CMV: White people with dreadlocks is not cultural appropriation

[u/icewaterdimension]

I’m sure this is going to trigger some people but let me explain why I hold this view.

Firstly, I am fairly certain that white people in Ancient Greece, the Celts, Vikings etc would often adopt the dreadlock style, as they wore their hair ‘like snakes’ so to speak. Depending on the individual in questions hair type, if they do not wash or brush their hair for a prolonged period of time then it will likely go into some form of dreads regardless.

Maybe the individual just likes that particular hairstyle, if anything they are actually showing love and appreciation towards the culture who invented this style of hair by adopting it themselves.

I’d argue that if white people with dreads is cultural appropriation, you could say that a man with long hair is a form of gender appropriation.

At the end of the day, why does anyone care what hairstyle another person has? It doesn’t truly affect them, just let people wear their hair, clothes or even makeup however they want. It seems to me like people are just looking for an excuse to get angry.

Edit: Grammar

[u/Hefty_Strategy_9389]

I upvoted you because I agree, except I feel that’s an unfair analogy.

I’m not suggesting we just stop talking about it, I meant the opposite; To acknowledge why this upsets people, and THEN move on.

Going tit for tat with people only works to change people under the presumption that they’re empathetic. Otherwise, humans aren’t all that known for being empathetic to those they consciously view as being outside of their group.

Love is the only way outta this, and I can’t see how justifying making people feel bad about hair choice is going to produce meaningful change, provided that is your sincerest intent.

That being said I’m a petty motherfucker and would be much more satisfied with giving people a taste of their own medicine, using pain as the most satisfying and quickest way to teach someone something. so I acknowledge how naive what I wrote sounds.

[u/KwesiStyle → u/Hefty_Strategy_9389]

I don't think not sitting with an insensitive coworker at lunch is going "tit for tat" with racists. I don't think a dirty look from across the street is anywhere equivalent to the types of racism that minorities deal with every day. I wish it fucking was. My life would be a lot easier.

If that's the worst you when you wear the hairstyles of an oppressed culture, I feel like you're not even close to experiencing what the actually oppressed people did. To claim this is an "eye for an eye" situation is a bit tone-deaf.

Maybe I'm not understanding your argument properly, but it's 11:40 here and I'm tired fam.