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When I was in 5th grade, I saw a white girl my age with box braids. Me and my best friend were quietly laughing at her because of it.
When I look back at that when I was 14 and now, I was actually being racist without telling her off about her hair style.
After seeing a celebrity with his hair braided back to look gangsta for a TV show that he is an original cast in, it amused me very much. That is when it got me thinking, you don't have to be black or African-American to wear your hair braided back.
After i turned 14, I did see a picture of a white female in box braids and thought again, Everyone looks good in every hair style. Why hasn't this unique combination crossed my mind?
Nowadays, things I really should think of need to cross my mind more often. I see nothing wrong with whites wearing their hair in box braids. It doesn't offend me in any way, but I does make me question if the woman wants to fit in, which also doesn't bother me.
I'm a black woman and I don't mind it at all. It's more cultural appreciation than appropriation.
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u Offensive only to those SJWs and virtue signallers who buy into that cultural appropriation nonsense. If a white guy invented pants, does that mean only white men can wear them?
I don’t think it’s offensive, I just think it’s stupid. First of all, black people wear braids like that because it protects our hair. Because of the structure of our hair it can handle the tension and weight caused by braids. Braids like that on white hair cause damage. Don’t be surprised if you have a large amount of shedding or and entire braid breaks off and leaves you with a bald spot. It’s just unnecessary and damaging. I only think it’s offensive when white people try to appropriate our culture. For example boxer braids. BOXER BRAIDS ARE NOT A THING. They are called cornrows, they’ve been around for forever, and they are not a trend. Call them what they are. Don’t try to slap a new label on it and pretend like you just discovered something new. And don’t be a hypocrite and praise white women for wearing braids but then call black women ghetto for wearing them. You may not do this personally, but people do this all the time and it’s infuriating. In all honesty, if I were to see you in the street I would look down on you. Like I said before braids can cause a lot a damage especially on straight hair. In my opinion it’s stupid to put your hair at risk like that for no reason, so I’d assume you’re a little stupid. That’s just my honest opinion.
As a black woman, I'm not really offended by it.. it tends to look a little off since it is a hairstyle i see on black women most of the time but other than that I really don't care. The only time I care, is when society tells black women or people they can't participate in their culture but then America steals it, profits from it, and then make it "trend" that's acceptable if someone white or non black does it. That's my only issue, so if some white girl wants to cornrows, by all means do it.. but don't turn around and tell black women they can't wear their natural hair out cause it's not "professional". Otherwise we're good.
Honestly? I'm not offended nor will I be, but will I be put off guard just a bit? Most likely because I dont come across many non-black women wearing the style too often where I am. As mentioned by a couple other people, I think a reason that may get offended is because of some black women who've worn box braids (or even their natural hair) at work or school have either been discriminated against or told to cut their hair because it isn't professional or appropriate. There can be more reasons, but thats one that came to my mind.
Now there are some instances where I have seen people criticize a white girl for wearing it (she was DRAGGED), and others defended her on social media. All I can say is that every reaction will be mixed/different. Some will be ok with it and others will dog you for it.
As for me, I only wear it as a protective style for my hair, especially in the fall and winter to give my natural hair a break and it helps avoid too much manipulation to my hair. Not sure if theis is an answer you're looking for, but it's just my thought on it.
It’s tricky.
Black people use this, it’s culture and it goes deep. It’s a hairstyle we use because our hairs need to be handled differently than the white kind of hair.
So it’s whatever if a white girl wants to do it.
Most white girls can't handle it thought, it’s heavy, it’s itchy, to attach this fake hair you need to pull your hair tight. It can slide down white hair because this hair was made to be attached to kinky hair. And maintenance also plays a part.
White girls can like all they want but Most of them cannot handle it.
They be feeling a a lot when they wear it, it’s funny to watch but it can be “side-eye-looked “ because this is a black thing.
I honestly don’t care but don’t be feeling too much, white people love to get credit for shit they didn’t create, talking about “French braids “ 😂😂😂 anyways
That’s my opinion I don’t care it’s just a hairstyle but it doesn’t look good to every white girl, few can pull it off
I don't understand why non-black people feel entitled to answer this question.
Anyways, I'm going to try to explain this in the best way I can, and I hope I do not come off as rude.
The reason why it's offensive to us it's because black kids get suspended for wearing their hairstyle such as braids, dreads and fros, black girls and boys get picked on by the way their hair looks, then black women get SHAMED for the styles they wear but whites get praises for doing the same, it makes no sense sis. Plus most of them are racist but have no problem with doing black hair styles. That's why it's offensive.
