I hope you pardon me for the lateness of my response, I wanted to take time to read the article you have sent me and give it time to digest, rather than reguritate an automatic response, never putting your opinion and political view into consideration.
I thank you for sending me your opinion and sharing this article and political view to me. The dissemination of knowledge in schools is corrupted and controlled by our generally white heterosexual (or closeted) male politicians. It is only by sharing our views through our online sources or other means that we may learn from one another, sharing opinions whether we concur with them or not.
The driving force behind my desire to style my hair into dreadlocks commenced in September of 2011. Every October and event called “Buzz off to Cancer” takes place, in which a firend of mine participated in 2012. He inspired me to do the same. The event encompasses shaving your hair in the purpose of fundraising and in solidarity to cancer patients. Unfortunately I was unable to buzz off my hair this past October out of respect to my mother’s wish (it was her 50th birthday in November of this year and she requested that I still have hair for that). I redirected my goals in that I would buzz off my hair right after her birthday, but aspired to change my hairstyle in the meantime to something I hadn’t tried yet. In the duration of the school year I reside in a place where it is not uncommon for white people to have dreads. I had never considered the idea of it but figured this would be the prime opportunity to do them since I’d most likely have to buzz them off anyways. As my dreads took form, I began to promulgate the “Buzz off to Cancer” event to those who asked and my intentions to follow through and shave my own head. More people became interested in attending the event, seeing me buzz my hair, and providing me with donations. Soon enough I chose to refrain from cutting my hair until the actual event. I’ve recently discovered however that this event is held by vast amount of organizations all throughout the year, thereby giving me the option to do this anytime. But before I found this out, since I had grown into the belief that the event coincided with Hallozeen, I have since thought of funny Halloween costumes that would involve being bald. I am a great fan of Halloween and therefore quite hold on to this idea of attending the event in October. I hope you understand that my intentions to get dreadlocks were not to seem “unique”. I feel that people search too often to shy away from status quo’s or societal norms in styles, rummaging around for a new way to be “unique”. Personally, I find that everyone should just be who they are, and that is what I do, I am not, nor have I ever been, in conquest of looking “unique”.
I was unaware that having dreadlocks as a white person is “taking away from the black pride and culture”. Had I known this before I would have perhaps not chosen to have dreadlocks. I know white people have done this throughout the years and I’ve found that wrong. In the community I live in though, it is very accepted by all members and rather encouraged.
I hope that by sending this anonymously, you are indeed someone I do not know. If you are an acquaintance of mine, I must say this saddens me greatly that you have misunderstood me enough not to believe I would listen and appreciate your opinion or comment. If I do know you, I have therefore failed to convey this message, and I do profusely apologize for this.
All of my friends here have shown appreciation for my dreadlocks. As a matter of fact, it was actually my friends of color who expressed the utmost amount of support regarding my hairstyle. Until your message, I had not noticed this. However, support regarding my hairstyle. Until your message, I had not noticed. However, this is not saying that the opinion of a few of my black friends is the “black perspective” on things. That is an ignorant assumption white people make, (and actually a white privilege as white people are never asked to provide a “white perspective” on things). The majority of the people I know have complimented me on my hair. The only people I’ve noted that seem to have disapproved of my hairstyle are a few white folks back at home. But I believe people should be able to have the hairstyle they like without having it be political statment if they do not desire it to be. Similar to the effect of girls with short hair: I’ve encountered many people who disapprove of such a hairstyle, claiming them to be a rebel, lesbian, or of the wrong gender. I often find myself wasting time in explanation to these people, attempting to make them understand that people should wear their hair whatever style they desire, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe people should have the haircuts that make them happy without facing disapproval of peers or kin. Once of my favorite quotes is from the hysterical Ellen Degeneres (wow, Degeneres came up as a spelling mistake, I disapprove of you my dear Tumblr) and I would like to share it with you: “be who you are, wear what you love, and love who you love”. I did not mean to offend anyone with my hairstyle but I am terribly sorry if I have inflicted any pain upon you.
I disagree with this political opinion but thank you for sharing this. I have articulated to you my stance on the matter with what I hope is clear detail and would like to reiterate that this is not a personal attack but an expression of my own opinion.
Regards,
Agasga.
