Watch This Documentary On Braids And Appropriation In America | Elle
- Posted on 27 December, 2017
- Color Lace Wig
- By Anonymous
Lupita Nyong'o, Young M.A, Ayana Bird, Lacy Redway, Vernon François and more talk about braids and black hair culture in America.
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It was a way to gain independence. Does it have to have our hair braide? It'S the braids that come up right here, stop. So all the breeze would be hanging like this. That was like my favorite style. If you add all of the hours I spent getting. My hair braided as a child - it probably sums up to five years of my life Straight-up - stealing, that's not yours. To take The first memory of braids would be as a young girl sitting down in between my mother or a Family member's legs for them to braid. My hair or I would get barrettes put all over my head And we called it bubbles Everything that I was exposing as a child. My hair was always about locking and twisting and lifting hair and tying it up. Danny was twisted Shampooing. The locks put your hair in and it looked decent and you could roll around in the grass and still go to church on Sunday. You know I was just so determined to learn. It would go to this girl. That was like the best braider in our town. You know she was nice and also teach me how to braid, and I just kept on practicing on my friends And I would take the stuff to school and braids in school and braid after classes, And I would say, like braiding, the teachers and stuff like that. Your homegirl braided, your hair, Sometimes they would, you know, adhere four-lane during lunch time. My friends would be taking my braids out And I'd wear like the crinkly, hair and rock that all day I did my first set of individuals on my own head and it took me three days three straight days like I only Stopped to eat and use the Restroom., That's it one of my homeboys. You know he Suggested a young lady to do my hair. I go look in the mirror to braid like it was uneven, like this. One was a little closer to this way, and this Was going a little back. I was hurt, and you know when the lady had a nerve to say: do I need to fix anything. Getting our hair done also becomes a Celebration of who we are and a part of our identity outside of what you actually look like when you leave this. A lot There's so much that you can do it black hair, whether it's straight or twist it or braid it. It'S so Beautiful, and it's so malleable You might have someone who's doing a fishtail braid, which is just one big braid in the back. You might have someone who's just doing two ways: we call them french braids right and then, when we think about corner or style technique, it gets really complex for rowing. As we know, it is a very African thing since it more along the Parting and a design of where the braid is going more so than the braid itself. We found a statue from 500 BC, Nigeria, where the hair was cornrowed, And we found this whole world of weaves that were not called that using all these materials and different societies throughout West Africa. It'S almost like your social security number, Meaning you could look at someone's hairstyle and you could determine where they're from what their status is in the society. If They're married, if they're single, if they're widowed, if they're a warrior, if they used to be a soldier, the richer someone was in the society, the More fanciful their hair was, and if we look throughout the Diaspora, That's been a way in which African women have Expressed their own kind of beauty, politics, Senegalese, hair braider, might have a very different braiding technique than a Nigerian hair. Braider might have versus a Brazilian hair braider on slave ships. One of the first things that was done was that someone's hair was shaved. If hair was thought of as a social security number, I can look at you and say all these things about you Because of your hairstyle. Suddenly people have shaved heads, there's no visual way to say you're from this group, and you were this person in this society and When the enslaved people were here in the US, There had to be a completely new hair culture that was born out of people from All of these different groups, who did not have the materials to actually take care of the hair During slavery. Sunday was the day that was set aside, where you could actually do your hair. It was a time where actual grooming rituals were born and Also a way to figure out how to care for hair that could last for an entire week, You weren't going to be able to do anything until the next Sunday. The two main hairstyles that came out of that were head rags and also cornrows, because Someone else can do your hair an X amount of time on a Sunday and then you're good for the rest of the week when we think about African American women during enslavement. The Covering of their hair was something that they had to do not until much later. Do we see African American women participating in a beauty culture from the United States, affirming who they are, Whether it be pressing their hair or braiding their hair or locking their hair? There'S a cultural kind of aspect where young girls or older women go to a place where they find a sense of community, And they also think about the ways in which they affirm to the world that they love, who they are. They love the color of their skin, that they love the beauty products that they use, and so people, like, madam CJ Walker and others, Created a way for African American women to what be business. Women for some of them to get out of the realms of Domestic labor, and so that's the economic part of black woman's beauty. If you go all up along the East Coast, you'll see populations of African women from Senegal from Ivory Coast from Nigeria. In many cases, it's out of default that we have these businesses open because they Unfortunately are having difficulty breaking into other areas, because a lot of the women might be very well educated in their home countries. But when you come here often the opportunities are limited, and so this skill Is one way to create income. When I moved here, I probably had like $ 3,000 and like five months that was done, I was so broke. I was like sleeping on the floor and a friend's apartment, so that was the point that I was like. Oh, my god, I would really have to go back and I had nothing and then I just started running into Clients that were my old clients