An Open Letter to White People With Dreadlocks

amazing

“…do us all a favor and spend some of that money on a real haircut and stop making yourself look like a total tool.”

This made my day.

love

damn. me in 2007. i'm sorry.

but tessa is right. you know what happened when i got dreads? it took 12 hours, i missed my friend's birthday party and he bitched me out all night, and my skin broke out cuz my hair was greasy as hell. this is the most high maintenance hairstyle for “white people” hair ever. EVER. just don't do it.

YES YES YES

true

as much as i agree with you, ” just let us have this one” viewpoints taken from any cultural perspective are inherently boring and presumptuous.

live and let live, bro.

Until they come back from Mexico holding up the line at the taco truck because they insist on ordering in Spanish and AY DIOS MIOing over how the horrrchataaa here is sooo good.

coming from a black dreaded person, yes, its ridiculous what some white people do to get dreads, all of which are unhealthy and counterproductive (wax, not washing, etc) but there are a handful that don't do these things and have relatively healthy dreads. but i totally get you on this because of lot of times they look kinda nasty.

also, dreadlocks do not belong to one specific culture, http://islamicallylocked.blogs…
it has belonged to many over time.

and the hairstyle isn't necessarily “invented” it just naturally occurs, i mean, not unless us humans “invented” sex also…

and i'm not a rastafarian, but i'm offended at whites being rastafari, they're allowed to, technically, but most probably aren't doing it right. rastafari is a very afrocentric religion and not an excuse to smoke weed, wear dreads, party, and then just disregard the problems of people of color because “oh rasta is all about the 'spiritual' journey” that's craziness.

like, goodness, just wear dreadlocks, smoke weed, be a hippy and party, but don't claim to be a true rasta.

What is more interesting to me is the position I found myself at age 19: considering dreadlocks for reasons COMPLETELY REMOVED from all the cliches you mention above. I wasn't into Rastafarianism, Bob Marley, or any of that shit. I honestly cannot remember why I so strongly considered them but I'm glad it never happened. Hopefully this article will prevent others from making a similar mistake.

What about black people who straighten their hair? If you call all white people with dreads wannabe rastas, then are what are all black people who straighten their hair?

what do you call white people who straighten their hair?

If you're gonna tell people how to live their lives, at least do it with a more interesting writing style.

“I know you see us walking around with afros, dreads, braids, and cornrows and get jealous that your hair can’t do that, but all I ask is for you to just let us have this one.”

This is absurd, dreadlocks are a hairstyle, and of course any person who doesn't take good care of their hair looks like “pig pen”. That, however, is no reason to attack those who make dreads work for them and take good care of them. It is presumptuous to think that the reason people who are not black get dreads it due to a wannabe-esque fascination with the various sub-cultures associated with the hairstyle.

Maybe this is a bit aggressive, but I get upset when so many assumptions are made about others' intentions. This is overstepping into inhibition of freedom of expression. I find it moderately offensive, but that being said, very few white people can pull of dreads. Those who can though, by all means!

I know you see us walking around with blond hair or highlights and get jealous that your hair can’t do that, but all I ask is for you to just let us have this one. GTFO

I could look past your poorly-disguised RACISM if you actually had the skill to write cleverly or even interestingly about such a pointless subject. You're not near as funny or “nice” as you apparently think you are.

I wish I could un-read this waste.

i'm half white, half hispanic, and my hair forms dreadlocks on its own, so please don't assume i spent tons of money to get it to do that; people that aren't black can have similar hair too, shocker, isn't it?

my boss is a large white man with dreads

LOL this comment section is ridiculous. While, yes, I think the OP should have gone with the actual religious and cultural reason dreads look ridiculous on white people, this is not REVERSE RACISM Ok? Because black people being racist in America does not exist. The word you're looking for a prejudice. Anyway, whatever, it just looks stupid.

who is this “us” you include yourself in, mrs SCHOENROCK?

sorry

ms. schoenrock to you!

“viewpoints taken from any cultural perspective.” Fun little ideological erasure there, take a look at your illusion of white objectivity and quit discounting anything that comes from a brown person who acknowledges their markedness.

HATERS GON HATE

black people look dumb when they wear glasses

i dont know what you call them, but i know they're not shaming their ethnicity to look like another's

black people with Northern European surnames, it looks stupid and fake. Even worse than dreads.

I would love a link to your well written blog.

I don't understand, are you implying that the author dyes her hair blond?

“Furthermore, the reason you don’t usually see black folks running around with dirty, greasy, smelly dreads sticking up every which way is because we understand that even the most low-maintenance of hairstyles requires minimum upkeep.”

Black Peoples hair smells ALL THE TIME!! So how about you dont diss on white people and you tell your fellow blacks that they need to put some shampoo to their UNDREADED hair!! White people can put dreads in their hair if they want to!!!!! And also, I'm SO GLAD that I don't have nappy hair because that would honestly make me hate my life if I didnt have beautiful long hair that I can run my fingers through and can blow in the wind!!!!

ALSO, “I know you see us walking around with afros, dreads, braids, and cornrows and get jealous that your hair can’t do that, but all I ask is for you to just let us have this one.”– There is NOT ONE WHITE PERSON ON THIS PLANET that is jealous of your nasty ass nappy disgusting hair!!! You are the ones who go around getting your hair damn relaxed, straightening and all that jazz to try to have “normal” white people hair! And I know plenty of black girls who get weaves that are textured like white people hair because they know that they are JEALOUS of white people hair! Who the fuck would want to walk around with their hair braided all the time when you are a grown woman or man!!?? NO WHITE PERSON!! AND NO ONE WANTS A FUCKING AFRO!!!

K, Thanks!

yikes

you're sadly deluded.

Hai when is the next KKK meeting?

i know right? typical nigger writing on the internet. you would think she would've felt the hypocrisy and self-shame of all the straighteners in her “community” left this topic off-bounds for her. Chris Rock dedicated a whole movie to the self-shame niggers have for their nasty, nappy hair

attention niggers: there is no comparison between a white person straightening their hair and a nappy headed ho straightening its hair

Yeah this article was a little bit ridiculous. I've had dreads in my life at one point but it wasn't because I wanted to be “rasta” (I don't see why I would want to co-opt a homophobic religion ie; any religion) it was because I was lazy and if my hair gets to a certain point if I don't brush it a stupid amount it turns into dreadlocks.

cunt

someone should write An Open Letter To Black People With Opinions

you're dumb.

you're dumb.

Yup, I'm with the author. All prejudice aside, dreads just look fucking stupid on white people.

Do you work at a…? Wait seriously, where the fuck do you work?

From what I've seen, I think dreads ALWAYS look good on African Americans, and SOMETIMES look good on Caucasians.

That being said, this article was really racially and ethnically insensitive to a number of cultures and creeds–but a large amount of the comments are much, much worse.

White people love shouting “reverse racism” at anything. Stop pretending you're offended, it's just a fucking article on Thought Catalog. Plus, the author is right, dreads look stupid as hell on people without the right hair texture.

How is there no comparison? Both are trying to achieve straight hair without naturally having it. Oh and does using “n***ers” make you feel tough? Really easy to grow some balls on the internet.

This is actually really stupid. I'm sick of everybody complaining that dreadlocks are reserved for religion. Rastafarianism. That's total bull shit. Tattoos started out that way too, tribal. Does anybody give a fuck when the average person gets a tattoo? No. Because they're just tattoos. Just like dreadlocks are just dreadlocks. And no, white people don't have to not wash their hair for weeks and become a dirty mess just to have dreadlocks. Back-coming and no conditioner does exactly the same thing. And even african-textured hair should wax and maintain dreads. Duh. Idiots.

hey mr. imnot…., why don't you say that to the face of these so called “n!ggers”… i love how racist bigots hide behind, letters, radios, and the rest of the media… then when sum1 retaliates, oh no! THEY feel threatened!

LOL, you're a FAG

you look dumb when you blog

ahhhhh… Arealemail has his own little pet. his own little yes man

i think that white people shouldn't wear dread lots not because it was made for black people or something btu because its such a good waste of their nice hair already.. such a waste of beautiful, manegable hair.. if you want nappy hair you can have mine because i would kill to have nice shit then ugly matted up nappy dread shit..

i'm of irish and lithuanian descent, and my hair dreads naturally. and i looked damn good during the five years i had dreads.

I think you're just a dumb bitch who doesn't know what she's talking about. I'm black and 1) my hair never smells and 2) ALL of my white friends touch my hair and tell me how they with they had the same hair as me.

Unlike you, my hair doesn't make it's own grease so it doesn't smell, stick to my face or look like shit everyday! I feel sorry for you bitch.

And another thing, black people don't get their hair relaxed to “look white” it's because straight hair looks better on some of us than curly does. Luckily for me, my hair can work with any style I choose, I bet you're stuck with one style for the rest of your life.

Don't be jealous

Just a bit of history, white people have had dreadlocks for thousands of years. Do some research on the Celts.

white people dont look good with dreads.. u say its so nice and pretty,, the shit b frizzly and gooped up with grease,, that shit looks fucking disgusting,,, u needa waash that shit out and get a damn haircut and stop tryna b damn black,,.. leave it to us to have dreads!!!!

Tessah you sound like a complete fucking idiot.I have dreads and I am italian with that good straight hair.For your information you have to keep our hair clean to grow honey.I wash my hair every week and redo my dreads,they don't look or feel greasy,WE use grease FREE wax so we don't be walking around looking a hot mess. You really should of thought about this article before you wrote it and did some research you dumb ass biatch…

Wow I really had it with black people getting all pissy pants this hair style is not for white people ..you can't do this and say that ,so if we can't wear our hair like it why are black people trying to wear other people hair all the damn time , I'm so sick of it ,black people always make it sound like everything they do or wear and say is only for them, hello you are not the only race in this world and stop pitying yourself and don't come with slavery it's been a long ass time ,so us looking funny hmm look in the mirror and stop your bitchy getto attitude with your to small clothe thinking your sexy and only black women can wear it no wrong you shouldn't nor whites ,if you don't wanna be seen as trashy getto and uneducated stop acting like it .yes btw i got mixed cultures in me so don't come with that ,
So if you trying to say I'm racist thing again , black people are too and think it's ok shit no it's not

I don't have the time or energy to read through all of these again. Dreads are for the most part heinous no matter what race you are, but I have never, EVER seen an acceptable Caucasian dreaded hairstyle. It doesn't matter whether they're well-groomed or stink like alley garbage. Dreads=poop locks.

Wow I had no idea black people were so concerned with other people's business. I could give a fuck what anybody thinks about my hair. Its not “your” look. And yes, many more black chicks get weaves and extensions to look white…now thhats unnatural isn't it? You are a fucking idiot and a racist and I'm glad people like you only run your dumbass mouth on the computer.

Africa, Egypt, Aztecs, Islam…. These are cultures who rocked knotted locks for CENTURIES before Rastafari. This hairstyle is unique to each wearer. No matter the person or ethnicity, the person gets attached to their locks. They pick favorites, name and decorate them. I think they are beautiful on ALL races. Stop the hatred, all of you. There is no need for the snared noses and wrinkled foreheads of all of you who are spreading that negativity. NEVER judge someone for what style they have. It's their soul and spirit that they are wearing, not yours. Focus more on cleansing your mind. Be happy, life's too damn short for all of this. Sheesh…

Just a little info for you to research for yourself, caucasians having been rockin' dreads before there was an America. the Celts and Picts of the British Isles, the Cossacks of Russia, Scottish Highlanders, most of the barbarian tribes of Europe….they all wore dreads. not to mention the various Asian people who routinely grew dreadlocks: yamabushi warriors from early Japanese history, Sadhu and Aghouri holy men in India, and certain Buddhists sects in Korea and China. dreadlocks aren't a 'black' thing, no more than tattooing is a Polynesian thing. stop being such a racist moron.

BOOM!!!! And there it is. Now it's a party! :)

I think I agree that a lot of white people do look stupid with dreads, but your whole post just comes off as racist.

Is there any way I could complete the sentence “all black people look stupid doing x and shouldn't do it” without you finding it ignorant and offensive?

I'm white and I have dreads! I wash my hair 2 times a week and touch up my dreads every 3 weeks or so. I don't use grease or wax in my hair. It is just a small percent of people that think the way you do. As for “white people trying to be black” what about all the black females that walk around with weave in their hair to make it look like a white woman's hair? My kids are mixed so don't think i am trying to be racist. Just keeping it real like you seem to think you are doing. I don't have Bob Marley posters every where and I don't smoke weed. Dreads are a steriotype for every race that wears them. Who says who can have what kind of hair style? It's a personal choice not a group decision if you dont' like my hair then don't look at me. You don't have to agree with someone's choice of clothes, car, shoes, choice of tv shows…… so on and so forth. Yeah you have an opinion as do i. I have seen a few white people that look good with them. I have also seen a few black peole that shouldn't have them.

oh and I don't even pretend to be rasta and I never will I am me and always will be me. I don't respond to anyone that calls me rasta either….

Taste that hateraide? Tastes gooood don’t it? Drink it all down. It will kill your soul.

You’re concept of this article was nice. Trying to make “whites” understand that dreads aren’t are thing (which by the way, they’re any one’s thing). But you turned it into a rage filled rant. Which kind of made this article totally prejudice. You’re objective became null and void in your words shortly after the article began. You should be happy that White people are trying to follow the African people’s culture of dreading. Sure some White people are dirty and get nasty dreads. That’s their problem, not yours! And if you really find it necessary to control this nasty dread epidemic then help them with their dreads don’t cringe and feel bad for their parents. That’s just ignorant.

Sincerely,

A friend who cares :)

très bien dit! J’ai dreads et je suis un Français blanc!

If you’re going to comment on something, will you at least contribute something other than “you’re dumb” or something along those lines? You’re making yourself look like a 5 year old.

Wow after reading this it really shows how ignorant you are. How are you going to tell people what hairstyle they shouldn’t wear. What about the black girls that put weave in there hair to look like white peoples hair? Or are you one of those people? You really should think before you put something up like this again. The whole thing sounded completely racist to me. I don’t really care what you have to say and I’m not being harsh when I say this. You are a complete idiot.

Um, I’m black and as soon as I saw you write the thing about blacks hair dreading naturally, I stopped reading. It’s common knowledge, or should be common knowledge, that any race of people, no matter how you put it, hair can dread naturally not only blacks.

I thought this was really funny.  I’m surprised at how many prudes are here complaining about it.

whateva

Well tHaT poSt SuckS…..IT SouNds MOre RAcist then a SuggEstiON,May BE U are son Of A NO haIR biTCh N u DonT haVE haiR EitHEr,,,,GettINg DreAds Is AboUT chOIce,NOt abOUt BeiNG someONE….GO  GEt U soME HaiR TO GET dreads,u MO fO ….i Am an ASian N i love DReads..ANd iTs fOR anYOne who LIkes IT,,,,,NOt for MO fo NO haiR soN oF a BITch LIke u..U raciSt…

You can whine and cry racism (bitch please) all you want to, the author is right. Locs don’t look good on white people (or any non-black people). Even in the rare instances white person’s locs are being well-maintained, it just doesn’t look right.

As for black people straightening and weaving, well, that’s a whole ‘nother issue that would take day and a half to get through, but basically, living in such a Eurocentric world has really impacted the relationship black people (especially women) have with their hair. That’s not to say that ALL black women weave and relax out of self-hate and insecurity, but it’s definitely a factor. However, there’s a movement going on with a lot of black women going back to wearing their hair naturally. I’m very optimistic that it will only get bigger.

Any anyway, black people WAY look better with straight hair than any white person does with dreads (or cornrows, afros, etc). Honestly we can rock the hell out of any style, our hair is so versatile. I think some of you who balk at being envious doth protest too much. ;)

 HATER fa real. WHite people are beautiful as well as black people regardless of hair type. It is all about personal preferance. DO you realize that black people are running around with tight pants, rocked out piercings and loud colors, mohawks etc etc etc.,..and this style originates from punks or skinheads who despise black people for the monkeys they are………..get real homegirl

Okay, first you say “WHite people are beautiful as well as black people regardless of hair type,” and then you call black people monkeys? Talkin’ bout “homegirl”? Bitch, you all sorts of confused. And fyi, white people look more like apes with their thin lips, pale pinkish skin, and hairy bodies…. if you really want to go there.

As for the punk thing, fuck out of here. If it weren’t for black people creating rock n roll, reggae, ska, etc. there’d be no damn punks or skinheads.

P.S. Bad Brains >>>>>>

You are so funny and you probably sit on your ass with your nails and hair did receiving food stamps and section 8.   White people like apes? I have seen more black women with saggy asses and drooping mile long titties with ashy lips than anything….reality check YOU IS STOOPID

I do my own hair, thanks.  And I’m not high maintenance about my nails.

FACT: there are more white people on welfare than blacks. Something I’m sure YOU know all about, white trash.

Oh, and word to all the white women who stay trying to get ass, lip, and tit injections to resemble the original woman. I would too if I were flat, angular, dull, and lifeless. :(

I do my own hair, thanks.  And I’m not high maintenance about my nails.

FACT: there are more white people on welfare than blacks. Something I’m sure YOU know all about, white trash.

Oh, and word to all the white women who stay trying to get ass, lip, and tit injections to resemble the original woman. I would too if I were flat, angular, dull, and lifeless. :(

This shit just makes me sad.

I read all the comments posted for this article. I have to say that both groups were wrong. Yes, the author could have made her argument more presentable to the eye. But, from what i read from the previous comments ( or at least the majority of them). Their arguments we at little hard to swallow as well. I am not saying that  one side was right, and the other was wrong. I  belive that if you think a person is wrong. Bring  your argument to the table  in a decent matter. Not in the way to harm another person’s belief.  But, in a way to make the other ( your opponent) see the “reason” why you think another way.

Hair,  i never knew it could cause so much trouble! lol especially with this topic. Dreads, locks, strands of beauty, can be worn by everybody! Yes, i said EVERYBODY . Why? Free  styling is a unspoken human right. If it wasn’t, it would be a extra topic for law students to study. ( if the didn’t have enough to study already!)

White hair, Black hair, Asian hair, and Somebody’s hair ( Weave)  is beautiful. Every race has a unique hair type that sets them apart from everyone else. No one has “ideal” hair. Sure, some people have naturally strait hair, while others have  coily or curly hair. But, that doesn’t make them better or less than everyone  else. So ,stop trying to say that one  hair type is better than the others.

Please stop using derogatory terms to hurt one raise and praise another.  If you can’t say anything decent, than don’t say it at all. 

Peace and love to you all!

I read all the comments posted for this article. I have to say that both groups were wrong. Yes, the author could have made her argument more presentable to the eye. But, from what i read from the previous comments ( or at least the majority of them). Their arguments we at little hard to swallow as well. I am not saying that  one side was right, and the other was wrong. I  belive that if you think a person is wrong. Bring  your argument to the table  in a decent matter. Not in the way to harm another person’s belief.  But, in a way to make the other ( your opponent) see the “reason” why you think another way.

Hair,  i never knew it could cause so much trouble! lol especially with this topic. Dreads, locks, strands of beauty, can be worn by everybody! Yes, i said EVERYBODY . Why? Free  styling is a unspoken human right. If it wasn’t, it would be a extra topic for law students to study. ( if the didn’t have enough to study already!)

White hair, Black hair, Asian hair, and Somebody’s hair ( Weave)  is beautiful. Every race has a unique hair type that sets them apart from everyone else. No one has “ideal” hair. Sure, some people have naturally strait hair, while others have  coily or curly hair. But, that doesn’t make them better or less than everyone  else. So ,stop trying to say that one  hair type is better than the others.

Please stop using derogatory terms to hurt one raise and praise another.  If you can’t say anything decent, then don’t say it at all! 

Peace and love to you all!

you have to wash it still.. it is going to get greasy if you don’t…
After they mature, they are the most simple hair style ever.

WOW.. THIS IS TO FUNNY … BLESS UP KUS THIS SHIII IS MASHED UP … JAH LOVE

i-San Tafari T

I don’t mind “Locs” on white people at all.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder… no point in arguing about it cause you can’t bitches! hahahah
 
Not all blacks look good with dreads or straight hair, my god ….. how racist and ignorant.  Otherwise known as insecure! haha
 
Black people always have to try so hard wearing their fake hair… now a lot of the time it looks like matted monkey mess…. and you can see how hard they try to impress everyone.
 
Anyway to each their own.  As I said beauty is in… lol …

i cant believe how much shit ppl pop over the internet!!
quite sad i think.
im not here to judge. interesting article. we dont all have to agree but i respect opinions & the point you were trying to get across

Hah.  This nigger comes in here telling whites not to wear dreads, and goes on to say they are jealous of pubic haired blacks?   Hilarious!

Sheboon, no right minded white is jealous of your velcro hair.  White people want to have afros?  Are you fucking stupid?  Do you even know white people, or are you just some monkey with such an utter hatred for superior whites that you have to ramble on about brainless nigger shit.  Drealocks and afros for whites?  Do we look like primates to you, ape?

Haha, you know?  Ironic that this ape is calling white people stinky, when niggers like this often stink like a mix of BO and cocobutter.

“Black people being racist in America doesn’t exist”

That is the stupidest thing I’ve read other than the sheboon’s article up top.  Go educate yourself, you damn dirty ape!

Yea, niggers play the race card more than anyone. 

CHO rude white boy, what you dont understand is the fact that deads represent a lot more then a hair style. its a movement, a pride in all things Jamaica and African. If a white person has dreads he is not saying that he’s African he’s making a mockery of it and JAH doesn’t like when people mock him. Think pon that for a while.

This stupid fucking nigger hasn’t made any contribution to society..no written language, calendar, medicine, nothing…then she goes and uses the internet…created by whites, sitting at home in the projects paid by whites, food for her provided by whites, then she tries to tell white people what they can and cannot do…nigger without whites you would be back in africa eating each other like they do in liberia….nigger

this is fucking stupid.  i hate to break it to you, but jamaicans didn’t invent dreadlocks.  pretty much all humans had dreadlocks before the invention of the comb.  dreadlocks are considered holy among many hindus, which predates rastafarianism by about 4000-5000 years. 

i’m white, i don’t listen to reggae nor the grateful dead, i’m not in college, i’m not from the west coast, and my dreads look mad fly.

to me, my dreads are spiritual; and inadvertently pissing people off merely by my hairstyle is a sign to me that i’m on the right path. 

