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.
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ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this blog. As much as I hear about inequality it still never comes to amaze me that the country that praises being free has all of us still feeling chained and unequal.
ReplyDeleteI think this is interesting because while I am aware of the issues regarding Native Americans and the cheesy and offensive appropriation regarding my culture, I try but never am fully aware of cultures that are not my own. I found this very refreshing and it helped me make sense of something I still need to know more about.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you are representing things on your blog that you feel are important to you and issues that are seen in society today. I also really enjoy that you put your own personal opinion in it, instead of just stating facts and trying not to "offend" anyone. Good job!!
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