I was on Instagram today and saw the above picture posted by the lovely ladies over at My Natural Sistas. I try not to get upset over these things because on one hand I know for a fact that Marc Jacobs will never in a million years give Africans any credit for any style inspiration and on the other hand, we just started to accept these styles ourselves.
MyNaturalSistas appropriately captioned the picture with the following:
Mini buns??? Inspired by Marc Jacobs??? No. No. And No. Bantu Knots, those are Bantu Knots. This is exactly what @amandlastenberg was talking about in her #culturalappropriation video. #inspired by us #naturalhair originated in #Africa It’s considered ghetto on us, but high fashion on them… smh
We will always be subject to cultural appropriation because quite frankly the things we have done over the years for our hair are down right cool.
I do want to offer more than just an angry response to the picture though. I would like to suggest that the styles that the designers now think are so edgy and fashion forward we should rock more often and rock them proudly.
The truth is when Rihanna wore her bantu knots pictured above some of us were like ‘oh girl hec no!’ As a matter of fact we probably would never wear the knots out and about years ago even to the supermarket much less a formal event.
What I am saying is, it is one thing to get mad when white girls rock bantu knots and cornrows proudly pretending like they never ever saw their black friends wear them, and it is another thing to really show them how it is done.
So my answer to the cultural appropriation problem is simple, be proud of our home grown styles, wear them out and about so that Marc Jacobs, and all the other designers who think they are original can know that they are not. Comment below and let me know if you agree?
Think about the audience..
what audience? the white people who watch the runway? err no. they don’t have any excuse to not learn the right name… at LEAST the name.
if that’s not what you meant, then ignore this 🙂 lol
That’s ugly. Don’t like it. Maybe worn in a more stylish way.
Blacks done this already
“be proud of our home grown styles, wear them out and about so that Marc Jacobs, and all the other designers who think they are original can know that they are not.”
I loved this article! And it is completely on point.
How bout nope.
Another case of “wanna be us, but don’t wanna be us…” Give credit where credit is due. #BantuKnots
We need to stop waiting for “permission” to express, embrace, and celebrate our unique ethnicity. We are too reactive. So what if he thinks he created bantu knots? the real issue is do we celebrate who we are. United we stand divided we fall. reflect on one’s individual feelings when someone “dares” to showcase an afro-centric image, whether it is in hair, dress, etc. Which ethnic group focuses on hair grades, skin tone, big behinds, hair length check, We get picked off because we have not yet learned to love and value what we have, it then becomes easy for others to claim it. This has been going on for centuries.
White folks like to steal other folks’ culture & claim it as their own. Therefore Jesus & King Tut are white, the black pharaohs are never mentioned, the fact that the first university was in Africa http://collegestats.org/2009/12/top-10-oldest-universities-in-the-world-ancient-colleges/ That’s why we must step up & teach our kids…AND OURSELVES !! our history. My parents used to notice how many times when a b;lack person did something outstanding, they always had to list their NON BLACK ANCESTRY, as if those few genes were the ones that contributed to the person’s success
I totally agree! And I was actually considering wearing bantu knots as style recently and then wearing the bantu knot out. I will be doing this sooner than rather later. I am also gonna wear a flat twist or cornrow style soon as well. I need a break from doing my hair Lol
Dam I wore bantu knots last year . Even though I did a horrible job because I was just practicing for fun wasn’t going to wear it out , my bantu knots look better thanks than that . Bantu knots was created by black woman in Africa and many black woman all over the world has been rocking them for years . I say let them try to copy and steal our style like they usually do let’s show them how its REALLY done . That’s my failed attempt last year .