from the island and they were like. Oh, I know this shop that needs a freighter Dominicans. They show me so much love out here.. It was arrived like I was flooded every day I Kept practicing like this doing different family members heads and by the time. I got to like the seventh grade.. I was charging $ 25 And you could come to my house on Friday and have your braids done by Saturday, So it still took a day, but it was okay and it was only $ 25. So he can't beat that right. No, we charge like $ 10 $ 15 was like a crazy design, and Everybody was just coming to my house. I'Ve had clients, since I was 11 or 12, because my mother couldn't do my hair, So it was like. Do your own hair go to your aunt's? That they're not available, you look crazy Or you figure it out sunday afternoons. My mom was braiding my hair and it was torture. I didn't enjoy the experience and I said to the polite version That I didn't like what she didn't. She said glad I could go and do it yourself.. I was like, of course, I'm gon na go and do it myself. So I did my own request and started learning how to lock and twist on the mop heads On the tassels that fringing on the carpet, And I learned how to blow dry with a broken Hairdryer and a fork. And that's how I started to get the texture and work it for you. I did have a lot of times where Braids was like the last resort, like the only thing that I had to fall back on. I would have had to have caught a client in in order to pay a bill or things of that. So I'm so grateful for the talent. It'S got my family out of a lot of tough, tough, tough Situations, the freedom of being able to say this is my business. This is my culture and not have to kind of assimilate to American norms for black women in particular. However, We look. We are not going to look like we're white, which is always going to be what the ideal is in pop culture in the media. In political debates and political conversations, and everywhere you turn, the ideal is based on something that we do not look like. Historically, we had this whole Melting pot idea that people were going to come here and preserve their own cultures and function and be active citizens in the US. But part of that was the requirement or the undertone of you're, going to assimilate to work in our particular environment during the great migration As a lot of black people were leaving the south and moving to northern cities. Braided hair on adults was seen as this Country old fashioned way of styling hair, and the idea is that, if you're moving to the city, if you want it -- hair that looked cosmopolitan and sophisticated and for women that meant straight hair. So there was a moving away of braided hair because you didn't look citified. A lot of that has to do with in our contemporary context of why we see there being kind of real consequences for african-american women who wear their hair and braids, or whether their hair locks or decide to do any other style. That does not conform to a Eurocentric standard of beauty. The first time Braids or cornrows in particular, were seen and popularized by a non black person was with bo Derek in 1979. She was a not very well known actress who got cast in the movie 10. It'S a 10-minute part. Her husband, who was also her manager, Wanted to make sure that it could be used as a springboard for her getting famous. So she was a young blonde woman coming out of the water with these long blonde, cornrows and the style took off. So much that if you start looking at magazines from 1979 like Newsweek, they start calling them go braids that was suddenly when they started being called beautiful and Acceptable. There were also salons setting up just to do bow braids on white women in 1979, charging anywhere from three to five hundred dollars and letting the women know that it would Probably only lasts a few days because of the texture of white hair compared to the texture Of most black people's hair, a black woman getting cornrows, That's her style for way more than three days and in 1979 it was absolutely not costing a black woman three to five hundred dollars to get her hair cornrowed. They were also seen as being really exotic. There'S nothing exotic about the hair style being worn by scores of other non exotic American black people in the 50s, especially by the 60s. There were always currents of black women, particularly on college campuses and on both coasts, who cornrowed their hair and By the late 60s and early 70s, the style had really caught on. It was on television, if you think, of Kim fields on facts of life and Janet Jackson on good times, They often wore their hair in Two braids for me was so important to see. Someone who looked like me on television and braids were the things that Connected us outside of just being black girls on TV, Brandi and Moishe, who added justice. I remember seeing Patra Alicia Keys started the backwards raids, which was so cool. Everybody had a breeze. It was like the thing in hip-hop in general., You know what I mean even in in basketball, I ever sing came out with the braids. The Iverson is, like everybody wanted to add, worsens Everybody when I wanted, I ever since your mother wanted to. I ever said anybody wanted.. I ever said you know What you see is there's this kind of glorification for african-american women's beauty, something that's raving across, but for african-american women who wear cornrows. There are Significant consequences for wearing just that style soon, after both Derrick popularized cornrows. There was a court case in 1981, a discrimination suit filed by a black woman named Renee Rodgers She'd worked for American Airlines And she wore her hair in cornrows. Her legal argument was that her Hairstyle was a part of her cultural heritage. The judge ruled against her in federal court because he said she got her hair done soon after the movie ten came out and Therefore there was no legal basis for saying it was cultural heritage because she was doing something that essentially was imitating how Bo Derek's out Her hair, there are many cases where women went with braids or with natural hair, and that wasn't seen as professional because they were expected to Socialize and assimilate to white American cultural norms. I came into the restaurant. I had black braids with like this color And you know restaurant spec is you? Have your hair in a ponytail Pulled back out of your face whatever, so I had it all back