Plus in my humble opinion I don't like to see white people with box braids, because if just doesn't sit right with me, it's almost as if their stealing our culture, that's why I PERSONALLY find it offensive.
And at the end of the day box braids weren't made for white people that's why most of the time they complain that their hair's falling out after doing them.
The reason people find it offensive is because black people wearing braids and/or their natural hair is soon as unprofessional, dirty, ghetto, etc. but on white people it’s totally fine. They call it cultural appropriation.
However, I don’t see a problem with it. People have free will to do what they want. It looks really pretty and intricate. I like it on her and it would look pretty on a person of color too.
No, you do your thing and fuck what other people think! they should have no control over whatever you like or want to do with your hair or clothes or anything else. Be confident and you do you little lady, people will respect you more for being yourself than anything else
First off, black people don't own box braids, it's just something that complements their hair type, so anyone can wear it really. However, I think it looks unnatural on people with non-kinky hair. It looks like this girl is showing off. But on the other hand, there are black women who wear blond wigs.
As offensive as it is for blacks to wear tshirts, suits, ties, western style shoes, have indoor plumbing, electricity, modern technology, modern medicine, cars, infrastructure etc. If you want to pander then don't wear them but the people who would hate you for something like that (which by the way most of them by their own reasoning would not be allowed to wear (it has origins in egypt and Namibia which is not "africa" but rather to smalle regions of africa and most blacks in america did not originate in those regions) then they will find a reason to hate something else your doing. Their goal is control not tolerance, not education, not protecting their "culture"(hence them having no problem taking from other peoples culture).
Or you could do what you want because its your hair and your life.
I have no patience for complaints of cultural appropriation. It's your hair, wear it in any style you like. I might have some sympathy for someone copying sacred clothing from another culture. Daily wear from any culture may be freely copied in my opinion.
It's not offensive. Practically every culture wears braids. And I think people need to stop getting too obsessed with this stuff. It's just a hairstyle. But now if you're trying to mimic another culture and you're doing it to make fun of somebody, then that's when it becomes offencive.
While on the subject of 'cultural appropriation', why don't I see the same people upset about white girls or white dudes wearing dreadlocks or box braids getting pissed off when white people listen to rock music (which has its roots in black culture), or when non-japanese people learn japanese martial arts, especially knowing the oppressive history of america towards japan, etc?
The whole "mUH CuLtuRaL ApPrOpRiaShUn" thing is bullshit. Let's just call it for what it is. It's cultural gatekeeping. And its no different than what the KKK and white nationalists argue for (the segregation of cultures).
To anyone that gets upset about cultural appropriation, unless you are consistent with your beliefs to a tee and unless you also protest non-black people listening to rock music, and unless you also protest non-japanese people learning japanese martial arts, then I don't wanna hear you talk about cultural appropriation.
Same I don't understand either. Girls are wearing the oriental print that was reserved for emperors in China, and no one said a thing.
Of course, people should take a nod and respect the culture. But you can also wear braids without being attacked for it.
Who would it be offensive to? I think imitation is the best form of flattery. Besides, people always start fads and fashion statements that others imitate. For all we know this lady may have been cosplaying as Rapunzel or as a lady in some past era when women wore braided hair like that. Beats imitating The Coneheads.
Corn rows on a white woman always look a little funny to me, I think it's mostly because of the contrast between her hair and her scalp, kind've like the zebra effect!
As for offensive or not, I know in Haiti it is fairly common for the few white women there to have this done and no one cares... but this is America, so you'll probably find SOMEONE that is going to take offense to it. (Honestly probably another white woman...)
personally i dont find it offensive but i know it offends those in the African American community. its their hair style. the fact that its looked down upon when they wear braids like that and the fact that when a white woman wears this style and is seen as "beautiful" doesn't sit right with me.
(if any white person attacks me... how the hell are you gonna tell someone how to feel about this style of hair... esp the black and brown community... yes its their choice.. but white people should not wear African styled hair. its culture appropriation. its like if i go and wear a the rosary on my leg and be like "its cute". (religion and race aren't the same im just giving an example)
It's not offensive. It's just annoying as shit that black women with braids are labeled as ghetto and unprofessional and the style is literally banned for us in some work and education places even though it's a cultural protective style, but when a white woman wears it, then it's trendy and cute.
People can where their hair anyway they want regardless of their race. It's not offensive.
The problem is when black girls do it, it's considered ghetto, rachet, etc. to the point where black women can't get jobs when their hair is braided or in its natural state. But when anyone but black does it, it's considered creative.
not at all, and neither would it be offensive for anyone of any other ethnicity to wear anything which is considered of any other ethnic styled fashion
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