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. 58
   Mokus Says:
   January 23rd, 2010 at 9:40 PM

   I am an American of mixed African,Natve American, and European heritage. This is a fairly common genetic blend in the ethnic group now known as “African-American”. Due to my diverse genetic heritage, I have inherited features such as a light skin tone, and kinky, curly,spirally Africoid hair, which is also dark blond in color, so I would have to say that I often appear to be racially ambiguous, perhaps especially to those who do not have personal and direct observation of variation due to “racial” mixture. Having said that, I would like to say that my reasons for allowing my hair to loc had everything to do with my acceptance of the “nappy” texture of my hair, and allowing it to do what came naturally to it if left uncombed…loc. In my opinion , only those whose hair “wants” to loc should allow it to do so. It is unseemly, unattractive, and unnatural for a person with dead-straight hair to force their hair to do something it does not want to do of its own volition. I will cite such luminaries as Beyonce or Tyra Banks , examples of people who go against the natural color and textgure of their original hair.This is just as unseemly as straight haired folks forcing their tresses into Terra Incognita, although the historical forces which have made “black” women ashamed of their hair texture should be recognized.

   I can’t tell you how many times light-skinned people with no African genetic component, assuming me to be as genetically homogeneous as themselves, have informed that they would like to “have” dreads like mine. I tell them it won’t be possible, as they do not possess the requisite keratin type to “have” hair like mine, just as I don’t possess the natural ability to have straight hair.

   Surely no white in North America has attempted to “sport” “dreads” because of an awarness of ancient Celts and Vikings who supposedly sported dreads. To say nothing of the Greek Kouros statues which are nothing more than bad copies of Egyptian conventions in statuary. Nor do I believe that they were influenced by Indian Sadhus. In fact, no race of people except those with wooly,spiral-curl hair will loc thier hair naturally.

   I posit that the imitation of this uniquely Africoid hair style has been going on for thousands of years, and it should be obvious to anyone that it had its origins in Africa, the birthplace of humanity.

   It should be equally obvious to conscientious or spiritually oriented whites that some members of their “race” have taken anything they wanted from anyone, anywhere, at anytime, for the most part from people of color. Some European clearly fancied some of my ancestors enough to take them, against their will, from points unknown in Africa. And these same European systems stripped everything from us…Which is why we have Bennie Goodman,”King of Swing”, Frank Sinatra, “KIng of the jazz singers”, Elvis Presley,”KIng of rock and Roll”, etc. It would seem a step to far when we are stripped of what seemingly only we could possess,E.G. our “nappy” hair> So I say to youfolks who do not have kinky curly hair, desist from coveting what is not yours to”sport”. Likewise, You folks with dark, coarse, spiral hair, desist in trying to appropriate that which is not appropriate for you. Physical and “spiritual” beauty is comprmised “gilding the lily”. Let us all learn to appreciate a rose in its natural environment, without the need to possess it and give to to a “beloved”, thereby uprooting it and killing it.

   Sometimes the things of nature need to br admired from afar,let be, and left unencroached, especially from those who have a legacy of encroachment built into every aspect of their society.

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2. 59
   JA Says:
   February 6th, 2010 at 9:23 AM

   nice history lesson but how about I do what I want with my hair and you mind your business … I’m of both races myself ( white , black ) and I have cousins as black as can be and cousins as white as the snow but I would never deem myself the ” authority ” on what each cousin from each race should or shouldn’t do based on what is naturally possible. bottom line , live and let live. whether your black , white , or in between like myself just do what makes you happy and ignore the less fortunate closed minded individuals.

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3. 60
   sweetpea Says:
   March 8th, 2010 at 6:43 AM

   @Erin: “Dreadlocks” are not an African hairstyle. Many people the world over wear their hair in this fashion. The Saddhus of India, the Maori of New Zealand,the Maasai of East Africa to name a few. As far as white people wearing them, the ancient Celts wore their hair dreadlocked. And not because it was in style. Back then there was no thing so as “fashion.” Rather it was due to a lack of combs. Locs have been worn since the beginning of time. No one race or group has the monoply on it. Many ancient people wore their hair like this. No matter what race they were.

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