THE APPROPRIATION:
On Friday the 24th of July, The Guardian saw Sede Alonge share her current take on the recent social buzz; Culture Appropriation. Her article titled ‘Whether Black originated hair styles should be worn by White women’ (Sede Alonge) was shortly followed by a picture of Kylie Jenner taking a mirror selfie, with her hair braided all back in cornrows. According to Alonge, many Caucasian female celebrities like Kylie Jenner, have been accused of Cultural Appropriation due to their hairstyles of choice.
Alonge discussed concerns in her article regarding the debates of hair and racial divide. She showed her understanding of the media’s critique and definition of cultural appropriators. While she acknowledges the symbolism of hair, ‘I do understand the symbolism of hair, especially to black women who, like black men, have had to endure taunts…’ (Sede Alonge) she questions the need for women to be solely defined by their head of hair.
To conclude, her article encourages readers to avoid such disputes and clarifies how her own hair styling decisions do not make her disloyal to her heritage.
THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT:
The rhetorical tool Choice displayed in Jay Heinrich's book Thank You for Arguing, is described as ‘questions to do with the future’ (Heinrich 28). Heinrich advises writers to ‘Keep it focused...choices that solve a problem are to you and your audience’s advantage’ (28). Alonge like Heinrich, pokes at her readers to make their own decisions. She suggests that women should wear their hair as they please, regardless of what the critics may say;‘ Whether you decide to wear cornrows as a White woman or do the big chop and transition hair as a Black woman, it’s up to you and not the hair police’(Sede Alonge).
Her methods of liberating women are comparable to a mother fluffing up her child before school. Once the child returns from kindergarten, tired of the negative name calling, the mother tells the child how beautiful they are. The mother reaffirms how pretty or handsome her child looks every morning and reinstalls their confidence after a long week.
Finally, with a new found confidence the child in now able to withstand the comments and remain happy regardless. Similarly to the name-callers, the critics in the media feel it is their duty to criticize and harass the form in which women carry their hair. Alonge, tired with the tricks and delusions of the media however, noticeably strives for her readers to succeed on their path to complete freedom and self-content.
The rhetorical tool Choice displayed in Jay Heinrich's book Thank You for Arguing, is described as ‘questions to do with the future’ (Heinrich 28). Heinrich advises writers to ‘Keep it focused...choices that solve a problem are to you and your audience’s advantage’ (28). Alonge like Heinrich, pokes at her readers to make their own decisions. She suggests that women should wear their hair as they please, regardless of what the critics may say;‘ Whether you decide to wear cornrows as a White woman or do the big chop and transition hair as a Black woman, it’s up to you and not the hair police’(Sede Alonge).
Her methods of liberating women are comparable to a mother fluffing up her child before school. Once the child returns from kindergarten, tired of the negative name calling, the mother tells the child how beautiful they are. The mother reaffirms how pretty or handsome her child looks every morning and reinstalls their confidence after a long week.
Finally, with a new found confidence the child in now able to withstand the comments and remain happy regardless. Similarly to the name-callers, the critics in the media feel it is their duty to criticize and harass the form in which women carry their hair. Alonge, tired with the tricks and delusions of the media however, noticeably strives for her readers to succeed on their path to complete freedom and self-content.
Logic; seen in the eighth paragraph of Alonge’s article, is described by Heinrich as ‘a set of techniques that use what the audience is thinking’ ‘it allows room for opponent’s ideas and the audience's preconceptions’ (Heinrich 40). Alonge asks ‘What if White women raised an objection to Black women wearing wigs or extensions with silky textures’(Sede Alonge) to indicate how illogical it would be to allocate one Race to a specific hairstyle. The readers more than likely realized how they would feel given that they were in the same situation. Thus their reasoning towards discouragement the self-confidence of Non-African American women was wiped out.
Take apples for instance, apples grow in a variety of shades and color. Regardless of their pigment, they are all classified as apples. Although one apple may have yellow tones on its surface, it is still regarded as a Pomaceous fruit and has the right to grow in the same direction as the other apples surrounding it. Humans like apples all come in different shades and we all have the right to act however we please regardless of our color. All humans have been given freewill and if it means wearing one’s hair in the same fashion another Race typically does, so be it.
