White girls getting braids: Tips for black allies?

[VictoriaVixen]

I am not a woman of color, but I just got box braids for the playa. I worry that this could be seen as culturally appropriating black women's hair style, so I wanted to start a thread for women of color and allies to share their thoughts.

Do you see this as cultural appropriation? In a post-Rachel Dolezal world, how do you feel about people wearing braids, cornrows, and dreadlocks whose ancestors would never have? Similarly, how do you feel about non-Native Americans wearing feather headdresses?

I feel awful that my hair choice can trigger strong negative reactions. At the same time, I've found that braids are the best way to tame long hair in the desert (and I got fun, beautiful colors!).

Would love to hear fellow burners' insights.

[Sham]

I find that on the playa you can dress and adorn yourself in a way that YOU are comfortable with. If you want to wear braids or dreads, then do what makes you happy. You don't need a consensus or approval to dress on the playa. This would be like doing a survey of tall people to see if it's ok to wear elevator shoes.

[gaminwench]

I've worn braids with extensions on the playa( and at home) for many years. It is practical for the playa; my black girlfriends heartily approve.

[lucky420]

Oh for fucks sake! It's braids! Just hair twisted up and put into a pony/ponies. I'm white and have naturally curly hair and it can dread up in no time by itself.

You're over thinking this...now pour your favorite libation and relax. Save the worry for real shit

[Aurelia]

Hey Lucky !
Lighten up .I know this girl and she is a good one
from DC trying hard to get it right

(lets go watch her dance and see if she can do it right)

xoA.

[Token]

I've had micro-brainds put in to my beard and I'm white.

I don't think the 17 African-American folks on the Playa really cared one way or the other.

[lucky420]

Hey Lucky !
Lighten up .I know this girl and she is a good one
from DC trying hard to get it right

(lets go watch her dance and see if she can do it right)

xoA.

She may be good but needs to relax. Really it's just hair

[Simon of the Playa]

i have a gigantic penis and i love the badonk-a-donk and new cadillacs.


i even have an afro when the weather is real humid.





go ahead....hate me.

[Bless]

i have a small penis and i love the badonk-a-donk and new cadillacs.


i even have an afro when the weather is real humid.





go ahead....hate me.

...so you're Jewish.

[Aurelia]

Damn I do not have any penis

my hair is flat
but I can bedonk eeebop

xoA.

[tatonka]

french officers from long ago wore braids , before they even knew about the america's .

[Simon of the Playa]

i have a hooded penis and i love the badonk-a-donk and new cadillacs.


i even have an afro when the weather is real humid.





go ahead....hate me.

...so you're Italian.

[Captain Goddammit]

I think you're racially inappropriate for even asking this bullshit question.
So you're saying only black girls wear braided hair and it's not for white people, so you're concerned about doing something black?
Ok, she's a new burner and a good person... but she's totally messed up.

[[magellan]]

"so I wanted to start a thread for women of color and allies to share their thoughts."

Very admirable. But yikes, OP -- you seem to not have gotten any good-faith responses to the spirit of your inquiry.

I found that this thread had some good insights:

It sounds like with your conscientious and questioning approach, the final poster in that thread would not find your hair as problematic as you think.

For what it's worth, I'm a non-black woman of color.

[some seeing eye]

That people would be concerned about cultural sensitivity when asking a question is cool. Good for ePlaya!

And I think the question has been answered: braids and dreads are common and not judged.

We each are individuals. And if a cultural appropriation concern, of this, that, or something arises, it will build slowly enough for people to form a new opinion or decide how to participate by their actions.

And we have an ePlaya snark culture - we are part of the Internet! And snarkers have equal rights on the lawless Internet to be snarky! When they say that is the stupidest idea I have ever heard, they are speaking from their own individual world view.

My opinion is that ePlayans can be as snarky as they please, because they are contributing free expert consulting to questioners here on practical Burning Man matters which cannot be found on other Internet media!

(Biggest contribution an individual can make is to bring a virgin, who is interested, and who you think could benefit, from a demographic that is rare at the event)

[A-RockLeFrench]

Oh SSE, always so compassionate...

[DrYes]

Great video in which the (black) video author wonders why people don't accuse him of cultural appropriation for his dreads since he isn't part of any culture that has historically had dreads.

TL;DR: It's ok to like stuff from other cultures. It's not ok to make fun of stuff that is historically derogatory from another culture. Stuff that inspires you? Ok! Stuff where you're implicitly making fun of another culture? Not ok!

[media]

[MimiRKarr]

Well I'm mixed and I personally don't care how anyone wears hair because it isn't my hair. I would love to see your hair on the playa and give you feedback on it c: I love braids though I do not wear them. Plus I think the braids will help you keep cool. Just remember to PAT your head if they get itchy, NEVER SCRATCH. Just be happy with them and you shall be fine. It's not WHAT you wear it HOW you wear it.

[Leap]

I'm bald and I think everyone should check their hair privilege at the gate. Some people are trying to figure out how to make their hair more flamboyant while some of us haven't needed shampoo in years. The struggle is real.

[FreePeacelove]

Ah, come on. Dont think to much about how other womans could think about your hairstyle, because youre not black. I think its very irrelevant, because Burningman is also for Open Minded people. And i would bet most of the participants of Burningman would like your hairstyle, doesnt matter if they white or black. I think everyone can where everything. For Example. My Girlfriend is white, and she weared Cornrows, mixed with many of Jewels which had this type of style, she worn many different rings and bracelets, and everybody said to her:" Nice Hairs, and it fits to your Earrings, Bracelet etc", and so an.... So we saw nowbody complaining about that shes wearing this hairstyle and are NOT Black. If somebody would do that, i would hit him for being so much inappropiate.

Greetz

[Savannah]

If somebody would do that, i would hit him for being so much inappropiate.

Or you could live up to your nickname and respectfully disagree?

[FreePeacelove]

Hehe, sure i meant i would hit him mentally to the ground, if he would be so much inappropiate

I never get agressive, while i am talking to somebody, except my ex-girlfriend


Greetz

[ygmir]

Hehe, sure i meant i would hit him mentally to the ground, if he would be so much inappropiate

I never get agressive, while i am talking to somebody, except my ex-girlfriend


Greetz

oh, yer a peach.