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

I think only people of Afro-Caribbean origin can say whether it is offensive culturally, though I would assume it might be and not wear one. But wearing afro hair to a gig is selfish anyway as it blocks the view for the people behind.

I like the idea of people with curly hair being asked to remove their scalp on entry 🤣

I can see their point to be fair. This stuff is such a grey area as men wearing woman face also pisses me off as usually it’s a horrendous characture of a made-up female and never anything subtly done. Same with 70s fashion. It’s all massive stack heels, bell bottoms and Afro wigs I was alive in the 70s and 95% of the population were wearing normal clothes.

I actually think that hairstyles are not culturally inappropriate. Is it cultural appropriation for a black woman to straighten her hair , or a white person to have corn rows?

That's not racist. That's fashion.

Same with the 70s theme someone mentioned earlier. Afros were a think in teh 70s. It's not racist.

I suppose those who have natural afro hair and wear it that way block people's views too. Must be getting cursed out behind their backs. They can't do right.

And people wonder why they straighten it.

It's so lazy and short sighted to just turn all issues round like this and think you've made a brilliant point. Like when people moan there's no straight pride or white history month. You need to look at the wider historical and societal aspects

Perhaps I'm a bit young but why on earth would it occur to anyone to wear an afro wig to an ABBA concert? They were white Scandinavian, no?

The argument about black women straightening their hair or wearing wigs is such a tired one. There’s so much involved in caring for 4a,b,c hair types. My curl type is a 3 something and it’s a massive pain in the arse. It takes t i m e.

Yes hair is hair and hair is fashion but hair styles are also steeped in history and when you’ve been persecuted for genetics I can understand the sensitivities that come with that. It doesn’t take much to show respect and these guidelines are an attempt to do just that.

It's rarely black people getting offended by hair styles. It's usually white people getting offended on black people's behalf

A hairstyle ... If I think that would like good on me I would style my hair that way. I'm not trying to offend anyone i just like my hair in a certain style

This kind of thing detracts from racism and fuels the rightwing rhetoric

Erm.. my mother is white? Sorry. Wrong. My mother is also mixed.

My point is its hair. To the people saying to me that I won't have faced discrimination because of my hair, again, wrong. However, because someone told me to tie that mess back so the person behind me could see doesn't mean that I should be offended if I see someone wearing an afro wig. Whatever colour skin they have.

Afro is more than just a hairstyle - it's a hair texture and this is the main thing that has been discriminated against.

It's why people can have their "afro" perms and black-inspired braids and still be admired for it. But once those styles come in that hair texture (4c mainly but all the 4s as well), then it seems you're not taking care of yourself well enough to manipulate your ('dry, damaged, ugly') hair texture.

It's been so ingrained that even black people say it to other black people.

Hence, the scramble for 'good hair' (texture, not necessarily style).

Erm.. my mother is white? Sorry. Wrong. My mother is also mixed.

My apologies. I assumed from your post as it wasn't clear. It's why I also stated it as an assumption. Fair enough, you have your opinion which differs a bit from mine.

I’m not sure 😂 but it’s something I and many other people with Afro textured hair experience! I’ve heard of many who haven’t been asked and all of a sudden they’ve just felt the hand of a random stranger /colleague /classmate in their hair.

I’m guessing it’s curiosity? But it’s not something I’d be comfortable with someone I barely know doing.

yep, I’ve noticed my mixed race friends who mainly have more loose curls (3A/3B) have a very different experience than me who has 4c hair.

What is wrong with people you are not some exotic "creature " to stroke I mean I can't imagine some random lurching towards me to stroke me 😂

Exactly! And she seemed surprised and slightly sulky when I said no and she had to shuffle back to her desk with the whole office looking on haha 😂

I actually reported it to HR when I was leaving as part of a long list of incidents that I experienced in that office.

Are you genuinely as stupid as this post makes you look?

How very dare you say no eh .

Yep, mixed race loose curls is what's generally sought after in the Black community. That's usually when your hair texture and curl pattern is seen as good. Thankfully, people are understanding more about the curlier hair texture (especially 4c) and now know that it isn't the equivalent of a dry, damaged mixed race curl pattern. It just is what it is - afro-textured hair.

Is it culturally insensitive for black people to wear straight hair wigs in blonde, red or any colour other than black? I see your point about bubble perms on white people's heads but why is it seen as acceptable for ethnic minorities or any other group to dictate what another ethnic group or community can/can't wear. I don't care if black people wear their hair in an afro or have a straight wig on but please feck off telling others what is 'appropriate' to wear.

Another poster who thinks this is a gotcha point. Do you wonder why there's no white history month too?

OP tried to be goady. Awww.

Welsh & Irish, then Scots were the first to be enslaved by wealthy English and discriminated against then starved and shipped off their land to the 'New World' against their will. They are still financially abused today, so if redheads have a variation in texture of hair does that render black, Asian, Indian people wearing red straight or frizzy wigs racist?
How would you describe men who wear false breasts, heavy exaggerated make up and present a highly sexualised persona that is supposed to ridicule women? Is that okay or is it like your afro hair analogy, is it misogynistic? Which one is OK, or is it only a small, non diverse group of people who decide what is appropriate?

They are still financially abused today

What do you mean?

No, the venue is purpose built for the ABBA Voyage show.

I have a ticket too and received the same email - I was amazed anybody would need to be told, tbh.