This was one of the more unfortunate things I have seen trolling on the internet in quite a while. An African American dictating her/his proposed statutes/unfounded opinions on what a person should do with their hair. On the other side of the fence, their were comments calling this person an “N” word, and other spiteful racial slurs. 

What’s sad is that it is 2011(the age of technology), and face to face conversation, forms of protest, and strongly worded opinion, has become mute due to the anonymity of the internet. We are allowed to hide behind keyboards and create hateful dialogue, or misrepresented information. Well, here is my two cents(as a white man who grew up in NYC next to the Jamaican Junction in Brooklyn):

CULTURE IS TRANSFERABLE, REVERENCE FOR THAT CULTURE IS NOT—

Some white people do not educate themselves to the spiritual and political meaning in which Rastafarian’s justified locking up their hair. American whites might consider it more fashionable, sexually attractive, while not fully embracing the statement of protest/political power/spirituality that dreading your hair might possess:  It is certainly a symbol of African heritage.

** As human beings, we are free to embrace aspects of any culture that help us define ourselves. However, what makes “white people with dreads” controversial/unique/ is the racial dynamic between blacks and whites throughout our history. After all, it was only about 35 years ago that blacks began treated with any level of equality in this country. Is a white person getting their hair dreaded as ignorant as a white person painting their face in “black-face” in the 1920′s?…NO.  Many people in different music subcultures have adopted the “white dread” as a staple in the scene……I think that maybe dreadlocks have taken on a different meaning than their African origins. The hairstyle is still an act of  naturalness as it was in African Culture, it has just been acclimated to whites to represent a different kind of naturalness; truthfully, what the hairstyle represents has more similarities between blacks and whites than it has differences.

“As human being, we are free to embrace aspects of any clture that helps us define ourselves.”  This conclusion is the bafflingly arrogant result of neoliberalism.  America has become very open about its policy of complete cultural freedom to ensure its own dominance on the stage of the global market. 
As a white woman, I could have written the original article. Most white hair does NOT dread naturally, thus defeating the whole philosophy of dread locks as a “natural” way.  
This is the question at the heart of the issue: Why must white people have it all?  Why are we unsatisfied with ANY personal limitation?  Haven’t have dictated our hairstyles, our Big Macs, and our God to the indiginous people of the world for far too long?  White people are in no position to accuse ANYONE of “racism.” 
Furthermore, it should NOT be politically correct to afford humanity complete cultural freedom.  Culture is ultimately determined by its limitations, standards and boundaries.  This provides society with health and balance, and serves as the paradigm through which we determine truth.  The fallout of this relatively straightforward and unoffensive article convinces me that Americans have the biggest God-complex in all of history, as well as the biggest insecurities. The result is a confused, extraordinarily unhappy and unintelligent nation.  Our destructive domestic and foreign policies reflect this.  We might want to at least consider a little humility and stop trying to be who we’re not.      

I loved the hairstyles in the PLANET OF THE APES.

okay, read this and laugh a bit, but i mean come on? really? there are people with curly coarse hair that air whiter then my pale ass. I’m white, my parents are Caribbean-Hispanic (also white ). the closest thing to black in my family was my great great grandaddy who was north african (also white). I dont have nappy “black” hair, its thin and straight, but my moms got some afro curls. I’ve loved dreads since i was about 4 years old, just remember seeing then and being like i need those! im the type of white guy that looks like an albino black dude, wide nose, really big lips, eays too. so i’ve actually worn dread caps with fake dreads before and people asked if they were really, cause they looked natural, so now 12 years since i first wanted them, i finally got the chance to get them, so im starting now. i come back and post some picks a long the way and i WILL WASH IT! NO RUBBER BANDS, just sectioning and back combing, or i’ll have my barber do it, he’s a pro.

Yo sissy. Don’t go complaining at white people for having dreads. They can have whatever hairstyle they wish to have. Your opinion is just YOUR opinion and you really need to learn to keep your opinions to yourself.
Sincerely, ‘a friend that really, really cares’

Ya this is just ignorance through and through. Trying to claim sole ownership of a style for a movement that simply did not create it by any stretch of the imagination. Even besides the historical African and Hindu uses dreads where worn by Scottish people, Germanic tribesmen, mongol hoards, and pretty much any other group of people on earth with a wild tribal origin.
I appreciate the fact that Rasta’s  have incorporated them into their beliefs and that black hair can achieve them with less difficulty but this style belongs at some point in history to nearly every group of people on earth. Not only that but why can we not in this day and age start putting some of this shit behind us and just treat each other like human beings for a change. A little bit of mutual respect and God forbid maybe even taking these kinds of things in a positive light even if they are trying to emulate blacks. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  I know the arguements but for real, everyone taking themselves so damn seriously all the time really gets old fast.

Besides. Getting dreads has been one of my best decisions ever. They effectively create a soft pillow for my head wherever I choose to rest it.  They are fun as hell at concerts. They frequently spark conversations with the types of fun, open minded people that I enjoy talking to and associating with of all colors and races. They chase away close minded people, supporters of racial cliques, and most general haters or at least makes them reveal themselves with snarky insults so that they can be effectively avoided.  

White people and dreads definitely don’t mix…looks shitty to me.

White people and dreads definitely don’t mix…looks shitty to me.

lol

Ahahahaa, nice.

Just Counting My Blessings and Thinking of Your Grace and Sending You Some Love with The Mother Load of Warm Fuzzies! Ises!

haha white people crack me up

Why are you so concerned with other people’s personal choices? No white person with dreadlocks gives a damn what you think. Get a life of your own and stay out of other people’s

Don’t hate on this blog post just because your dreads look awful…

I doubt that you are Rastafarian. If you were, you would have a much more open attitude. Rasta is about universalism and the connected nature of life and the world. Dont rebuke me for “defiling” something that you clearly dont understand.

 A Rastafari would welcome anyone who has dreads for the right reason, a reason that varies from individual to individual. Dreads are in fact a test of self. They cause people to look at you and see someone different than they would if you were the average upper middle class white dude. Strangers dont categorize you the same. Having dreads gives you a taste of what the average minority group member feels. Only a drop in the bucket compared im sure, but at least its an opportunity to see life from the vantage point of another. 

By understanding what it is like to be critisized on outside appearance alone it helps me to no longer assign labels to other people without knowing them first. Its words and criticism from people like you that allow those with dreads to feel what it is like to be judged and given a definition by others based only on appearance.

For example, when I go up to pay for something, the cashier usually gives me a glance and ignores me only to be surprised when I  smile and say thank you. Without dreads, the same person would actively engage me when I walked up. This is the lesson that I have learned. I cant treat people based on the outside… I always thought I knew what it was like, I understood my “privilege,” but I really didnt understand until I was given the opportunity to learn from my dreads.  When I learn what I can from my dreads, and I have changed as a person, my dreads will come off. Until then, Ill keep rollin away.

So please, think of what purpose your words serve before you put them out there. Did you give them a task sending out bad vibes and causing unnecessary strife? Or do you send them out with love and understanding of another?

You sir, do not know me. Maybe now you will understand. 

Good luck figuring it all out man. Its uncomfortable at first, but its awesome once you start really understanding.

Cheers,
Todd (most “white guy” name ever… I know =] )

I doubt that you are Rastafarian. If you were, you would have a much more open attitude. Rasta is about universalism and the connected nature of life and the world. Dont rebuke me for “defiling” something that you clearly dont understand. A Rastafari would welcome anyone who has dreads for the right reason, a reason that varies from individual to individual. Dreads are in fact a test of self. They cause people to look at you and see someone different than they would if you were the average upper middle class white dude. Strangers dont categorize you the same. Having dreads gives you a taste of what the average minority group member feels. Only a drop in the bucket compared im sure, but at least its an opportunity to see life from the vantage point of another. By understanding what it is like to be critisized on outside appearance alone it helps me to no longer assign labels to other people without knowing them first. Its words and criticism from people like you that allow those with dreads to feel what it is like to be judged and given a definition by others based only on appearance.For example, when I go up to pay for something, the cashier usually gives me a glance and ignores me only to be surprised when I  smile and say thank you. Without dreads, the same person would actively engage me when I walked up. This is the lesson that I have learned. I cant treat people based on the outside… I always thought I knew what it was like, I understood my “privilege,” but I really didnt understand until I was given the opportunity to learn from my dreads.  When I learn what I can from my dreads, and I have changed as a person, my dreads will come off. Until then, Ill keep rollin away.So please, think of what purpose your words serve before you put them out there. Did you give them a task sending out bad vibes and causing unnecessary strife? Or do you send them out with love and understanding of another?You sir, do not know me. Maybe now you will understand. Good luck figuring it all out man. Its uncomfortable at first, but its awesome once you start really understanding.Cheers,Todd (most “white guy” name ever… I know =] )

Article like this is why our society is going under so quickly. Don’t people stop to think a white, black, Asian, red, pink, dog, cat that has dreaded hair is just expressing themselves. Black people hair is nappy by nature, why straighten to be like white people? No its a choose of expression and comfort.

It’s sad as North Americans have very little culture and are still so oblivious to how the world around use has accepted the most comment of life style chooses. I am Eastern European by birth, lived in more then 5 countries for extended periods of time and visited over 30. As a person who dreads their hair I have only had the issue in North America. I didn’t even have the issue while my 7 years in African or 5 years in West Indies, or 12 years in South America. When I say North America I am only considering the dumb US of A and Canada.

I am glad I have the opportunity to travel as if I had to live my entire life with the United States I would shoot myself with all the ignorance of the least educated developed country in the world per capita. Oh lets not forget 44 Million Americans live below the poverty level. I wonder why? Oh I know because you are to busy judging what white, black, Asian people should look like and what type of hair cuts they should wear.

I will break it to you in simple words every bleeds red we are all the same deep down. Smarten up write more articles how to help your culture not bash it.

The only problem with unnatural dreads is that they stink . Do you care about your personal hygiene, that’s the only question. Enough with the debate.

lol all these crackers tryin to defend honor they never had. and trust me… you never ever would experience even the slightest view of being a minority by haveing them. your just a imposter… a cultureless thief…

Tessah, gurl… I LOVE YOU 4 THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me guess…??? You must be white…??? lol

I’m glad my father educated us about stupid “MOTHER FUCKERS” like you…
The white man went to steal from Africa, because Europe was good for nothing…. Had no goods, and the people were too weak to be any good to themselves… SHAME…!!!
And why are you guys, just always so fucking clueless…????????? LOL

Ok, you’re making some very big errors here, allow me to address them.

1) White hair actually has to be very clean to dread properly.

2) White hair also dreads itself over time naturally, it just takes longer.

3) Dreads were introduced to Jamaica in the 19th century by Hindu holy men, so it is not something the black race can claim originality on. The original White inhabitants of the British isles had Dreads, as the Roman invaders made many comments about snake haired warriors!

4) Black people (especially in America) have also “stolen” (I use this term as an example, I will address this in the next point) many straight White hairstyles too.

5) There’s no such thing as a “black hairstyle” – or a White, Asian etc one.

Bleeding hearts like you do my head in. Do you realise by simpering to ignorant people playing the victim you look like an idiot?

I’ve got a tip for you – black Americans DO NOT CARE about “educated” and “sympathetic” people like you. They’re ignorant, racist, and have the biggest chip on their shoulder. I should know, I’m a White British male who was married to a Black American and in the time I was I was accused of being a racist, cultural thief, told all White babies are ugly, that I had no culture and even that all White women look alike. I was like you – I read “African American” books, watched black movies, went to black gatherings and even done research on my in-laws family tree. My ex or their family did not care about any of this! To them, this was not enough – I represented the White devil and they were the poor oppressed victim.

Stop putting your people, country and race down and use your education to further your life – and stop worrying about people who hate your very being!

Do you realise by talking English you’re talking the language of Babylon? If you’re so righteous, get off the internet, move to Ethiopia and learn Amharic. Did you even know that Rastas are only supposed to have dreads if they’re on a Nasirite vow? Probably not.

Look, I know you’re sad, but believe me, I understand hair envy. Why do
you think black people spend literally billions of dollars every year in
the hair industry?

there you said it, they are spending all their money trying to make their hair look like something it isn’t.
if a white person wants to have dreads, they just have to stop brushing their hair just like black people do.
for someone it will take a super short amount of time but mostly for people with straight hair it will take some pationce, which is good for you, maybe you’ll learn a lesson bout life while you’re at it!

As a black man w/dreads I can only speak for myself but I love them white girls with sexy thin dreads, they look so natural.. I don’t know maybe cuz I’m European haha..

On the other hand, most black girls I see these days look like this, and as you can see that’s not looking very natural.. People, be proud of your body, your hair and everything about you and stop trying to tell others what they should do because that goes for almost everyone, no one likes to be told what to do/wear whatever.. Peace and Love!

FYI, we don’t straighten to be like white people. We straighten because it’s easier to tame; the same reason some white people straighten their hair…

White people steal EVERYTHING form us… Let us at least have our own NATURAL hairstyle….

WHITE PEOPLE… JUST STICK TO THE WAY GOD CREATED YOU… YES, BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT DREADS AND BROWN SKIN ISN’T YOU… So wouldn’t it be easier to just be who you naturally are…? Meaning a whole lot of money and time saved, by not trying to be black… So no more dreads, and tanning salons or hours on the beach… It’s a sign to stop when you become red instead of brown, and your skin starts looking like beef jerky and your hair won’t cooperate with the style that you’re trying to portray… Don’t you all think you’re taken enough from us…??? Let us have this one thing of natural beauty that the maker has blessed us with…

Hindus and Africans were the original dreadies, but* wtf do you think the Jews were doing with their thick hair?

Plenty of black girls pay shit pots of money to get straight hair….like white girls. Hell it’s all over the entertainment industry. Black culture needs to lose this chip on their shoulder.

There’s two forms of wiggers….one, a white person that emulates the cliche nature of black culture….and two: black people that wish they were white.

Please check the facts before allowing shit to come out the wrong end, your mouth.

good thing I did not care what you wrote or think. hair left uncombed….naturally dreads, so tell me, you think African Americans are the ONLY ones who “should” wear dreads? lol, that’s funny, I will happily wash and not comb my hair, and what it does it does. the world would be a better place if we all lived that way, let things be, let people be who they want, look how they want, and worry about your own life. btw, my WHITE boyfriend has naturally KINKY hair that as it grows NATURALLY dreads…………..you think I need to paint him black for that to be ok?

As dreadlocks are the ‘part’ of Rastafarian culture, how do author dare talk about races? White people with dreads (not all of them) used to take a part of Rastafari. There is one important thing that rastafarians used to share – there is no race split, everyone are humans, and this does matter.
As there’s no such thing as a “black hairstyle”, there’s no such thing as a culture restriction.

Sorry for my english fluency.

Dear Tessah,
I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, but I also don’t agree. Infaxt I believe you’re being ignorant to the fact that all white people who get dreadlocks are wanna-be Rastas/hippies, and in fact there are a large percantage of wanna-bes out there in our world. I on the other hand am a white male from Halifax, Nova Scotia (East coast of Canada). I am currently and have been growing my hair for quite some time and am continuing to do so until my hair is long enough to dread (my standard of long enough). I mean no disrespect to the Rastafari religion, but Robert Nesta Marley is in fact an inspiration to me and my idol. I follow the religion as best I can without giving up who I am an individual. I have the perfect hair a white man can get for dreadlocks, you may disagree, BUT you do not have the authority to tell me otherwise. All these people that have read your article and then comment about how ridiculous it is…those people are fools. These are your thoughts and point of views and for someone to tell you that you’re being ridiculous, those people are the wanna-bes in life. These people are being just as ignorant as you were being. So you should revise your thoughts and next time for you Tessah and further more any other person who reads this, live life the way you wish to, be who you are, and stop being biased.

lol im white  and i guarantee u i have better locs than most people of color!! dont be judgemental its not white peoples fault y’all barely have hair to rock lmao smh all day =)!!!!!

stop hating on white dread heads we dont crack ur two inches of nappy shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you can say “nappy” I can too bitch so shut the fuck up. I dont need horse tail on my head to feel sexy!!! I still get it anyway I can! You need to take you and your nappy headed babies on down to the wellfare office and get your free shit that I have to bust my ass to pay for… anywhooo….. Your just  a fat old cunt who needs to get laid, afterall, you know you want some little white dreadheaded babies from me! HATERRRRRRRRRRR.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery:  Charles Caleb Colton

Wowww!! Hmmm…I don’t agree with everything the author included for I think dreads look ugly on everybody. However, with the author and many of the commentors…history has been forgotten.  1) Who started the look of dreads, I don’t know but I do know that “dreads” is the shortened term of dreadful used to describe the african slaves hair–hence the requirement for them to wear headrags. 2) Even as recent as the 1990′s blacks, especially black women, were not allowed to wear their hair naturally in the work place…ie corporate america–hence the requirement for straightening. Jealousy? Probably on both sides of the racial divide. One better than the other? I doubt it, for I know there are white people that sure as hell can’t get their hair to straighten and “blow in the wind” AND I know there’s black people that can’t get their hair to curl up or lock.

PS–history again people…history. Blacks didn’t invent the weave! 1950′s they were called “falls” or hair pieces. White grandma’s wore them, white mother’s wore them, and white children wear them…to the pageants, the prom,  to their sorority meetings and some wear them everyday just because, but all as a way to not be how they “naturally” are. C’mon guys! 

HAHAHA… It’s just hair you crazy ass American nut-jobs… Why worry bout the economy and foreign policy when we can all slang verbal abuse over skin pigmentation and hair… Funny as can be….

as a rootical rastafari i have sighted that if thy live the rastafari livity truly no matter what hair type or skin one and ones have it will naturaly knot up and over time mat up. whether white black or hindu it dont matter. if a white person wants dreads so be it, any races hair will form knots, no glory to any specific race. beside its not your head so dont worry about anyone else but thyself. LIVE and LET LIVE. MORe POWA

but black people taked my bike, my lawn mower, my house, my dog, my car. whyyyy black ppl Y?

This was cruel…why must we be this way towards each other…the author of this post was being unfair and rude and so are you. I am a black woman who does have a bit of unease about white locs, but still we are all descendants of the first humans…why can’t we just get along…and I’m serious…

I love this! There is a white middle aged woman on my street with dreadlocks (bleached somehow) that go down to her waist. I am sure some of them are yarn for fillers because there is no way they wouldn’t fall out. Anyway she is married to a really handsome Indian man and all I can think is that her hair must make him sick all splayed out on the pillow next to him. I’m sure her hairstyle is some passive aggressive cock blocking manouevre that makes me sad,

 Strangers dont categorize you the same. Having dreads gives you a taste of what the average minority group member feels. Only a drop in the bucket compared im sure, but at least its an opportunity to see life from the vantage point of another.
I think he agrees with you… he clearly said its “a drop in the bucket” meaning not comparable to what a minority member feels… but a step in the right direction. you just WANT to have hatred in your heart. That is a person who is trying to understand and change himself for the better. Why tear him down? 

Grow.

every race on the planet that isnt negroid thanks god they dont have that hideous nappy 2″ of pubic mess on their heads!!!

whites with dreads unuhhh theres a white guy with dreads at my local grocery store he is always looking at me for approval (his hair) i cant give it he looks terrile very  nasty and trifflin loland he is so nice looking what a pity

I wonder if this guy is aware that dreadlocks started with Sumerians, you know… the original civilization. No one race gets to privatize it since…. they weren’t white or black…. more like what the descendants of most middle eastern countries are like. This author probably doesn’t know that,  most people that are outspoken about their opinions tend to be psuedo-intellectuals with a chip on their shoulder. Slow down buddy, no need to prove yourself here. It also not like you have to balls to say this in person to any “white person” with dreads. Hence the long thought out statement. Get a job if you don’t have one, and started directing all that rascist anger at things that will actually benefit people, or start some kinda of community benefit program. Because in all honesty, unless you are some humanitarian or noted leader, nobody cares what you say, cause you aren’t shit, and probably won’t be. I’m sure you have a degree, and a decent job, so does everyone else. So next time you get that bile growing up in your throat from seeing a white guy with dreads, swallow it and realize that your behavior makes you no better.

Someone stirred up the nest a little?  All she said was      “..but all I ask is for you to just let us have this one”  no?

Defensive or what? 

So,  i’m someone of the lighter hue let’s say, and who has indulged his imagination to where he’s convinced that by co-opting the sacraments and artefacts of a sector of a population historically abused by slavery will help  put to rights  centuries of greedy capitalism based on the enslavement of nations (Plus i think this rats’ nest * looks cewl and will who knows, get me laid
one day by that xica down the road who only does rastamen..)

Then somebody comes up to me in the street in Kingston Ja. and she says..  ‘ listen friend, you saw Elvis appropriate rock music and with the support of the white machine make it look like he thought of it first. You watched M&M stand up in a film in front of the whole black rock and roll race and tell us all ‘..hah— whitey can do this rap shit yay!” or maybe you were there in the 60′s watching the ´great white hopes´go up against black artists like Cassius Clay and try to take from them what they never could or would. You also saw the olympic Panthers up there saying with a black glove salute “you can’t take this away from us”. And then may be just there in the dark depth of whatever cold scheming value-added charge-you-for-that-glass-of-water-when-you’re-dying-of-thirst trust-fund financed gap-year shrivelled up capitalist anaemic little heart that beats there inside you and that, face it, ain’t never gonna change, you felt..   ” Fair do’s.. i’m enjoying my whole digitised civilisation built on the blood and sweat of these people — if I really want to give them back something maybe i can best do that by   “.. just letting them have this one”   as Tessa was saying, instead of patronising the fk out of them.. and trying to uh, get down and just embarrassing everyone.

These are the days of virtualised virtue, globalised vanity and self-serving polemics of stupidity — doesn’t mean we all have to take part,  or encourage those who do. Nicely argued, Tessa and totally on it.

