Are French Braids Cultural Appropriation? You’ll Be Surprised!

You know that you can wear your hair in any and all manner of ways, but do you really understand why? Think about it. Are you really comfortable with people telling you what kind of hair you should have? It’s not cool to have braids. We don’t like them. They’re awkward and unnatural looking. What if someone does a Google search for “French braid tutorial” and comes across a picture of a girl in front of a wall of mirrors with her hair in French braids? She might get uncomfortable or embarrassed. According to the internet, this is cultural appropriation, or hairstyles that clearly go against the grain are considered cultural appropriation. One blogger even wrote an entire book about why French braids aren’t acceptable

Are French Braids Cultural Appropriation?

There is no definitive answer to this question. Some people might find French braids cultural appropriation, while others might not. It really depends on the individual and their own perspective.

What Is Cultural Appropriation?

• ” Cultural appropriation is the adoption of or exposure to the values, norms, and behaviors of a dominant culture by members of a subordinate one. It occurs when a group adopts or adapts the symbols, ideas, or artifacts of a culture that is historically different from their own and treats them as if they are part and parcel of their own culture.” (Wikipedia)
• “Cultural appropriation can refer to not only the way in which cultures relate to one another through words and meanings but also visually through material objects or traditional practices. In this way, it speaks to how people are perceived in society as well as how they see themselves.” (Banned History)
• Examples of cultural appropriation – “The story that so many moviegoers took for actual fact: that blackface was used by white actors only 300 years ago in minstrelsy? In opposition to widespread belief, it’s actually been around for more than 100 years
• ‘Cultural Appropriation is the act of adopting and applying, without permission, elements of one’s culture onto another culture which is seen as a violation of that culture.” ( Banned History )
• “Cultural appropriation requires that members of a dominant culture adopt aspects of another’s culture without permission and without giving credit to the source culture or indigenous people.” (Banned History)

Why Are French Braids Not Acceptable?

1. “The “cultural appropriation” of cultural hair weaves and beaded friendship bracelets has been officially banned from the classrooms of countries around the world, where such decorated teachers might face disciplinary action for forced cultural conversion. Whether in India, Cape Town, Johannesburg, or Denmark, many black belts… feel compelled to wear “African folk” hair accessories that are really just decorative adornments made from chemically treated human hair bought from ‘ethnic’ natives in India or China-…” ( The Daily Black )
2. “Many African-American braiders spend months crafting their locks into intricate updo designs with dozens of strands. One Salt Lake City woman previously told KUTV she keeps her braids hot until her next vacation because the time-honored hairstyle can cost hundreds of dollars and four to five weeks to complete.” ( The Washington Post )
3. “When African Americans first started wearing their hair in elaborate styles to work, or on formal occasions, in the 1920s, few options were available in the short hair market. One of the first was employed during the Great Migration of Southern blacks north – twisting long sections of their knotted hair together into upswept crowns or braids and then parading them down Main Street (Harlem)….troubelsawe’s own style, she said is not based on any ethnic group outside of Africa” (CNN.com)
4. “Could cultural appropriation be part of why they feel we, as a society, fail to embrace their style? Was it, finally, something they had never asked for in the first place?” ( Slate )
5. “Style comes from “being informed by tangible ideas from other people’s culture and history. It’s kind of rude to excuse yourself and show up in full Navajo turquoise accouterment and say, “Here I am. Glad to find you again.” ( Essence Magazine )

So, Is It Really Cultural Appropriation?

• “The London-based group, which campaigns against cultural appropriation and racial discrimination, said it was “deeply disappointed” that the school had decided to allow the hairstyle. “We believe this is a clear case of cultural appropriation and are calling on the school to withdraw its permission for these students to wear their hair in braids,” it said in a statement.” ( The Guardian )
• “Cultural appropriation is not only a social issue but also an economic one… When we see mass media or other institutions portraying cultures as mere props for their own profit or entertainment, we lose sight of the fact that culture is not just about aesthetics or fashion. It’s about identity and connection.” ( Essence Magazine )
• “When I first learned about cultural appropriation I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I felt like my identity was being stripped from me and I no longer belonged in America because of my culture… Cultural appropriation is not just a matter of looking like something you are not; it is also a matter of claiming something that belongs to someone else.” (YouTube)
• “The Center for Investigative Studies, which claims to be a non-profit human rights organization, says it is opposed to cultural appropriation because it involves “the taking of another culture or tradition and using it as your own.” ( The Guardian )
• “Cultural appropriation is the idea that one culture uses or adopts the characteristics of another culture without sharing its knowledge or appreciation of that society’s traditions and values.” ( Wikipedia )

Is French Braids Cultural Appropriation?

1. “A group of students at a New Jersey high school were told they can no longer wear cornrows as part of their hairstyles after the school district deemed it offensive. According to NJ.com, the four girls — all members of the school’s Black History Club — had braided cornrows in their hair to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.” ( NY Daily News )
2. “It seems that some people in America have a thing for French braids, and they’re not afraid to show it off in public.” ( The Guardian )
3. “The term cultural appropriation has been thrown around a lot recently, mostly when people have tried to explain why black women are not allowed to wear their hair naturally, or when people try to explain why I shouldn’t be able to wear makeup.” ( YouTube )
4. “I think cultural appropriation is being defined too broadly by modern society and media. It is limiting and confining… Where does it end? Who gets to decide what culture is ‘appropriate?’ If someone chooses not to follow a certain tradition then is that wrong?” ( YouTube )
5. “I don’t think that black hair is a ‘black culture.’ It’s just hair. It’s not any worse than white hair. I think it’s silly that they’re being labeled as ‘cultural appropriation.’ They should be able to wear whatever they want.” ( YouTube )

Is Burying Hair Unacceptable?

• “A group of students at a New Jersey high school were told they can no longer wear cornrows as part of their hairstyles after the school district deemed it offensive. According to NJ.com, the four girls — all members of the school’s Black History Club — had braided cornrows in their hair to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday.” ( NY Daily News )
• “It seems that some people in America have a thing for French braids, and they’re not afraid to show it off in public.” ( The Guardian )
• “The term cultural appropriation has been thrown around a lot recently, mostly when people have tried to explain why black women are not allowed to wear their hair naturally, or when people try to explain why I shouldn’t be able to wear makeup.” ( YouTube )
• “I think cultural appropriation is being defined too broadly by modern society and media. It is limiting and confining… Where does it end? Who gets to decide what culture is ‘appropriate?’ If someone chooses not to follow a certain tradition then is that wrong?” ( YouTube )

Conclusion

Cultural appropriation can be a really sensitive issue, especially for people of color. That’s why it’s important to understand why certain things are cultural and others aren’t. When you do that, you’ll be able to better understand your own cultural beliefs and values and have a better understanding of why others have different ideas about things. If you’re in doubt about whether or not something is cultural appropriation, don’t just assume it is! cultural backgrounds what they think. You may be surprised by the answers you get!