Is it "ghetto"? Or did you just want to steal it
Is it fashion, or did you just bully people into thinking it wasn't so you could have it?
My topic for the day is... something I'm very confused about. TikTok has been a great influence for trends to either take off or die, for example, BONNENTS. Origanlly you would see bonnets worn by African American people (or people of color) to protect their hair because the bonnets would be lined (on the inside) with silk, so no hair breakage while they were sleeping. And for a while it was a us thing (people of color) it started getting backlash because women and men would be seen wearing them outside maybe to the airport or a quick grocery store (now dont get me wrong all of these places are valid but their is a time and place) and non-people of color would deem that as unprofessional and "ghetto" oh but just wait till it got popular on TikTok and some how made its way to the feeds of non-people of color and they slapped there stamp on it and put it in diffrent packaging and now "it helps their hair too" (I dont doubt that for a second) but now all of a sudden I'm seeing non-people of color wearing them to stores, airports, school. You name it, I've seen it, but what do we call them, though?
Another example: HAIR! People of color have to be put together; I feel like it's a silent rule. Even if we do have our hair done in braids or dreads (sometimes it's a good look, but most of the time it's "ghetto" and unprofessional) or even colored hair/braids. But let non-people of color do it its a vibe "hippy" or self-expressive, or when people show up with their hair not done or combed, its socally exceptable (for the most part).
I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do truly believe our culture isn't dress up if you admire the culture, awesome, give respect where respect is due, but don't take it and run with it like their ancestors have done before.
oh side note: trailride dances and white-tifying them to country line dances. Why not try to learn the dances? -Selena
I loved this topic! I was always raised to be presentable whenever I go out. I know where this originates from, so I always understood the no going out in bonnets, having your hair "presentable", because you never know what opportunity might be outside the door waiting for you but most importantly it's always been me being a black woman and knowing how other people will percive me if I walk outside in something that isn't "presentable" for the main reason of all my life bonnets being called "ghetto". There have been multiple instances when it comes to something being deemed "lazy" or "ghetto" that has been trending and now popular, so I definitely understand the frustration.
ReplyDeleteSelena, I totally get you. Bonnets and hairstyles like braids or dreads have been part of Black culture for decades, and they are often facing unfair rules about what’s “professional.” When non-Black people wear them as a trend, it ultimately erases the history behind them, even if they look cute. TikTok just made these things more visible, but the problem is the double standard... what’s “ghetto” for someone can be “fun” or “trendy” for someone else. Admiring a culture is fine, but taking it without respect or credit isn’t.
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