PS. For anyone in doubt check out the  ‘mullet’  variation* of the dreadlock where ‘killo’ (chav) style meets some er,  t w i t t e d   idea of  ‘rasta’.

jeez. a little sanity at last

Amen to that! Otherwise the whole world would be crippled from the head lice that have family reunions in the greasy, stringy, smell like dog when wet, mess on white peoples heads.

honestly.. this is all like if some white people were getting really pissed that black people straighten their hair.. get over it seriously. iv read a lot of comments and a lot of you say “let us have at least one thing” or something along these lines as if life is still so unfair to you. if the black communities were to try and better themselves with school and actually work hard you would b doing a lot better. honestly when it comes to college its not even close to being equal because i would have all As and a black person could get in and not me with all Bs just cuz they r black.. thats not equality.. i cant and wont apologize for slavery because i wasnt there.. but fuck! neither were u so u have nothing to complain about.. dont you think your better off here anyway? would u rather b in the corrupted government run tribes in africa? even if the US was as racist as it was back in the day your still probably better off here.

dumb nigger dreadies grow natural on most hairstyles there is only a couple that have bad luck with dreadies so go sit in a corner and shit the fuck up, i dont wanna here if u arent happy coz we pull of a hair style better than you.

blacks are the people winging for equal rights so let us have dreds. 

You are a big fat ugly bitch fucking nigger for writing this entire rant. You are ignorant, and I for one am very happy your people were enslaved for that nigga ass shit you leaked from your big ass lips.

This ignorance, my guess, is what led your kind to be chained and worked for years at the hand of the white man. Lucky for your stupid black ass we were kind enough to teach allow you to learn the ABCs, fucking African monkey.

Checking out the freebased hatred and bellicose ignorance of the comments here, mainly from whites (jeez  it’s like Youtube here, soon we’ll need but two words OMG & LOL) so a non-US national is left to think either the US population with more than a single braincell abstains from ever commenting at this kind of forum (not totally unlikely under the circumstances..) or.. such just don’t exist. Whatever, it’s clear the people of the US are being represented internationally online at sites like these by a segment of their population bent on branding the whole of America a nation of blind hatred, fear , arrogance, casual violence and ignorance, worth only the contempt of the rest of the world, which they do gain, yeah, akshurly. With Earth population getting to about 8 billion too many  certain people are talking about a human cull. Perhaps it is this kind of person they have in their sights. One can but hope. Will the www ‘anonimity’  prove effective in  hiding  him  from the CIA Cull Branch?

dreadlocks started in Africa. but the celtic`s ,pirates and everyone wore them…. hell i think the cave men wore them first. I am black and think if your hair can lock and if you like them…. do you. I`ve seen all races with locks and think if you keep them up….. you good.

why race allway`s got to be a problem. If you like dreads then where them, just keep them up and clean and fuck everybody white,black and brown.

This is probably the most ignorant thing I’ve ever read.  I know plenty of white people with lockable hair.  White people have nappy hair too, girl.  It’s not just blacks.  Chill out dude.  If whites can’t have dreads, then tell your community to stop straightening their hair.  What looks more natural, a white person with dreads with extremely curly hair, or a black person with stick straight hair gelled to their head?  

Lmaooooooooooooo!!!! AHAHahhahahahahaha!!! woooooohoooo! Damn…another white person who can dish it (and probably does every chance he gets) BUT can’t take it. White people are so fucking mental.

She said all she needed to when she claimed “dreads” as a black thing. Past I checked India was nowhere close to Africa

Ignorant man…Do some research.. Dreadlocks are not a black person hairstyle…. Do some fucking research you uneducated fuck

This is racist hate speech and nothing better.  All of your points are ridiculous and biased against individuals because of their racial identity.  What if I wrote an article suggesting that black people just can’t pull off a pony tail?  I’d be pitchforked in the streets of the internet, yet somehow it’s appropriate for you to suggest that a specific ethnic group owns a hair style.   You continue to drag out ridiculous stereotypes that would be completely unacceptable in any other context, yet somehow its defensible for you?  I’m not buying it.

News for you: Black people in America, nor Rastafarians in Jamaica, invented dreadlocks.  As you pointed out, HAIR JUST DOES THAT, and not just for people of African descent.  I have a blonde white girl friend who’s hair will start dreading within 2-3 days of not being combed, so it’s not like African individuals have a monopoly on genetic factors that predispose hair to dreadlocks.  Dreadlocks are the original hairstyle, they’ve existed in India and, yes, much of Europe for thousands of years.News flash for you: I, and most of my friends, are white people with dreads, and our hair is not only perfectly suited for dreadlocks, it’s also clean and well-kept.  Sure it took me longer to get there than people with certain types of hair, but 2 years my locks grow in just fine and require only minimal maintenance.  I make my own shampoo and wash them consistently. Go ahead and try cutting my dreads next time I’m on the bus, you can have fun dealing with being charged with a hate crime.

Nobody has said this yet so .. hey it’s my turn anyway.. 
It really doesn’t matter a mullet- wig-fkkn- ratsnest who had dreads before the Rastas and which genetic varieties of hair are more disposed toward felting when left alone (If you’re making a carpet in mongolia y’hafta bash all that sheepswool under water a couple of days before it felts up so it’s good we’re not sheep.. uh, isn’t it..?) Frankly what’s sheepish here is the disinegenuous tone of those claiming non-rasta nativity for the dread hairdo. We all know who and what popularised it worldwide and it wasn’t some sadu, nor any celtic warrior chief in his ginger-locked majesty (gingerism.. the final legitimised bastion of racism!!&! ), and it wasn’t Kevin Keegan leaving his mullet unwashed three days and turning into a pestilent rug .. so wrong , wrong, and wrong. It was the same people who mass-popularised the ten kiloton spliff and the space-out dub beats to go with it —- without i even mention mr God Marley hisseff. So fokes,y’kin wriggle like minnows and worms in Tessa’s net but you know you’re a lost cause — as all your freak out defensive strutting proves (did somebody rip da offa some ting mon?. Your post-rationalized wiseass ’factual’  explanations  — dragging out all your archived instances of  historic dreadlock wiggers.. ( ” ..ooh and did you know Abraham Lincoln always wore a hat because he secretly had dreads sprouting there out of sympathy for his slaves..  ” etc) just reeks of your  convenience – born disingenuity and no-one with even half a cabbage in his cranium is fooled. A cultural icon is a cultural icon and when whites dread the head it’s the Rasta/reggae/dope icon they’re aping, not any historic idea of dreadlock caucasia. I mean we can be racist here, and hateful and stupified, even.  So maybe we could try a little honesty  too huh? And can we, uh my white brethren, just let the Rastas have this one —  or plainly put,  do you HAVE TO HAVE EVERY FKKN THING?

I’m not even going to try to be nice here. That was an ignorant, nigger-minded article that would set your entire race back if given national attention. Any black person not claiming to be a nigger should be ashamed of the nigger that wrote this article.

yo just jealous my dreads are sexier then yours. :) i work sold not spongy.

All I gotta say is everyone came from African-descent meaning everyone can from Africans weather they like it or not. And for the racist if no Africans were here you wouldn’t be at all. And if you feel different keep going on your path to hell for hating someone just because their skin color, race or origin more than likely you will find yourself with people that hate u even more in hell because the lord look badly on hatred. And for the white people who want dreads get them and keep them up!!!

All I have to say is that”this is a bunch of bullshit”!.I’m a African American,born and raised in Ga. and have dreads.And no i’m not a wanna be Rastafarian,from Jamaica,but i’v been living in N,Florida for thirteen yrs.now and this is were i’v encounter my first caucasion with dreadlocks.Right then I figured,what the hell.If they like it,well i love it.Who am i to judge.We all are one.Be free,do what ever makes you happy, express yourself.And to the one that wrote the top artical,you are an ASS,grow the fuck UP!You must feel real bad about yourself,so you just had to find someone to pick on.As you didn’t know,us Dreadies,we thick together.1LOVE!

Yes,that was silly for what she wrote.But,what you wrote,makes you more of an ass as her.All that ‘n’WORD and shit was very uncalled for,”you Stupid Ass Racist”.And who the fuck you’r calling a slave,Bitch!Y’all are here because,your forefather’s took over a land that didn’t belong to them.And yes,if it wasn’t for slaves,America wouldn’t be were it is today,we are the back bone to the U.S.,we helped build this Nation”you dumb ass”.Our people fought in the the civil war  too,”The 54th”.Know your history,instead of running your mouth about something you know nothing about.Out of all the things that my ancestors done for this nation,we haven’t never gotten a, Thank You…. so keep your racial thoughts and comments to yourself.Oh Yeah,before i forget.Take your own advice,”learn your abc’s” .Learn to Spell you B-I-T-C-H!

Well let me introduce myself, I am a white female with clean dreads. I wash them every two days. Everyone I know compliments me about them saying that they always smell so good. I definately understand that there are those that refuse to wash their locks, and smell putrid. But that’s their choice that they have to live with. I choose to keep mine clean and pretty. And I have met a few African Americans or black people that have some of the most disgusting dreads i have ever seen, or smelt. Yuck. As for saying white people hair doesn’t dread naturally, well that’s a lie. My hair will naturally dread if I don’t pull a brush through it in two days. One of the many reasons I decided to dread my hair. It can be a disastrous look, and it can also be a beautiful one. Don’t put people into one catagory because you are being ignorant.

You are incredibly ignorant.

all i can say is that black girls want white girl hair but cant because their hair wont grow fast enough, so then they have to buy a weave which is horse hair

I know African heritage folks think they invented locks.  You think this because you are unfamiliar with other peoples heritage.  Cultures world-wide for all kinds of religious, social, cultural reasons have been found with locked hair going back thousands of years.  In ancient times in Europe for example…they were known as ‘elf locks’ and were common for medicine men and women..they were also very common in the warrior tribes as they were originally grown by Ethiopians…Locks in most cultures are common in these groups of people, spiritual or warrior.  

I am proud of my heritage and have grown blond dreadlocks three times, each decade over the last thirty years…and they are clean and beautiful…and I did it the same way any bushman would have..totally naturally and easily.

If you want to be as cool, right- on, sincere and truthful  as your honkylocks you’d have suggest then you’ll admit the reason behind having them is not about anything any holy man of any ancient white culture did, but because you figured they looked dandy on rasta men and, being of the dominant culture, well now,  you’d dang well like to help y’seff to a piece o that pie too. Maybe even get laid. So your creepin’ Jesus just conceals the same old white bully boy then don’t it? Gotta have it all, damn!! Admit it. But only if you’re big enough. If you’re not, go back to your slippin’  slidin’ post-rationalising self-serving white capitalist cake- and- eat- it weasel-wordy pit. Oh, but maybe get real on the way?

Mofo, please!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im african american I never used any damn weave in my life and my hair is long and natural I don’t no dog hair proud of what I have the best hair of all races And most unique.

lol…   in the last 3 decades the most rasest remarks ive herd have come from (blacks)if thats what YOU all wish to be called theese days.  get real.

White people’s hair dreads if left alone. And as for the argument that it’s cultural…It’s just a look. It doesn’t have to mean anything. Anyway, American Blacks are mostly decendents from Africa in the 1800s and they don’t really have any more Rastafarian blood than any white person.Wouldn’t matter if they did anyway. Very ignorant letter though.

Hair is hair… let people do as they please. We don’t sit there and tell you not to have white person hairstyles, we accept… Black people are some of the biggest racists out there, and yet, here we are, being scrutinized as per usual. Dear woman, I can understand where you are coming from… But I have dreadlocks, I am white, I have clean hair, and I am happy just the way I am. No Bob Marley poster, no rasta bangles… I am no rasta, just loving my locks.

Love is love. Dreadlocks are a universal symbol of love, lack of vanity, and freedom. A lack of fear of expressing who they are on the inside. Sure, people fake it. People always fake it. People fake every style when they go through identity crisis. 
Don’t like it? Don’t look at them… It’s as simple as that. There are 8 billion people on this planet. Turn your head away. 

In the country of India, Dreadlocks are made in their straight, dark hair… They are a symbol of the spirituality they embrace. You didn’t make a single stab at them, why white people? I am white but my hair is very similar to that of an East Indian, because I have First Nations (Canadian Indian) blood in me. 

Ok Folks, let’s all calm it down because everyone is sounding ignorant.  You certainly can’t fight hate with more hate.  To clear up a few things:

1. To the author: You didn’t do all of your research.  It’s cool.  Like many Americans you think dreadlocks are a predominant hairstyle of the West Indian culture.  More research would have shown that the hairstyle is more universal and historically rich than you originally thought.  It’s a beautiful thing.

2. To everyone posting comments calling the author an idiot for not doing her research, etc: Keep in mind that some of you are the exception.  YOU know that dreads are more universal, but that is one of you out of about 10,000 other people.  Not to mention, some of you came here, got offended, saw someone else post that dreads are universal, and rode the bandwagon.  You didn’t know before you came.  Be honest with yourself.

3. To the racists and those pointing fingers at America’s past: What’s done is done.  Have you guys noticed how much race is making great divides in our culture?   As soon as Obama became president comments about his policies became racial. One side said something and the other side saw an attack on his race, not his policy.  Our divide over small things has gotten way out of hand.  Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, but flying off the handle when someone disagrees or when you don’t like something about someone . . . that’s just not cool.

I’m done.

There are many scriptures in the bible of people of who had dreadlocks
Jesus was not black
Cavemen had dreadlocks
There weren’t black people then
We can be whoever we want to be
Don’t be snooty it’s a NATURAL lifestyle we live we don’t use the horrible chemicals you do I also know many white people with NAPPY and if they don’t brush their hair they become locs
U SUCK

YouTube search for Ras Trent. I think that’s who the author was writing about. :)

HAHAHAHAHA, “THERE WEREN’T BLACK PEOPLE THEN” OMG, I AM DEAD.  I AM SO DEAD, WOW.  K.  But u rong, doe.

HAHAHAHAHAHA, OMG “Black people are some of the biggest racists out there” I CAN’T EVEN, THIS IS SO HILARIOUS!  White people bring such a tear to my eye, do you even understand what racism even is?  ”Here we are, being scrutinized, as per usual” OH LORD, SOMEBODY, SAVE THE WHITE PEOPLE FROM THE YEARS AND YEARS OF SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION THE BLACK FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT!
Seriously.  There’s some funny folks up in here.
u KNOW u rong, doe.

“American Blacks are mostly decendents from Africa in the 1800s” um, no, false, that’s… no.  Slave trade started in the early 1600s, and before 1800 even happened, the slave population was in the millions.  Rastafarianism is a -religion- (and a generally afro-centric one at that) started by folks who were black descendants of slaves, so blood is kind of irrelevant.

Race has nothing to do with oppression, don’t be ignorant.  Slavery has existed since people have existed, it’s not only black people that were enslaved. Slavery is horrible but it’ll happen no matter what, it has nothing to do with the white man, since people are people, race doesn’t matter.

This story was obviously written by a DUMB ASS NIGGER

It’s really unfortunate you’re filled with so much hate. Jah loves all creation. Black, white, tan, purple. I’m an African  female Rastafarian with dreads over 12 years old. I have white friends with beautiful locks just as mine, and True Rasta life styles just as mine also. We may have started the movement, but we started it out of LOVE for EVERYONE. You don’t have to be black to spread Jah’s words and love. I’m not offended at all with whites being Rasta. WE’RE ONE.  Also as a note, dreads do not exist because our hair does it naturally… Someone with the flattest hair can get natural dreads if left alone long enough.  Rastas get dreads to bring out the inner Lion, and along with the belief to not cut our hair. Stop the negativity, stop the hate. Be proud of who you are, don’t worry about anyone else.

Jah Bless!

I doubt it’s hair envy when Caucasians get dreads. People probably just want to try different styles. And now I will share an opinion of MINE. I think your bitterness toward such a trivial matter is pretty pathetic, and I’m not even white so I have no bias in me.

Too hilarious. White cultureless feral offspring  jetison their own culture, smoke a spliff, listen to reggae one time and decide they want to be cool like Bob —  having lived off of 300 years of free slave labour, having created a capitalist system that puts a price tag on everything (including exotic hairdoes) —  v a l u e s   nothing.  And  now they want to taste a little of everybody else´s culture, call it their own, even..

Black girl stands up, says  ‘ hey wiglock whitey .. cantcha just let us have this one — or you really gotta take  e v e r y t h i n g ? ‘   Co-opt any thing you fancy to your white capitalism where you get to have everything you want just long as you pay? And that isn’t precisely why this planets looking to be right up the kahouber already?
The kkk types lay into her with their usual pathetic ire but what´s this —-  a hundred of her black brothers and sisters get up and start flaming her themselves ??

Ha.

PS. Hair straightening comparisons and yells of ‘racism’ don’t enter here. Hair straightening is about emulation of the dominant cultural aesthetic and  r a c i s m  applies white-black, not otherwise.

Tough issue…lets take a look at it from the religious side for a moment. I am white and have considered dreads, being myself quite drawn to Rastafari, after growing up Catholic and rejecting many babylon teachings that have found their way into the doctrine. Rastafari is a gift for our time so men can be closer to God. This gift was given to the black race and is meant for all men to share. For Rastas, blacks are encouraged to dread to show solidarity with the movement. For whites, it is more complicated. For some, they are encouraged also as Jah Love knows no race. For others, it is seen as a cultural theft and highly frowned upon. I would say it is not necessary or unnecessary for a white person to dread. Leave it up to the individual. My hair may be too fine and would probably result in something like the author mentioned. Besides, true Rasta teachings are the same as true Christ teachings in the sense that we are encouraged to set aside hatred forever and love all our brethren, regardless of race. One Love!

I am disgusted at this post and more-so even by the comments that follow it. I am a strong woman working towards my PhD at an esteemed Canadian University. I have been through terrible relationships. I have witnessed death. I have broken bones. I don’t know my own parents. I am black/Hispanic. Everyone goes through their own things as INDIVIDUALS. Yet it is posts like these that bring stereotype to question. All of you are responsible for making your own races look bad. One comment in particular, claiming that it is black people who are more racist, caught my attention. Because they’re right. Whoever in this day and age brings slavery into an argument is pathetic, and is only using it as an excuse to win a conversation they have already lost. White people today are no more responsible for the oppression of your ancestors than you. You were not there. I’m sure your great great great grandparents would be ashamed to call you family.

yeah when I got my dreads i didnt think im going to the white bob marley or anything along those lines, i just though when headbanging what looks cool, hmm dreadlocks and since then iv had so many people say 1. i love your dreads 2. you so suit dreads and 3. I wish my dreads were like that (that was from this old black gent at a festival) so yaknow allow individuality to continue, dont bitch and moan when someone does something you dont like and simply shut up and do what makes you happy and leave everyone to do what they like

@ Zoewerane pleace before you make a ass out your self do sum researching lol he’s to funny but back to the subject eye my self is mix and just started my locks building my journey eye cee it as each one teach one

If I stopped brushing my  hair and just washed it… It would dread. I am white- from Northern European descent, living in the States.

Everybody’s hair will dread if the person stops brushing. It happens to all of us. Yes, black people have hair that dreads much easier and nicer…

This is a silly letter. I’m considering dreading my hair this weekend. It’s for different reasons… to set me apart from the mainstream, as a journey, I like the look, etc. 
It’s not because I want to be a Rastafarian (which, I believe, is a pretty misogynist religion). I have no desire to be a Rastafarian.

This is ridiculous.. And not to mention one of the most racist things I have ever read. I have dreadlocks because I chose it as a hairstyle, NOT because I am pretending to be an ethnicity I am not or because I am trying to belittle anyone’s culture. It never once crossed my mind that I was wearing a “black person’s hairstyle”. This is like saying that no black people should put in fake hair and should all just let their hair be natural because they’re getting their hair to do something that it doesn’t “naturally” do. Or that no one in the world other than specific tribes should get tattoos or body modifications because it didn’t originate from their culture. Let you “have this one?” I don’t understand how me choosing to wear my hair in a certain fashion “takes” anything away from you. I chose to dread my hair because I have dry frizzy curly hair that WOULD dread if I left it alone, even though I am not of Black origins, and because I think it is a beautiful hairstyle. And as for looking like there is a pile of dog shit on our head, way to stereotype and generalize. I don’t understand how my dreadlocks will automatically look like shit but a black person’s dreadlocks won’t? I am also very curious as to what kind of education you have received if you think that every “white” person’s hair is the same, looks the same and will react in the same way to all hairstyles? And I wash my hair at least once a week, and haven’t put ANY wax in it from the day I made my dreadlocks thank you very much. 
But for the record thank you, thank you soooo much for being so nice and pointing out to us obnoxious stupid white people who mistakenly thought we could pull off dreadlocks that actually we will all look ridiculous. And thank you for informing me that if I’m white and have dreadlocks, I listen to Bob Marley and convert to Rastafarianism and call myself nappy, because I obviously didn’t get that memo, I will immediately begin to do all of these things!
I will continue to wear my dreads with pride because they are a part of who I am. This is MY hair, and I will do with it as I please. It is preposterous to suggest that the way I wear ANYTHING could insult you unless I have racial slurs painted across me.
It makes me very happy to read some of the replies on here though, especially from people who embrace the Rastafarian religion such as BORNINBABYLON. I only hope that reading such things can make you see that your argument is quite invalid. 

Not everyone’s hair will dread on its own if you don’t brush it. Straight silky hair can Never dread on it’s own, it will definitly get tangled, but not dread -_-

“There weren’t black people then”

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

“black people are some of the biggest racists out there” are you fucking kidding?

“being scrutinized as per usual”? awww white people face so much oppression!

get out of here, you don’t even know what racism is. By the way, I’m white.

you ought to look up the term “cultural appropriation”. 

that’s the argument that the writer SHOULD be taking, as opposed to saying it just looks like shit on white people, which is why I’ll ignore the writer.

anyway, you aren’t “tying to belittle anyone’s culture”, but it doesn’t really matter if you’re trying to or not, what matters is the feelings of the people whose culture you are belittling. it’s like those ignorant models out these days wearing headdresses for “fashion” and giving no thought to the native american peoples who wore headdresses ceremoniously, who have to watch these models parading around like morons and insulting their traditions. 

when people (and trust me it’s usually white people) take something from another culture because it “looks cool”, it’s called cultural appropriation.

im black, and the only one looking like a tool is you Man. dreadlocks aren’t a black thing, or even a human thing. there’s a species of dog that naturally grows dreadlocks. youshould do a little research before bashing our white brethren. so much for that natty dream peace and love…

Depends on your definition of “white person”.

There are people of European – yes, even some of western Europe whose hair is kinky, could be called nappy and will dread.

