In the late 1970’s Reggae artists such as Bob Marley helped launch the popular introduction of Dreadlocks.  Following the anti-establisment sentiments of their parents during the 1960’s, Marley and his music attracted a new generation of young Blacks and leftist Whites who found hope, inspiration and motivation to unite against oppression, racism and cultural misunderstanding.  Although Marley helped usher in a new generation of lock wearers, it wasn’t until the late 1990’s when musicians from other genres, pro-athletes and actors began to wear locks and further the popular globalization of the hair style. 


Unlike Jamaican Reggae artists who wear traditional or “Rasta locks,” modern-day African-American entertainers who adopt the style are often not Rastafarian and many choose dreadlocks for reasons other than spirituality.  Whether they be a racial statement, a source of Black pride or merely a hair style, to understand the modern-day dreadlocks, we must examine the socio-economic impact of the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

The 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in the United States sparked a growing interest in unadultured or “natural” African hair.  Styles such as the Afro emerged and there was increasing interest amongst African-Americans to reject chemical processes.  However, as the 1960
217;s came to a close and African-Americans obtained greater economic opportunity through government programs such as Affirmative Action, many Blacks traded in their protests for briefcases.

By the 1980’s as more African-Americans entered the corporate arena, many began to readopt assimilationist ideals with regard to hair style and appearance.  It was during this period that unadultered African hair once again took a back seat to relaxed and weaved styles and gradually began to reacquire the negative connotations that stemmed from slavery.  

Concepts that are widely understood in African-American culture today such as “going natural” were rejected during the 1980’s as “natural”  at that time meant “Nappy” and “kinky;” words which have traditionally been used to degrade unadultered African hair.  Although a sub-culture of Blacks continued the positive notions generated from the protests of the 1960’s and artists such as Bob Marley, the majority believed unadultered African hair to be ugly, unattractive, masculine and detestable or “dreadful” way to wear ones’ hair.

Despite increased rejection of unadultured African hair, African-American writers, film directors and artists began to take up the banner that had earlier been abandoned for economic gain.  Popular African-American films such as Spike Lee’s “School Daze” directly confronted the issue of intraracial discrimination in Black culture as well as the belief for some that unadultered African hair sparks racist fueled images of an uncivilized, pagan people.  

Soon, a sub-culture in the African-American community developed and there was resurgence in appreciation for unadultered African hair.  Ironically, despite increased interest in natural hair styles, dreadlocks still remained taboo.  It wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that we see greater acceptance amongst African-Americans of dreadlocked hair.