Braids are not a new, black women have been donning these hairstyles for years. The newest trend for women in hair is to braid hair back. They are calling these boxer braids, saying that they were inspired by UFC fighters, however women fighters did not create this look. Braids have a history dating back to ancient Egypt. In the early 90’s braids came back into popularity but has since lost its trendiness in Hollywood. This, until the Kardashians wore them. Now braids are the coolest hair style to wear. But this phenomena brings into question why now are they gaining popularity. Black women continued to wear braids but it wasn’t until a non-black person began wearing them that it became “cool” again. It’s not only the Kardashians, although some would like to blame them for everything wrong with the world, Katy perry, Jennifer Lopez, even Iggy Azelia. The problem is that even when style is inspired, derived or duplicated from black culture, blacks don’t get the credit. Look at the “boxer braids” for example instead of giving credit to ancient black culture it is given to white UFC fighters. I am not condoning the banning of non blacks to wearing braids or other styles of black culture but I think that the people need to be aware of cultural appropriation. This cultural appropriation is the theft of iconic style from black culture. Theft because credit is not given.
Nov 092016