Any hair will dread, not all hair dreads the same. At no point should any one not clean their hair.

Locks can be a style just like any other, done to fit form, a given social norm.

The idea behind the practice in most of the religious contexts where it exists is to get away from vanity. There are many people for whom their locked hair is the object of their vanity.

So, if someone is seeking distance themselves from the world and other people’s expectations….let them be them. It is not on your head.

If they are in fact going through one of those moments common in humanity when they go looking for themselves and are clumsily slogging through somebody else’s earth to get there….hey, it’s still not your head.

conditioned.

culture is constantly changing, and i am not the same person who oppressed african or african-american or any other dark-skinned people. i am related to british, german, and irish men and women. i  c a n n o t  h e l p  t h a t. i am related to the captain of the mayflower, but i do not go around oppressing others. in fact, i am an anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-capitalism activist, and i have locks. i am indeed white. i understand cultural appropriation. i do not lather my locks in wax, and i do not wash them, really because i have not gotten the right shampoo yet, but i digress. i do not wash them because i hardly shower at all and that is my own choice. again i digress. i stand for the equality of all people. let me say again, culture is always changing, and you are no longer slaves, you were not there. i understand you are still a minority and you are still oppressed, but so are a lot of white people. i know that is triggering, but let me explain. white people as a whole are not oppressed. but me, being a dirty, anarchist feminist with blue locks, i get a lot of fucking ridicule from my fellow white people. and now from black people? i try my hardest to make people understand that we are all equal. but i am not allowed to lock my hair? how is a person like me, locking my hair, mocking your culture? when i, myself, do not oppress you and try my hardest to make other white people STOP? i do not understand what i am doing wrong here. also, i have a lot of black activist friends who understand cultural appropriation to the fullest, and they love my locks and appreciate me for embracing their culture. if you still see errors in my ways, enlighten me.

adding to my last comment.. i feel like things like this are only perpetuating the divides between races. if you continue to enforce minority vs. majority in a way such as this, no one will ever be able to understand equality. it will forever be minorities vs. the dominant race. this is just as bad as the dominant race enforcing racism. we should all focus on equality. i could understand if a nazi got dreads and spit on any rastafari or african-american he saw and flipped his dreads in their face, now thats insulting.. but if i love you and everyone else in the world, and i am spending my entire life’s effort to spreading equality around the world, i don’t see why i can’t lock my hair.

Right -on for the right-on!  Straight up, I’m also a white feminist, whose into activism. (Born into it really!!!) And Im microbraiding my long (almost to my butt) red curly hair. I get looks and everything else…but it makes me “ME”…….  Dude, if you’re ever in the Chicago area…..the coffee’s on me. (NOT Literally…)  Kudos to ya’ll.
FrenchFlower1@hotmail.com

you mean black women spend billions of dollars every year in the hair industry to look like they have straight hair? Like most white people have? mmmhhhmmm

You are incredibly ignorant. Perhaps you should consider doing some research before you spew your uneducated nonsense. Dreadlocks are an ancient hair style worn by many races and cultures throughout history. You are so bothered by a non “black” person wearing dreads that you would consider cutting them off on a bus? Are you serious? Dreads don’t exist because of “black” people.

Here is a little history lesson for you. It’s called Google!! You should try it next time.
Dreadlocks have been around since the dawn of time. Ancient Egyptians wore them, ancient Asian emperor’s wore them, cavemen wore them, even John the Baptist and Samson wore them.

The first writing we have about dreadlocks is in the Veda scriptures of India, the earliest piece is dated to 1800 BC. But many peoples and tribes have worn dreadlocks the Germanic tribes, the Greeks,Samson and other Nazorites, John the Baptist, the Pacific peoples, and the Naga Indians also wore dreadlocks. King Tut himself had dreadlocks, and they are still intact to this day. The Mau Mau tribe wore dreadlocks to intimidate the colonizers of Kenya in east Africa. Even Caesar claimed that the Celts wore dreadlocks by describing them as having “hair like snakes”.

You are incredibly ignorant. Perhaps you should consider doing some research before you spew your uneducated nonsense. Dreadlocks are an ancient hair style worn by many races and cultures throughout history. You are so bothered by a non “black” person wearing dreads that you would consider cutting them off on a bus? Are you serious? Dreads don’t exist because of “black” people.

Here is a little history lesson for you. It’s called Google!! You should try it next time.
Dreadlocks have been around since the dawn of time. Ancient Egyptians wore them, ancient Asian emperor’s wore them, cavemen wore them, even John the Baptist and Samson wore them.

The first writing we have about dreadlocks is in the Veda scriptures of India, the earliest piece is dated to 1800 BC. But many peoples and tribes have worn dreadlocks the Germanic tribes, the Greeks,Samson and other Nazorites, John the Baptist, the Pacific peoples, and the Naga Indians also wore dreadlocks. King Tut himself had dreadlocks, and they are still intact to this day. The Mau Mau tribe wore dreadlocks to intimidate the colonizers of Kenya in east Africa. Even Caesar claimed that the Celts wore dreadlocks by describing them as having “hair like snakes”.

You are incredibly ignorant. Perhaps you should consider doing some research before you spew your uneducated nonsense. Dreadlocks are an ancient hair style worn by many races and cultures throughout history. You are so bothered by a non “black” person wearing dreads that you would consider cutting them off on a bus? Are you serious? Dreads don’t exist because of “black” people.

Here is a little history lesson for you. It’s called Google!! You should try it next time.
Dreadlocks have been around since the dawn of time. Ancient Egyptians wore them, ancient Asian emperor’s wore them, cavemen wore them, even John the Baptist and Samson wore them.

The first writing we have about dreadlocks is in the Veda scriptures of India, the earliest piece is dated to 1800 BC. But many peoples and tribes have worn dreadlocks the Germanic tribes, the Greeks,Samson and other Nazorites, John the Baptist, the Pacific peoples, and the Naga Indians also wore dreadlocks. King Tut himself had dreadlocks, and they are still intact to this day. The Mau Mau tribe wore dreadlocks to intimidate the colonizers of Kenya in east Africa. Even Caesar claimed that the Celts wore dreadlocks by describing them as having “hair like snakes”.

very well put THENIE! @ Tessa that is actually the most ridicueless thing ive read in a long long time. You sound like you hate the fact that some “white” people chose to have a natural hair style given to us all no matter the race? And to act like Bob Marley was some kind of Fasssion guru just makes you sound stupid. The man was YARD! same as a lot of people now days,to grow your locks and be proud of them is a way of life dont matter if your rasta or russian! Dreads are NATURAL IYAH! please dont say silly things before thinking. Blessings to everyone!!!

Read Thenie’s comment if you may, I think it sums up a counter argument to what you are saying quite nicely.

I understand the point you’re trying to make about appropriation and Rasta culture and whatnot… but sometimes non-africans have nappy hair. I KNOW the difference between kinky, curly, and nappy. I am a caucasion female with 4a  hair, and while I do not allow it to dread, it naturally matts itself into small locks if I go more than a couple days without intense combing/braiding/moisturizing sessions. I keep it small braids between straightenings to keep it from matting. My hair is strawberry blonde,  and has the tiniest, crimpy kink to each strand. People who see my baby pics always ask why I had an “afro” (I currently spend a fortune on haircare to keep it manageable, which equals straightening). I can remember other little girls, both black and white, on the bus when I was a little girl touching my hair and saying, “you have hair like a black girl.” and once, “can you make your hair stand up?”  The last time I went to a salon that didn’t specialize in african-type hair, the stylist ended up throwing down her comb and crying, “this is a nightmare!” in front of everyone there. From then on, I starting going to a black salon. There is another white girl who gets her hair done there (also has naturally reddish hair) who has fine-crimped nappy hair. So… it happens! Maybe not very common, but we’re out there.

Well I definitely see your point. But, I am a white female with dreadlocks and I am only 13, and some of your information is false. I don’t have dreadlocks because I believe I am am “rastafarian.” In fact, I honestly don’t like Bob Marley and have never listened to any other “rasta” music. I’m very clean, I shower every other day or once a day. I have a 4.0 in school. I don’t refer to myself as a “free spirit” and never have I introduced myself as a “hippie.” Why would my parents be ashamed of me? I’ve never even thought about doing drugs, I’m in 3 out of 6 advanced classes, have the highest GPA I could achieve, and I don’t think of myself as any of the titles you’ve mentioned. Again, I’m very clean and I dress nicely. I got dreadlocks because they are a low fuss hairstyle and I like how they look, just as other people like curly hair or straight or short hair or long hair. You’re making a lot of rash stereotypes here, and not all “dreadheads” fit your description. And of course I am well aware of the image we have in society; dirty, wannabe hippies who obsess over Bob Marley and smoke loads of weed. But all of us aren’t trying for that image and many of us don’t follow those guidelines either. I can see where you’re coming from, but the truth is, you should not have a “white dreadlock” prejudice, because we aren’t envious of black people for their hair. White hair will knot up just as well, just not as quickly or easily. So please think about the whole picture before you go spewing your opinions. Most white people get dreadlocks for the same reasons black people do, they’re easy, different, and THEY LIKE THEM. It’s honestly as simple as that, we’re not necessarily going for an image or doing it in spite of something. And I find it pretty insulting and racist that black people can rock dreads but you seem to think white people can’t, although some of us do dress nicely, wash our hair, and go about our lives without conforming to the stereotypes. That’s my opinion.

White people with dreadlocks look like hippie douchebags.  Black people, stop pressing your hair ‘straight’ and dying it lighter. 

Dreadlocks look like shit on anybody.  Dirty and nasty, because you could never properly wash them or your scalp while you have them.

You my friend are a Racist.

Ok so this person who wrote this is a ignorant ass. I have dreads and have for about a year now mostly because my hair was a mess before. You can wash it properly, sure like the first two weeks you get then u can’t but that’s only to give them a chance to lock a little bit before u start running water through them. You wash them just like normal hair. And by the way you actually don’t have to have any specific type of hair to get dreads, the Curlier and more tangled it is the faster they will lock. Black people just twist their hair to get dreads but white people have to knot it up. ANYONE can get dreads. When people say they are dirty, they an ignorant asshole. Also, just because you have dreads doesn’t mean that you’re a rastafarian maybe you just thought they were cool. And I never have to wax my hair maybe once a month tops. It’s different for everybody, so next time you wanna write a hate letter do some research m’kay!? Thanx

This is precisely what I was going to write about! Dread history!
To the OP:  I have a degree and am applying to graduate schools, I have a full-time job working with cognitively disabled adults, and I am married with a daughter that I take great care of – a productive, educated member of society.  I am also a Caucasian female with dreads.  
To say that we’re just jealous that our hair “can’t do something” is insulting at best.  Our hair CAN do those things.  There are plenty of people who are not black who have afros naturally.  Straight, silky-textured hair isn’t difficult to braid.  Dreading isn’t that difficult either…and I’m sure others have added, you have to have clean hair to let your hair dread well.  Although it’s true that you aren’t supposed to use regular shampoo(it’s full of crap that gets left in your hair…shampoo does that to you regardless of hairstyle), you still shower and wash your dreads.  Look up the “no ‘poo” movement to learn more.   
Any dreads that aren’t taken care of well will look bad, regardless of race.  This is true of any hairstyle.  Before you go spouting off opinions on things – especially if you’re bringing up a race-related topic – I suggest you do more research first.
Oh, and my husband is black.  He doesn’t care if I have dreads or not.  Pull your head out of your ass, please.  Like it or not, you are being elitist despite the “caveat”.  

Wow.. how shallow you are.. Maybe dreadlocks are more then just a beauty thing!. its a movement. a natural movement.. loving who you are!.. you should just worry about yourself.. and let ppl live there lives. you sound so dumb.. who are you to say how ppl should have there hair.. and if you didnt know Dreadlocks have been around for ever.. even indians who ARNT black had dreadlocks.. im sorry you are to shallow to see the bigger picture here. And i have dreadlocks.. and it has nothing to do with washing or not washing your hair.. my hair is clean.. and my dreads are beautiful since that means so much to you.. but further more i represent  natural women.. being happy with who  i am.. and not hiding it with.. blow dryers and curles… i did what my hair would have natually done with out combs  and all these things we have access to today.. Im sorry and feel bad for you! You need help girrrl  :)

your comment is so amazing and well put..  good shit! ..

Dreads are easy to look after. End of. I have dreadlocks because my job is to go diving in the harbor every day for lobsters and crabs. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep my hair straight and clean when i’m underwater in a harbor for 8 hours a day? I have dreads because keeping hair straight and clean for me is impossible! I have dreads cos they suit me and my lifestyle, not because i’m “trying” to be black, Rastafarian, cool, stoner or a free spirit. I’m proud to be a white, Irish-Italian, teetotal, drug free atheist. End of.

From what it sounds it sounds like pillow princess is more jealous that we have thick straight hair and many running aroundate either wigged up balding from perm damage or accept it and rock that Denzel Washington fade even chicks so I think well stick to having universal looks while y’all keep mulching like bitter ole crows lmao love one

As an older white female, I do not like seeing white people with dreadlocks. & if I had a pair of scissors I would cut them off. I don’t know if you are trying to act black Rasta or what, but your hair just can’t pull it off like black people’s hair.
Now for dreadlocks on black people, I hate the unkept, dirty looking, different length, size dreads. As what Bob Marley had and many Rastas have their dreads done. I also would cut them off and tell them to grow out nicer looking locks. Take care of them. I hate seeing all stuff stuck in those nasty dreads.
Locks are different from dreadlocks. Locks are uniform in size, length and cleaner in look. They can be put into different styles when long enough. For example, updos for females.
This is just my opinion. I live in the West Indies. Date West Indian men. And have bi-racial children and multi-racial grandchildren.

You’re  incorrect, actually.  Clean hair dreads better than dirty, greasy hair.  

A bunch of renegade Amish men in Ohio just got charged with hate crimes for cutting other Amish peoples’ hair and beards off.  Sounds like you’re next…

I actually wouldn’t cut them off. It is just a fantasy & figure of speech.
Just keep your dreadlocks clean & neat. & white people just don’t do it. You really look like you are trying to be someone you are not.
If you have nasty dreadlocks and don’t want to cut them for some reason or another, wrap or cover them up.

Idiot! Wont waste my time explaining why, you have already made your mind up about me.
A white women with dreads! X

She is oppressing herself with her own views!

wow, look who’s racist now.

If ignorance is bliss then youve got to be happier than a raver on a binge of ex pills. Ignorant asshole.
Same goes to the OP, who the hell are you to tell anyone to stop doing what makes them happy? Sounds to me as if you like segregation, my people didnt march to keep things seperate they marched for EQUALITY.

& to the old ass white lady. Stop talking, typing, or using any form of communication because you spew ignorance.

The hell is wrong with you “people”

lou….i’m a black female and i’m currently in the locking process. please dont let this IGNORANT, CLOSE MINDED, RIDULOUSLY ABSURD FEMALE discourage you from locking. i think seeing white women/men with dreds is awesome. there is nothing wrong with diversity…continue to rock your locs. and please excuse comments like this cuz i know she is not the only one u will hear that BS from.

This whole conversation is ridiculous! :)
Haha

 Uhhm have you EVER had dreads???

White people with dreads are racists, plain and simple! Its another way for whitey to hold back black people.  My girlfriend is black from the caribean,. How she sees it its a way for white people to say oh poor black people have nappy hair. And dreads are a way to say hey black people have inferior hair, and I feel bad for them, and I am showing I am not racist. In fact most black people I know find it insulting. How come its always the whitest or whites with dreads? Not a Italian or white latino. Many of my friends are black and are angered by “white trash tourist dreds” as there called. Dont be suprised if a black person attacks u for your racist bull shit. I totally agree with this black lady. It such a insult to the great Bob Marley etc.  And by the way i am a 100% siciliano with kinky hair. I dont feel a need to openly insult black people with dreads. Stupid WASP mentality.

Hate to break it to you but white people with dreads dates WAY beyond biblical times. How do you think primitive hunter gatherers had their hair..? Dreads. Because no matter race, hair naturally LOCKS up and forms dreads when not combed. Their hair was long NAPPY and dreaded. This letter is just ignorant.

Have you ever heard of Alborosie a Sicilian Born reggae artist who lives in Jamaica and has dreads down to his ass and is well respected in Jamaica and among reggae artist worldwide. and btw I am 100% Calabresi and bout to start my second set of dreads.

I understand that you are trying to reach out to your fellow white folks about the dreads thing, but i love it to read how seriously you think you know of black hair, you have no idea how racist you sound in your little article but i get it your racist because it is in your DNA you cant help it. But word of advice write about things you know and not what you think you know cause you honestly sound like dumb bitch, your embarrassing yourself.    

this whole thing is outrageous. i am an educated white female. i have spent time living in many different places, including outside of the united states. i have dreadlocks and am not remotely ashamed of them. i wash my hair 4 times a week with residue free shampoo. my dreads formed NATURALLY. frequent washing and throwing out my comb was all i needed to form them and, for me, they represent the ability to let go of something so trivial (such as constant hair-styling) and simply live more naturally.

i’m not a hippie. i’m not trying to “steal” any ethnic group’s hairstyle, because they don’t actually belong to anyone but those who wear them…black, white, purple, whatever. i don’t do any type of drugs and i’m an upstanding american citizen. your letter was not meant to promote understanding, it was simply written to perpetuate an ignorant, racist idea… which is exactly what we DO NOT need while our country is STILL struggling to unite peacefully.

just sayin’.

im a white girl who loves her dreads :)

That’s 100% false. Your ignorance is insulting, actually. People like you are the reason hurtful stereotypes exist.  I understand that the first paragraph is your opinion, but where are you basing your information that dreadlocks are dirty? Your ignorant friends’ opinion? Honestly, I’m not sure why you refuse to listen to these people, including myself, who have dreadlocks. They aren’t basing their thoughts on biased articles, but on experience and actual research. And also, hippie douchebags? As classy as that sounds, I believe you’re generalizing. I’m only 13. I don’t dress any different than anyone else.  If you could call someone as young as me, a “hippie douchebag,” that’s pretty ridiculous. And yes, I am white if you were wondering. I think the reputation dreadlocks have in our society shows how close-minded we really are. Maybe if people stopped for a moment, and listened to the facts, not the ill-researched opinions, they would figure out that dreadlocks have a long history in many races and are perfectly clean!

Honestly, It’s hard not to laugh at your comment. I think we’re past the point of every little nuance of life being dissected until it is either found racist or not. I’m sorry to say, but black people cannot decided to claim a hairstyle that has been around for thousands of years, being sported by both black AND WHITE people. You saying white people with dreadlocks are racist is the equivalent to saying black people with straight hair are racist. Now I don’t walk around telling black people they are racist just because they have straight hair. I don’t know them. And how am I “holding you back” in any way by having dreadlocks? You’ve never even seen me. I’m definitely not trying to say “oh poor black people have nappy hair.” I didn’t once think about black people in the dreading process. If we thought black people had inferior hair, do you think we would be getting a hairstyle sported by many black people? Obviously not. If I wanted to make fun of black people, I would not change my whole lifestyle.  I’m not white trash, I’m a great student. I have a 4.0. I don’t do drugs and I live in a nice area. And I’m not sure why Italians don’t have dreads, how is that our fault? They could if they wanted to. I’m sorry to say you are being EXTREMELY racist by saying that dreads are only okay for black people. You would definitely think I was being racist if I said straight hair is only for white people. If I were you, I’d take the fact that white people get dreadlocks as a compliment. We think it’s cool, just as you do. You’re racism is almost appalling. You do realize that claiming a certain part of daily life as only okay for a certain race, is about as racist as you can get. Next time I see a black person with straight hair, I’ll be sure to “attack them for their racist bullshit,” for straight hair is only okay on white people. In fact, I officially claim straight hair as a strictly white person trait, and any black person sporting that hairstyle will be dubbed as racist. 

You make me a w hole lot less pissed off. (:  I just think everyone should be fine with anyone do anything to their hair. I mean, jees, it’s only a hairstyle. 

People like you need to reproduce(: You are absolutely 100% correct. Couldn’t have said it better myself. 

Hey, I’m a white female with straight hair, and I am excitedly dreading my hair off and on while I am surfing the net. I have extensions all ready to dread into my hair, and my dreads will be awesome. (If not, they’re not that hard to comb out- it just takes a lot of time.) The author is incorrect on one point- every “race” of the earth has had humans who sported dreads at one point or another. Maybe white people only had dreads as cavemen when we didn’t have combs. I know Asians wore dreads at one point in their history. 

I am going to have well-maintained, washed, clean, lovely dreads. They will probably take more work to create than someone of African descent would need, but dammit, my dreads will look somewhat as nice. And, let’s be honest, white people have it so easy with our hair that having to put in a lot of effort sort of balances out the fact that our fellow humans descended from Africa have to work to achieve “white” hair in our society. I’m going on a rabbit trail, but I am sad to see what seems like pressure on people with kinky hair to have it changed and not wear it “natural.” Every ethnicity is beautiful and shouldn’t have to hide their awesome and unique traits! My pale skin rocks- why tan it to be orange? I’ll just look silly. My boyfriend’s mixed ethnicity gave him gorgeous, thick, dark hair that is just fantastic. Why should he cut it all off? Why should asian people fuss over their eyelid crease?? Everyone’s beautiful and should make their own appearance choices based on their likes, not based on what society deems to be beautiful. /rabbit trail

This white girl is gonna have some great dreads. <3

This person is ignorant.. i am black and that’s the most stupidest thing i have ever heard. to tell one they can or cannot rock a certain hairstyle is ridiculous or to claim it’s yours, please.. i have curly hair and like most of my black friends and family members i have straightened my hair a million times(it’s not a white thing, we just get tired of the way our hair looks).. and people with straight hair have permed their hair to get it curly..  so get off your invisible high horse, and get real!!  Anyone can have any kind of hairstyle but if you want to educate people  on maintaining a clean and healthy looking dreads go ahead but dont ever tell anyone not rock dreads or any kind of hairstyle because they arent black or fit the profile of a Rastafarian or whatever!!

dont lower yourself to her level..  dont appreciate you saying those things, because you’re targeting black people in general.. and im one of them and that’s not cool even if i dont were wigs or weaves!! i think she’s ignorant for posting this letter but im not gonna be ignorant like her and go beyond what i need to, for her to get the msg.

