat I bought in Cuzco? What about an "I
can't breathe" shirt? Nope, I must maintain my white cultural purity. I
know the impulse to reject all appropriation is anti-racist at heart,
but not all of its implications play out that way.
Bill R — January 8, 2015
Sounds odd to have people coining the term cultural appropriation (presumably because they wanted to complain about something first) in America, which is home to more cultures and nationalities and religions than anyplace else in the world. Of course we're going to beg, borrow and steal from each other.
BTSFblog — January 8, 2015
Along these lines, there is a cool upcoming book that explores the cultural significance and interpersonal experience of dreadlocks for Black men in the United States. It's called 'Twisted: My Dreadlock Chronicles' (http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Dreadlock-Chronicles-Bert-Ashe/dp/1932841962/). Check out the promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnpjMcJXfzE
Should White People Wear Dreadlocks? - Treat Them Better — January 8, 2015
[…] Should White People Wear Dreadlocks? […]
Vegan — January 8, 2015
I definitely do see some appropriation of Rasta culture as disrespectful. There are a lot of white people very insensitively and ignorantly using Rasta symbols as if it is just some synonym for cannabis culture.
Dreadlocks are associated with Rasta culture, certainly, but I do think they exist outside of it enough at this point that I don't think it's so bad (now, fake black dreads coming off of Rasta color hats... that's another thing). I actually know more than few people with dreads, of different ethnic backgrounds. Several with the longest dreads are of Jewish heritage and there is a cultural link there mildly connected with the roots of it in Rasta culture in that some see Biblical meaning in it. They also have naturally curly hair (the individuals I'm talking about, at least), so that's part of it.
Mostly, it seems a "hippie" thing to me and I see a lot of dreads at Rainbow gatherings. There are some trustafarians, yes, but also many who don't have that sort of money, some of whom are proud hobos and associated nomads. Either way, I don't judge. But it's a practical thing when living a nomadic lifestyle since the hair naturally becomes dreads when allowed to and I've been told it's a very low maintenance hair style when done naturally. For those that are in the woods for weeks at a time without showers and detangling conditioners, and especially those with curly hair, it simply happens if you leave your hair alone. It also is a sign of commitment to alternative lifestyles since, yes, it does mean that employment opportunities are more limited in most places. But it garners a lot of respect from others in the sub cultures, especially since many don't suspect the guy with long dreads as being an undercover cop.
bittercld — January 8, 2015
The thing about cultural appropriation in the US that has made it stick in people's craw is less about (generally) white people just liking something and more about white people's use of that thing now being valued more than the origin, sort of as a cultural glass elevator.
For example, when Eminem won an award for rapping, he spoke out about the fact that he only won because he was white.
I think it feels like a black person can say or do something great and it'll pass unnoticed, but a white person does the same thing afterwards and it's suddenly the greatest thing ever.
I don't know if white people wearing dreads counts as cultural appropriation, but I know that black people can keep their dreads perfectly clean and nice-looking and still get people assuming that they're dirty/gross while a white person can take poor care of their dreads and no one will say a thing.
(I am white)
Melanie — January 9, 2015
This topic could be quite sensitive and difficult to explain.
Almost like Vogue with the big booty movement for the nonblack woman. I'll explain the contradict on freedom to express ourselves through fashion, art,etc.
People get uncomfortable of spotting black person with dreads, afro and every style on our natural hair. It's unapproved in society and rules for poc to not wear this style.
Society black or nonwestern culture in negative light with belittle term like ghetto for example. Ghetto hair seen more afrofuturism, afropunk and advent grande in my eyes with movement toward gravity. European Beauty is modern day dress code in order to get a crumb of privilege to survive.
My friend was almost force to cut his dreads under the grooming rule in his job. Three years passby fast with a new white employee with dreads to reflect the history of Rome. The manager and everybody praise about his dreads look cool. The company don't mind it. Along it's push into a ponytail to work easily. The system produce a stereotype of BM as reggae or thug for BM with dreads to judge. Some part of the world still judge the skin color then search for a popular object to produce stereotypical creature to in their head for racial profile purpose
pduggie — January 9, 2015
Sesame Street had a whole thing about a king who made everyone wear their hair the way he wanted them to, and then a little black girl with frizzy hair showed him the error of his ways and that really, everyone should be allowed to wear their hair anyway they like.
brooklyn citizen — January 13, 2015
Cultural appropriation is offensive.It isn't about "like" or dislike.It is about still retaining white privilege and benefitting from white privilege WHILE appropriating, while having the dreadlocks.
Also, through appropriation many whites feel they are being post-racial such as white Buddhists that bring in their own white power structure into the group yet are unaware of it. They feel since they are practicing Buddhism they have no racist tendencies nor do they have to examine them.
IF you are white and live in AMerica you have racist tendencies, whether you have looked at them or not.
ho ho ho — July 27, 2015
I'm white with Caribbean heritage, what if my Jamaican ancestors had dreadlocks ?
Spageuk — October 9, 2015
Hello everyone! I am going to chip in on this subject!
I think everyone is being rather silly about dreads and white people! I see it as a none-issue as were I stand, it's just a hair style and anybody can wear their hair anyway they want
I think black people should chill, relax and take it as a compliment and move on. In the end of the day, there are a lot more important things to get worked over!
First time I ever saw dreads was in the film predator, my favourite film monster of all time!
Samantha Holloway — November 5, 2017
Dreadlocks are not linked to only one culture or race. It's been traced to Egypt, ethiopa, the celts, the Greeks, the Vikings, India, Rasta...
The Old Testament!! Cultural significance or not. No one person can lay a claim on something that all of our hair naturally does and expect others to"apologize" "give thanks". Only the ignorant would tell you "no".