This is where Mr. Haywood and his type like to get all kumbaya and say that racism is ending, or even over; that the world is a melting-pot of cultures and to claim anything as belonging to any particular culture is to uphold segregation and prevent progress; that when I bring up systemic power differentials, I’m the fool for “giving” someone else power over me; and that I’m the problem for behaving as though racial inequality is still a problem.
Let’s cut that crap out here and now.
Kylie Jenner does not have personal, individual, power over me, or over any other Black woman who chooses to wear her hair in cornrows. Just like Iggy Azalea, as a person, does not have individual power over Azealia Banks as a person. However, within the entertainment industry, Iggy has achieved more (by monetary and award standards) while working with far less, and with affectations of Blackness that are not as rewarded when present in actual Black women in an undeniably Black genre.
Next, the Corys of the world will want to argue that Kylie and Iggy et al “don’t mean anything by it,” and “why shouldn’t they be allowed to wear whatever hairstyle they want” or whatever. Well, if you don’t understand that lack of intent does not prevent impact, I invite you to look into that very basic concept and get back to me.
I completely agree that Kendall and Kylie and Miley aren’t intentional white supremacists on some Jim Crow level who set out to specifically ruin a Black girl’s day every time they sit in their hairstylist’s chair. They’re not explicitly thinking about denigrating us, because they’re likely not thinking much at all. And to many of us, that blatant abuse of privilege makes it worse, and that’s why we point it out and talk about it: the casual denigration by way of cultural theft by those in power is destructive in its very thoughtlessness and frivolity.
All cross-cultural style and art exchange and experimentation does not qualify as appropriation, and even we as Black women have to carefully consider our choices, as we are not immune to trying on the traditions of certain Latina, Asian, and Indigenous cultures that have been sickeningly and regularly trampled under the foot of appropriation.
Ironically, Black people who defend this sort of cultural appropriation while hating on Black women with certain hairstyles or white boyfriends are actually upholding a poisonous strain of self-hate that centers white supremacy, in consistently caping for the white girl with cornrows and seeing every interracial relationship as massa taking “your” woman.
If you don’t believe us when we speak of our insults and a hairstyle can cause you to reject Black women as a whole, then you were never here for us, and you are the true anti-black one. Not me.
Too many have tried to give all Black men a bad name for me to sit idly by as you do it too. The many wonderful Black men who are here for us, and allies of all races and gender identities, are already laughing at you, and now we seek to silence you.
Representation matters. Honoring ethnic and cultural traditions and fighting for racial parity matters. Well, a least they matter to us. If it isn’t important to you, be brave enough to be that asshole who says “I see what you’re saying and I just don’t care.” Be strong enough to wear your wackness on your chest. Say “that doesn’t impact my life,” shrug, and walk away. You always have that option, and we’ll just have to overcome without you.
For Colored Girls Who Consider Clapback When Attacks from Black Men* Are Enuf was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