You seem fairly ignorant.
Not as in mean or anything. In the sense that you do not know what you are talking about while speaking so freely.
Get educated on how many people in this world wore dreadlocks before the life of bob marley, before Jamaica was even a country.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but unless you have education to go with it, it really doesn’t mean a thing.

Umm I’m white have dreads that look phenomenal and I did them natural so fuck off,your ignorant and dreads were around long before Jamaica was even discovered

I can respect what you say, but there are two side to this story.  Do you know how foolish African Americans  look with clip on hair.  Blonde hair. Weaves  and extensions.  You look just as foolish to me as Dreads on whites look to you when you attach some pink or blue twisty thing on your heads.  You look like poodles on Halloween.  I work with a few employees that are wonderful to work with, but they cant scratch their own heads for fear of their artificial hairdo’s will fall off their heads.  That is why they pat their head cause they can’t scratch.   I  admire dreads and other doo’s as well, but at least the white dude and girls that have dreads are using their own hair.  BTW -  we don’t have to use relaxers or straighteners either.  Now – I am just saying what I feel too.   Peace & Understanding.

What an ignorant fuck. -_- The reality is that dreads have been worn by a variety of ethnicities throughout history, not just black folks so don’t make yourself so special. In India, it’s not uncommon to see Sadhus with some of the longest locks in the world and they don’t identify with the “Rastafarian” movement. Try doing a bit of research before you go around preaching this kind of rubbish and making yourself look like an ass and a down-right racist fool.

The fact you need to justify yourself by telling readers about your bi-racial children and multi-racial grandchildren only perpetuates the obvious and harmful way you view humans.

I’m curious as to how old the author of this article is. I’m white with straight hair, I’ve never had dreadlocks and never really wanted them but I can appreciate them as a hair style. The main point the author seems to have missed is that the Rastafari movement is a religion. Not a high school clique. To criticize “white people” for identifying as Rastafarian and sporting a dreaded hairstyle is the equivalent of criticizing a “black Muslim” for identifying with Islam and wearing a hijab.

That being said, not everyone with dreadlocks is Rastafarian and not all Rastafarians wear dreads. But don’t be so quick to dismiss or scorn a religious movement like your article appears to do.

Going back to the aforementioned high school cliques, this article reminds me of the rather biased and typical teenage conversations we used to have about the so-called emo, punk, or scene hairstyles (all which are rooted in different histories and religions around the world). Humans have been around for a number of years, seeing as there’s really only so many ways to cut or style our hair – no hairstyle in the modern world is unique or original to our time or any of its current societies. And only those completely lacking in imagination or education could think otherwise.

Seeing as you chose tags such as “hippie, poser, stuffwhitepeoplelike” to beat represent your article, I find it almost laughable to believe that first off, you have a mentality even close to that of a high schooler – and secondly that you have any concept of what a disgusting display of bigotry and ignorance this letter is.

This person is an idiot
Sincerely, a black guy

Being a black person with dreadlocks I agree with you. But let me correct you on something and try to explain what the writer is possibly trying to elude to. Firstly, Rastafari is not a religion, it is a way of life. That difference is made perfectly clear. Secondly, I think that the author is getting to those that participate is a subculture that is looked down upon. 
Consequently, those who participate in that subculture seem to give off a bad vibe for those with dreadlocks. Particularly the myth or truth (depending on who you are) that dreadlocks are not washed or that people put disgusting things in their hair to keep it in place.  While I have nothing against dreadlocks on people with straight hair, I do have something against people who don’t look presentable at certain times. I am a free spirit, but I also live in the human culture and sometimes you have to look the part and keep troublesome issues to a minimum.
But in reality, the people who read this site should know not to get a hairstyle because it’s cool. I ask everyone to look in a mirror and ponder on why your hair is styled a certain way.

On a completely unrelated note:

**you’re
Calling someone ignorant has a much larger impact when correct grammar is used…

shut up you don’t know anything, anybody can have fucking dreads if they want and i know way more white people who are much more qualified to have dreads than you do even though you’re black.

its just that white people slag off black people and for the very same thing their being slagged off for,white people copy. dark skin-suntan, bid lips and bottom-silicone enhancements, dance styles, singing style, slang words, dreadlocks- whites just spray and go! elasticated skin-botox. so there you have it, just a case of dont cuss blacks when your trying hard to be black

mmm strange, I washed my hair every other day with bicarbonate and when I stopped combing it for a bet it dreaded itself nicely and smoothly. If you would not wash it then the hair would get greasy I imagine, and greasy hair doesn’t knot as well as clean dry hair.  They are surprisingly neat looking actually, straight and slightly thicker at the ends with here and there a slight bumb. I don’t really get your whole reggae assassination either. Here in Sweden, dreads are more associated with the metal genre and on rare occasion with vikings (wannabes) up north and lumberjacks. I’m a girl so, people simply assume I’m a metalhead. Which is fine by me, since I don’t like reggae. I guess if you like the stile or not is utterly up to personal opinion though.

Oh my bad, I mean reggae association, not assassination. I blame my spell checker.

i am a Georgian (republic of Georgia), with dreads, i don’t listen to Reggae, i know maybe 5 bob marley songs and i listen mostley to Massive Attack. i see dreads as a symbol of freedom and of not caring what people think. maybe you should look at the mirror and think who is the real racist.
you should eat the shit you speak :D

Bigotry is far more unattractive than unattractive hair.

Haha, nice try buddy. 

P.S. I’m getting dreads now just to spite you.

white people get dreadlocks naturally too.. 
If white people shouldn’t dread their hair then black people shouldn’t straighten their hair.
How stupid

its a s hame that the people that should reproduce know they shouldnt so they don’t and the people that do reproduce are the people that don’t care. 
I think you should have to take a test on life before doing childbearing.

Hi.
I’m about as white as it gets and I can have dreads in a week, with no effort on my part. My hair is very fine like spiderwebs. I have had and would like to have dreads because I hate dealing with my hair and I don’t want to cut it short, but I can’t deal with all the hate vibes from ignorant people of all races.
Though I agree with you about the overly shaped and primped dreads, aesthetics-wise, regardless of racial origin. They look better more natural.

HI im am a white guy with dreads my hair is nappy and yes my hair naturally starts dreading after a few days of not combing it  and yes i wash my hair eveyday and evryone says i can pull em off although i will agree that most people can’t pull off dreadlocks but i can. no wax,no grease,no rubber bands, no back combing, just hair

also i am not a Rastafarian, p.s. vikings used to sport dreads and there white…

Well, althought it was mildly entertaining to hear you hit on every stereotype available for any non-black sporting dreadlocks…it really was nothing more than a childish rant and rather hypocritical. If we ascribed certain hairstyles to certain cultures/races than blacks would walk around wearing afros, whites with bone-straight hair, etc. When really our hair although very much an extension of our personalities, values, and style choices…it is just that – a choice. Plenty of people with a certain texture play with it to make it more appealing…whether it’s a Caucasian with dreads, a black woman with a relaxer, or even someone twisting their hair onto flexy-rods overnight, or anyone putting any type of product into their hair – beeswax for dreads, oil for smooth hair, mousse for more volume what have you. If we never did anything to our hair we would all just walk around like cavemen. And historically/culturally speaking dreads originated in East India amongst a group of Hindu worhisppers who (shock!) used marijauna as a mind-altering stimulant during meditation and religious ceremony. I wonder if it isn’t the large amount of East Indian culture which was transported to the West Indies that greatly affected Rasftafarian culture. My husband being of Jamaican descent hails from a powerful and well-known family lineage the Silveiras. That’s not an African last name. The Caribbean is literally the crossroads of the world. Combining African, Asian, European, and Native cultures and races. So technically dreadlocks don’t belong to blacks or others of African descent. Even if they are mostly recognized as a symbol of cultural pride for many – others just wear it as a style choice whites and blacks alike. I can’t tell you what Lil’ Wayne’s dreads have done for pop culture especially in the Washington DC metro area where all black men under 30 have atleast tried wearing dreadlocks. It’s in style this year. So to chastise whites for wearing dreads and not knowing the cultural significance…well that’s just a waste of breath especially when so many blacks are out doing the same. Also believe it or not, not all non-blacks be they Asian, Native, Middle Eastern, or White ascribe to traditionally Eurocentric values or standards of beauty. So if you see a young man dressed from head-to-toe in Rasta colors and wearing locks don’t be so quick to judge.  He could always be a poser…or he could be someone who is sincerely interested in the religion/cultural lifestyle of Rastafarians. Not saying that anyone wearing dreads is a Rasta. On the point that you made about afro hair naturally taking to dreadlocks vs. Caucasian testured hair – well you’d have to be more specific. Many people of African heritage have a wide range of hair texture as do Caucasians. My mother-in-law has baby-fine curls (black) and my uncle who is Italian has some nappy-ass hair (no disrespect intended). Even my husband who is as I before mentioned is Jamaican (black), he tried to dread his own hair and his hair required clips and a generous amount of beeswax and hours beneath a hair dryer to maintain. My hair is long and wavy-curly – looks Caucasian but is naturally very thick and coarse mats in a matter of hours if I put it up in a bun. My ahir requires so much oil, brushing, and tender love and care just to keep from matting. Oh the hours I have spent in the shower with a wide-toothed comb, a gallon of conditioner…and only to resort to scissors. As the human race we have a wide-range of hair textures and curl patterns; all deserving respect. Tired of seeing people tear each other down over something that could be so easily shaved off.

Well said mate!!! But yes it is stereotyping!!!! I am interested in the Rastefarian religion but also Christianity and others. I am also into Celtic religion and their beliefs. I decided to have my dreads as a style choice but also for my beliefs, heritage and just because i love them! I also feel closer to my ancestors and also believe that dreads are a sign of your spiritual journey. Im completely white through and through and work hard to maintain mine as my hair DOES NOT want to dread, but i still wash them. I have A LOT of black people in my family too and its just a way of showing my respect for my family and others too. There are lots of reasons why I chose to have dreads and its not a teenage thing which i will grow out of! Im 28 and got them when i was 20. I also noticed, since ive had dreads, how many black men take a shine to me and chat me up!! Most blacks I meet love my hair! Why put a gap between white and black people when we have only just managed to help it close and become one population!

pls explain 2 me what black women r doing then, straightening their hair, adding extentions. does that mean they’re trying 2 be white? i dont think they would appreciate that! its 2012, live & let live u idiot!!

I can’t believe I read this ignorant garbage. If you want to go there, you shouldn’t try to have “white hair” by straightening it, perming it, or otherwise. No extensions for you, it looks DISGUSTING and trashy as fuck when you can see the tracks in your hair. Why does all black people’s hair smell like burnt grease? Are you cheap also, and lazy? Do you like stereotypes and insults based on your race? Probably not. It’s not your place to tell white people how to look, nor is it anything you have any knowledge on. Stupid bitch.

We need to stand outside of a prison on Prison Release Day, find the most masculine looking woman, and hire her 500 bones to beat the living hell out of whoever wrote this.

I’m not talking about just a punch in the face, I’m talking about a punch to the face, stomping them while their down until they stop moving, shaving their head clean and then urinating on the freshly cut scalp.

Three Reasons why this is (censored), coming from a Black Guy. (100 Percent. No Mixes in me)

Anyone can have any hairstyle they want, how are you gonna jone on white people, but not talk about our sisters with their fucking Sodium LyeDroxide Keratin Injected steamrolled hair?

Second, when you mess with white people about their hair, they’re gonna mess with us about our hair. Shut the hell up, because you’re not making it easier for the rest of us black folks. I know you’d be pissed if a while lady came up to you and said “WHY’D YOU DO THAT TO YOUR HAIR? YOU DON’T NEED TO MAKE YOUR HAIR LOOK LIKE OURS. YOU’RE JUST A WANNABE WHITE PERSON WHO AKWARDLY STARES AT OTHER PEOPLE ON THE BUS. ”

Third, anyone can have Nappy hair, regardless of race. IT’S CALLED WOOLY HAIR SYNDROME. LOOK UP THE CIRCASSIAN BEAUTIES. Maybe if you actually stuck your head out of your own (Censored) for 3 seconds and looked (censored) up before you made general statements, you wouldn’t make a (censored) of yourself.

My point, Shut the hell up, you AREN’T MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE REST OF US BLACK PEOPLE BY STIRRING (Censored) UP LIKE THIS. You really should count your blessings that I don’t know where you live.

Wow, This is pretty racist. Nobody can “own” a hairstyle.

I would just like to say kudos to the author for saying something that nobody likes to talk about regardless of race weather you black white Asian Latin or any other type of color we are all the same, being that said nobody should ever Have dreads they are disgusting and not hygienic they cause all sorts of scalp problems such as head lice, eczema, baldness, Seborrheic Dermatitis, dandruff, Craddle cap, ringworm, Folliculitis etc etc etc the list goes on. so please think about these before you go and get dreads and if you have the get checked because you might have something living in there that you might not want. And to all you so called free birds out there get some soap and clean yourselves nobody wants to smell your nasty nauseating smell you can express yourself in other ways.

Maybe a white person should post a rant to black women who were weaves!

I truly feel that this post is both positive and negative. First black african american people Are the only ones with “nappy” hair…(@lavivagan) they might call what those women have as nappy hair but frankly that’s just not what it is….its tangled and maybe a lot more coarse than normal white people hair but it is by no no means nappy….ONLY AFRICAN AMERICANS HAV IGHTLY COILED CURLY HAIR. Now please you go look that up….ok anyways I also agree with the fact that if white people choose to get dreads they need to be washed a lot more frequently because they can and do stink if not managed well. I don’t agree with the fact that white people shouldnt get dreads. Dreads is not merely a hairstyle but a way of thinking and being and living. Its a process of getting to know your true self without all the hype of how you “should” look and spending 1000s of dollars on upkeep when there are sooo many more important things going on in this crazy evil world. We are all connected and related no matter how bad some white people want to deny it. Our genes (all our genes) go back to Egypt (Africa) and anyone that wants to debate me on this please before you do..do your research. So its only natural for some white people to want to know their heritage just like some black people want to know theirs.

I’d like that too, the chimpout would be epic

Your a retard

Wow can you say ignorant

Well said :) I’m glad there are people out there who actually understand the concept of having dreads for what ever reason they like .
Stereo typing& segregating races is ignorant .& any one who believes the original post really need to do their research before opening their uneducated mouths.

Tessah, I can only assume you are black because the point-of-view chosen, the black power chants used, and of course your name, Tessah. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? First off, I’m disappointed with google algorithms for allowing this post to be the first result to the search of “dreadlocks for white folks”. Laugh at it as you will but you might want to remember to laugh later, just saying. 

My second first point – because the initial first point was attacking google – when did people need a reason to do stupid shit? Furthermore, when is the last time an individual did not want what they could not have? So, if your posting is to stop people from dong stupid shit – which is subjective at best – then go right ahead with your rant. However, please do not pull the race card on us. Do yourself, me, and the rest of society a huge favor, and put that card at the bottom of the deck. Haven’t oppressed individuals, groups, and communities battled – still today – for the same rights as others? And now you want to go against that idea with your comment, “all I ask is for you to just let us have this one”. You talk down the hair style then you want some kind of social agreement to rights of that same hair style – you have gone off the reservation. You, and nobody else owns the hair style “dreadlocks”. 

So, let you have what? Oh, you mean what white folks can never have…? You said it yourself, black hair does it naturally and European does not so, naturally one is going to look natural and one will look less natural. Oh I see, that is not enough, you want more? I don’t want to get caught up with that too much, I just want to make the point that a white person who takes on a “black hair style” is not stripping anything from the black community, if anything they are parsing it. If that was the case, then “all I ask is for you to just let us have this one”, long following hair. That statement does not really make sense, does it? And furthermore, that in itself, is the real issue between black & white folks – carrying a hating mentality for unjustified reasons. This is not to say, one side is doing it more then the other; however, I find this blog to be against what the black community – along with every other oppressed group – fights for in terms of equal rights and in its basic form, to have the opportunity to do whatever one wants. I have grown up around lots of different types of ethnicities, races, and cultures especially black folks, and the black community developed the prefect phrase in response to your posting aka rant – stop hatin’…! You don’t own anything but yourself so, do what your mama says, worry about ya self..! 

In addition, you should know this, one of the major cost in the black community that is spent on hair styles is to transform a black hair texture into European style, e.g., tracks, extensions, perms, etc. Do you see where I’m going with this? What is your real frustration? Because it reads like you don’t want white people participating in “black hair  styles”; but it is ok to have a billion dollar business in in which black women purchase products like tracks, extensions, perms, wigs, and the list goes on, in order to get the “European hair style”. 

I’m done. Needless to say, I’m not getting dreadlocks after reading your post. But it is not out of spite or so that “you can have this one”, no, it is because I practical in the sense that I’m not going to walk around with rubber bands in my hair looking stupid as hell. I’m far from perfect and my shift stinks, but I’m classier than that so thanks for your post. And have yourself a lovely day.      

I was going to post about how I am a  young white girl with dreadlocks (which I didn’t have to put wax in or wear silly ass looking rubber bands in because my hair is curly and palm rolling was sufficient) and how the majority of people that have ever given me compliments on my hair were black men and women, but then I read over the comments that every other level-headed person left you and decided that you were already put in your place.

I’m glad someone else brought up how it is very common for black women to treat their hair as to make it as straight as possible (resembling European hair). I actually really don’t like that look at all, but that is because I don’t like any kind of severe altercation to ones hair. I think natural is beautiful. If you have curly hair, rock it. If it’s straight, embrace it. But I do not look at dreadlocks as an “altercation” because it isn’t changing the color or texture of your hair, and almost everyone’s could lock up if they just let it go. And while I don’t really like the whole “unmaintained” look it still is just about as “natural” as you can get.

Also, since it seems you are confused on this, that look goes way beyond Africans knotting up their hair all the way back to “early modern humans” whom scientist recently discovered evidence that they might have actually first developed in…Europe. However it shouldn’t matter where the first human being developed, I can almost say I am 100% positive none of them had a comb and (whether they be neater or as you mentioned a “beaver tail”) therefore had some sort of knots going on.

Regardless though to say that all white people with dreadlocks are Bob Marley worshiping, pot smoking, Rastafari imitating idiots is just plain old ludicrous. I have met my fair share of those kinds of people, and I’ll be the first to admit that it kind of does annoy me, but who am I to say that they aren’t allowed to dread their hair and enjoy reggae music just because they lack dark pigmentation in their skin? I’m no one to say that. And neither are you. You absolutely have the right to not like that hairstyle, but I don’t think knocking the people who do have it or acting as if everyone else in your race backs your opinions is necessary or mature.

Oh and for the record: I do love Bob Marley, but I love his principals as well as his music; I do not smoke weed; I do not wear tie-dye nor Rastafarian colors; and I do wash my hair. And my boyfriend who is mixed race (unless that’s not black enough for you) loves my dreads as well as the rest of his family.

Oh wow. Right on Foo.

i can’t  even believe some of the comments from whites here with their hair (i don’t even know what it call it, but that is not locs, its a mess), that some of you would even suggest that blacks would want to straighten their hair.

if you actually know something about your own history, colonial history you wouldn’t even make a statement like that. i also find it very offensive when you approach blacks with locs asking for drugs and the colonial things that fucked up communities, such as black.

when you do that it says to the world you have no culture. learn about yourself and be yourself. trying to be like another says you really have to build your esteem and do better .

please just do better.

Wow! It is very obvious you are very uneducated, narrowminded and are feeling pretty fucking bitter about something. Did a white boy with dreads break your heart? Not only can the white boy pull off the dread look, they fucking work hard for and to maintain them, it is not an afro carribean tradition as such either, should’ve done your research before that little rant miss pedant!  In fact some of the earlist known dreadlocks came from clans from scotland, which, i believe, are WHITE! Rastafari movement shit yes maybe, but thats not strictly black skinned people either is it? whether this is because you’re insecure and like to get cocky on the internet because it gives you a thrill, fine, you might not even think or mean all this shit, you just know people won’t bother tracking down anyone like you! It’s intersting how you can generalise an entire racial group in such  few arrogant words, but again you contradict yourself! And it’s so nice of you to ‘let things slide’ because onviously such a narrow minded, rude, pompous twatish character absolutely deserves to tell us exactly what they think because they ‘care’. I bet you’re one of those that say you speak your mind, or you’re ‘real’…you’re just plain fucking arrogantly rude darling! I just thought i’d take some time on my friday evening to tell you how little your opinion actually matters, and in any other world than an internet blog it probably never will. Good Luck preacher girl, noone fucking cares, but as a human just think that might actually be offensive to some people, and it’s not cool to be a dick remember.

ALL OF THIS.

Thank you, so much, for bringing up the real issue of appropriation.  Really, this is NOT like saying “Black people can’t use extensions.”  At all.  But the issue is deeper and much more complicated than can be explained in one telling — it has to be a dialogue.  I’m tired, and I’m going to do the awful thing and leave this unwarranted because I at least know someone gets it.  It takes quite a long time and a ton of patience, neither of which I have at the moment, for people to see how cultural appropriation actually works and why it by definition only happens one way.  But maybe someone will look it up and start the process for hirself, and that is all I can hope for.

this.  thank you, thank you THANK YOU.  Erasure is not the answer!

If white people want to to dreads, what’s the problem? Black people running around rocking mohawks and punk rock jeans!

BLESS THIS COMMENT.

All racism = racial prejudice.

Not all racial prejudice = racism.

Racism by its actual sociological definition is often perpetrated UNCONSCIOUSLY and WITH PERFECTLY GOOD INTENTIONS by a dominant majority living in a system in which oppression is systemic and ingrained.  No, it’s not you who had slaves, and it’s not you who went around enforcing Jim Crow, but as long as you are part of the majority and you lead a “normal” life in the dominant culture, you will inevitably do racist things.   The ability to do it without realizing it and then deny its racist side comes from privilege.  
If anyone’s actually read this far, it’s also good to google ‘color blind racism’ and ‘symbolic racism’ to better understand what’s actually going on.  No one is saying that you’re going around actively thinking all Black people are inferior, but that’s not what it actually takes to be racist.

they had braids.  Not locks.

Race has nothing to do with oppressionRace has nothing to do with oppression,Race has nothing to do with oppression,RACE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OPPRESSIONLawwwwwl.  Good one.

many vikings combed their hair weekly, according to wikipedia. apparently very clean people. you should check your sources before making claims like that!
but probably like, white cavemen in europe had matted dreadlock type hair. they didn’t have combs.