in, like alone., Just regular Dutch braids hanging, I saw like the management's. I I to me like, throughout my shift throughout the day they sat me down And he's like you know, I want to talk to you about your hair and I'm like what about it. I'M thinking it might be a little too Too too. Ethnic for the restaurant is there a way we can tone it down tone it down Like. How do you want me to tone down my braids? You know, I said you know what I'm sorry, but I won't be taking my hair down. You have any other suggestions.. He goes well. I'M gon na have to contact corporate and see how we can handle this, because I just don't think his restaurants, thick okay, Then next day he told me I didn't have to come in for my shift. It'S because there's this general understanding that if you want a black person to appear scary or Not like fitting in with quote unquote, American values is to show us with natural textured hair, the running joke. Now, at that restaurant, Since I've opened, the braid bar Over half of his staff gets their hair braided. Here all the white girls there even white girls, their info locks, people Tell me like. Oh, I got ta get my hair braided, But I got to take it off Monday because it's not corporate, you know For work or the kids got ta come fight because they got a party on Saturday, But I got ta. Take the braids off for school.. How do breeze affect education or my productivity at work decades after Bo Derek, was responsible for completely whitewashing the cultural heritage of cornrows via the Kardashians today doing the same thing with Cornrows and other braided styles, I'm offended it offended me like tremendous that you're straight-up stealing.. I give credit where it's due: It's an outrage like you're calling these boxer braids.. No, these are corn rolls.. It'S not a no trend. They'Ve been killing, it innovating it in Africa for years, boxer braids, Whatever the fuck. Those are they're actually really shitty braids to Anybody. That knows anything about braids will tell you that those were bad braids. I know I've been in braids all my life. I can Tell you at least thirty years of it ain't new I've never known a day. A time without braids, It's the audacity to confidently name, something that you did not create that has existed for years. That'S something that's problematic, correct. They just say like you know what we didn't come up with that, but it's cool like we like it. But this is not ours., You know we didn't come up with this.. I was so bitter. I was telling people if you call me to book an appointment for box of rape. Good luck on your appointment. Thank you and I get it. It'S deeply offensive that people who have made so much money off of taking these parts of black culture and appropriating them Would not even get the correct terminology Behind them to just describe what they've appropriated when things are coming into a high fashion realm, and they are Magically something really cool and people that are upper-class can wear them and you know be cool and edgy. It'S just kind of like a slap in the face to the people who were told they ghetto and Nasty looks when they were wearing it. I do get offended when you see box braids been labeled as X Y Zed in a fashion That is not in its most authentic self, because it's suppressing my culture, which too often gets suppressed. So at least when you are Trying to globalize it come correct. That'S all because cultural appropriation is more of an open conversation. I think that people have kind of chilled and a lot of people are trying to really correct Themselves. So I think that that's good and it gives me hope for the future, Although you may have you know Jack something that you may not have known, that much about Once. You'Ve learned that it's tied to a culture and you may have kind of overstepped your bounds. A little bit - And you want to correct that - then that's fine., You know everybody makes mistakes., I'm an artist, I'm a hairdresser. I believe any kind that walks into my space. I should be able to give them anything that they ask for so I often will get those women with Asian hair European hair. Ask him for braids. I take that with great pride, because they're coming to someone like myself, knowing that I am from a culture that understands braids And they've, had braids myself. So therefore, you you take the lead and you guide them in the most appropriate way to get the best Of the lot better. Looking for, I think one of the greatest things. That's happened in the last few years. Around Cornrows and braids is how It's become the style that we're seeing played with by so many black female celebrities. The number of black women that are just so into braids and natural hair right now is So great a number that it kind of outweighs. That kind of feeble trendy, quick gimmick, type deal.. I love that It's just taken its place to show that it's just another way to express really beautiful. You
Comments
Skyler Wood: We’re not saying we’re mad about other races wearing cornrows or other braided styles we’re saying they are wearing them and RENAMING THEM! Example: “Kim K braids”. We just want the credit. Call our hairstyles the correct names.
Mariah Romero: I am so glad Elle has taken ownership for past wrong doings and using their platform to educate the masses. Love this.
ZÖ: I'm a white person who was unsure about why braids or hairstyles were culturally insensitive. I was having this conversation with my sister the other day. Then this video came up and I wanted to watch it to educate myself. Now I get why -- it would be infuriating seeing a white woman wear braids and the whole world praises her and says she's beautiful and it's trendy, but when a black person wears it, it's ghetto or something else. Thank you for this video I'm more aware of why it's cultural appropriation.
Maya Thompson: Remember: The issue is that it’s considered trashy on black people, but trendy and beautiful on others. There’s no issue with wearing it if you acknowledge the cultural origin :)
KatFromMars: Im a white lady working with kids, and we have a few african girls who wear their hair natural, braided or styled in other ways, and I often tell them how lucky I think they are, for I always wanted corn rows, but my hair can't handle it :) They look amazing and they get so happy when I complement them. I love those kids<3
Luna Morgenstern: Beautiful skin. Beautiful hair. Beautiful history.
