Posted by Validus (other posts) on February 20, 2014 at 06:41:01 Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Someone talk some sense into me posted by Michail on February 20, 2014 at 02:36:04:
I have heard of "cultural appropriation," but am conceptually opposed to the idea of it, seeing it as an expression/extension of racism, and therefore I don't pay it any heed. Regarding dreadlocks in particular, the fact of the matter is that "locking" the hair in this manner is not unique to black culture, but was also widely practiced amongst the many ancient and tribal peoples, including the Germanic and Celtic populations of northern and western Europe.
My wife and I did my son's dreadlocks. The only time a black person commented on them was at a town festival last fall. He and his wife were Jamaican Rastafarians, operating a food stand in our northern Wisconsin town, and his reaction to my son's hair was incredibly positive. He told my son it is important for him to respect the significance of his dreads and to wear them as a symbol of love for all humankind. He shook his hand warmly and said repeatedly, "It's all about the love. One love."
If someone ever reacted to my son's hair with negativity or hostility, my response would be based on 1.) the level of threat presented, and 2.) my beliefs on the matter, noted above. Any threat to my or my family's physical well-being would be immediately neutralized. Any verbal abuse or harassment decrying my or my loved one's right to authentic self-expression would be soundly refuted. I would be especially keen on pointing out any hypocrisy in the person's own manner of dress or hairstyle (i.e., a person of non-Western genetic background wearing clothing of Western societal origin, utilizing Western technology, etc.). My bottom line is that all people should be allowed to express themselves genuinely and authentically, to the extent that it does not cause harm to or infringe on the rights of others.
One Love,
Val