When are we gonna stop this ridiculous cycle of worrying about what other people are doing with their hair!!! If a white person chose to get dreads it is their choice just like it was my choice to go natural! You’ve got way too much time on your hands!

 Many people dont know this but holy men in India called ” naga sadhus ” have been sporting dread locks and smoking marijuana for thousands of years. You can check it out on the web

If you knew a single thing about types of hair, you would know how closely related curly hair and “nappy” hair are in overall quality, texture, type, and general issues related to those hair types.
You would also know that many people with extremely curly and coarse hair struggle to keep their hair from naturally dreading, meaning their hair begins to form tightly packed tubes that can build up in as little as half a day. If they are not vigilant in deep cleansing and detangling their hair everyday, they would easily end up with dreads in less than a month.

I guess the other problem is this assumption that your hairstyle is tied in to what is “natural” for your race, or your gender, or really anything other than who you are as a person. Is a black girl with extensions more natural than a white girl with dreads? Is a white girl with a perm more natural than a black girl who chemically straightens her hair?  It’s a deep misconception that only black people have unruly, unmanageable hair, and it is offensive to assume that a white person with dreads is trying to be something that they aren’t.

is it? 

LMAO Scotland?? im outta here ::walks out LMFAO::

This is disturbing in many ways. Why do you care so much about what other people do with their hair? You’re lambasting white people for having dreads and using so many generalizations about them. They all have stinky dreads? Really? I’ve seen plenty of dreads living in Florida, on both white and black and even an Asian man. Like anything else, some people aren’t as clean as others. It’s NOT a race thing.

If you’d like to go into these types of things… this is like me attacking black women for putting in weaves that make their hair look more ‘white.’ Your hair is naturally nappy, not straight or with large curls. But, I don’t care what you wear. If you like it, and you’re happy, so be it. Who am I to tell you what to do?

Sure, it should look good. But, I think you’re far too worried about whities stealing your black ‘dos that you’ve let racism slip into your comments. What a shame.

Can’t we all just get along? And for the record, just because Bob Marley was black, doesn’t mean you own him. Or Martin Luther King jr. Or Civil Rights. Get over it.

I agree Adam. Well said. On a personal note, I’m a white female (not that it’s relevant) but I have had my dreadlocks for nearly ten years now and I take extremely good care of them, they are healthy and I get a lot of compliments on them from strangers, so this post is nothing but small minded ignorance if you ask me. I understand the bulk of it, aims to not be offensive to white people with dreadlocks, but you’re skating on thin ice trying to justify yourself and all I can do is shake my head and wonder why you start a post like this in the first place. It is discrimination no matter which way you look at it. Both black and white dreadlocks can look amazing, like Adam said, it’s not a race thing and never has been. Open your mind a little.

Way to go, Tessah! As a white guy, I agree with you, for different reasons.

Every single white person with dreadlocks I’ve ever met, without exception, has been totally insufferable. I couldn’t care less about their hairstyle. It’s the attitude: “Look at me! Isn’t it different and open-minded that I have a multicultural hairstyle?” It seems like they want to show the world how free-thinking and accepting they are, but they end up succumbing to same vices as the rest of us, and they come off looking arrogant and condescending.

Most black people with dreadlocks I’ve met are respectful, reasonable people who don’t get in your face because they are offended by the choices you make. Their hairstyle is not necessarily about their social beliefs. When I meet a black person with dreadlocks, I have no idea what kind of person they are.

When I meet a white person with dreadlocks, I instantly know a set of facts about them: 1. this person is willing to invest a very significant amount of time and effort to project a certain kind of image, 2. that image is an attempt to emulate a culture to which the person obviously does not belong, 3. every white person I’ve met who has chosen that hairstyle acts like s/he is smarter than me.

White people with dreadlocks can whine and complain about how persecuted and discrimated against they are, but they’ve made a choice to look the way they do. In fairness, it’s disgusting to suggest that it’s discrimination to mock your choice of hair style when people who mastered genuine discrimination did not lower themselves by simply complaining how about hard life was for a person of their skin color.

 Poor baby… are black people being too mean to you about your choice of hairstyle? Well, it’s a good thing that you’re so smart, so you can be justifiably offended by someone else discriminating against you! Good thing you read about “Martin Luther King jr.” in 5th grade… You should prove how racist this is by taking this to court!

 Thank you very much, for this very open-minded, loving comment on the internet. I’m glad to see how open-minded and full of love you are. As a white male (not that it’s relevant) I don’t have dreadlocks, but I’m encouraged that you are willing to face the racism and injustice of black people mocking you for your choice of hair style. Fight the power! I know you already understand why Tessah posted this, but it makes sense why you feel that she’s wrong (because you clearly feel that you are smarter than she is!) I’m glad that you’re so full of love and understanding, because you obviously understand how petty and ignorant it is for people of other cultures to voice their opinions ! Thank you for your smug picture!!!

smart guy:)

“Every single white person with dreadlocks I’ve ever met….”
How many white persons with dreads have u met in your life that u dare to make such stupid generalizations? Mind that not every single white person with dreads must be automatically imitating rasta culture…there is also a punk scene, especially Crust punk (which I am a part of) where a great number of kids wear dreadlocks…and of course there are a lot of people who may just like this hair style and dont even belong and not even try to fit in any culture….As somebody here has already said, black people also do wear mohawks and nobody fucking cares….

You look beautiful! :))))

how many times are u gonna repeat that u are a white male?you are so obsessed with races

“Please trust me when I say that you will look unfailingly ridiculous,
and that I can’t promise not to surreptitiously cut them off next time
you’re sitting in front of me on the bus.”
…fuck you racist!

“…fuck you racist!”

A searing rebuttal- smart AND classy! What damning indictment, for a black person to be called “racist” by a white teenager based entirely on hair style choice! Fight the power, Stani! You tell those black people who’s REALLY the boss!

 I rest my case.

OK so, im a white guy with dreads, a choice because I was bored with my perfectly straight almost waist length hair which was high maintenance becuase it would require brushing twice a day(after waking up. after washing) because of it’s thickness. Week without brushing, it began to form fairly distinct dreadlocks. (btw gaulic, germanic and celtic people where known to have dreadlocks before the romans came along)

Hate to burst your bubble Boss, but you’re wrong in so many ways. Funny how the Gauls, Celts, Picts,  Iberians and many other Western European Cultures had Dread, long before Marley and the Black claim to this Hairstyle. So many things in this made me laugh out loud. I love how Jamaicans are lumped into the Black thing. Jamaica’s just another island a slave boat crashed on. It was not originally populated at all. As a white male, and yes it does matter, I just want you to hear how ignorant you sound. (Go look up ignorant before you get offended.) White Western Europeans were rocking the dreads back when Cesar was running shit. Alexander the Great (White from Greece) eventually let his hair dead up during his campaign on taking over the know word. This was a couple 2000 yrs before the Spanish started shipping Slaves to the Thirteen Colonies in 1619. Okay, brace your self Boss… *Ignorant statement spoiler alert* Are you mad because white people know their history? Are you mad because your history is written by the evil white bastards who trick your culture and society into believing a little black shoe polish made Shaka Zulu a Demi-God? Are you made because your society and culture was suckered into believing a white religion, eventually becoming Christians. Yes, I said it, WHITE RELIGION. It wasn’t the folks in Jerusalem, it was WHITE PEOPLE.  Now, you see how all that stuff sounds so mean and hurtful? Problem is, its a ll true, just sounds like shit in the delivery. You may have an opinion, but clean it up before you run your mouth… You sound like a racist prick who is too ignorant to research an opinion before opening it. Did you look up ignorant? Oh shit, enlightened by a white man.  If it is such a problem for you, the borders are open, you welcome to return to your mother land at any time.  Unfortunately, they will kill you because you are American Made, Born and Bred. 

 Probably fewer times than you use incorrect grammar and punctuation. Also, I guess you missed it, but I copied-and-pasted the phrase,  “As a white ____, (not that it’s relevant)” from “DREADEDCARNAGE”‘s comments. I understand that you’re white, and offended, and clearly about 17 years old, so use this as learning experience: you are not always right, just because something upsets you.

As an African American woman.  I think that its time we stop putting so much importance into hair choices.  Its time that we start getting to know the people within.  I wish people would stop looking for ways to divide themselves.  Like India Arie says “I am not my hair, I am not this skin, I am the soul that lives within.”

I really wish people would find other things to spend their time writing about (I am a black female with locs) and i like to see white people with locs. I think it’s awesome, especially if it shows of a person style. I mean, I have never heard of a white person becoming seriously aggravated by a black person having straight hair or a weave. 

The person who wrote this article might want to try being blind for a week so that they can find more important things about people to write about.(just an idea)

In the 21st century where people can be anything they want to be and do their hair any way they want, I think this article is really archaic. 

I really wish people would find other things to spend their time writing about (I am a black female with locs) and i like to see white people with locs. I think it’s awesome, especially if it shows of a person style. I mean, I have never heard of a white person becoming seriously aggravated by a black person having straight hair or a weave. 

The person who wrote this article might want to try being blind for a week so that they can find more important things about people to write about.(just an idea)

In the 21st century where people can be anything they want to be and do their hair any way they want, I think this article is really archaic. 

At first I agreed with you (about how a hairstyle can’t be “claimed”, but throughout the post you yourself began to sound more and more like a condescending, racist prick. And this is coming from a white person, just letting you know before you call me an ignorant, racist, “white-hater”.

 yeah genius google it. LMFAO! dick :)

I absolutely LOVE this “open letter”.  And to quote Sistah Souljah, “If the truth hurts, you’ll be in pain. If the truth drives you crazy then you’ll be insane”. DEAL WITH IT!!!

White people all look ridiculous with dreadlocks without exception.

End of story.

i think that you don’t no shit about white people dreads OK. They make a shampoo for dreads so you can wash them when you want and if you no how to do them you don’t have to wear rubber and, so you stick to you black shit and let us white people do whatever the fuck we want with our hair. And people the this hairstyle could absolutely care less how you feel about it we ain’t doing it for you or trying to impress you so fuck off!

lol @ you all. Locks just generally look neater on black people because their hair texture allows it to lock so much more easily, plus their hair can usually be portioned off into locks better because of the apparent thickness and volume they get from the curls. So because of all of this you get more evenly sized and portioned locks, which are easier to form and which look neater because their hair clumps together better. They simply look neater on black people, generally that is. However it is quite a high maintenance hairstyle no matter what race you are where the need for care is increased if you hair is straighter. As long as its neat and clean i don’t see the problem but everyone s entitled to their personal opinion. Also, id appreciate it if you’d all stop purporting the whole idea of dreadlocks originating from the Caribbean due to the influx of the “rasta” culture. Please read about the religion and no reggae does not make you an expert. No i do not have locks, yes i am black, yes i am from the caribbean, no you don’t necessarily have to be black to be from the caribbean and yes we are annoyed by the fact that we are stereotyped as rastas who sit under coconut trees all day eating fruit, smoking weed and shouting “ya mon”. I implore you to begin your research by finding out about Marcus Garvey and Haille Selassie I. Its nice to know that some people actually do know their hairstyle history and aren’t spreading propaganda which has been drilled into the minds of society by the media and hearsay. But on a lighter note, this was a really funny post lol and I wouldn’t be surprised of the writer were a troll

what a wild generalization! you MIGHT be right on the first part…..”this person is willing to invest a very significant amount of time and effort to project a certain kind of image”…but that’s pushing it. some people (like myself) simply like the individuality that being a white person with dreads brings (since in modern society dreads were pinned as race specific), and are willing to do what we must to obtain that individuality. but your entitled to your opinion. just don’t get pissed at everybody else when they call you a prick :)

I really have to draw one conclusion, no, make that two conclusions about you Adam Lawson. (1)You don’t have much, if any, personal experience with black people. “You’re hair is naturally nappy, not straight or with large curls.”  Really? Are you serious right now? You should know that black hair comes in all textures ranging from straight to nappy. Say whaaat!!!! Oh yeah Jack. You sound like you would be one of those white people who come up to me and say, “You’re hair is very beautiful, is that all YOUR hair!?” I’m black, but my hair is NATURALLY curly/wavy and is down to my 5’3″ waist, touching my butt. You probably think that every black woman you’ve seen with hair that isn’t nappy, is wearing a weave. You probably also don’t know that alot of white women you see with long hair are rocking extentions. I find this to be a racist thought.
 (2) You’re a hypocrite “…….using so many generalizations about them.” Opinion validated in first point.
Next thing, “just because Bob Marley was black, doesn’t mean you own him, or Martin Luther King Jr., or civil rights.”  As a white person, you WOULD have a thought about “OWNING” a black person. Black people don’t get into OWNING other people. However, the said people are OUR PEOPLE. No person of any other race can write that manifesto, no matter how deep their appreciation and adoration is for them.
As for civil rights…..are you completely stupid right now??? High on mushrooms??? Or actually living  in one of those other string theory dimensions??? WE DO OWN CIVIL RIGHTS without a second thought!!!! Seriously??!! Regardless of the many Jews that stood with us, marched with us, supported, fought and died with us during the civil rights era, WE ARE THE ONLY REASON CIVIL RIGHTS WAS OF ANY IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS SIGNIFICANCE!!!!! Jewish people supported us because they understood the deeper meaning of the movement and that ultimately they could possibly be facing the same mistreatment and public/legal segregation and disparities that we were(are) dealing with. The American Jewish community was absolutely devout on never seeing another Holocaustal era and joined our cause because of this (thank you Jewish people for your help). What people were the basis for the civil rights act ? BLACK PEOPLE! Who were the people that had all of their basic civil rights denied to them? BLACK PEOPLE! What people went on a bus boycott and diner sit-ins, etc. etc.? BLACK PEOPLE!  Did women or other minorties lead these movements to fight for being treated like humans? NO! WE DID!! Do we own civil rights?! You can bet your priviledged white poop pusher that WE DO! And if you bet against it, don’t put too much on line to lose dear boy.

Readers, I know this is originally about white people with dreads and for the record, I think dreads are ugly on everyone, but I had to address this post and enlighten Adam Lawson who has no clue about blacks today or yesterday. And that is where the true shame lies. 

 Self-depreciating white then

 Okay, “ROCK_THE_DREADS”, did you even bother to read Tessah’s entire blog post? Or were you too excited about the opportunity to be offended? I guess you missed it, so I’ll paraphrase: dreadlocks are an easily manageable style for most black people, but for white people, dreadlocks are a time-and-energy-intensive effort. In simpler terms, dreadlocks are easy for black people, and hard for white people. So, if you’re a white person, and you decide that you want dreadlocks, you MUST invest significant time to “cultivate” dreadlocks, and that begs the question, “Why do you want dreadlocks?”

Your answer seems to be,
“some people (like myself) simply like the individuality that being a
white person with dreads brings (since in modern society dreads were
pinned as race specific), and are willing to do what we must to obtain
that individuality.”

So “individuality” for you means having a hairstyle that is traditionally worn by another race? You’re a white kid, and you seem to think it’s cute that you have a “black” hairstyle. You see the hypocrisy in that, right?

 Cool, so you’ve chosen to not perform basic hygiene because it’s too much work. You could have just gotten a haircut, but instead you chose to not wash or brush your hair. YOU ARE PERSECUTED. Protest this racism! Germanic (*cough*ARYAN*cough*) people everywhere will stand behind you!

 ”Hate to burst your bubble Boss, but you’re wrong in so many ways.” It looks like you’ve gotten most of your history from ‘Braveheart’, so standby for a few corrections, partner.

First, Jamaica has been inhabited by cultivated people (Arawak and Taino peoples from South America)  since at least a thousand years before your dread-lovin’ Picts even existed… though I’m sure you knew that already, since it only takes a five-second google to figure that out. But let me quote you (as a white male!) before I go on: “As a white male, and yes it does matter, I just want you to hear how ignorant you sound.”

“Cesar” is spelled “Caesar”, unless you’re talking about dog food.

Of course, you’ll be happy to learn (in your open-minded-dreaded-ness) that Alexander had one true love: his childhood best friend  and boyfriend, Hephaistion. Is Alexander so Great to you, now that you think he might be gay? Hmm…

And since you seem to like black people so much, that brings me to this nonsense about the Spanish shipping slaves to the “Thirteen Colonies” in 1619. While the Spanish indulged in the slave trade as much as any other world power did in those days, it was the Dutch who first imported African people to the American New World in 1619, and that was to Jamestown, before the “Thirteen Colonies” even officially existed. The House of Burgesses in 1619 only comprised representatives from local Virginia and London, England.

But it’s cute that you think you know what you’re talking about: “brace your self Boss… *Ignorant statement spoiler alert* Are you mad because white people know their history?” Hahahaha…. and this is too delicious, so let me let you say it: “You may have an opinion, but clean it up before you run your mouth…
You sound like a racist prick who is too ignorant to research an opinion
before opening it. Did you look up ignorant? Oh shit, enlightened by a
white man.”

And yes, for the record, I am a white male, and I definitely DO NOT have dreads.

 You’re so cute. Can’t we all just get along?!?!1

How can you not realize the utter absurdity of what you’ve written??? white people shouldn’t wear dreads because “in simpler terms, dreadlocks are easy for black people, and hard for white people”.
HELLO!!!!! Straight hair is easy for white people and hard for black people. That hasn’t  prevented us from spending billions in dollars and thousands in hours to get and keep our hair straight. 
You see the hypocrisy in that, right?

Let people express their beauty and style however they want. who said they’re doing it for your approval?

I could agree with you until the mother land crap. Are you american? Did your family get there on the Mayflower? Oh wait, there were actually aboriginal people living there. They weren’t black and no, they weren’t white either.

while we are at this….how bout black people stop trying to have white people hair? Your hair is nappy…stop trying to smooth it out because thats only for white people. what about that, eh?

by the way…i am a white female who had dreads for 3 years. they were tidy and i looked great with them. got complements every day i left the house. i miss them a lot.

you all do know that dreadlocks began as a deeply religious, better yet, spiritual regimine? Sounds like the caddy gossip you hear in organized religion. Who cares who has them or who doesn’t. If they feel some sort of expression, enlightnement, joy etc.. from it, who are you are to judge? Or is everyone here a bigot? Didn’t think so. Relax people, bottom line..no one is hurting you, no one is threatning you,  none of it affects you. Stop worrying about other people business and choices. Let it go. 

The power dynamic between white people trying to “act black” or adopting aspects of “Black or African American culture is different. Historically, white people around the world have had the social and economic privileges reinforced by policies and force.   Therefore, back in the day and even in modern day in order for non-whites such as blacks to survive they had to alter their appearance in order to keep their jobs or to get a job.  Nappy hair or anything that does not resemble white features is deemed bad by mainstream culture. Similarly, a lot of nonwhites such as East asians get eye surgery and Indians bleach their skin.  There is a lot of pressure by mainstream white/European culture to change your appearance  in order to progress in society. Look beyond racial lines and analyze the power dynamic between men and women.  Women are pressured way more to be skinny then men not to say men do not feel the pressure too but women feel it more. It is the same with nonwhites they feel way more pressure to fit in because they have more changes to make. Not much diversity is on television that is a clue.

jews had dreads in B.C. 
In the Hebrew Bible, a nazirite or nazarite, (in Hebrew: נזיר, nazir), refers to one who voluntarily took a vow described in Numbers 6:1–21. The term “nazirite” comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning “consecrated” or “separated”.[1] This vow required the man or woman to:

Abstain from alcoholic beverages, and from drinking vinegar (explicitly, “shall separate themselves
from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or
vinegar of strong drink”; the passage is explicit in stating that the
consumption of vinegar by drinking is forbidden, but is silent about
consumption by eating, e.g., dipping bread in vinegar)[2]Refrain from eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes (genus Vitis)[3]Refrain from letting any blade make physical contact with the head
so as to shave the head; but to allow the locks of the head’s hair to
grow (hair growth is an involuntary process, therefore the act of
cutting or trimming the hair will not stop it from growing;
additionally, the act of cutting or trimming the hair on the head is not
explicitly forbidden, therefore there is a possibility that it may be
permissible to cut or trim the hair on the head to cultivate the “locks”
that were referenced in the passage)[4]Refrain from approaching any dead body[5]
(it seems to be implied that a “dead body” refers to that of a human
male or female, as the passage forbids the Nazarite from defiling
himself by reason of a dead family member), including being in the
presence of a dead body (as the passage states, “if any man die very
suddenly by him”)[6];
technically, there is no limitation on killing, as long as the Nazarite
is not in the presence of any dead persons (i.e., the Nazarite may
depart from the presence of a dying, but still living, person, e.g.,
that the Nazarite may utilize self-defense when necessary)

Hmm, personal issues maybe? Stop deflecting your anger on other people and deal with your identity problems. And your comment wasn’t nice, it was definitely not nice. You are a douche, regardless of your race.x hubbahubba

No rastafari would exhibit an attitude like that. You are shameful in your abuse and hatred, live and let live. Your egocentric and hegemonic standpoint where you seem to presume the right that one creed owns dreadlocks and that you own the right to tell people that they shouldn’t wear them is disgusting. What next? Telling them you don’t like their beliefs? Victimise them because of beliefs or appearance? That was tried by a certain German faction in the 1940′s….
Bob Marley stated that ‘Black or white is not a choice, but anyone can be a rastafari’.
If you don’t like the way other people look, do the world a favour and stay the fuck inside, off the streets. Black or White, a cretin is a cretin.

oh my god, all of you sit the fuck down. white folks do not get to tell a person of color that they are wrong about cultural appropriation. no. no. no. just because there is historical evidence to suggest the presence of dreads in other cultures does not mean the significance of dreadlocks to black culture goes away. there is a very strong correlation between black folks’ cultivation of resistance and dreads and to strip away that meaning as a fashion statement is FUCKIN’ RACIST.

some people get dreads for other reasons than fashion and alot of the time they dont do it to be “rastafarian” or wanna be black people or whatever bullshit anyone of any race will come up with. no person should be judged of off a hairstyle choice. its really irrelevant what anyone else thinks about it it is simply about self expresion. the same as when people color their hair blue or even bright green when they shave half their head or have a mohalk.  a better use of your time would be to get to know them, they could be the nicest person you’ve ever met. the point is you dont judge someone immediatly on the color of their skin so why get stuck on hair? its theirs to own. its time everyone stopped being so judgmental because it only holds us back. dont get caught up on the little things.
and remember don’t worry, be happy! cause your life could be alot worse than worring about hairstyles

Well actually dreadlocks are an ancient Egyptian thing and I don’t care what Wikipedia has to say about that : P; it is also an Indian thing and a few other cultures, then it was adopted by the Africans. But I agree with what you say about white people looking fucking ridiculous with what they call natural dreadlocks, I mean its pretty much another way of saying shit locks. I do believe though white people can pull of dreadlocks if they are always maintaining them and keeping them nice, free of loose hair, and clean. I am not an African or an African American but I certainly don’t fall under the category of being white as I am of Turkish origin and I have dreadlocks. Everyone tells me that I suit my dreads (both black and white people) but I keep mine clean and most definetly free of loose hair.

