“Cornrows are moving away from urban, hip-hop to more chic and edgy. “Just one Cornrow or a couple on the side is really cool, but they have to be on the right person with the right clothing. Obviously, McQueen is very gothic and strong, so that customer is looking for that Elizabethan or ‘Game of Thrones’ edginess.” ~LA Times
Read that quote? Tell me if you find anything wrong with it? So Cornrows, which have been around since ancient times and deeply rooted in the Black community just got cool? And the reason this is happening is because it is now moving away from what is described as Urban/Hip Hop (might I add, a Black stereotype) to something more chic edgy, high fashion and White. Folks like to get mad at us when we try to read more into things than we should, but I have no idea how that quote can be seen as anything other than insulting.
Just last week, J-Lo and Iggy Azalea made big butts cool and the thing to have, then Shonda was accused of being a typical “Angry Black woman” due to her new Black characters, who have some of the same emotions as her White ones in her rather successful dramas. White media has been really doing the darn thing when it comes to backhanded insults, and then retracting their statements as Twitter gives them well deserved tongue lashings.
Why should we be insulted
For me, it’s the fact that if I wore Cornrows back in the day, or even prior to it being somewhat ‘acceptable’ by a certain section of society that makes all things ‘right’, I would have been called out. I would have been considered too urban for my job, or too ghetto to attend a function with elites – in other words, not good enough.
When we as young girls sat between our mother’s legs to get the style done to protect and keep our hair safe and intact for the week, everyone looked down on it as just something Black people did. Nobody gave a rat’s behind about our hair practices, and now all of a sudden it is widely accepted and allowed. Should we be saying, “Thank you for the validation, LA Times”?
Anna Ogonji Smith says
I’m from a small town that has about an equal number of black, white and Latin families. Anyway I was wondering what’s the real meaning of urban. The dictionary says one thing, but on tv it looks like urban means black!
BlackHairInformation.com says
Great question Anna, I read somewhere the other day that it is now the safe way to say “ghetto” “gangsta” “nig**” – so while it is defined one way the meaning takes on its own life
Shanice Sahel says
Our braids aren’t ghetto!
Tora-Joy Patrick says
This is some bull crap
Keisha Banzai Blandon says
Um. Are we really surprised? Non “urban” people have been stealing our shit and trying to perfect it and claim it as their own for years. Now if it were the other way around, black girls with straightened/relaxed/weaved hair would be “trying to be European.” But I digress. They’ll never be able to steal our skin Complexion though. They’ll get skin cancer before they can. Only thing we have left. =/
Catherine Durand says
This bs has to stop. First Cyrus created the “twerk”. Kim is the reason reason why big butts are popular. Then Gucci is selling Durags as “hair caps”. Iggy and Macklemore is the king and queen of hip hop. Elvis is considered king of rock and roll. Now cornrows are more chic and edgy because they are doing it?? F.O.H.They take credit but won’t give credit where it’s due.
Belinda Trotter says
“They” have been stealing from us for centuries! Plain and simple
Wendy Jean-Louis says
Don’t forget how jazz, rhythm and blues, etc. It’s really funny.
Kari Henry says
This is ridiculous. Cornrows were always beautiful. It’s the way people want to wear their hair. It shouldn’t been seen now as more chic because it’s less urban. Wtf?
Akudo Anyanwu says
I don’t usually comment on these controversial topics but that is rather insulting. On the other hand though, they do not determine or define my “chicness” or elegance, that is up to me and me alone. Their ignorance remains their burden, not mine.
Sherryce Henderson says
Not urban but cultural! ..so sick n tired of this…but let a black man or woman wear them n its ghetto. .thug..criminals…clutch ur purse n head across the street! …gtfoh!
Belinda Trotter says
Your speaking the truth! White women stop me all the time, saying ” oh your hair is so nice and different. Does it hurt or how long does it take?” Some old bs like that. It’s a shame!
Sherryce Henderson says
N they wanna touch so bad!…step back heffas!
Evetta Banks says
They will forever be urban this is silly
Kelly Jamila says
eh.. never really liked cornrows or thOught they were appealing *shrug* so doesn’t really bother me o_o;
Donna Level says
F the LA Times, why not just say it’s ok to wear them when white people start.
Makela M Hutchins says
Wth
Amina Brooks says
Less Urban huh
Tina M. Williams says
Huh????
Fatima Ross says
So if certain folks do it or wear it its all good?? Smh it take for them to clam what is yours for mainstream to accept it i guess.. we are the creators and originator of many many things..
Cheree Davian says
ethnic hairstyle…dumb mfs
Steen How says
0.0 WWWTTTHHH?! White people have been trolling Black people for all trends for eons, eras, generations, years, and forever and ever! Whoever let this publish in LA is a piece of donkey dung! White people cannot be that naïve to think that they had anything to do with creating the cornrow staple that we have always done. And without mentioning one black woman, especially Cicely Tyson! …I’m done smh
Nyca Anthony says
Nothin is ever ok until “they” do it…ijs
Selket Colaire says
Mainstream media is so full of s**t!
Sherri Taylor says
So silly we just couldn’t wait for trends. We own them.
Tafara Tapfumanei says
When black people do its ghetto, when white folk do it its chic kmt
Maya Woodall says
Smfh…they still tryna be us
Nicole Ghatt says
Always trying to be something their not…thats why we call them wishy washy
Christina J Pollard says
Sooo now I’m urban and it’s “rows” and not cornrows?!? Trollers smh
Nina Lansiquot says
Effing cheek..
Pame Peyton says
White people have stolen everything else from everyone else!!! The only things original to them is lying, stealing, and killing others and their idea’s, property, and dreams!!!~~~
Kendra Maybe says
Your unhappy because “they” didn’t accept cornrolls. Now your STILL unhappy because they do accept cornrolls??!?!?1 #confused #SHM Sound like this author is having a personal problem with self image. Someone secure in their self image wouldn’t give a rat’s…about getting or NOT getting validation from others. I personally deem it a compliment.
Tiffany Williams says
Bitch please!
Maria Robertson says
Catherine Durand I couldn’t have said it better myself
Tay Blackmon says
Less urban now that white women are wearing them? Gtfoh!
Karma Amanfi says
Afros are next on the theft list.
Kelli Mcghee says
I work in a white salon
White co worker comes in one day with her hair teased
Says its an Afro looked ridiculous
Laura Jehue Mabon says
GTFOH
Kristin Douglas says
Idgaf
Nessa Rene'e says
That was an insult
Lacresha Hall says
I might need to bring my cornrows back and keep it 100. Ignorance is infuriating.
Ma'a Georgette says
dat’s why i hate them, they always think that they are superior. F**k u all
Aaron Michael says
more foolery i see.they was “chic” when my brothas and sistas were wearing them and will be “chic” when my brothers and sisters stop wearing em
nubiennze says
While I agree that we should resist the tendency to seek “mainstream”/white supremacist validation, I do NOT agree that we are responsible for outsider’s appropriation of the culture THEY denounce as inferior.
monniej says
all i can say is BOOM! miss Petra! drop the mic and exit stage left…
Shaniqua L Leach says
I share the outrage that has been expressed here. I don’t understand how people could look over that article and think it was okay to publish. Personally, I’ve begun sending them a barrage of tweets @latimes letting them know how inaccurate and offensive this “article” was. Too often, the anger of the black community when it’s directed at blatant disrespect like this is brushed off as overreacting or doing the most. I highly recommend you ladies who share my offense take to social media to express it. Otherwise, this will just be another thing we got mad about with no answer. I think they should at least publicly acknowledge that cornrows are a Black hair style and that the article was written in bad taste.