Are we really this petty, it's only hair!

[Joods]

To add, white people with curly, thick and coarse hair have to deal with just as much maintenance as those with ethnic hair. It's not about the color of ones skin or their race. It's hair. And people from all over the world can have just about any type of hair. Fine to coarse, thin to thick, curly or straight, no one race dominates any one set type of texture or density.

[AFTT47]

Of being told your hair is ugly, dirty, nappy, unprofessional, inappropriate. And white people can't leave even this unassimilated.

You've never heard that imitation is the highest form of flattery? "White people" wearing their hair in dreads or braids seems pretty much the opposite of them telling "black people" their hair looks ugly, dirty, nappy, etc., don't you think?

I agree. Adopting is accepting. If someone adopts a hairstyle for themself, they obviously don't think ill of it. They're endorsing it.

[brewer]

Japan's inspiration for Jpop comes from europop and punk. A lot of current western fashion has been inspired by Japanese wood prints and floral arragments. And these exchanges were MUTUAL. Not someone with no understanding of culture using because "hey that looks cool."  I don't mind mutual exchange but forced assimilation is something different.

What is "forced assimilation"? I really, really don't understand at all what you're saying here...

Just look at what was done to native americans with forced assimilation. They needed white culture to be accepted, to be saved from themselves. Reservations, schools, dress, language, religion,............ That didn't work too well.

[Clueless Morgan]

I don't mind mutual exchange but forced assimilation is something different.

Perhaps the term you're looking for is more "cultural appropriation"? Sort of like the outcry about Miley Cyrus twerking - a white girl incorporating something that originated in black culture into her dance routines?

To me, that's not "forced assimilation" in that white people (or whatever the majority race is) aren't forcing black people (or the minor race) to assimilate into the majority culture, they are taking bits of the minority culture and incorporating into the majority culture, maybe against the wishes of the minority culture.

Forced assimilation is a thing, but I don't at all think that's what's going on when white people decide to wear their hair in dreadlocks.

[rexbeccarox]

What is "forced assimilation"? I really, really don't understand at all what you're saying here...

Just look at what was done to native americans with forced assimilation. They needed white culture to be accepted, to be saved from themselves. Reservations, schools, dress, language, religion,............ That didn't work too well.

Sorry. I should have asked what forced assimilation has to do with white people wearing dreadlocks.

[Minimalist]

He seems like an asshole.  And I admit to having a low tolerance for assholes.

I'm not seeing it. He didn't attack this woman in any way. She accosted him for using "her people's hairstyle" and he just defended himself in a non-violent and non-offensive manner. I don't see any indication of assholiness.

I grant you that it is in the eye of the beholder.

[Regina]

I get facets of the "cultural appropriation" discussion.

I can completely understand the frustration with this; (and it does happen)

*black person wears dreadlocks* - "ew" "ghetto" "Gang-related" "ugly"

*white person wears dreadlocks* - "girl, yaaaassss!" "omg new trend!" "so edgy"

I can completely see, even as a white person not affected by this, why that is problematic and frustrating.

However, I think it's a stretch too far to outright tell someone what they can and can't do with their own body image, and I stand by that principle however "offended" you might be. The problem here isn't with white people (or any race) using bits of other cultures. It's more to do with the difference in how white "appropriators" are perceived, compared to when the "originator" group does it. Take issue with that sure, and I'll support you 100%, but I can't be cool with the fashion policing. It's a step too far.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

This story is too pathetic to be funny. If it was real and not a set-up I wouldn't blame the guy if he had put three slugs in the dummy's head. So there's the dummy, dressed in shoes and wearing clothes. Is that part of her "culture"? If a white person sees her eating sliced white bread or ice cream he needs to slaps the dreadlocks off of her head.

BTW, when has going to college been part of her culture? The college needs to kick her ass out in the next 2 seconds because she's too ignorant to be educated. I pity the guy who's dumb enough to marry her. His life will become hell on Earth.

[Joods]

Or me just put this out there since its only hair. I spent two and a half hours this evening straightening out ethnic hair. I enjoyed it bit it caused my scheduled hair cut to be delayed. Please don't anyone think that white people are wrong for having dreads when black people want relaxers and straight "white people" hair.
It can be that one race is allowed to complain about another when some in that race turn around and try to and like the very race they are complaining about.

[Thumpalumpacus]

While I've never much cared for white people wearing locs, I'm not gonna hit anyone over it. I'm also not going tell anyone what can and can't do with their hair. However, the fact that white people in this country can't understand the significance of natural (unstraightened) hair in the African American community and the struggles we have with the right to wear our hair the way it grows, and wear it healthy manageable styles irritates me. So it's not just hair. It's never been just hair. Hundreds of years of denying black beauty. Of being told your hair is ugly, dirty, nappy, unprofessional, inappropriate. And white people can't leave even this unassimilated. So while this woman is very wrong for hitting someone, I can somewhat understand where she's coming from.

I've got no problem with black people wanting a conk. Why should black people have a problem with white people wearing dreads?

How does it hurt you? Be specific. How does a white person wearing dreadlocks harm you? Are you harmed as much if they listen to Dre while they're sporting dreads? Is Bob Marley the safer choice?

Live and let live. If you don't like the way someone else looks, don't look at them.

"Yeah," Tindle responds, "because it's my culture."

Entitlement mentality run amok. It is not only your culture. I wonder if this silly girl avoids Chinese food, or classical music, out of respect for the fact that they aren't part of her cultural heritage?

Horseshit. You don't own culture, and you sample as you please. Once it's out in the wider world, any human may enjoy it. Trying to own cultural facets is simply a shorthand way of finding self-meaning when you have none of your own.