I grew up like this. I’m in my 40s now, but as a teenager, I only wore my hair in black hair styles. “Black culture” was the only culture I felt that I fit in with. I use connotations around “black culture” because we didn’t call it that back then. We didn’t call it anything. I was just a young white girl who really wanted to fit in with everyone around me. I hated my hair, it was so darn straight and thin, so I never looked very pretty in my hair styles. My braids were always too small. I was in my 20s when I finally set out on a path to learn “white culture”. I started discovering house music, started appreciating white hair styles.

Anyway, as a woman in her 40s, I do think its unfortunate that black culture is being gatedkept. In America, black people are responsible for paving the way of our culture. We are the country who built rap/R&B music, yet we don’t allow a large portion of our citizens to listen to it. I don’t think it’s inappropriate for any American to be involved in any American black culture aspect.

The counter argument we receive is “white Americans wanna do our hairstyles but it’s the SAME white American who shamed us for when we wear it!”

No.... it’s definitely not the same person. I assure you that that white girl who wants to wear your hair style actually thinks you are the most beautiful woman in the world with your beautiful black hair and beautiful black skin, and she actually really wishes she looks like you and looks up to you. Words cannot describe how much you’re ruining her self esteem and causing that little girl to self hate by shouting “you don’t belong here because you’re white”

I apologize in advance if my opinion has hurt anyone’s feelings.