My own Boxer Braids

My own boxer braids are so inspired by Kim Kardashian and by all the women with beautiful bold brows and winged tattoos painted across their eyelids.
My own boxer braids are glorified and tweeted and deemed beautiful and if they sway in the wind when I switch, but they thought to be someone elses.
My own boxer braids are exceptional and  eye catching on her but not me.

Dare I tell you they are cornrows and you'll correct me.

The red in my cheeks flourished through brown hues and yellow tones, and the cracks of my smile raised and fell  as she complimented me on my "Boxer Braids".


Kylie Jenner braids her hair into "Boxer Braids" but the black girl with corn rows in  hair automatically isn't as nice as hers is, or is questioned to not even be her hair.

Sherman Alexie wrote " We were in this cowboy bar. We were the only real cowboys there despite the fact that we're Indians". It is not uncommon for a base culture to become appropriated. Not hating on the pseudo cowboys or the lighter complected girls with the cornrows, but when credit is due... Give it. Black culture is stolen and Americanized, to be seen as less on me but more on you. 

There's a fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. It pains me to see Vogue Magazine glorify Bantu knots and slicked baby hair on white women and it becomes high fashion.. It's Vogue of course, so why not? But when your fellow black women do what their culture caters to, the irony presents itself. Cornrows especially have been dated all the way back to African culture in 3000 B.C. And Native American Culture. For a country that prides itself on equality, this would be a prime example of what to reach for. There is no shame in appreciating our culture and our people for what they do. Appreciating far enough to where you'd want to incorporate it into your daily life is actually pretty nice.

 But.
Do not forget where your- "Boxer Braids" came from.

You Forgot Something.

Name any monument or memorial and find it on a pamphlet you pick up in a museum, or on the back of a map you purchase at a gas station... You visit these places, and ask any stranger to take multiple photographs of you with your family members so you can say you went there. You visit a MEMORIAL to commemorate death, not take fun family photos. 

 

would you  visit a grave stone, smile, and proceed to put it on your Snapchat story? No.

The pseudo-based ideal that a memorial becomes a tourist attraction probably leaves an uneasy feeling to those standing next to you paying their respects to those they lost in which the memorial was built for. "After a short time the memorial becomes another familiar object of the busy town centre, and is rarely looked at" (Whittick 44). Any memorial, Vietnam, Civil Rights, WW1/2, those were times to recognize hardship, conflict. The pure fact that somebody somewhere designed the monument is something to honor. 

A statue, flag, or engraving in the sidewalk, marks a point in our history that grants reflection. Especially those whose lives were taken on a battle field, or those that are recognized due to great deeds. It is an emotional experience to visit a monument, as it should take your breath away each time. 

Recognition is important.

You can take a picture later.