And hair is not the only thing black people have ever "culturally appropriated" from white people and other races and of course vice versa. Therefore all the hyperventilating nonsensical about "cultural appropriation" in general needs to stop, irrespective of which race finds something interesting and nice in the other race and wants to copy and emulate it.
it is rather a good thing worthy of praise when people see some goodness in what others are doing or find them so appealing that they want to be identified with it. Such is something worthy of celebration and not something to fuss about or fight over, regardless of whose "culture" was being "appropriated". So, it is a thing of joy to see pop star Justin Bieber wearing his hair frazzled, which some race baiters termed dreadlocks and accused him of "cultural appropriation" of black people's hair style.
ICHEOKU says black people are and should be happy that Justin Bieber finds "their" hairstyle interesting enough and worthy of wearing it. It is a plus and not a negative thing, as such a big music pop star is a walking and breathing human advertisement who are normally paid a lot to advertise a product or a lifestyle. If some of his millions of fans fall in love with the hairstyle because their idol wore it, that will translate to more dollars in the pockets of such hair stylists, including many black stylists. So, why the fuss?
ICHEOKU says does not understand why any group of people should create a ruckus over the hairstyle which Justin Bieber chose to wear or even make exclusive claim of ownership to it or any other thing for that matter, because all cultures have crisscrossed over the many centuries of human interactions that nothing could be said to be still entirely exclusive, not any more. From habits to dress code to the food we eat to the music we listen to and the general lifestyle, the story has been a continuously evolving and mixing outcome.
For instance, black people used to run around naked in Africa jungles before being civilized, so should we now crucify them for "culturally appropriating" Western fashions and clothing? Even driving cars, speaking English, eating Chinese food, Italian food, Mexican food, India food are some things which did not come naturally to black people, but nobody is calling them out for engaging in them or should those cultures now put a marker that "culturally appropriating" is prohibited.
None of these cultures which gave these to the world ever protested that other people, who are not members of their "culture", including black people, are "culturally appropriating their stuff. So, why must black people always be the first and literally the only ones to complain when other people from other cultures find their things interesting and make an inroad into what tblack people believe they started or that are traditionally associated with them. ICHEOKU says it is not right and it should be discontinued and discouraged as human interactions across every culture is to be preferred and not shunned. It makes all of us better human beings and those who are with us are definitely not against us.
Anything being emulated is something good and admirable. as nobody imitates bad and distasteful things. So, instead of chastising Justin Bieber for wearing "dreadlocks", he should be admired and thereafter, encouraged to do a better job next time by seeking out a professional loctician, preferably one who has mastery of dreadlocks and is well versed in white people's dreadlocks, so that he may wear a better, nicer and more convincing dreadlocks. What he had will make Bob Marley throw a fit of fury as it ain't dreadlocks; at least not the real one.
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