Take apples for instance, apples grow in a variety of shades and color. Regardless of their pigment, they are all classified as apples. Although one apple may have yellow tones on its surface, it is still regarded as a Pomaceous fruit and has the right to grow in the same direction as the other apples surrounding it. Humans like apples all come in different shades and we all have the right to act however we please regardless of our color. All humans have been given freewill and if it means wearing one’s hair in the same fashion another Race typically does, so be it.
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After putting her readers in another man's shoes, Alonge cleverly mocks the media critics and opposing readers by using Heinrich’s method of ‘taking the middle course’. ‘In an argument, it helps to make the audience think your adversary’s position is an extreme one’ (Heinrich 71). To clarify how ignorant the media critics are being, Alonge reasons whether ‘it has also become a case of some women wanting to dictate to other women how they should wear their hair.’ She quotes ‘If they don’t comply, it means they are “trying to be white” or “cultural appropriators” (Sede Alonge).
By using the middle Alonge was able to point out how rigid and extreme the media critics were being, consequently encouraging her readers to consider her point of view.
Many of us dress up as Cats, Witches or even the occasional Playboy Bunnies during Halloween. It would be incorrect to state those that do, would like to use black magic, live in a mansion governed by one man, modelling indecently for one magazine.
We therefore cannot assume Caucasian people want to claim African American hairstyles. An African American woman with straight hair does not equate to an African American woman who wants to be Caucasian.
Likewise a Caucasian woman that chooses to wear her hair in braids or dreads, does not necessarily want to be African American. Their thought process flows along the lines of appreciation and visual appeal.
YOU’VE GOT MY VOTE
Using choice allowed Alonge’s readers to clearly see that personal decisions can and should be solely based on one’s happiness. Regardless of the critic’s opinion, her article emphasized how persuasive giving reader’s power can be. I for one regularly make the decision to wear my pin hair straight, use extensions or wear my hair natural. When I do switch between these styles I remain oblivious to public’s opinion because being versatile makes me happy.
People should have the option to live life as they please and make their own decisions without fear. It’s also easier to connect with writers like Alonge who let you have your beliefs instead of dictating what and what not to do. She effectively separated herself from the critics using choice to remain flexible and ended her article as the good guy in the argument.
Alonge gives her readers even more freedom by using rhetorical questions. She asks her readers how they would feel given they were in the Appropriators shoes despite already knowing their answers. Reading Alonge’s question ‘What if White women raised an objection to Black women wearing wigs or extensions with silky textures, pointing out the similarities to their own hair?’(Alonge) made me feel guilty; Alonge was able to arouse my emotions whilst at the same time effectively inflict her suggestions.
In the past, I’ve often thought only Black or African American people can or should wear braids but what gives me the right to dictate the actions of another person? And to add oil to the fire, what if I was told by a white person I should never wear my hair straight, surely I would feel restricted. Thus it’s important that remind ourselves how important it is to let one another live freely and put any future ignorant thoughts in to context.
Alonge used her writing abilities to essentially play the role of the middle contender; the opinion between right and wrong. Her critics views were made to appear extreme when she quoted their harsh comments in her article. I for one didn’t want to be on a side with such rigid views and as a result fled to her side which involved a calmer approach.
I appreciated how she shared understanding with the Black men and women who had undergone years of abuse because of their hair. Whist the same time still had her opinions on whether the Black Community had the right to do the same to the White Race. I wouldn’t wish it upon any one to be teased as a child, regardless of their race. I for one have been told my hair looks like a spider, candy floss and the whole roster. Thus, by Alonge effectively pointing out the harsh realities I was able to not only understand where she was coming from but finally agree with her.
Alonge used her writing abilities to essentially play the role of the middle contender; the opinion between right and wrong. Her critics views were made to appear extreme when she quoted their harsh comments in her article. I for one didn’t want to be on a side with such rigid views and as a result fled to her side which involved a calmer approach.
I appreciated how she shared understanding with the Black men and women who had undergone years of abuse because of their hair. Whist the same time still had her opinions on whether the Black Community had the right to do the same to the White Race. I wouldn’t wish it upon any one to be teased as a child, regardless of their race. I for one have been told my hair looks like a spider, candy floss and the whole roster. Thus, by Alonge effectively pointing out the harsh realities I was able to not only understand where she was coming from but finally agree with her.
It seems a multitudinous amount of people derive joy from dividing races, scrutinizing every little detail in order to feel in control, to feel the upper hand. 'whether you decide to wear cornrows as a White woman or do the big chop and transition to natural hair as a Black woman, it’s up to you and not the hair police’.
We all have a choice.