Afros - in or out?

[TheWorldIsRound]

I’m off to see ABBA Voyage next weekend.the venue have sent some information, including the following “Please do not wear so-called ‘Afro’ wigsThese wigs are culturally insensitive and not appropriate to be worn as fancy dress. If any guests are wearing this style of wig they will be respectfully asked to remove them as a condition of entry to the arena.”I had no idea that Afro wigs were considered culturally insensitive. For my 30th birthday I had a 70s themed party and wore an afro wig (it was the same colour as my own hair - gingery brown - not black, if that makes any difference). Did I mess up?Do others agree with the venue’s views - particularly anyone who may have their own natural afro (or potential to to grow one). Is it really regarded as akin to “black face”?Obviously if something causes widespread offence, I would not dream of doing it, but all I thought I was doing was paying tribute to one of the ultimate symbols of iconic 70s style.Can people only pay tribute to their own cultural grouping and to move outside of that is manifestly offensive ?YABU: everyone knows afro wigs are deeply offensive YANBU: it’s hyper-sensitivity on the part of the venue

Sorry about the lack of paragraphs. My copy and paste of the venue’s text messed up the formatting.

If anything they block the view - how can I see HoloBjörn through the huge afro in my line of sight !

I am assuming you are white and don't have Afro hair? Yes afro wigs are culturally insensitive and no you shouldn't be wearing fancy dress wigs

You have to ask?!

Well I think you have to ask a black person about that because we can't comment if we're not to say if they are or aren't offensive. My only question is I thought that was the hairstyle of the time and possibly a compliment. But if it was now seen as racist, then I personally would not want to wear one.

Yes afro wigs are insensitive if you're not black.

In the 70/80s white people had bubble perms which gave a big round head of hair, but that's not an afro.

I’d assume whether or not it’s offensive would depend on context.

But all it would take would be a couple of complaints and the venue would, quite rightly, put that rule in place.

I can’t imagine not being allowed to wear an Afro wig is a hardship for anyone.

If you're not sure on whether something is insensitive or not, the best thing to do is err on the side of caution.

Turning another race’s hair type into a fancy dress costume for an evening for fun and larks, is insensitive, yes. Particularly when people of that race have historically experienced discrimination over their hair and frequently been prohibited from wearing it that way in school or work because it was viewed as dirty or untidy. It isn’t a “compliment” to make fancy dress of other people’s racial features, when you can and full intend to take that hair off after you’ve used it for your fun.

Not many white people can have a natural afro. In the 70s it was bubble perms.
But it's back to the fact that black people were often mocked, discriminated against and targeted for their natural hairstyle whereas white people could perm their hair into a similar style and get away with it/praised.

Not really, you’d never do anything. Everyone is offended by something these days.

You don't need to question this. Accept it and wear a Bjorn wig if you're dead set on fancy dress (which would be more relevant and won't block anyone's view).

Who is ‘we’?

Are they? I haven't noticed that. Dressing as a parody of a black person would raise eyebrows in most settings though.

Your thread title suggests a question over how 'in' a real hairstyle is for those whose hair can be styled in the afro way, but that's not what it's about.

It's about stupid, comedy wigs that take the piss out of some people's natural features.

Those are not, and never will be, 'in'.

Nah they're really not. Only if they are using an unnecessary stereotype. It was always people that go on about how easily offended people are that are the most touchy and froth up at everything.
"Oh no I can't say Christmas" "yes you can" 'no, I read it in the Daily Mail/Mirror it's true .."

I genuinely thought this was about real Afros and wondered why it wasn’t posted in the Black Mumsnetters section. Now it all makes sense…

This really , just don't do.it. probably wasn't right in the 70s either but nobody seemed to care that much to not comb out perms!

Non black people

Bet you think it's all woke and everyone is a snowflake nowadays hey?!

People natural hair isn't a costume. I agree and applaud the venue because I've never heard of this.

It must have taken quite an effort to acquire a non-black brown/red Afro...

Just don't!

Fancy dress shops sell them or used to , they were part of "flower power" costumes.

The thing is, you can take it off at the end of the event, and go back to the privilege of having 'good' hair.

You don't have to spend your days being called 'exotic', strangers putting their hands on your hair, the way they do to a pregnant bump. You don't have to spend a lot of money and risk and pain to straighten it, otherwise be called 'untidy', 'unprofessional'.

So no, you don't get to put it on as a costume.

Just come across this thread, which is very informative on why this can be taken to be offensive:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4760105-black-hairstyles

It makes me sad. I love afros, and I wish I could just celebrate their gloriousness, along with other aspects of 1970s excess and glamour.

In the drive to avoid “othering” it seems we all get siloed into groups where different rules about clothing and dress etc apply. So we all get “othered” even more.

(NB I do realise afros have nothing to do with ABBA. I wasn’t planning on dressing up for the concert- just the notice from the venue made me remember my 30th birthday and I wondered about why it’s offensive.)