23 yrs of age, biomedical sciences grad. Class of 2016 Dental Student. Tumblr entertains me. Black female. Liberal. Dynamic. Open. Getting wiser each day. This blog has no "theme", it sways in whichever direction I put it in, I hope you enjoy your visit. ^__^

White People and Dreadlocks

airinmylungs:

I understand the idea of “cultural appropriation.” I really do. I understand the idea of minority versus majority, oppressed versus oppressor. Yet, I still think that it’s totally okay for white people to have dreadlocks.

First, “cultural appropriation” implies that a white person wearing dreadlocks is somehow hurting black people, and that’s simply not true.

Second, there’s a double standard. For a black person to think that a white person wearing dreadlocks is “cultural appropriation” is somehow an acceptable idea. Yet, if a white person said that black people getting their hair straightened was cultural appropriation, they’d be immediately deemed a racist.

Third, while I understand that dreadlocks have a deep, religious history, I don’t think that means that they’re reserved entirely for people who believe in that religion, or who are somehow connected to that history. Many monks shave their heads, but that doesn’t make it inappropriate for people other than monks to shave their heads. In the same way, it’s okay for people outside of the Rastafarian movement to have dreadlocks.

Fourth, cultures are shared, and they change. A black kid can study Japanese, and a white kid can wear a sari. We’re all just people, regardless of our race, nationality, or so on. The only problem comes in when this “cultural sharing” turns into “cultural mocking.” A white person with dreadlocks should only be a problem if the white person is being rude or insulting as a result of their dreadlocks, and 99% of the time, they’re not being rude about it at all.

Fifth, just so we clear this up, not all white people with dreadlocks smoke weed. So don’t assume that every white person with dreadlocks is being disrespectful to Bob Marley or something, and just jumping on the bandwagon to get drugs. Because that’s really, really not the case.

Finally, it’s a compliment. White people wear dreadlocks because they think it’s cool, not because they’re trying to invade black traditions or anything.

So, in the end, I don’t think that white people wearing dreadlocks is a bad thing, at all. Sure, sometimes they look like fools, but some people always just look like fools, regardless of their race or hairstyles.

I tend to stay away from this topic simply because I have yet to form a definitive opinion on it. But, I can say, with complete certainty, that  this statement “Yet, if a white person said that black people getting their hair straightened was cultural appropriation, they’d be immediately deemed a racist”, is complete B.S. If a white person said that I would call them ignorant. A black woman straightening her hair is by no means appropriation. The reason why black people began to straighten their hair over 100 yrs ago is because they were assimilating in white culture in hopes to be a smidge more accepted. Eurocentric features, including straight hair, were deemed more beautiful, and white people had (have) all of the real power, so why the hell not? While some women straighten their hair today just because they feel like it, which is fine, that standard still holds true today. 

So…NO, just no.

So Rihanna got dreads/locs.

thatlupa:

And people are blowing up about it, claiming she’s “made them sexy”.

Nothing about locs were inherently unattractive, flawed or unappealing to begin with. NOTHING. 

I hereby present you these seats, which await you \__ \__ \__. 

bluepueblo:


Outdoor Restaurant, Krakow, Poland
photo via tjbp

bluepueblo:

Outdoor Restaurant, Krakow, Poland

photo via tjbp

(via raysymone)

My roommate is so…I mean .. I just don’t understand..

how can one be so sloppy? and so dirty? She went grocery shopping or whatever, 2 weeks ago, and her crap is still on the counter. Obviously I’m not touching her stuff, so everyday I come home from work I just sigh and walk into my room. Clean my side of the kitchen, cook, put my crap away, and watch her mess sit there. I keep thinking that getting a roommate in Maryland would save me tons of money, but a small, and less rational, portion of me wants to just get my own place, so I don’t have to deal other people’s bad habits. I already had to tell her about locking the front door (seriously, why was that even an issue? I had to tell her to lock the front door, who does that?). I’m just too tired to deal with another issue. He being a slob is her business, she’s a slob on her side of the apartment. I guess…I just hate drama. I can’t wait to leave. 

2 more months

This goes back to the Grammy’s as well, but since he didn’t address it then, he might as well handle it now with this Chrissy Teigen fiasco. Fans who weren’t bothered that Chris decided not to sing during his performance expressed their approval with a slew of messages along the lines of “Chris can beat me up anytime,” referring to his past altercation with Rihanna. Pause. I want Chris to put that domestic situation behind him as much as the next fan; however, letting crazy comments like that slide is not cool. Celebrities know how much power and influence they have, and for some reason, he refuses to use his for anything useful. Sure, some girls were probably just making a supposed funny play on words, others will no doubt allow some boy to put his hands on her because she’s so caught up in who he is. If Chris Brown can get on Twitter and send tweets like “f*ck off” when people criticize him, he can definitely take a moment to look out for his so-called beloved fans’ well-being when they say foolishness like this.
stfuconservatives:

barackobama:

Jacob spoke first.
“I want to know if my hair is just like yours,” he told Mr. Obama, but so quietly that the president asked him to speak again.
Jacob did, and Mr. Obama replied, “Why don’t you touch it and see for yourself?” He brought his head level with Jacob, who hesitated.
“Touch it, dude!” Mr. Obama said.
As Jacob, who was 5, patted the presidential crown, Mr. Souza snapped.
“So, what do you think?” Mr. Obama asked.

I remember when this happened. It still brings tears to my eyes. Such a beautiful moment in American history.
View high resolution

stfuconservatives:

barackobama:

Jacob spoke first.

“I want to know if my hair is just like yours,” he told Mr. Obama, but so quietly that the president asked him to speak again.

Jacob did, and Mr. Obama replied, “Why don’t you touch it and see for yourself?” He brought his head level with Jacob, who hesitated.

“Touch it, dude!” Mr. Obama said.

As Jacob, who was 5, patted the presidential crown, Mr. Souza snapped.

“So, what do you think?” Mr. Obama asked.

I remember when this happened. It still brings tears to my eyes. Such a beautiful moment in American history.

My 1 true vice
you know who doesn’t like Pepsi?
Terrorists.

My 1 true vice

you know who doesn’t like Pepsi?

Terrorists.