Braids for white daughter? I want to be culturally appropriate. Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:not gonna read this whole thread but, to OP, i would do a couple of small braids with beads on the end. the whole head of braids probably wouldn’t work that well with her hair type anyways. something like this (sorry the best pic i could find is a doll)

https://images.app.goo.gl/GhHc8iEVkoML2AWM6

Yes, I would do this. My mom used to do this to our hair when we were little and let us do a few beads at the bottom. The rest our hair remained straight, though.

+2 I did this for my child who is not black (and not white) and wanted braids with beads like her friends in her class. I did it once when she was 4 or 5 and she never asked for it again.

[Anonymous]

seriously? Have any of you ever been to an island? The first thing locals do is try to sell people on getting braids with beads. It isn't culture it is about making money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a complete idiot though I feel like one now. I know better than to let my kid have braids to match her friend. Could I do french braids instead and put beads in her hair that way? I'm so lost on this. I am an immigrant, sorry for not understanding. I am trying.

Every troll claims to be an immigrant.

I am not OP, but I am also an immigrant trying to understand. Would it be ok to say to a black kid not to do something because it is a “white thing”. I understand the debate for older kids or adults. But don’t we want to foster real empathy and friendship between kids of different backgrounds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:seriously? Have any of you ever been to an island? The first thing locals do is try to sell people on getting braids with beads. It isn't culture it is about making money.

12 years ago on a trip to the Bahamas my daughter wanted to get braids. They were so much fun and she wore them for a week or so after we returned from our trip.

[Anonymous]

Let the poor child do it. They want to be twins. Great.

Signed a black mom

[Anonymous]

I think it's totally fine! These are two sweet little best friends!

I would, however, maybe just do some braids, like 4 or 6, and do beads on them-reason being, us white people look scalpy with many braids!

[Anonymous]

We had those braids with the beads done at a resort. They hurt. So they were begging to get them out after one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm a mixed-race foreigner and don't understand the American concept of cultural appropriation at all. It doesn't exist in other countries. It seems to be another one of these self-flagellation concepts that privileged people add to their lives because they have nothing of importance to worry about.

I say your daughter can have braids, whatever kind she wants.

And if anyone wants to dress up as someone from any of my two cultures, they're welcome to.

+1 million, especially the bolded.

+2

_+3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a complete idiot though I feel like one now. I know better than to let my kid have braids to match her friend. Could I do french braids instead and put beads in her hair that way? I'm so lost on this. I am an immigrant, sorry for not understanding. I am trying.

Every troll claims to be an immigrant.

I am not OP, but I am also an immigrant trying to understand. Would it be ok to say to a black kid not to do something because it is a “white thing”. I understand the debate for older kids or adults. But don’t we want to foster real empathy and friendship between kids of different backgrounds?

No. One of the reasons why putting a white child in box braids is inappropriate has to do with the history around white majority culture policing Black women's hair. If something is "ghetto" when a Black child does it, but "cute" when a white child does it, then it is not something the white child should be doing.

[Anonymous]

But OP if you are already worried about it then don’t do it. If you believe in cultural appropriation then just don’t. I think it’s ridiculous but I’m not you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a complete idiot though I feel like one now. I know better than to let my kid have braids to match her friend. Could I do french braids instead and put beads in her hair that way? I'm so lost on this. I am an immigrant, sorry for not understanding. I am trying.

Every troll claims to be an immigrant.

I am not OP, but I am also an immigrant trying to understand. Would it be ok to say to a black kid not to do something because it is a “white thing”. I understand the debate for older kids or adults. But don’t we want to foster real empathy and friendship between kids of different backgrounds?

No. One of the reasons why putting a white child in box braids is inappropriate has to do with the history around white majority culture policing Black women's hair. If something is "ghetto" when a Black child does it, but "cute" when a white child does it, then it is not something the white child should be doing.

I'm curious if you are black?
I'm one of the black moms above who thinks it's fine.
Little black girls in braids is not "ghetto."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Sounds like you met your first black person in college or something with this question. Every white kid I know, myself included, has the memory of up wanting cool braids with beads, afro puffs, any cute hairstyle they saw on their friends. It doesn't kill that white kid to learn that not everything is for you.

The bolded is actually really important. There's a short list of things that white kids just shouldn't access, but learning that early sets the stage for later, harder, discussions.

[Anonymous]

Imagine worrying about something like this. Imagine thinking blacks own a hairstyle. My goodness. You all need real problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a complete idiot though I feel like one now. I know better than to let my kid have braids to match her friend. Could I do french braids instead and put beads in her hair that way? I'm so lost on this. I am an immigrant, sorry for not understanding. I am trying.

French braids would be cute. Get them friendship bracelets or something that can match.

Tell your daughter "Cornrows are for black girls. White girls wear French braids. Girls of all colors can wear friendship bracelets."

Lmao. Black girls can't French braid now? Youre a disgusting racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG

+1

That is the state of things now pp. Thank god it is only in this backwaters country.

?

Seriously? Wny does EVERYTHING has to be about race!?