White People with Dreadlocks

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series White People Dreads

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White People Dreads

• White People with Dreadlocks

THIS ARTICLE IS A REPRINT OF AN ARTICLE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NAANI.COM IN 2002. WE’VE DECIDED TO REVIVE THE DEBATE TO SEE HOW MUCH WE AND VISITORS HAVE GROWN…HOPEFULLY.

I remember back in college that every now and then I’d spot a (dread)locked head on campus. The irony was that none of them belonged to my African-American peers. I didn’t know what to think when I saw a White person with dreadlocks. At the time, I didn’t fully understand their historical significance myself so I thought, “Who am I to judge?”

white people with dreadlocks

Obviously these people were brave enough to embrace a traditionally African style that even some Blacks have difficulty accepting, so why hate?

When I started researching (dread)locks and natural hair on the web, most of the sites I stumbled upon catered to a White audience. I thought dreadlocking African hair was a trial but after reviewing some of these sites, it seemed White people take locking to a whole notha level.

I’ve seen sites that not only recommend using vats of beeswax, but also toothpaste, glue…honey???? On top of that, some boast the ability to lock one’s hair in a matter of just a few weeks which anyone with locked hair knows is a joke.

So it got me thinking and I decided to pose a few questions. What do you think of White people with dreadlocks? Is it a lifestyle or hairstyle for them? Are they ever truly dreadlocked?

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67 Responses to “White People with Dreadlocks”

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1. 55
   JA Says:
   December 19th, 2009 at 1:49 AM

   1 Final thing I would like to add : Is it ok for black women to straighten their hair with perms and blow dryers and imitate white women but not ok for white women to ” dread ” their hair and imitate black women ? I mean , does any 1 race ” OWN ” a certain hair style ?

   Just a little FYI , I mean , we wouldn’t want to be hypocrites would we ?

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2. 56
   patches Says:
   January 20th, 2010 at 8:34 AM

   I am prodominately white. I have full, thick, straight hair that naturally has locked up with minimal help (palm rolling every few days.)
   I don’t lock my hair for fashion. lord knows my black neighbors stopped talking to me when I began letting my hair lock up again. I am not robbing any culture. america is a melting pot. if I would be hurting anyone it would be my grandmother- she’d die if she saw my fuzzy arse head right now.
   point is- I’ve read a lot about how white people- like myself- are “stealing” from black peoples culture. I’ve seen a lot of ignrance on both sides. I’ve studied rastafarianism- and I also looked up the ancient celts and the egyptians. fact is, people ALL OVER THE WORLD have had dreads in thier past at some point.
   I do not mean to offend by this next point of bluntness:
   STOP TAKING IT PERSONALLY. four sites I’ve been on and people are bashing on me for having dreads, and only because of the shade God made me! well, news for those people- I didn’t steal crap, and I feel like those specific people (not all in general) are being discriminatory against me for being white and having dreads! 0.0 (oh no she didn’t)
   fact is, we didn’t steal anything when it comes down to it. we are all victims of circumstance- we all landed on this rock somehow. it’s not my fault that my white anscestors decided to be dipwads, and it’s not my fault my black anscestors hate my white anscestors. and it’s not my fault my native anscestors where herded, and even slaughtered, for this big patch of land we now use as a melting pot.
   I like burritos, lasanga, AND sushi. I play the djembe, the didgeridoo, the native flute, the ocarina, and the guitar. I like jazz, funk, rap and also country, celtic folksongs, trance, and meditation and raggae. I wear clothes from every genre.
   point is, I know who I am. and from my past to my future, I’m going to carry my head high and proud, and I don’t care what you think of my hair- it’s mine.
   I really wish people would stop generalizing on white people and dreads. it gets to me. it’s like me hating on all black people just because a majority of them I know straighten thier hair. is that fair? NO! not only would it be ignorant of me, but I’d probably get killed for being rascist for it… even though I’m part black!
   look, in the end, if we are going to at least be partly peaceful, we have to stop fighting over culture. I would gladly welcome people to my traditions and my culture/history. I understand wanting it to be special, and it always will, but I would freely give it, so it could be special for others as well.
   so, to end it, I will simply say that no one is wrong for a hairstyle, a type of make-up, a food like or dislike, a music preference, or for thier heritage. black, white, yellow, pink, fat, skinny, short, tall, dreads, pin straight, corn rows, shaved, mohawk… who gives? were all people right? get over it. you aren’t taking my dreads from me because I didn’t get the idea from you.
   I got it from an old lady who taught me that my hair, when locked up, carries and holds positive energy. good enough for me.

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3. 57
   dreama Says:
   January 20th, 2010 at 8:53 AM

   I am probably going to get a ot of crap for this- but to me it seems, after reading pages and pages, that this whole white people with dreads thing not being ok with black people is simply another way for them to tell us were horrible and evil. white supremacy? hello, it’s not the slave days, and I am not my great great grandparents. I don’t bit## about you straightening your hair, so why would you care if I dreaded mine? I’m not mimicking you, and I think this whole debate is just another way to drive a peg in between our skin colors. it’s pretty stupid actually.
   look, I’m going to do what I want with my hair and my look, and I’m not going to be sorry if you feel oppressed or offended by it. get over it. I’m sorry my great great great grand whatevers did wrong to your great great great grand whatevers. time to move on. quite holding on to it because it is what holds you back.
   same with you, you stupid white people. quit being rascist as$wipes, quit believing in stupid beliefs when you live in a white suburbia, and quit acting like fools.
   and I’ll probably get my arse kicked for this too, but I feel it needs to be stated, and mind you this is all just my opinion:
   but I feel like a lot of darker skinned people are becoming rascist against ME, when I didn’t do a damn thing except maybe try to avert my eyes from a few angry looking black dudes who looked at me like a chew toy back in berkely. my bad, didn’t know that it offended and entire race by being shy around ya’ll because you make it apparent that you hate me for what my past people decided to stupidly do.
   if I offend you then you only agree with me. at least be polite about it- I didn’t use any terms, slurs, or name calling. you may call me ignorant, but this is just what I see.

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