Adele

[angieb89]

I don't understand how she is being culturally appropriate for wearing Jamaican bikini and wearing her hair in a Jamaican style in honour of Notting Hill carnival?
She doesn't seem to be doing it to offend anyone?

Call me ignorant but I would like to understand why some people are kicking off? Seems it mainly African-Americans that are offended and Jamaicans are fine with it.

Seems we can't do anything without upsetting or offending anyone?

For context, I'm white British female.

*disagreed in terms of this situation due to context, I should say.

She was honouring Caribbean culture. I really like Adel and really don’t think she would have been taking the piss.

Also I used to wear my hair like that when I went to raves in the 90s

There's absolutely no problem with what Adel did. Some people are just fools with too much time on their hands.

@Tidyhousefornow

"I have black friends with straight hair weaves...my white friends with straight hair are not bothered.." that misses the point

Doesn't it just? My head hurts sometimes from the metaphorical brick wall I'm banging it against!

A previous poster commented on the comments she gets when she wears her hair natural...Afro etc.

Is it not ok to comment on hair now? Because I have done in past to black women... “I love your hair”’ kind of comments. Just as I often comment on beautiful red heads, or friends that try a new colour or a work colleague that wears her curls straight and looks like a different person. I’m just being nice and genuinely am paying a compliment.

What are we allowed And not allowed to do here?! Walking on eggshells all the time is no good for anyone.

@SerenityNowwwww

I think Americans seem to forget that their history is not the worlds history. Black history in the U.K. is different to that of one the US - the sheer number of slaves, racist laws and segregation without living memory, lynching (and people walking off Scot free, photos of grinning crowds posing next to corpses, kkk - it’s no rose garden in the U.K. but the US is in a league of its own.

Totally agree with this!

So much racial discourse is through an exclusively American lens.

Basically, I think the white people should STFU on this topic and let the Jamaican population decide. From what Ive seen on social media, the overwhelming response from Jamaicans is positive and that they love the celebration of their flag and their country and have defended Adele.

I think its patronising as fck to see white people screeching about cultural appropriation on behalf of other races when they havent even bothered to listen to what they have to say.

I think its patronising as fck to see white people screeching about cultural appropriation on behalf of other races when they havent even bothered to listen to what they have to say.

Well they haven't been. The debate is largely between Jamicans and then African Americans. The latter 'screeching' about it and dismissing the opinions of the former.

Well they haven't been

I have seen plenty of it on SM.

And massively missing the overwhelming numbers of those other than white people causing division. Right.

@Lockdowner13

A previous poster commented on the comments she gets when she wears her hair natural...Afro etc.

Is it not ok to comment on hair now? Because I have done in past to black women... “I love your hair”’ kind of comments. Just as I often comment on beautiful red heads, or friends that try a new colour or a work colleague that wears her curls straight and looks like a different person. I’m just being nice and genuinely am paying a compliment.

What are we allowed And not allowed to do here?! Walking on eggshells all the time is no good for anyone.

Read the full thread. Afro hair is seen in a negative light. Do you actually know the history behind it?

And massively missing the overwhelming numbers of those other than white people causing division. Right

Um no, I have seen those comments. My point was about WHITE people commenting on it. I never said anything about African American people's views. I dont feel I can comment on their views since I am white and therefore its not up to me to say that their view is "wrong". HTH!

Considering discussion is about what white people can and cannot wear, you can logically expect them to be in that discussion too and voice their opinion.

Considering discussion is about what white people can and cannot wear, you can logically expect them to be in that discussion too and voice their opinion

Yep- of course you can. BUT, its not up to white people to tell non white people what they can and cant find offensive is it- especially considering the fact that white people have never faced the same levels of racism and discrimination that BAME people have. In the same manner, I wouldnt listen to some bloke telling me what I am allowed and not allowed to find misogynistic or sexist because in his view "its harmless! whats the problem- youre being way too sensitive" etc etc

It’s not up to non Jamaicans to tell Jamaicans what they feel about this.
It’s their culture, let them decide how they feel about it.
I am from a different culture, I would feel pissed if someone say British decided on behalf of my own culture what we were to take offence at just because they shared the same colour skin as me.

Lmao so you're white and deciding who can and cannot air their views fucking hell the hypocrisy.

Lmao so you're white and deciding who can and cannot air their views fucking hell the hypocrisy. Odd, I thought there was an even sprinking of white and BAME posters doing both the "Who cares?" and "Fuck Of" posts!

One of the key BLM slogans was “white silence is violence”. So I do think it’s important to speak out for each other, not to say how each other should feel but to voice an opinion in support

I think David Lammy summed it up well when he said:

“Adele was born and raised in Tottenham, she gets it more than most.”

Just as white people should listen to POC, so African-Americans should listen to British Caribbean people and especially Jamaicans, I think. This wasn’t an attempt to dress like a black woman at an awards show because Adele thinks that she’s cool or edgy, it was a celebration of Jamaican culture which has a long history of being celebrated at Carnival.

By not listening to how British Caribbean people feel about it, the complainers are sort of saying, “all POC are the same and have the same history and culture and must think the same,” which is really not a good message.

Ugh I'm BAME and so sick of this shit!! I straighten my hair so is that appropriation? NO IT IS NOT I just prefer that look. I'm becoming ashamed of the colour of my skin because of all these idiots who are too easily offended giving us all a bad name!!

@stoptheworldiwant2getoff

Why do prefer the look of it? It is because the majority of the kids at your school have straight hair? Or most the kids in books/on tv. Because someone’s commented on your hair?

all these idiots who are too easily offended giving us all a bad name!!

They aren’t idiots. And I am thankful to them.
A bad name with who? Those who want to keep all the power and privilege?

It’s lumped together at a homogeneous entity. DH used to get pretty pissed off when he used to get invited to join ‘Black’ XYZ (or BAME XYZ as it is these days). ‘What exactly do I have in common with everyone who isn’t white?’

@overtherainbow because it suits my face shape better and is easier to tie up. Seriously, trying to find an issue on behalf of me??? Now that's exactly what I'm talking about! Christ almighty!!!!!

I do wonder why Adele gets a pass on this one when the Kardashians and David Beckham have all been criticised for having similar hairstyles. David Lammy and Naomi Campbell both saying "Leave her alone, she's from Tottenham." Why are they so quick to defend her?