For those who make reference to black people who want straight hair trying to be white….let me point out a truth here. White people are not the only race of people with straight hair so please dont flatter yourself with believing a black person who straightens their hair is trying to assume a “white” look. However, blacks ARE the only race to possess naturally kinky/nappy/wool thick hair.

u do realize that both hebrews and eygptians had hair of wool right? who has hair of wool? black people of all shades of color. both the “jews” (im tired of people forgetting the other 11 tibes) and the egyptians were black

Whoever wrote this is ignorant as fuck. They can’t type in proper english either. Black people didn’t invent dreads. Read up on your history.

Oh fucking BULLSHIT,, stfu?? Who gives a fuck what you think?? All most black people do anymore is complain and think us white people have something for you just cause your black?? When really who gives a fuck . Dreads aren’t just for black people. That’s like telling a black girl ” hey you can’t put color in your hair,, that for white chick”. Shut up. It’s a style,, everyone different and have different enterests .

And by the fucking way black people aren’t the only fucking people with nappy hair that’s good for dreads,, I’m white,, but I’m irsh too which makes mine come out perfect,, Jewish people?? My best friends Jewish an his dreads are just as good,, so don’t try to ” flatter” yourself in the bullshit you said.

Ok frankly, anybody who believes that HAIR can be racist is an ignorant fool. And as for “cultural appropriation”? What a joke. What a ridiculous theory. Explain to me how, in the year 2012, we still have people this ignorant in the world. I’m not going to run through example after example of how said “cultural appropriation” has benefitted the evolution of humanity as a whole. It is plain to see, open your eyes. It doesn’t take a genius to see that this world is no longer “black” and “white”. Fuck, it never was in the first place! I live in a racially diverse, and balanced area, and guess what? Yep, we live together, work together, play together, even date one another. And sometimes when we are really lucky, we get married, and even *gasp* have children together! This would be cultural appropriation, by your estimation? Fool. And to specfically address dreadlocks…What is “white” hair, exactly? And what would you consider “black” hair? I know whites with naturally nappy hair. Yes, nappy. Just like I know latins with nappy hair. I also know whites with straight, fine hair. I’ve seen them with wavy hair, curly hair, brown hair, blonde hair, red hair, black hair….all kinds. Look around… Point is, you can’t even identify what is white or black hair. It’s fucking hair. Get over it. Nobody owns a hairstyle. Mohawks or dreadlocks, shaved clean or in between….anybody can wear any hairstyle they can achieve. I have dreads, because my hair dreaded. And they look like, dreads. I’m not white, but I’m not black. Like I said above, the world is not black and white. Wake up.

……..Regarding dreadlocks– why would anybody want to tangle up nice healthy hair just to make a political antisocial statement? Why are there always those separatist groups of young people who have to make a nasty negative statement whether it be through their appearance, their oddball worthless issues they complain about all the time, or how much they hate beautiful, rich, go lucky happy people? Why? It’s quite simple. It’s because those people are envious and hateful toward others whom are more physically and mentally and spiritually beautiful than they are and which they will they never be. Why do dreadlocked oddballs expect, demand and make sure that the beautiful people they meet with beautiful long blonde hair or beautiful long silky black hair have to mangle up and make a hell of a horrible mess of their hair for the rest of their lives by never washing it properly nor combing it?  Please stop acting like an Anarchist  Cancer  in our society.                                                                                                                                                        ………Why do all of you ugly brown and black colored ugly faces hate beautiful white Caucasian people so much? Why? Caucasians have beautiful blue eyes, green eyes, hazel eyes and also have beautiful silky blonde hair,  black hair, brown hair, wavy blond hair, wavy black hair wavy brown hair. Whites have beautifully shaped features on their face, also. What do all of you “other” people have? Brown, black or black, brown? Black and brown colors are not even in the rainbow! Stop hating beautiful people because you are not beautiful! White/Caucasian people know how much you hate us for our natural physical beauty. 
…….. I would like to thank this website for giving me the opportunity to express how I feel. After all this website as well as all the other ones allow all the ugly hateful nonwhite people to bash beautiful white people all the time. Right? Right. And to all of you beautiful Black people, beautiful Hispanic people — stay beautiful and stop hating others who are more physically beautiful then you are. Then, we can all live together and hold hands while running and parading down the streets celebrating our joy of life and love for each other!  ( I had to add that last sentence in there so who ever reads this will be left with the feeling of hope, love and joy.)

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

Your full of shit. White people want to be EVERYONE but themselves. Too bad you weren’t born black. Get over yourself! You are nothing but a unjust enrichment scumbag.

…OK.

…OK.

…OK.

This is bullshit. Whatever happened to free America? I think just because someone is white it doesn’t mean they can’t do whatever they want to their hair… I have dreads and I love them and they look better than most black people dreads…

You are neither black nor white. You have no nice physical characteristics from the Caucasian people because you are mixed raced so I can understand how you cannot relate to what I’m talking about at all, sadly so. Because Caucasian white people have so many different colors on their face such as blond hair, black hair, blue eyes, hazel eyes, green eyes, etc. etc. etc. And what flavorful colors do you have on your face? Brown eyes, black eyes , brown or black skin or the kind of skin color which is odd or strange looking. YOU and others responding to what I posted are the real hatemongers who sit back in the shadows of our society spending too much time with our young children trying to contaminate their minds just as others have contaminated your mind.  Then, once OUR young children trust you and become friends with you, even though your dreadlocks and other odd physical characteristics once distracted them from wanting to become friends and trusting you, you start drilling their minds with all of this antisocial rhetoric bull crap. You know what I’m talking about.                                                                                                                                                                     
I have worked with several of you  antisocial oddballs before and I understand you more than you want me to. You hate everybody who has more physically beautiful than you, you hate everybody who is more smarter and educated then you, you hate everybody who drives extremely exotic cars and condemn them personally for it , unless they invite you into their beautiful car and shared her nice pretty toys with, then they’re okay and you like them, for a moment. But, as soon as you go back home to your mad hair crew and the other social oddballs  that follow you and believe everything you tell them, you then say how much you hate those beautiful rich white people. What is the definition of ENVY? Look it up!  THAT IS  THE FEELING YOUR TYPE OF PEOPLE FEEL AROUND PEOPLE WHOM ARE MORE PHYSICALLY/MENTALLY MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU ARE!
And stop trying to convince everybody that nappy hair is normal and everybody should have it. It’s ugly, dirty looking, deteriorating as it sits in a mangled mess for decades. And why the hell would anybody want to put a raggedy dirty mop over their head and parade around in public like that? 

You say you’re “Irish too which makes mine come out perfect.” So, are you saying that because you’re part Irish is the reason why yours “came out perfect” ? Do you remember what your hair used to look like before you turned it into a used, deteriorating mop? What the hell does Irish blood or even Jewish blood have to do with deciding to make your hair look like crap? And how does being Irish or Jewish have anything to do with this?

What the hell kind of an oddball statement is that? The truth is all of you mixed mutts want to be more physically beautiful like the Caucasian white people are. But, YOUR PARENTS SCREWED YOU out of the chance of being a uniquely nicely colorful Caucasian white person. Now, all of you mixed mutts spend all your time denouncing the very physical beauty which YOUR parents selfishly and inconsiderately decided to do to YOU. Our parents thought about what their children are going to look like and invested properly so, in their proper decision. 
And here is some good advice for mixed race couples who love each other and care a lot for each other and are considering to have children together. Think about what you’re doing and what your child is going to look like before you just selfishly and inconsiderately decide to have intercourse and create what you think is a beautiful child, physically. I have never met, in my entire life, any beautiful white people who wish they were black, Hispanic or even Jewish. Being Caucasian white beautiful people is really nice and I thank my parents for creating me and making me look how I do today, thanks Mom and Dad! I really like being good-looking! I get to date pretty girls and someday I can create another physically beautiful child with sky blue eyes, straight blond hair, hazel eyes, jet black straight hair, wavy blond hair, green/blue eyes, or purple eyes ( just kidding). And even though you wish I was born black, let me remind you how happy and content I am being a PHYSICALLY colorful white Caucasian. It’s really nice being beautiful and colorful, physically! And don’t worry we beautiful white people don’t want to be anybody else than what we are today! So, take your hateful envious ugly ass mutt faced and stick it in front of the mirror and try telling yourself how PHYSICALLY beautiful you are! And then go complain to your selfish, close minded, inconsiderate asinine parents that created you and made you look like what you are today. 

I’d just like to say that I’m “white” just like my parents, and redheaded, and my hair dreads on it’s own naturally within a day or two if I don’t let it soak in conditioner and brush it. My hair is super kinky and coarse, and I’m sorry but it dreads on its own whether you like it or not. And no I’m not into the whole rasta thing, I just don’t care enough to brush my hair every single day. And when I let my hair lock up, my dreads are PRETTY. So screw your opinion. I don’t use wax or rubber bands, they just happen. When I decide to keep them, all I do is palm roll them or twist them if they look fuzzy.
Unless..
Maybe this article DOESN’T apply to me after all, and gingers aren’t really white haha. I mean, you can’t spell ginger without nigger, so it makes sense.. 
You know what? Here’s a pic of me as a baby to prove white people can have naturally “black people” hair. I was born with an afro. Look at this for proof:

Oh and by the way idiots, the cavemen had dreads. THE FREAKIN CAVEMEN. that means ALL of our ancestors, don’t matter if you’re black, white, chinese, we are all HUMAN and all humans in prehistoric times had dreads until they started cutting and combing it.

Umm hate to break it to you but sadly “your people” as you put it did NOT create dreadlocks nor do you own the patent so yeah just throwing that out there. One more quick note … you are telling ALL white people that they have hair envy and I find that funny considering that black people spend retarded money to get their hair straightened and I have even seen a few of you sporting blonde hair and we all know that is not something that you get naturally.

Please by all means keep your “kinky/nappy/wool think hair”  

I can promise you one thing, you have no clue who I am or what I feel. I’m not even going to reply to most of your senseless ignorance. You hop up on your soap box pedestal and pretend to know everything…you do not know a thing about me. I don’t know who you are attempting to associate with me, but you have no idea….and obviously you didn’t catch my drift the first time. To sum it up, it is 2012, not 1950. Different world my friend. Wake up. By the way, I “parade around in public” with locks because like I said, my hair locked up naturally. I didn’t have to force it to do this, this is just who I am. And people like you are most certainly not going to change my mind. If you walked a mile in my shoes, maybe you’d get it. Fact is, I don’t care whether you approve of my hair style or not because honestly, this isn’t about what other people think. And I promise, anybody else who has locks will tell you the same thing. Just the process of growing locks takes an incredible amount of patience and inner strength. Inner strength means we don’t have to impress anybody and are most definitely not envious of anybody. And patience means we can take people like you with a grain of salt. There are thousands of fools like you in this world. Judging people based on appearance. I feel sorry for ya, friend. I really do.

All whites are “mutts”, by my estimation… Unless your bloodline has inbred from the beginning of time. Your ignorance is astonishing to me. You must live in Mayberry. Send my regards to Barney Fife, would ya?

And just because “dreadlocks” represent something to one group of people doesn’t erase the significance of locks for other cultures. Nobody “owns” a hairstyle, sorry to inform you.

This article is missing a few key points. Black people are not the only people who can dread their hair and therefore are not the only people who can have dreads. There are others but that is not the point.

Racist thread is racist. 

the author of this thread is so annoyingly ignorant. i think dreads look way better on white people than they do on black people. i hate the short dreads that black people [and some white people] try to pull off. but that’s my opinion… isn’t it? i’m not going to sit here and tell black people to stop letting their hair dread up naturally and just go get it done or go get a nice weave. definitely not. why? because it’s really none of my business what other people are doing with their hair. if you don’t like it, don’t look at it. quit whining. i think dreads look nice. AND who are you to tell me that my hair isn’t nappy? how do you define nappy? i am caucasian, i come from an italian and mexican background, my hair is most definitely nappy and DOES dread on it’s own if i don’t comb it. my hair is thick like wires and doesn’t stray straight unless done professionally. 

& being jewish [although it isn't a race or ethnicity] or irish or italian or mexican or black or indian or whateverthefuckyouare DOES have to do with why your hair is the way it is. 

your ignorance is uglier than how you think ‘white people with dreads’ look. 

@  More Cookies For Me!!! yes it is quite dismissive of people to avoid key references to hair like wool, the hebrews and egyptians being black, and the other 11 tribes being black.  I couldn’t agreew with you more.  It’s also funny how certain posters in this thread act as if there isn’t hair politics regarding blacks in the west.  It’s almost comically how “intelligent” posters go out of their way to brag about the “origins of dreadlocks”, when over the past 50+ years since Rastafarianism has gone mainstream thanks to Bob Marley, the majority of dreadlock wearers were/are B L A C K.  People of African descent have seen and heard the negative comments about OUR OWN HAIR.  So when most of us started to adopt natural styles, now suddenly, we didn’t create natural hair styles like Dreadlocks. LOL!  Locs goes back to the Northeast Africa

 :-) you took the words right off my keyboard Peachy_Choirboy.

Oh dear oh dear,
A friend who claims to know and want to help all regarding dreadlocks but someone who obviously knows very little about them first off
Dreadlocks are clean or they will not dread if your hair is greasy it will be impossible for knots to form.
Secondly growing dreads is a Personal journey for the person growing them only not for the under educated (in the dread sense) so what does it matter if they look ugly to you the person growing them is growing them for a reason and nothing more.
 
so before you go around telling people what they should and should not be doing look inside your self and realise you are an individual you make your own mistakes, and there are probably people with more life experiences than you that don’t claim to be preachers of other peoples hair styles.
 
so really if you think about it we are on this earth to live and to love to to learn from each other so please next time keep your ignorant self views to your self and do something to help some one rather than trying to belittle people in the most cowardly and faceless of ways sat behind your keyboard.

Tessah, thank you for the article and keeping the non – black racist posts up.  Very eye opening.  Personally, as a black woman in America that has researched and experienced hair politics, I’m so glad to read the absolute ignorance of racists whites who wear locks.  They do no want to talk about the reason WHY most blacks have been conditioned to hate their hair in a predominately white supremacist society.  Just more of blaming the victim tactic that has been mastered by their fore-parents and passed down to them, most racist whites with an overly inflated sense of superior complex.   I can’t stop laughing at the cries and whines of racism by them.  It’s surreal that they feel offended when society caters to them.

 Oh wow!  Ashley, most Black people have to start off with short dreds.  It isn’t “pulling off”, anything.  Truthfully, our hair is weaker then you think.  It grows the same rate as yours, but because of the 75% shrinkage and damage from manipulation, it’s generally short.  Only when our hair is locked up does it naturally (and quickly) grow past our butts if we want, because there isn’t any damage to prevent our hair from breaking.  I have no problem with Whites in dreds, but to say that Whites look better then Blacks, whose hair will NATURALLY dred if we just left it alone for a week, is nuts!  If you would have said. “look just as good as”, I may not have responded.  Furthermore, for Blacks to “go get our hair done” and weave it up, is UN-NATURAL.  Not really a good correlation.