Joy for Mercy: My non black friend are still convinced that my hair magically grows 8 inches overnight whenever I get braids in
Steffany Jaqueline Resendiz: YALL SEE THIS? ELLE has recognized their own faults, have EDUCATED THEMSELVES, and have put themselves to educate OTHERS! 10/10
choppers0delight: Your hair doesnt define whether you're unpleasant or ghetto. It's the way you carry yourself. Black, white, asian, man and woman shouldn't be discriminated over a hairstyle. Ugh come on people
Broom Bed: the fact is that it's not just racism, it is also sexism, it keeps getting worse and worse. telling women what to do with their hair (at work, in school, anywhere) is a problem in the first place
monike Carvalho: The fact that all the black stylists here learned braiding from their moms and from their childhood experience and not exactly from a course shows what the word culture means
Sub Bot: I’ve never seen my black friend without her braids and I asked her how she has time to do it everyday and she said that her mom does it and she keeps it on for a week AND THIS WHOLE TIME BEFORE SHE TOLD ME I THOUGHT SHE JUST WOKE UP REALLY EARLY
Kim Taehyung: To think that box braids almost got renamed “Kim k braids”
Oren Harari: As a white woman living outside the United States, I never thought about, or came across, the history and cultural significance of braids. Now I understand that it is my responsibility to learn and know as much as possible to help make this world a better place. Thank you ELLE and all the participants for creating this and for educating us!
Trevelle Connor: I’m so happy that Elle made this. It’s really empowering to black men and women. And I hope that one day people from other cultures will respect the main message of this video,
onlythereal: imagine not accepting someone because of their HAIR. something that has nothing to do with you ♀️ sad world we live in
paula santos: I hate so much when people say " it's only hair" girl is never just hair. I am from brazil and my hair so curly like 4c and people used to bully me because of that. Everyday was a battle until i straight my hair. Its a struggle to straight and put a lot of really bad products almost every month, and even with straight hair people judge it. So is not just a hair. Its part of a group of people that were segragated and these characteristics still being opressed nowadays. It's so funny that black people wear this braids for centuries and now that kardashians and non black people wear it it becomes a trendy Think about that when u start to talk shit
Isa Draws: The fact that people think black people wearing these braids is “ghetto” is dumb . Because it’s their culture and I personally think it looks beautiful . I think everyone should be able to wear whatever hairstyle they want . Even if it comes from another culture . It’s like you’re embracing their culture . It’s just hair . Anyone should be free to do whatever they want with it .
Ingrid Molina: braids have been in almost every culture and race through time! from Africa to Asia to Ice Land to South America.... We all can wear them... BUT its about the type, the context and the way you carry them and the meaning. It´s at the end a matter of respect.
Jasmine IVANNA Espy: My old boss and I met up recently to have lunch and catch up. We were talking about my time in the office. During this time I wore so many different hairstyles from shaved sides to blue faux locks, to electric blue box braids. He told me, someone, one day came to him and complained about my hair. He never said anything to me because he told them his job is not to police what I look like. I thanked him so much for this because I was deeply depressed during that time and the expression of my hair was the only thing I had to make me feel alive. I'm grateful he respected who I was and how I presented myself. If I had to give that up then I would've felt like I had nothing. My old boss is a cis-hetero white presenting Hispanic man. I say all of this to highlight hair is central to who we are as black women whether you where your hair classically styled or are more experimental.
peji: we aint angry about you having braids, we angry about being called ghetto when we wear them but when a white person wears it, its _tReNdY_ and its suddenly been renamed
henrayment: It doesn’t matter what race you are, it matters how you treat the culture.
Carol Kwamboka: I'm Kenyan, one thing i related so well with is having my hair done while seated between my mum's legs, then, it wasn't such a pleasant experience but in retrospect i can now appreciate my mother's efforts. It's good to know that there're things that never change, which just adds to the point, that whether you're African-American or just plain African, there're things like culture that would need more than time, distance and hardship to wear off, if anything, these factors highlight it...
Virginia: This was very interesting. I've been educating myself about "cultural appropriation" and the little that I knew about it or cared or was taught. I grew up in a Latin country and let's say, there was less racism. I always say that in our country we were not racist, but there were a lot of "little things" that I couldn't see growing up. I have a question though, maybe someone can answer... What's the proper term for these braids? "cornrows" for all kind of braids that are very close to the scalp? In Spanish we just say "braids" (trenzas, clinejas), with a few names like french braid, dutch braid( which would be the "boxer braids"), fish braid (fishtail braid), four or five strand braids... But pretty much we just braid or braided hair. Also, we don't have this problematic culture in our country. I was shocked when I read that people were fired or expelled from school because of it. I remember in my school there were a lot of black girls and they had their natural hair or braids and that was fine. And another thing, I'm a white latina, how can I not offend if I want to use this hairstyle? I remember i did it once when I went to an island in my country for the weekend, we too of course have black african-american-latin population, and in that island were the ones selling the braids. I've also seen it in other beaches around the world, what do you think about that? Is that appropriation or appreciation or just another hair style? Thanks in advance for the answers.
Alèxandra: All hair is beautiful, all textures and types, we need to get out of the stereotype mentality. People should be able to wear their hair the way that makes them happy no matter their skin color. It’s the 21st century so just show respect and decency.
lana cooper: No one should be fired for their hair and heritage.
