Many people may wonder: are box braids cultural appropriation?
If you are not of African heritage and wear box braids, you may be accused of cultural appropriation, as the braids are seen as a symbol of African culture.
Here is all the information you require about box braids being appropriated culturally.
What Are Box Braids?
Box braids are a type of hairstyle which is predominantly worn by Africans and those who have emigrated from Africa.
One of the main benefits of box braids is the fact that when someone wears them, they can then keep the hairstyle in for several weeks at a time and won’t need to constantly be re-doing it.
This is a crucial time-saver because people with kinky hair frequently require a lot more time and effort to style their hair, whereas white women rarely need to worry about this.
Box braids, which typically have divisions of hair that are square in shape, can give hair time to rest and concentrate on growth. White women do not have to wear or copy this hairstyle, and in fact, if they do, they are engaging in cultural appropriation.
Are Box Braids Cultural Appropriation?
Can anyone wear box braids? Are box braids considered cultural appropriation?
Yes, if a white person wears box braids, then they are likely to be accused of cultural appropriation.
This is due to the fact that the hairstyle has deep roots in the cultures of people who were once in slavery and that black people who wear it today frequently do so as a means of expressing their cultural identity.
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History of Box Braids
Now let’s have a deep look at box braid history.
Nearly three millennia ago, African tribes that lived before European colonization used braids to flaunt their wealth, personalities, and social standing. This is when box braids first appeared.
In the centuries that followed, some slaves would even use the hairdo as a means of survival, creating intricate braid patterns that resembled maps and could then lead them to freedom. They would show the number of roads that would need to be traveled or the precise locations where people would need to be met before escaping.
When slavery ended in 1865, African-American women would do their best to maintain their braided hairstyles and preserve their ancestors’ customs, but a desire to forget about such a trying time began to grow.
When black women relocated to big cities like New York and Chicago and took some of the few jobs that were available to them (like working as maids), their braids were meticulously associated with sluggishness.
They would be compelled to chemically straighten their plaits and cornrows and conceal their most authentic selves in order to blend in with the rest of society. Before things started to get better, it took some time.
Modern-Day Box Braids
Nowadays, box braids are a symbol of self-love and ancestral connection, and are more as important to black women as ever. As they go back to their original owners, they symbolize a feeling of freedom and self-expression.
Box braids have, however, almost turned into a fashion trend as more black women assert their rights to this hairstyle. While white celebrities like Kylie Jenner have sported the hairstyle without receiving any criticism, black women may experience severe backlash.
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Reasons Not to Wear Box Braids
If you are not of African heritage and wear box braids, you may be accused of cultural appropriation for the following reasons:
- Due to feelings of guilt and mourning after emancipation, many black people stopped wearing braids. The trauma of severing ties with cultural symbology wasn’t as difficult for white people to deal with.
- African women are using the braids as a way to reclaim a cultural symbol that has been prohibited or denigrated for many years.
- Braids are viewed as a representation of African culture.
- It might add to a colonial past where white people took from black people without giving them credit or seeking their consent.
- Black people’s identity, symbols, and sense of cultural pride are trivialized.
- Disenfranchised people do not have the option to switch between symbology as easily as white people do. White people can adopt the “cool” looks of disenfranchised people for a night and then take them off the next day.
Conclusion: Are Box Braids Cultural Appropriation
Box braids are one of the multiple hairstyles that are considered inappropriate for non-black people to wear. Wearing them could be seen as disrespecting an entire culture and a lack of understanding of its distinctive identity and symbolism.
Whether or not you agree with the reasons why box braids are cultural appropriation listed above, wearing box braids as a white person still has real-world repercussions.
First and foremost, you risk offending people and drawing a lot of negative attention. Because of this, most non-black people will decide not to wear box braids out of respect (and to avoid pointless conflict) regardless of your political stance on the matter.
Read More: Are Dutch Braids Cultural Appropriation?
FAQs About Are Box Braids Cultural Appropriation
Are Small Braids Cultural Appropriation?
Even those trendy micro braid plates are deemed culturally offensive, so make sure you research before you decide on the braid style you want.
Are Dutch Braids Cultural Appropriation?
There is no cultural appropriation happening when someone wears Dutch braids, and the same goes for additionally French braids.
Are Three-strand Braids Cultural Appropriation?
This type of braid are not cultural appropriation.
What Braids Are Not Cultural Appropriation?
These types of braids are not cultural appropriation:
- French Braid.
- Crown Braid.
- Chinese Ladder Braid.
- Three-strand braid.