you totally just argued something completely different and that makes you a great debater. Congrats. however debating your point, it seem to me that you think mixed-race people are ugly. if that wasn’t judgmental I don’t know what is. From what you have written you think that every mixed-race person is envious of non-mixed people. I can assure you that as a person of mix-race that it is definitely not the case with myself. I will not make the same assumption of others like me since I am not anyone else but myself. If you assume a person’s appearance based on a comment on the internet than that makes you a person whose opinion is less valued on the internet community. In other words please keep your racist comments within the confines of your skull. They’re ugly and people don’t want to see them.
sincerely,
~~~an Asian-Caucasian who proudly sports clean dreads ~~~
PS you are calling others haters while you sit proudly at your desk commenting to this and sounding exactly like a hater.

this is really entertaining.. obviously the person who wrote this article is uneducated and had nothing better to do with their time. The author is claiming white people are jealous of black’s hair but black women all over the world are straightening their hair daily so i am guessing they must be jealous too? It is not about jealously, hair styles are a personal choice that people make because they think it looks good. Then you talk about rastas… more people than you think do not even know about the rasta religion and are not relating to rastas at all by having dreads but as i said this article is ignorant and written  by an ignorant person. Hopefully you will one day change.

White people’s hair dreads naturally too. My girlfriend has dreads, and they only came as a result of not brushing her hair for a few weeks, now they are tight as hell. I also had dreadlocks, I’m white, and when i grow my hair I basically have an afro which eventually dreads itself too. I personally don’t care if you’re black or white, If your are happy with your hairstyle then that if awesome. Also I surf, and dreadlocks have become a large part of white surf culture… I think they look amazing on white people as well as black people. Anyway they are just knots in ya hair.

White people look ridiculous with locs most of the time. A lot of them just DON’T wash their hair for a longggg time bc if they do that loc will come undone so easily. I’ve seen so many other young white people that do this & are proud to not have washed their hair lol.
& it just looks gross to me bc they will have random dreads in their head & they just look like matted dog hair.
I’m sorry but that’s just my opinion. White people are aloud to have an opinion about our hair ALL THE TIME. So i voice mine when it comes to white people & locs.

How you gona call her ignorant then turn around & say “white people dreads look better than black people dreads”
Please! Give me a break.

If your dreads are able to look clean…then what’s it matter what color you happen to be born with? I like the way dreads look (I don’t have them)…I have long hair and if I knew that my dreads would look clean I’d definitely get them.

You know, color of the sin is really only caused by the sun. Blacks have black sun because they come from africa. Perhaps maybe the most heated sun filled place on earth. White people originated from places such as Europe. A moderate to cold environment. So color is uncontrollable and there is no choice in it. Racism is just ignorance. You really shouldnt fight about something someone has no control over. Hairstyle is a persons own choice, why does it matter if the hair is not on your head. If you think the person looks bad THEN DONT LOOK.

Racism: the belief that races have distinctive cultural characteristicsdetermined by hereditary factors and that this endows someraces with an intrinsic superiority over others.It’s so ironic that you say it’s racist of whites to have dreadlocks, when it is you whose drawing imaginary lines. Hair is hair, and people are people.

Lingerer, I do not need a lecture or definition of what racism is from you. Your condesending post is proof enough of the point I was making in my post. Funny that you tried and failed to play the reverse psyhology game on me. Save that tactic for someone less intelligent. Did you read this thread? If not, READ.IT.AGAIN, and don’t waste my time with your dribble about what you think I know about racism. And don’t you dare sit there and be dismissive and gutless as to the hair politics in society ingrained in the majority of people in this world. Oh no, do not go there. Your typical white priviledge response of “hair is hair, and people are people” further illustrates you are basking in your white priviledge sitting high on your perch in your ivory tower.

And had you READ.THIS.THREAD, then you would of caught onto the fact that most of the racists whites spewing their racist response to the OP is proof positive that you have no business responding to me, nor participating in this thread.

Don’t waste my time with me posting your insipid nonsense. Imaginary lines my ass. Perhaps you need your prescription updated with your eye doctor.

Word.

- Fellow Asian-Caucasian with beautiful dreads.

I actually think that what the author may be trying to communicate is her displeasure with the appropriation of black culture by non-blacks.  She asks several times to let us have this one thing, which leads me to believe hat she feels like much of black culture (hair, dance, clothing, etc.) is appropriated by non-blacks, leaving us with a very few things that are singular to our race and culture.  You could spin it back on me and say that blacks appropriate many things from non-black cultures, though specifically white culture.  However, that is different because all the power in our world belongs to whiteness.  Whiteness is the default setting, the race that doesn’t have to be qualified or specified.  If you want to argue with me I would ask you to first ask yourself why every single television show on a general television station (not BET or other race and cultural channels) stars a primarily white cast? Why do almost all shows with the major of the actors being non-white, fail? Why is it that non-whites can go to a movie with a primarily white cast and think nothing of it, but when a movie has a primarily non-white cast it becomes a “culture” movie and people not sharing the same culture as the stars feel as though they cannot go see it or just aren’t interested? Why is everything in this world run by white people? Why is it that in order for non-whites to be considered valuable members of society, they have to assimilate into white culture, which is not called “white culture” because, again, it is the default setting and considered to be the norm so it doesn’t have to be named.  Of course there are exceptions and nuances in this.

I think the author of this article wants specifically white people to realize that they carry the power described above at all times.  Non-white cultures have been ripped apart, remade, and manipulated by white culture since the beginning of time.  Whiteness takes what it sees as valuable from a non-white culture and leaves what is doesn’t like. This is offensive to many non-white cultures and they find themselves asking, as this author did, can’t we just have this one thing to ourselves?

Of course, this entire thing has to do with how power has been constructed in our society and white people and non-white people alike are victims of these power structures.  In order for one of us to break free we must all break free.  Which is a daunting task and I have zero idea how to go about doing it :)

I don’t think that the author is racist, but I do think some of her writing was a little ignorant.  I just think she is commenting on something that is bothering her that she may not be able to name.  The important thing is to open up a dialogue that doesn’t include simply passing judgements on others.  We should all be asking why it really bothers her because I’m sure it goes deeper than just the fact that she thinks white people with dreads don’t wash them. 

If you want to learn more on race studies and power structures I suggest reading Michel Foucault, Richard Dyer and Frantz Fanon (and others)

SJS

 White people cannot “fight the power”…they(you) are the power when it comes to racial and cultural relations.

 You have no idea how unbelievable happy it makes me that someone on this thread has posted a  comment similar to mine! Just thought I would tell you :)

So is it ok for asians,hispanics,arabs,etc to have dread locks just not white people?So it’s stealing culture,tell lil Wayne and all these black people wearing mohawks,skateboarder clothes,tattoos and what ever there favorite rappers are wearing this week on bet  to stop stealing then.My point is styles change and every race including black americans has copied,borrowed,stole from another.For some reason black people belive if they do or like somthing it is only for blacks.Now I will admit,there is the grungy,punk rock type white people who have what is really matted hair and not dreads(even though dreads are just dead matted hair clinging to new living hair).Even though some white people grow long hair first then try to dread it and it just looks like crap doesn’t mean white people can’t grow dreads that don’t look like greasey clumps of shower drain hair.Also rasta (far-re-ins,sp ?) do not like the look of black americans manicured dreads and say they are wannabes and fake rasta with their manicured,evenly placed dreads.So I guess every one likes to nag and worry about what other people do….By the way dreads will make you(even black people)go bald,you end up with more hair then your roots can hold because all the hair you should have shedded is hanging to the living hair growing.So unless you need dead tangled hair clingy to your living growing hair just to have long hair then I wouldn’t advise getting dreads.Ever black guy I know with dreads ends up with a jacked up hair line,cuts them off and wears a ceaser cut with short straight lined bangs(busta rhymes).Or is a homeless guy or racist afrocentric nut with bald spots,chunks missing,raggidy mess for hair.Seeming we are talking freely,black people stop with the fake mohawk fro-hawks.It looks like a pile of crap on your head.

Ok, Miss you really should have studied a bit about this before you make such a heavy opinion, first of all, vikings, celts, germanic tribes and even greeks already worn dreadlocks, not just african people…
It’s true that ras tafari and bob marley had a very important role on making this hair style so popular in the lastest century but that doesn’t mean that this style is exclusively african…
Every type of hair can become dreaded by simply not brushing or washing, thought its true that for black woman’s hair the process is quicker. But the main part about your text is mosty because it doesn’t suit white people. My friend thinks that all asian guys are ugly, i on the other hand think they are really handsome, my point is that it all depends on perspective and things like beautiful and ugly cannot be judged by one person alone, or even a nation, thought society has ignored that rule for too long!

Aww, so you’re upset because in fact, MANY people can pull off dreads, it just depends on how they mantain them. Don’t just make the assumption that white people who have dreads are dirty and don’t know how to take care of their hair. In fact, if you knew ANYTHING about dreads, you need to keep em clean in order for the process to work. How about you stop being a complete hypocrite and write about all the black girls out there that straighten and dye their hair blonde! Maybe if you took the time out to realize who these people were, you wouldn’t be so judgemental about a hairstyle. It’s OUR hair and we can do whatever the FUCK we want with it! You’re just another black racist.

WOW, reading these comments has made me depressed about humanity again. Internet comments often do. I just HAVE to say, noone can say what any person’s hair does or does not do. Like many americans, we most all have a mixed ethnic background, of many different races. I would not pre-judge any entire group of people, on what their hair can do, or should be. I would hope I would not pre-judge any individual either. I have a mixed race background, many different races and cultures. My hair dreads up naturally on it’s own, at night, even if I put it in a braid. It dreads up by the end of the day, even if I have put half a bottle of expensive sulfur free conditioner made for people with “blended” hair, and have spent over 45 minutes brushing it out to be tangle and dread free. It dreads up even if I ride somewhere in my car with the windows down and the wind gets it. I am tired of fighting my own hair, and what it seems to be determined to do. I am not trying to fight any powers, just don’t want to fight my own hair and spirit. If I let it dread, with some guidance so I don’t look like a homeless person who has one big mat, I sure hope I don’t have to face hatred, judgement, prejudice, and racist attitudes. We all have enough struggle trying to survive in this increasing hard to survive in world, without adding this unnecessary burden on each other. If so, it’s just another thing I will face with as much dignity and grace as I can muster. But what a shame, and what a silly thing to have to spend valuable time and energy on. 

The history of dreads shows that they have been a part of almost all early human tribes, globally. It is something that should connect us all, as one family of man. Why would it need to be something else to divide and increase racism? It COULD be something that we share in common, from all races. A return to tribes and our common humanity. If we weren’t racist about it. Maybe someday we will have a dream that all people will be seen and treated equally, that all children can play together regardless of their hair styles. And all people can be seen as human, and not by the color of their skin and hair. Or is that dream only available for some? 

Stupid nig

Actually, our hair has to be VERY clean, if our hair is oily or greasy, it WON’T lock up. We don’t say anything when it comes to black girls and them getting their hair straightened and bleached blonde, we don’t go around and make fun of their ‘white’ hairstyles. So before you say some real rude shit, face the facts that ANYONE can do what they want with their hair. And before you assume anything, we make a huge decision to start this process. We look at having dreads as a journey, they become a part of us. This horrible image in your head is seriously flawed, you might’ve seen a few folks with shitty dreads but thats because they don’t take care of them. In fact, most of us look beautiful with them because we maintain them. Stop with the racism.

hey dumb ass i’m white and i have coarse curly hair so don’t just make it like black people are the only ones who possess the ability to have natural dreads and the right to have them, you can also date them back to when the first civilizations were forming.

my reply is to the writer “Tessah” but I’m new to this site so I’m not sure if or how I reply directly to her original post..
Lol…either way ppls- to
each their own, ya know? Race doesn’t or shouldn’t even be an issue,
and if it is then ignorance is all I see. One love….. I see
no other way. The color of our skin is just that…a freaking
color….the heart you bestow and the intentions you project dominate
any skin color, in the end the true colors surface, and your skin, hair
type and ethnicity, nappy hair,or not, and so forth so on….. it is simply a fact that is, and should be
irrelevant…at least when pertaining to something as mundane as a hair
style. Idk. Just seems so ridiculous that some ppl actually consider
themselves more worthy of certain things just bc of their race….
Nappy hair or not, I’m doing dreads…and ill rock em with pride. Being
“white” doesn’t matter, long as your being YOU.
Also- the sarcasm that just oozes from your “humorous” (and ignorant essay) is probably just as putrid as your locks already smell, or probably will be in time. The negative energy u throw around will only rear up and slap u in your nappy head…just saying- throwing insults and degrading others is obviously something you do for a reason……so idk chic while u do some “routine maintenance” on those locks, make sure you take a long hard look in the mirror. I hope for your sake that you see something besides a black woman, who feels superior to others and feels more deserving of dreadlocks, JUST because your skin is darker then mine…I would hope the struggles of your own ancestors- and all that they endured would be enough to broaden your mindset, or at the very least- gave you the ability to honor those before you and not lash out in anger, or feel self righteous- but to simply live, love, do right, and fix the wrongs that are made….Life is too short to spend  time dwelling on little things-that, in reality are only your distractions. maybe  YOU should go for that  bus ride, out to the middle of no where and take some time to CLOSE your ignorant mouth and to OPEN your brand new, Non judgmental ears. Think before you write…

 my reply is to the writer “Tessah” but I’m new to this site so I’m not sure if or how I reply directly to her original post..
Lol…either way ppls-  to
each their own, ya know?  Race doesn’t  or shouldn’t even be an issue,
and  if it is then ignorance is all I see. What a rude, judgmental., and narrow minded “THOUGHT” I especially like the comment ” just let us have this one, (the deadlock hairstyle) WHY?? what makes YOU so worthy? that’s like me, as a “white” woman, (which is far from who and what I am- but the first thing someone like yourself would assume) having the audacity to say,back up off the NASCAR scene, or get the hell off skateboards… So what?!your hair “naps” easy- doesn’t make dreadlocks something YOU own. Get over yourself, many different ethnics can wear dreadlocks just as well as your race….and sorry to say but with a attitude and judgmental outlook that you obviously have its gonna take much more then a beautiful head of dreadlocks to make you attractive. Unless of course you just keep your mouth SHUT. Not all whites have to “grease our hair up and use rubber bands for weeks on end” Educate yourself- not solely for YOUR racial group, but all of them before posting some irrational and ignorant thought like the one above addressed to “white people with dreadlocks”…
One love….. I see
no other way. The color of our skin is just that…a freaking
color….the heart you bestow and  the intentions you project dominate
any skin color, in the end the true colors surface, and  your skin, hair
 type and ethnicity, nappy hair,or not, and so forth so on….. they are merely facts with some stereotyping thrown in…its actually ridiculous-irrelevant…at least when pertaining to something as mundane as a hair
style. Idk. Just seems  so ridiculous that some ppl actually consider
themselves more worthy of certain things just  bc of their race….
Nappy hair or not, Ive had dreadlocks, and in the process of doing  my dreads again…and ill rock em with pride. Besta believe…. See, being “white” doesn’t  matter, long as your being YOU.
Also- the sarcasm that just oozes from your “humorous” (and ignorant essay) is probably just as putrid as your locks already smell, or probably will be in time. The negative energy u throw around will only rear up and slap u in your nappy head…just saying- throwing insults and degrading others is obviously something you do for a reason……so idk chic while u do some “routine maintenance” on those locks, make sure you take a long hard look in the mirror. I hope for your sake that you see something besides JUST a black woman, who feels superior to others and feels more deserving of dreadlocks, JUST because your skin is darker then mine…I would hope the struggles of your own ancestors- and all that they endured would be enough to broaden your mindset, or at the very least- gave you the desire, and ability to honor those before you and not lash out in anger, or feel self righteous- but to simply live, love, do right, and fix the wrongs that are made….Life is too short to spend  time dwelling on little things-that, in reality are only your distractions. maybe  YOU should go for that  bus ride, out to the middle of no where and take some time to CLOSE your ignorant mouth, and open your racist eyes just long enough listen to your heart. same color blood running through your veins. And face it, white chics are hot with dreads- sorry it ruins shit for you.

 lol….^^^ so you’ ve  seen every white person with dreadlocks? your opinion is ridiculous, arrogant and almost funny…there should always be room for exceptions no matter the topic-BC shit isn’t black & white, cut & dry, or that simplified….welcome to reality, what you THINK  isn’t always correct, look around you- beyond the dreads, or faces and physical appearance. beauty lies within. but then again there are always people as yourself, ignorant, stubborn, full of stipulations and non wavering in their ways…”white  ppl ALL look ridiculous”,well that says it all. I wonder how many people you have judged over their HAIR – and missed out on getting to know, all bc u live a life with a “no exceptions” mentality- as if its no big deal….you can think a white female with dreads is unattractive, but for your one opinion there is at least 3 others who think otherwise.. Men who lack common decency and some kind of consideration and respect are far more unattractive then any head of dreads Ive ever seen…

Did your ignorant ass know that Many European kings had dreadlocks, and guess what? Any hair will knot up and form dreads without brushing. So keep you ” angry black man, white people owe me something” shit for someone else you fucking douche. P.s. I don’t listen to bob marley, you fuck.

Everyone that has dreads here in the US leave out one key ingredient, COW SHIT, ask any Rastafarian.. Anyone with that crappy look, looks like a idiot black and especially white.

I’m sorry but not all “whites” are the same. Not all “whites” have perfectly straight blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin and live a life of privilege. Not by a longshot. Whites have ancestors who suffered just like blacks do. Look at Ireland. Germany. Serbia/Croatia. Italy. Ever heard of concentration camps? Nazis? There is WHITE suffering. Now look at the violent regimes of Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, look at the demise of entire civilizations such as the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, even Native Americans. And the struggles of Tibetans as well. ALL civilization and culture has experienced slavery, oppression, pain, and suffering. That’s not to say black people haven’t suffered, it’s just that some black people think they own suffering and struggle. NOT true at all. If you are black in America nowadays, you have far more privilege than you realize. I see black people getting promoted all the time because they are BLACK. Because of “Equal Opportunity”. There are college funds for BLACKS. Find one for WHITES. Find anything that is specific only to WHITES. nothing. You show me ONE thing in America that is by white people, for white people, and only for white people.KKK? That’s about it. Some black people these days act as if they deserve credit for having been oppressed in the past. Sorry but those days are LONG gone get over it like everybody else has. And dreadlocks are a HAIRSTYLE. I don’t care what color your skin is. I don’t care how easy or difficult it is for you. I know a black man with 2 foot long dreads and it took him 3 yeRs to lock his hair. 3 years is longer than most white people I know with dreads. Point? It’s isn’t specific to RACE. It isn’t RACE issue. It. Is. Fucking. Hair.

I never had dreadlocks and do not know how well they “lock” on white people, etc.  I did hear that black hair more naturally locks into dreadlocks as was noted in the original post.

Kinky Loc Wearer, I think your comment with regards to hair politics is spot on.  Why in the American society it is OK (many I would say are even encouraged and expected) for Black people to have “white” hair styles: to straighten, wear wigs and in other wise hide or treat hair to look more European-like?  On the flip side, why it is NOT OK for white people to wear what can be considered predominantly Black hair styles such as dreadlocks, cornraws, etc?  Double standard? It is OK in this racist society to encourage transfer of white standards of beauty onto Black people, but not the other way around? 

Maybe whites who dare to wear dreads are taking on the racist hair politics of this society straight on in their own way?  Yes we can say that all people should wear hair in the way that is most natural to their hair (and I’m sure ppl will argue what “natural is), we can also accept that we cannot control what others do and if Black people can wear White hairstyles, then maybe it is OK or even good that some White people wear Black hairstyles?  Will I get a promotion if I get dreadlocks? Don’t know, probably not to be honest, would I have gotten a job I just got, most likely not to be honest… just as Black person may not get promoted/hired just because they don’t fit into racist standard of beauty….

It is just amazing how in response to one racist comment someone would pick another comment, which is just as racist!  Where I am? In US, so why am I surprised? I don’t even know!  Just want and expect more from people….

U can do wat u want at the end of the day. But white people don’t look good in any hairstyle that is meant for people of Afro hair. N they don’t look good in them(when compared to black people). Period. Carry on

why should i be jealous of having the hair of my head like i have it in my pubis? my dick is rasta bitch!

Ha, white people are mad . I understand what the author is saying , and she’s right . We can’t have anything for ourselves . Anytime we say how bad we have it , they bring up how bad they had it, dude talking about how they don’t have school funds set up for whites , well , it’s not the same dis-advantages set up for whites as it is blacks  . This goes a whole lot deeper than what this conversation is about , and in the end it really doesn’t matter . It’s hair and people are going to do what they do . Just like blacks wanted to have that straight hair like the white girls, but that’s actually deeper than the surface we’re touching on . 

 But whatever it doesn’t matter , black kids do wear mohawks and all that so , I guess it’s a tradeoff , I just hate it when white folks try to act like they have hair the same as ours , and they dont , maybe if they are a mulatto . But stop it with the my hair is coarse and blah blah , no its not . We have hair like wool , you guys don’t , be proud of  what you have and who you are . I’m happy they are getting dreads, it shows how much influence we as black people have on the world . And actually I think all color groups outside of blacks fit this , being that we are the only ones who have this type of hair. This is how our hair grows , we dont have to neglect it , and do this and that , this is us . 

Oh and for the record , white people got the mohawk from the Native Americans .. Always stealing something .. 

its a shame when people generalize races even there own you know the problem is when a person makes things a race issue… a sexist issue…an age issue..  that attitude bleeds to the people around them. No one wakes up in anyone else shoes no one knows what they have or do deal with. When people just assume a certain race fits into a shoes we are taking steps back. Why everytime race comes up each side starts mud slinging events that occured decades(if not centuries) ago we need to grow as people and deal with the issues happening NOW! Believe me there are real issues in the world not white people wanting dreads or black people with mowhawks!!!! Everyone is different not because of race because of personality and our minds. Just because a person wants to have dreads doesnt make them a wannabe rastafarian…couldnt they just like the hairstyle..do they have to be jealous of african american hairstyle…couldnt they just be happy to express them selve anyway they see fit. Everyone on this earth deserves that right whether you like it or not. Especially this day in age. Also, I am sure there are plenty of  caucausion parents who have children with dreads and I am sure they are proud to have them as there children. :)

 Love you.

I’m white and think white people with dreads look silly. Not because I think they’re stealing Afro styles or whatever, it just looks dumb. But you need to look at people like Beyonce who use relaxers to make their hair look less Afro and more caucasian. Just be happy with what you have.

“dear black people…you should not wear or utilize anything unless it is African. This includes buttons and iPods.”. Seriously? BTW…the Celts had Dreds about five thousand years before the Rastas. So by your logic, black people can only have Afros. Read a f*cking book. Oops! Sorry. Books are from Europe too!

The Iroquois never wore the so-called “Mohawk” hair style.  It was invented for the 1936 movie “Drums Along the Mohawk” starring Henry Fonda.  Movies were also invented by white Americans (with the semi-exception of Eadweard Muybridge, an English expatriot).  I got all of this from Wikipedia, which was invented by white Americans.

But black women do look ridiculous with straight hair! 

you can have those fat ugly noses to yourselves!

White people have no type of originality, they copy and steal whatever they can from other cultures. You people look so fuckin stupid with dreadlocks and braided hair. Your hair was not made for these styles, just like black people’s hair were not meant to be straight.

I get what you’re saying, it just baffles me that someone elses hair is so important to you that you had to write a blog about it. I mean, I see people look a lot of ways that I don’t think are a good look for them, but since it doesn’t effect me or my life, I don’t take time out of my day to cut people down for something as trivial as hair. I mean seriously, it’s just hair. Who really cares? Why does it have to be such a big deal when it’s really none of our business?

Fuck you stupid nigger!

I’m white and my hair dreaded naturally, dumbass.

Hahaha it’s good to see ignorance knows no race haha usually I’d comment on how out of whack your priorities are for writing but seeing as I’m responding I’ll leave that for next time so I’d like to start off with the fact none of your “facts” are legitimate in any way shape or form dreads weren’t formed because people are black? It’s what natrually happens to all hair in all races so check that one off also it seems your assumption of why white people get dreads is because they smoke weed in college which the sheer stupidity of your logic is comeback enough and along with my last point it seems the meat of this entire blurb of idiocracy is just your opinion with a brittle-boned base that is just as if not more unintellectual than your own thoughts consider this a public service announcement from a citizen of the world

omg would you people stop with the race thing, why is it that every conversation ends up being about race??? look i am a south african (african) girl living in cape town who happens to be inlove with a white dreadlocked man, noo biggi as they say coloer is just that so stop with the issues from the past nd let people do what they want ( of all races) and i personaly belive that in the next 20 to 50 years the world will have no race, we will all be one shad :) aint that nice???

You should have been a slave…….haha

That was beautiful.

 ” be proud of what you have and who you are”… when we try that we get called racist. Are you  saying its alright that we form a social group that advocates the advancements and acknowledges the accomplishments of the white European race? It seems that when we try that, we get called racist. Even if we’re alienating another race by not saying anything about them at all, be it negative or what have you, it is (for some reason) common knowledge that we’re not allowed a “white student union.” Ok, I’ll concede that we are focused on one race and not another, therefore acknowledging lines of difference between one race to the next, but here’s a question… Doesn’t Black History month do the same thing? Where’s White History Month? Don’t tell me you deserve something because your ancestors suffered, I wasn’t around to facilitate the slavery movement, and you certainly weren’t around to be enslaved. Here’s some food for thought… Let’s all praise Barack Obama for being our “first black President.” If you acknowledge that he’s black, you inadvertently concede that race matters, thus establishing lines of difference, and admitting that there are differences between whites and blacks. If you want to move forward, cut it out.

I think this black person should get educated for one, only read about half of this bullshit article and said yeah this person don’t know shit about it. For one if white people shouldn’t have dreads then we wouldnt be able to make them on ourselves. For two, white dreads can be very clean cleaner than most hair considering that the owner of the dreads actually makes them and maintains them correctly. My point is if you are one of the millions of people that think dread locks are nasty then get some education and learn about something that you obviously know nothing about.

stop discriminating hair aaaaight!!! 

hey fuck you. Black people dont look good in any hair style, wouldnt like to hear that would you? honestly most white people i know have way better dreads than the black people who dont do anything to take care of them, at least we do.

i hate when black people use English, that’s our language.

Fuck you nigger.
Sincerely,
A friend who cares.

My dreads look better than any black person i know that has em

There are all kind of people with drealocks.. Bob Marley flag on dorm wall and that kind of shit is just narrowminded thinking. You think that babas in India shouldnt have dreadlocks? i know many white people whit hair that dreads naturally. just washing hair and dont brush them does the trick. (sorry for my bad english)

Are you whack?! Dreads all appeared in Egypt ( wigs). In India the God Shiva has “twisted hair”.  Aztecs also had numerous hair styles, which included dreads. Also, what do you think people did with their hair before anything that came close to a comb was invented. Do some research and get your head of your ass. Also, I am Indian, in case you were wondering and yes I have dreads. And the look fucking bomb on me as do they do on many white people. Grow up.

yooouuu pretty much made it obvious you just dont want “white people” to take something away from you by getting dreads…but thats not what we’re doing.
and trust me bitch, my dreads are fuckin radddd =) so suckk on that muhh fucckkaaahhh!!!!!! now im gunna go pretend to be a rastafarian cuz thats totally what i think i am since i have dreadlocks!

Whoever wrote this article is sadly misinformed about a lot of things… being black does not make you automatically qualified to talk about dreads as you have proven… I am white and my hair dreaded in about a month naturally, no backcombing, no wax, no rubber bands absolutely nothing other than NOT COMBING MY HAIR and RIPPING THE DREADS APART, the same as any black person would. How is this possible if, as it states in your article, only black peoples hair dreads naturally? Oh yeah, that’s right I forgot, you don’t know a thing. Whites have worn dreads for countless centuries, rastafarianism isn’t even a hundred years old, they inherited their habits of wearing dreadlocks originally from indians, and numerous other cultures (including WHITE CELTIC PEOPLES) have worn dreadlocks throughout time. Try reading a book before you run your mouth off about something you don’t know the first thing about. And by the way, I’m not a rasta or religious in any way, I got dreads because I couldn’t be bothered to brush my hair anymore and, after about a month, dreads were the result. Now who the hell are you to tell me I can’t have dreads? I don’t give a damn if you think it doesn’t suit me, or what anybody else thinks, dreads do not belong to black people. The sooner you realize this and stop bitching and whining about it the sooner we can all start to get along. Catch my drift?