Rachel Shearman: I, as a white woman, really appreciate this video, it's so educational. Personally, I've never agreed with white women wearing corn rows as a fashion trend as I feel like I've always understood the heritage of them and that should be respected. I'd never heard of the term boxer braids before, thank you for education me about that
Ashaliyeva Marie: African braids are sooo beautiful! I’ve been in love with them since I was a preteen, mainly because of Brandy. All of the photos of her, for her Never Say Never CD booklet, with those long, thin, gorgeous braids... I was mesmerized! (That is still one of my most favorite albums ever, btw.) I’ve fantasized about having braids ever since then (same with Senegalese twists- so beautiful!) But, I’m not black, and I’d like to believe I’ve been respectful enough of African American culture to not even venture there. My hair type wouldn’t hold that kind of style very well either. I’m so glad I watched this video, I learned more about African braids and their history than I knew previously. I was thinking about something- I’ve never heard of them being called “boxer braids”, just “box braids”. The term “box braids” is because of how the hair is sectioned out, right? Usually in small square sections? Anyway, that made me sad to hear that, since they have nothing to do with boxing/UFC. I also didn’t know that it was Bo Derek who popularized braids in the US; makes sense though. And seeing as they’ve been apart of African American culture since African people were first enslaved and forced here... yeah, that made me REALLY sad. As each day goes by, I am learning more about & understanding what “cultural appropriation “ is, and I am so sorry that it exists! I can only imagine how frustrating and hurtful all of this can be.
Tracey Crain: I was in the military with three black roommates. My hair was all kinds of braided with them offering. No bias. I love them for that!
Leena Amwaalwa: One's hair, one's identity, one's pride irrespective of their skin colour.
𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐢𝐳𝐮𝐧 ❀: I have been wearing my hair in a natural afro and i watched this video being mad as heck seeing white people wear braids and calling them " boxer brads" like wtf. If you are going to wear braids appreciate the culture and be able to understand that braids come from history and you cant rename history. I am black and i have been wearing my hair in braids since i was 1 years old.
Chickadee: I like how Elle admitted to their past mistakes as well
Giulia M: Agh I’m so happy I don’t live in America
Marta Melo: Love this!! Being in the hair industry and having a "black hair class" when I was in hair school, although my teacher was black, she NEVER taught us the foundation and meaning behind braiding and I really wish it was a part of the course. Extremely important to know how it originated and why. So beautuful!
VENIKA.: Kudos to ELLE for admitting their fault and taking steps to acknowledge where certain “trends” originate from.
Keegan Hawkinson: I’m just gonna say wow. This is beautiful and anyone who is seen as just a stylist is crazy. This in itself is an art form!
CakeMeDancing: I'm ashamed I've been calling them boxer braids, thank you for teaching me the right terminology and heritage that comes with it. Braiding has always been very fascinating to me, and those styles in the videos are just truly art.
Freda Young: I remember me just chillin at school and this one white girl wearing cornrows said she looks blacker and acted blacker then me, let’s just say I was a really hard thinker so I thought into that a lot
Alexandra Huff: This is a great video. I used to have a friend from South Africa who told me that her African friend from school was not allowed to have braids smh they are completely destroying that girls confidence. Anyways, braids are beautiful and people should learn about the history about them.
Mags Felix: Black women, this comes from a Mexican woman. You are beautiful and your hair is beautiful too. Natural, curly, fro, braids ect you guys can rock it like no one can. I like to admire, respect and see the beauty in all cultures. That's what makes humanity beautiful, different cultures, ethnicities, race.
CJ: Loved when she said there is so much that you could do on black hair. Its amazing how from the shortest littlest piece of hair, it still can be braided and made into different beautiful styles. When I cut my hair into a pixie I couldn't do jack with it.
Daniela Serban: Anyone saying "we have braids too" obviously didn't watch the video? the discussion is about a particular type of braiding - cornrows. Of course other cultures had braids, and no one is saying otherwise. Long hair was a thing since forever and you bet it ain't pretty working the fields or dancing all the traditional dances (especially in the balkan cultures) with your hair in your face. But that's not what the video is about...
Jenna Glaubitz: This was so interesting to learn about the history of braids. I honestly love to see the way that African women style their hair, and see all the creative ways braids can be done, I think it’s stunning and beutiful! Thank you for the education of this!
Anonymous: Cultural appropriation causes so many double standards and inconsistencies. It's such a regressive and divisive narrative, I don't think it should matter as long as person it being respeful about it. Humans have evolved their culture using eachother and it's also natural for some of us to try to be original and different with developing our way of life, style and overall culture. For me it boost my pride when someone else adopt my culture but for some people these days it rather becoming opposite smh. In my country people don't know or care about cultural appropriation and take/adopt whatever they like from other cultures except those who just want embrace their own traditional culture.
