I actually do think that the last few posters have explained it to themselves without even realising. The fact that a white person with the hair is seen as deviating from the norm of European standard. And for a black person is what they have. The hair is not to European standard of good hair styles. What is considered alternative and on the edge of society. Which makes the black people 'other'. In America black men and women were forced to tailor their hair to the workforce even though their hair mostly on a normal day would be an Afro if not braided.
I also do think that the dreads debate is the list of black peoples problem.
Juliana's comment on fashion police said it all. The fact that she thought the hair was not suitable for the red carpet. What she was implying was that zendya had to wear a European type style to go with her dress. That is why black people where up in arms about it because they thought the world had moved on.
For the people who still say they don't understand the black hair debate is that if you were to see any black panther photo, they all have an Afro hair style. With an Afro comb that has a fist. They are not sold that often anymore. The hair styles in itself is a political statement. The point they were making is that they don't have to tailor their hair to your standard when that is the natural state of their hair. It was a big problem for black people in America. Any black man in most respectable families would be advised to shave their hair to stop being seen as unruly. Yes, you will have people that can get away with it.
I can bet on my hand on Heart, if you were to ask a black mum about whether they preferred their son with a big Afro or not. They will more than likely say he needs to shave his head. It's not that all black men are naturally bold. Am not talking about biracial children hair. Am talking about the ones with your Afro kinky.
Black people monitor each other too, making sure that they meet that standard.
What I always find funny is when a black person says that they are going back to discover themselves or to their find their roots, the first thing they do is get their hair to its natural state or get dreads. Its the list conforming thing they can ever do. To a lot of people they will just see a hair and probably not blink twice. To the black person finding themselves he or she just put two fingers up to the oppression.
Do I actually care if someone else wears black hairstyles, nope. It does not bother me in the slightest. Does it bother a lot of people in America. Yes it does.
Beyond I have just read your link. I think it's great. The first half I agree and understand. The middle bit is more like the black panther reincarnated but true. The last bit I also understand and I think that black people have been encouraging that for so long.