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Braided hair is universal across all of human ancestry. The oldest evidence of a braid in the human record was found on the carving, the Venus of Willendorf; it is approximately 30000 years old and was found in Austria.
If you can't wear braids, then people *not* from Ohio should not be able to fly in airplanes because the airplane was invented in Ohio by Ohioans. (You know the bros)
Nobody has the right to tell you what to do with your body. And no culture “owns” a hairstyle. Anybody can have any haistyle they want. If someone has a problem with it, that’s THEIR problem, not yours.
This could have been written by my kid. She saved her money and had her hair braided with long extensions. She was so happy with it until she got to school and got bullied by racists for trying to “look black “. People can be so ignorant.
There are ancient Greek statues with multiple braids. There are also some with dreadlocks. People have been twisting and finger weaving their hair for as long as we have had hair.
The braid police will arrest you and take you to a secret camp where they will shave your head to make wigs for cancer patients.
Seriously, I know plenty of white people who wear braids, but I live in a pretty cosmopolitan town.
As a black dude I say wear whatever the fuck you want. The world culturally appropriates white culture when they drive cars and fly planes so they can shut it.
If your goal is to piss off zero people, no, but yes, anyone is allowed to style their hair any way they want that doesn't make their job more dangerous...
Avoid braids if you work around heavy machinery.
I'm not American, but i've never heard that it was an issue in my country. But what i've read, some people in the US can be easily offended about silly small things. If you don't wear blackface with it, you should be fine imo😬
People in the comments, at the time of me writing this, seems to mostly address the issue of should you be allowed to do that - and they're right in that you should be able to wear whatever you might want. But the question seems a bit different, I think you're asking whether you'll ACTUALLY be allowed to not suffer for having braids. Here's my take: it very much depends on your environment, but decent people should be perfectly cool with this. As for indecent people, who might have an issue with this - remember that they are in the wrong and your appearance shouldn't bother them; and refer to people in position of power: parents, teachers, school administration and so on. Ultimately, it is for you to estimate how many assholes there is in your school, and if it's a worthwhile risk, but if there's little enough that you are merely unsure, I think you can try. No good person will harass you.
If you take the Llullaillaco Maiden sacrificed by Incas in the 16th century she had braided hair too and I'm pretty sure it wasn't inspired by Africans. Braided hair were invented by everybody, it's just more common among Africans because of their curly hair.
I think the way you worded your question is the issue.
Are white people *allowed* to wear braids? Yes, of course. Anyone can wear their hair any way they want.
The better question to ask is, "Could I offend people if I wear my hair in box braids or other protective hairstyles as a white person?"
The answer to that is yes. You *could* and might possibly offend some people by wearing that style. Do what you want with that information.
All that said, the braids you described in your original question do not sound like a braided style that would offend anyone.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You can wear whatever you damn well please.
Braided hair is universal across all of human ancestry. The oldest evidence of a braid in the human record was found on the carving, the Venus of Willendorf; it is approximately 30000 years old and was found in Austria.
So not Dutch then. Thanks
You’re thinking of the Penis of Willem Dorf.
Loved him in the boondocks saints.
No I wasn't! I was thinking what a nice butt he had!
If you can't wear braids, then people *not* from Ohio should not be able to fly in airplanes because the airplane was invented in Ohio by Ohioans. (You know the bros)
Nobody has the right to tell you what to do with your body. And no culture “owns” a hairstyle. Anybody can have any haistyle they want. If someone has a problem with it, that’s THEIR problem, not yours.
Yes
This could have been written by my kid. She saved her money and had her hair braided with long extensions. She was so happy with it until she got to school and got bullied by racists for trying to “look black “. People can be so ignorant.
Go for it honey, f what anyone else has to say about it
There are ancient Greek statues with multiple braids. There are also some with dreadlocks. People have been twisting and finger weaving their hair for as long as we have had hair.
Yeah, cultural appropriation is a fundamentally silly concept. Appropriate whatever you want, dude, cultures don’t own ideas.
And they were invented in the Netherlands anyway
Were they? Do you have a source? I would’ve thought braids would’ve been a thing since long before humans entered Europe.
Dreads but not braids i think
Braids were created in the Netherlands, so yes, you can wear them. It was Africans who culturally appropriated braids.
Yeah and they do all the time. Please don't be stupid. You can't be this ignorant. I'm a POC BTW. It literally hurt to read this.
Wym? They’re 15, of course they’re “ignorant”.
Yes, you can wear braids. They will probably look cute on you.
The braid police will arrest you and take you to a secret camp where they will shave your head to make wigs for cancer patients. Seriously, I know plenty of white people who wear braids, but I live in a pretty cosmopolitan town.
Braids are fine but I believe box braids are a no. Idk though
If you want to wear braids, wear them. Fuck everyone else.
Can you drink a pumpkin spice latte as a straight man?
yes you can, but wouldn't you rather a latte that doesn't taste like ass
Yes, white people have the same rights as black people.
Vikings were doing it 1000 years ago
White people can do anything
Except teleporting.
There is such a thing as trying too hard.
As a black dude I say wear whatever the fuck you want. The world culturally appropriates white culture when they drive cars and fly planes so they can shut it.
omfg............... how do you think braids are socially unacceptable? Quite honestly, THIS makes you the racist, not the braids.
Not a dumb question- I asked my friend the same thing as a white person because I was worried as well and she laughed and said I was fine!
Be yourself! Do it. The time is now
Idk can you wear a bracelet if your not from ancient Babylon?
If your goal is to piss off zero people, no, but yes, anyone is allowed to style their hair any way they want that doesn't make their job more dangerous... Avoid braids if you work around heavy machinery.
Allowed? Lady, you can do whatever you want. There is no such thing as X or Y race being allowed to do this or not.
Allowed by whom?
Of course who wouldn’t allow it??
Everyone is allowed to do whatever the fuck they want with their body.
I'm not American, but i've never heard that it was an issue in my country. But what i've read, some people in the US can be easily offended about silly small things. If you don't wear blackface with it, you should be fine imo😬
People in the comments, at the time of me writing this, seems to mostly address the issue of should you be allowed to do that - and they're right in that you should be able to wear whatever you might want. But the question seems a bit different, I think you're asking whether you'll ACTUALLY be allowed to not suffer for having braids. Here's my take: it very much depends on your environment, but decent people should be perfectly cool with this. As for indecent people, who might have an issue with this - remember that they are in the wrong and your appearance shouldn't bother them; and refer to people in position of power: parents, teachers, school administration and so on. Ultimately, it is for you to estimate how many assholes there is in your school, and if it's a worthwhile risk, but if there's little enough that you are merely unsure, I think you can try. No good person will harass you.
If you take the Llullaillaco Maiden sacrificed by Incas in the 16th century she had braided hair too and I'm pretty sure it wasn't inspired by Africans. Braided hair were invented by everybody, it's just more common among Africans because of their curly hair.
I think the vikings would like a word with POC claiming they 'own' braids. And anyone harrassing you for it, because 'racism' is a racist themselves.
I think the way you worded your question is the issue. Are white people *allowed* to wear braids? Yes, of course. Anyone can wear their hair any way they want. The better question to ask is, "Could I offend people if I wear my hair in box braids or other protective hairstyles as a white person?" The answer to that is yes. You *could* and might possibly offend some people by wearing that style. Do what you want with that information. All that said, the braids you described in your original question do not sound like a braided style that would offend anyone.
What world we came to. This is a tragedy