Fakka Ewa: I love this so much I am in my teenage years and I’m a black girl I am at my journey to love myself and explore my history and culture thanks a lot this has helped me so much ❤️❤️
恵里香: I'm not American or something and I was not educated on cultural appropriation. Thank you so much for this video! I learned a lot. I hope people get respect they have the RIGHT to have. Braids looks really beautiful, y'all continue rocking!!
kitsterangel: Love this video! Very informative! I think a lot of white/non-black poc that wonder why certain styles of braids are cultural appropriation focus too much on the hairstyle itself rather than its history. Really cool to learn about it! (Also I love the girl with the green braids, her hair is so cute!)
Trinadee Jenkins: As a black women who really didn’t wear my hair in braids a lot, this was honestly really eye opening.
Shanti Tamang: This really helped me to understand about braids and why it is really necessary to be appropriated. As a girl from Asia, I have grown watching western television, movies and songs and always was fascinated with different kinds of braids. This really helped me enlighten.
Ashley Vaade: I'm very glad I found this video in my recommended. I always enjoy education, and I learned a lot from this. Thank you for posting this and teaching all of us ❤
Laura Aole: So inspiring, thank you for this kind of documentary. Love this culture!
Siven: Five minutes in and I cry because this is so beautiful ~ ~ ~ I never wanted braids myself, but The history makes me fall in love with it. didn’t know the culture’s history beyond straight hair. The expression is so much more beautiful than I ever realized.
Tomarra Hope: I grew up in a 90% black community. when I was about 10 my first boyfriend's mom said I always wanted to braid a white girls hair. so I came over the next day thinking she was just going to put a few braids in. I was so wrong she went and got all this stuff for white hair and weave. I was sitting there was like 9 hrs but loved every minute of it she taught me so much about black culture and she she was so kind and funny I got so much more then a awesome hairdo in those 9 hrs I'll never forget it.
Accounta Therapy: I honestly just wish that I had the skill to braid my own hair lol i think even if it has a lot of rich cultural background, it should still be shared and all ppl can rock braids. It can still be respected and appreciated by all people. I think the key word here is definitely “respectful”. Just be respectful and don’t go throwing around words and negative connotations like “ghetto” with it.
Misti Wobig: As a white women, I always love how beautiful braids look in black hair and I think black hair is beautiful and I love how creative braids and weaves can get how colorful and the different designs can be so intricate. The effort and love put into braids is something that needs to be more widely recolonized because braids in the African community is more than a hairstyle as this video points out. It is beautiful. :) Keep on with the love and hard work ladies and gentlemen!
Corrupted Colors: When I was a kid, I went on a cruise to the Bahamas and my parents let me get my hair partly braided in cornrows to where the beads looked like a headband. I didn't associate it with anything at the time, I just thought it looked really cool!
Kelsey Buterbaugh: I have had friends braid my hair when I was younger and we’ve talked about this recently. What I’ve always been taught is that it’s not wrong for white people to wear braids but it’s just wrong to not call them what they are or wear them without respect for the cultures that created them
Tracy Bannerman: You can always copy others culture and rock it beautifully but don't rename it or take it's culture away. I'm from Ghana and braids are a big deal. Braids are universal but cornrow and some specifics are African. Just be yourself
daianna moreno: I love this!! Thank you for educating humans in horizontal history!
Samantha Dobbie: So stunning. Definitely glad I watched this so I can appreciate the culture and history behind braids.
Fe2uyoga with Jason: I love the history shown in this video. I appreciate where braids came from, but if anyone not black wants to wear them, I think it's great too. I understand why some black people felt stepped on because all of sudden braids were "cool" after coming into white mainstream. A clear difference should be made between wearing braids for fun, and wearing for heritage for understanding. And if you are white and wear braids, I hope you understand where that originated. When you wear braids, understand the history that comes with it. At the end of the day, it's your hair. Do with it what you want. I love this video because it showcases the whole history of braids, outlining the struggles, pros and cons of going mainstream, and ended on a positive note.
Blue jane: This is a great video , most people focus on bashing everyone , stumbling upon an educative video is refreshing
Anne Ngd: French here, hence this (big) french disclaimer : we actually call it AFRICAN BRAIDS in France, "Nattes Africaines" or just "Nattes", and yeah everyone here knows it's African and not french hence the specific vocabulary we use. If we want to talk about the EUROPEAN (including vikings and eastern traditions since y'all read just two line of my comment to start debates) way of braiding hair here (in France), we'd just call it "Tresses" (Braids). (In sum : in our language ; Tresse = Braid aka european braids , whereas ; Tresses Africaines/Nattes Africaines/Nattes = African braids aka Cornrows, box braids). Now as to why U.S.A call this French, I don't know, but here's a funny thing : U.S calls it "french braids", "french manicure", "french toasts", "french fries" when as a matter of facts, none of this is called or even used that way in France. For set, a typical french manicure is red since WWII. Fun fact French womens call the white striped manicure "American nails", since it comes from your 2000's movies trend. We don't toast bread that much since we got the habit to buy it everyday fresh, and french toast with milk, butter is actually called "Pain perdu" in our language (you tend to use yesterday's bread not to throw it away, not to loose it) However pain perdu isn't as popular as using yesterday's bread in soup, historically speaking, hence the non-french thing underlying your concept. Now French fries might stands in the north of our country but not in the 21 other regions, we call it "Frites" everywhere anyways. In sum maybe a U.S. habit/wish to add a little bit of european fanciness in stuffs titles to sell more ? Funny but very misleading... :) Thanks y'all ! Tis straight facts copy/paste and share it. Love y'all.
sahkanoodo: this was a great video and was informative in a way that was so easy to understand. i hope to see more videos like this!
