Africa; "Dreadlocks Aren't Part of Our Culture!" Another African Country Clamping Down on the Hairstyle In 2023

Sunday, 25 December 2023

By: TB Obwoge

I've written about the discrimination in several African countries for those wearing dreadlocks, even Black Americans lie of Ghana their fake Wakanda. Dreadlocks aren't acceptable all over the African continent, the lie that they are is just that, a lie.

There was a Texas, teen who was suspended several times over his dreadlocks, in a viral video his lawyer claimed he was practicing his culture. This Black American teenager and his mother were battling the school district, claiming his hair was protected under the 'Crown Act', however the school would claim different reasons for booting the boy from school.

I found it comical that his lawyer claimed he was practicing his culture, she didn't mention that the teen was a Rastafarian. She simply said practicing his culture, when I read the comments, apparently there are many Black Americans that think dreadlocks are acceptable in African countries.

These are the people that have probably never in their lives stepped foot inside of an African country.

A Black Texas student suspended for his hairstyle is shifted to an alternative school

A Black high school student in Texas who was suspended for more than a month for wearing a natural hairstyle was removed from his school on Wednesday and transferred to an alternative school.

Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu (a town roughly 30 miles outside of Houston) will be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program through Nov. 29, according to a notice sent from the school district and shared by the student's family.

The notice, dated Wednesday, addressed to Darryl's mother, Darresha George, and signed by Barbers Hill High School Principal Lance Murphy, cites violations of "multiple infractions of campus and classroom rules" including:

Disruption of the in-school suspension classroom;

Failure to comply with directives from staff/administration;

Violation of tardy policy; and

Violation of the dress and grooming policy.

Source: NPR News

Here we go again, Black Americans swear to God that dreadlocks are so acceptable in Africa. Wearing them many will say, “we’re showing our culture of the Mother land!” Who’s land? Who’s culture?

A Black American woman in Africa will appear more acceptable if she shaved her hair off then with dreadlocked hair, it’s not acceptable in most parts of Africa.

When I posted in a dreadlock group on Reddit, I was insulted, I shared one of my Medium articles, a man replies, “I know you not talking about Nigeria.” Yes, exactly I’m talking about Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, every part of Africa. It’s still culturally and not actually legally accepted in many parts of Africa.

Had this young man been living in an African country like Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria or Kenya he would have never made it through the front doors of the school. Black Americans with their lack of knowledge on what life is like in African countries and what's acceptable have no idea.

The discrimination I raced not only for the shade of my Black skin but the added hatred for my tattoos and my dreadlocks, made life in Ghana even worse. I can't remember how many times I was told to cut my hair offf.

You're looked at as a loser, a criminal, a thug, dirty, there are very many unacceptable terms used for those wearing dreadlocks in Africa.

It’s also a discrimination issue against those who are practicing Rastafarian.

Zanzibar, Island in Tanzania made a loud and clear announcement that dreadlocked hair and braided hair on men will catch you a fine. It also said that dressing with skimpy clothing and beach wear is also not acceptable. Imagine that an island country on the Indian Ocean, telling visitors to cover up!

Well South Sudan has recently started arrested people, men for wearing dreadlocks, in an article it claimed that dreadlocks are not our culture and they’re not acceptable. In their claim, these men are trying to look like women, so apparently women are acceptable wearing dreadlocked hair but men aren’t?

In the article posted below it also says that, ripped clothing is not acceptable. The poverty level in South Sudan is horrifyingly widespread, to say that people can’t wear ripped or torn clothing, means most children in the country’s dressing is “unacceptable.”

Also in South Sudan, apparently boys walking with girls is also unacceptable in their culture. The country is also locking down youth for walking together as different sexes. They placed a curfew for one area of the country.

Thank you for reading 🙏🏽 Please consider buying a coffee for Lacey’s House efforts in Gender Equality & Children’s Rights as it tries to move international.

©️TB Obwoge 2023 All Rights Reserved