Why do foreigners wear dreads?

[Irie Dawta]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Because they *can*? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Originally posted by poss88:
[qb]Why do so many foreigners wear dreadlocks? [/qb]

[QK13]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Browndread, I believe dreads were worn in AFRICA loooong before colonialist oppression in the caribbean. Didn't someone post a link to this info earlier on????

Mek mi go twiss up mi loks and get mi Sari dry cleaned before mi go deh pon di road...

[poss88]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Dreads is not an African thing, never has been. It is a Jamaican Rastafarian thing. The hispanic lady with the Jamaican husband made my point exactly. The point is that Hispanics and Americans don't generally like Jamaicans. So, in my opinion, it is not intelligent to be in love with them. How can you be in love with someone who has no respect for you or your culture. I welcome anyone to debate with me on this point, I can back it up with examples from now until the end of time. I think that many of my people don't want to face facts. Jamaicans and Hispanics are different. Jamaicans and Americans are also different, very different. I follow Jamaican culture, always have and always will. I don't eat Goya Beans nor do like Jennifer Lopez or Ricky Martin.

[LadyDayshah]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Originally posted by poss88:
[qb]Dreads is not an African thing, never has been. It is a Jamaican Rastafarian thing. The hispanic lady with the Jamaican husband made my point exactly. The point is that Hispanics and Americans don't generally like Jamaicans. So, in my opinion, it is not intelligent to be in love with them. How can you be in love with someone who has no respect for you or your culture. I welcome anyone to debate with me on this point, I can back it up with examples from now until the end of time. I think that many of my people don't want to face facts. Jamaicans and Hispanics are different. Jamaicans and Americans are also different, very different. I follow Jamaican culture, always have and always will. I don't eat Goya Beans nor do like Jennifer Lopez or Ricky Martin.[/qb]

too bad for u.

[poss88]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

What do you mean by that? Why is it to bad for me? Am I speaking the truth or not. I see things as they really are, I don't deal with fantasies.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

poss, you don't see things as "they really are". you see things the way you wish to see things.

you asked a question, you got many answers and, yet it is obvious, that you never really wanted any answer cause you see things as "they really are".

i agree with ladyday - too bad for you. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[LaurelHayward]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

JA Indian, I am an American female married to a Jamaican. I completely embrace his culture. We love eachother, and have many things in common.

I don't think I understand what you mean by spouses of Jamaicans not embracing the culture. Did I misunderstand you?

[Kishi]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Originally posted by Miss Honeychurch:
[qb]JA Indian, I am an American female married to a Jamaican. I completely embrace his culture. We love eachother, and have many things in common.

I don't think I understand what you mean by spouses of Jamaicans not embracing the culture. Did I misunderstand you?[/qb]

You didn't missunderstand me, it was the way I said it. Americans I've met only know the stereotypical black, dreaded, weed-smoking Jamaican, and they don't like that. Someone like me shouldn't go by stereotypes, and that's wot I am doing.

I know there are people that give themselves exposure to different cultures even when they don't have any ancestry to it, so I'm suprised at the things I'm saying.

[atticus]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Somehow, the old adage that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" has gotten lost. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Maybe cause of artificial sweetners? There may be alot of reasons to be down on the French, but their apparant worship of Jerry Lewis and McDonald's restaurants are not included...IMO.

Why must everyone be pidgeon-holed? Can I not wear dreads cause I think it is cool? Remember when the Nehru jacket was popular? Were the Beatles castigated by the Indians? (I don't really know, but if they were, they handled it well) The world has come too far for us to be sequestered or cloistered amongst only those like ourselves. Besides, that thinking has never worked in the past. As much as any country has tried to isolate itself from the world, there are still outside influences to be found.

FWIW, I say "chill". Every little thing's gonna be alright! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ($1 to Bob Marley, MHRIP)

[tingalaya]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

BirdLady, firemanDave & LadyDayshah love your answers to this post. made my night !! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
and i too would wear dreads, if my hair wouldnt keep fallin out, and would love to have a dreadlock rasta ganga smokin jamaican for me man !! but i is already married [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ( happilly)
i am an ole hippy from the 60's and what we didnt wear then, still have some of my beaded necklaces and my 8 year granddaughter wants them bad to wear now ? plus she aska me to make her tie dyed teeshirts like we wore and still in style.
( wisdom comes with age )

[atticus]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

I just found this regarding dreads. Quite interesting...

Rastas are usually known for their dreadlocks, long mats of hair that are created by washing but never combing, brushing, or cutting. Also, they grow “precepts,” which are their matted beards. Their dreads and precepts are grown in observance of the Old Testament command, “They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings on their flesh” (Leviticus 21:5), a tenet also followed by Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. They believe their dreads, similar to the mane of a lion, are also “high tension wires,” connecting them more directly to JAH. Just seeing their dreads flow around their face helps them to remember JAH. Not all Rastas wear dreadlocks and not all dreads are Rastas. There are many “bald-headed Rastas” (Rastas without dreads). However, for many, their dreadlocks are a covenant with JAH and show a commitment to their faith, a commitment against the customs and social codes of Babylon. Rastas also note that Christ was most likely a “locksman,” as there are no references to His cutting or grooming His hair, something that was not done by religious Jews of that period.

http://www.rastaheart.com/chapt03.html

[Browndread]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

OK, here's a different twist on the subject. What do you think about the native American Indian tribe that lives in the Grand Canyon who literally worship Bob Marley, play reggae day and night, smoke the ganja and wear dreads?

I personally don't have a problem with people of color,people oppressed by whites since the first contact wearing dreadlocks. My problem is with white people who think that they can wear my culture and understand where it's coming from. As a matter of fact I'll just ignore them.

[Browndread]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Sorry I'd forgotten to state the quote at the top of my posting is from "Ladybird"

[atticus]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Browndread wrote:

My problem is with white people who think that they can wear my culture and understand where it's coming from.

So you are saying that Rasta is only for peoples whose ancestors were oppressed by the white peoples??? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] IOW, white folks cannot really be Rasta or participate in the Rastafarian religion cause they are white????? In order to follow Jah, one must
(1) be of color
(2) Either currently be oppressed (I believe the correct term is downpressed) by the white peoples, or have had their ancestors so downpressed.
Are there other requirements only a few Rastas know about????
I guess Bob Marley had it all wrong, as do alot of Rastas living in Jamaica.

[QK13]

Re: Why do foreigners wear dreads?

Originally posted by Browndread:
[qb]As a matter of fact I'll just ignore them.[/qb]

Probably your best bet.