Valentinuuu: This went from really beautiful to extremely upsetting to, again, so beautiful! It also made me wonder about hair and braids from where I'm from. Like, did dutch and french and milkmaid braids come from the dutch trades in colonial times (for example)? Did they come from the noth, the vikings/celtics before those times, down to middle europe? Or from asia when there was the big migration? I don't know, and in Austria as well as Hungary the traditional hairstyles are braids (made me wonder if I was appropriating so I was thinking) although in the german speaking countries we take more liberty with styles. From the part of hungary where my dad is from, its just one or two braids with red ribbons tied at the end (and a scarf maybe, but I think that more for older people) In any case, very glad I watched this video, I have even more appreciation for this art, I always thought it was really fancy and beautiful when my stepsister braided her hair in intricate ways but I didn't know the depth of it and I'm glad I know more now :) I'm sure there is much more to learn I hope this wasn't insensitive or anything comparing cultures and all, love from austria :) Edit: just a few comments below I found my answer to french braids! they make a clear distinction from european braids to braids of african heritage, Interesting, didn't know that
Maninder Kaur Grewal: Love these type of videos and love african culture too there's so much to learn from it
el oh el: It related with people trying to have “fox eyes” (asian eyes) or wearing a bandana as a top as a trend that came from Mexicans and edges that were called ghetto and people just were them as if they are a trend when black and Mexicans wear is on the daily and same with Asians and how their eyes look
Official Mad: I love how they explain where braids came from in their culture because I never knew any of that so I learned an interesting facts that I'm proud to learn.
irssuus: I honestly don't understand the people who call black people "ghetto" for wearing braids. I'm white, and the first time I saw a black person with braids I just stood there staring with my mouth open because their hair was so damn beautiful. Like, if you think that black people are "ghetto" when they wear braids, go to hospital please
Kristina Lugo: I really wish you would continue to include the names of everyone speaking throughout the film. The scholars and artists are people I’d like to learn more about. Going back to find their names isn’t a total nuisance, I just think it’s an easy fix in the editing room.
ToeJam AndBeans: ive never thought of braids being ghetto. it's a shame that a hairstyle is looked down upon. The only hairstyle that should be looked down upon is manager cuts and mullets.
Terri T: Being Native American, braiding was just part of culture. I find it beautiful and a way to bond with who you are, where you came from.
InstaTok Foodies: Lupita said it all.Here in Kenya(Africa)school going kids are expected to either conrow, braid or keep their hair natural.They have been a huge part of our african culture for a very long time.
LINDSAY COUSINS: As a child I was always between someone’s legs getting my hair done. And my hair went to my butt. It was painful and one of the most iconic memories I had growing up. They had to keep my hair in braids all the time because if not I’d have a huge tangled up knot. I believe one of the most beautiful things about being American is the way our culture has intergraded. And because of that- discrimination can be eliminated. Thank god we are one
Emma Bellon: Thank you for this video, it was very informative. Also I must say, all the hairstyles in this video were simply beautiful!!
Summer Jones: Sorta funny how Boris Johnson go out with this hair looking like tumbleweed but black women get fired for wearing their hair in neat braids
groceries !!: i love it when people of different races wear braids. it’s a form of culture appreciation to me. but don’t you DARE tell people of color they are ghetto for wearing them, but others do, you praise them.
Common Thread: I spent 6 months living in Kenya in my late teens. I lived at a children’s home and with 30+ little girls, there was always two or three (or five!) girls braiding each other’s hair. I loved it, Kenyan culture makes so much space for connection, and braiding one another’s hair was part of that connection at that children’s home. I never connected how de-humanizing it would be to have that totally stripped away or deemed “unacceptable”.
MommyScientist: I still remember this H&M ad with little girls that had "messy hair" that looked like they played and had a pillow fight before.. everyone got mad at the parents / h&m for letting the black girl be photographed like this with her 4C hair sticking out of her ponytail. I think that the judgement doesn't always come from the white folks, but it's also within the community, as far as I've observed. I think there is white people embracing natural hair and adoring it as well as black people. On the other hand there is black and white folks judging what is going on on a black person's head if it's not to your taste. Schools or work places calling braids or lock "inappropriate" is completely unacceptable!!!! I just hope (from my German born, now in Canada living perspective), that the US can one day just embrace natural hair fully and everything that comes with it. I hope that your racism problem one day gets fixed and that it's fast enough that I got to live to see it. Lots of love and hugs! <3
Sarah Gaspar: When I was 8 or 9 my friends mom was braiding her hair and asked if she could do mine so we could be twins. When I went home my mom took them out bc "white girls shouldn't wear braids" and I went back to my mom's friend in tears. she told me not to ever let anyone tell me I couldn't wear something as long as I love it and I feel beautiful. Thats stuck with me but I have still always wondered whether or not its OK to get braids. This video did a pretty good job of clearing that up. Im not sure if I will just bc I feel there's a lot of stigma around it but I still find it very beautiful
Emma D: The hair goes all the way back to black women putting rice or gold in the braids so if they had to escape they could have something to eat or help them. It’s alotttttt deeper than just a hairstyle
Noodle Poodle: I don’t know why this video popped up (I was searching for viking braid tutorials) but I’m glad I watched it. It’s a nice window into a whole world I wasn’t even aware of. I just want to learn so much more about these hairstyles and the cultures behind them and I’m really excited to research it.
Karina Nasywa: loved every second of this. thank you for sharing! as a southeast Asian girl, I always find black hair culture very beautiful
fluffybish 5000: I know the black community doesn't own braids, but some of them are our creations and we deserve more credit.
Selah Rod: side note: i think the points were incredibly well said by the women chosen to speak
Leah Gebrehiwot: my white best friend is still convinced that my hair is actually long. in reality my hair is slightly shorter than shoulder-length, curly, painful, lovely. and when i took out my braids in front of her, she yelled at me saying these *EXACT* words: "you lied to me i thought your hair was naturally long. i can't trust you anymore." *BISH WHAT THE FU-*
Das Schnattchen: I think it's kinda sad. I love the style of the braids and it would hurt my feelings if someone said, I'd "whitewash" or anything else, only bcz I am european. They look beautiful and if my tansanian friend even helps me to braid and put in extensions, I don't see any problem. Why should anyone forbid someone how to wear their hair?
Aliza Devries: I’m White and I got cornrows once when I was like 10. Half my hair fell out when I tired to take the braids out in was painful and I had less hair then before I got the braids so I learnt that lesson the hard way
peyton sledge: i know i’m white and all but i just appreciate the culture of hair so much, especially black hair. i think it’s such a beautiful way for african american women to create a community with each other and it’s just so beautiful. it’s deeper than most people realize, especially if you don’t do your research and decide to be ignorant to the real struggle of hair. i love the empowerment and the support for each other in this!
Yessmar Ramirez: Im latino and i moved to the us two years ago and when I came here I thought that only Latinos were the one that face discrimination in the US. I like history so I decided to investigate and learn more about history of this country, and while I was investigating and learning more I just can’t believe all the things that African-Americans had to go through. Before,During, and after USA independice, all the things that happened in the south and how African-American were treated it’s such a shame. The worst thing is that discrimination still exists in America. I’m not racist or anything but it’s incredible how some white people defended all that, how they still think that racism it’s okay, and how they still don’t wanna believe that racism in America is real. Sorry if my grammar is bad and if I typed something wrong, I’m still learning English.
Lory Lozano: This is a great vid! I get braids rarely. My resent set was so healing and I felt soo beautiful. I thank the beautiful humans of Africa and of african decent for endowing the planet with such beautiful gifts.
Bianca: Wow. Every time I see things about slavery back then and hear things about it, it literally shocks me so much like how was that even okay and how did slavery become such a big thing. I wish all those people could’ve experienced a better life
Fabiola Rosati •ᗢ: I’m a Latin girl and I really love the way women of color do their hairs, I’m always wearing box braids and all those kind of braids. Let’s celebrate women!!
J044 :D: I have always done the French braid, as a Hispanic my mom gifted me with curly hair and braiding is an easy hairstyle . Much respect for the hairdressers cuz my hands get tired
Katrina Clark: I like the atmosphere of this video. It is not any angry about cultural appropriation, it is simply educating and telling people to think about their choices. Very effective
canaryinacoalmine: Braids are beautiful. And they are perfectly appropriate for any and all settings including school, the office, and restaurant work. In fact I would think that they would be more sanitary for restaurant work then having your hair loose. Systemic racism can only be tackled when we talk openly about it, so thank you for the education.
Sara: Love this documentary. In Brazil we also talk a lot about cultural appropriation and it's been a struggle to make white people understand that this is a type of racism. As a white woman I'm really glad for have learned so many important informations with this video.
Amelia Bryan: I honestly thought people were getting mad because other cultures were braiding their hair, but this video was honestly very enlightening and helpful. It's stealing a powerful symbol and mindset and turning it into something it's not
Kayla Soto: so educational! love it!
Mirian V: I always loved my friends braids and hair texture and never understood the issues they faced until i started working. A couple of my coworkers would get box braids and others would talk about how unprofessional it was and i just didnt fucking understand. Her hair was clean, out of her face, she didnt miss work because of it and it didnt impact anyone else. Its racist as fuck and they were disguising their feelings by saying it was unprofessional for work. If we empower women we need to empower all women. We cant pick and choose.