While casually scrolling through my social media feeds on Saturday, I came across a photo of Kim Kardashian at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards red carpet debuting yet another braided hairstyle—and this time wearing tribal braids. A few months ago, my immediate reaction would have been to get upset that the reality star continues to appropriate black culture. But this time, I just felt tired. Tired of seeing Kardashian profit by appropriating a multitude of black cultural aspects over and over again. Tired of hearing about the double standards of black women being discriminated against and wrongfully disciplined by their jobs or teenage girls getting suspended for wearing their hair in cornrows at school, while Kardashian casually wears the style on the red carpet and get praised for the exact same look. Just tired.
But let’s face it, this isn’t the first time that Kardashian has worn her hair in cornrows and it likely won’t be the last. Earlier this year, Kardashian wore blond Fulani braids with beads and credited her braided look to ’70s model and actress Bo Derek, who is white.
While many people were frustrated about her choice—and took to Twitter to share why it’s appropriation—Kim instead excluded herself from partaking in important discussion and posted a dismissive Instagram with the caption “Hi, can I get zero f-cks please, thanks.”
Hi, can I get zero fucks please, thanks
A post shared by Kim Kardashian West(@kimkardashian) on Jan 29, 2018 at 5:38pm PST
Here’s just a small sampling of the discussion going down on Twitter right now:
Kim Kardashian in these braids is exhausting. The most annoying part is that at this point she knows what she’s doing, she knows what cultural appropriation is and that it upsets people yet she still chooses to do it because she knows it doesn’t upset the right ppl or cost her $$
— BBQ Sauce (@bigbrownqueer) June 17, 2018
OH so u can wear the braids but ur biracial kid has the pressed hair?? Ok Ms. Kim Kardashian pic.twitter.com/R6vCpx9XCK
— Shae. (@spookyshae) June 17, 2018
I’m not talking about either. I’m referring to the fact that she has never acknowledged that her wearing these braids time and time again upsets and disrespects black women. She can’t claim to support the culture she won’t even listen to/take criticism from
— Shae. (@spookyshae) June 19, 2018
Instead of addressing that (as the mother of (THREE BLACK CHILDREN) you make braids “trendy” and rebrand them as your own. It’s come to a point where I’m honestly losing respect for you and it’s said. You honestly won’t be where you are to today if it weren’t for black people.
— N A O M I (@hfwavey) June 17, 2018
Honestly what trend have you started that Black and Brown people haven’t already done… pic.twitter.com/WYfNgSSNth
— N A O M I (@hfwavey) June 17, 2018
Kim Kardashian really had to come out in some braids to try to take black people’s attention off Beyonce. 😂😂😂😂😂
— Black-Out-Loud (@anamberalert) June 17, 2018
Y’all think Kim Kardashian’s wraps her braids up at night? Probably not.
— Jazzy Fizzle (@___JazzyJas) June 17, 2018
if Kim kardashian don’t take them braids out her head…
— jasmine (@yourgirljayyy) June 19, 2018
For everyone saying this isn’t a big deal, I want you to imagine a scenario. Imagine a black woman walking into a corporate America interview with these braids in. Do you REALLY think she’d get the job? Be honest now. We all know the answer. THAT is why this is fucked up.
— glockamole (@clutchzilla_) June 17, 2018
I don’t even have the energy anymore. Kim Kardashian knows what tf she’s doing with the braids. She’s been ignorant and loves the attention. It’s a stupid cycle of pissing Black people off then giving “clapbacks” at pissed off Black ppl.. I’m just over the bitch honestly.
— yoruba demoness (@oluwablk) June 17, 2018
As a black woman, it’s frustrating to see a hairstyle that comes with extreme cultural history and significance being paraded around as the latest trend. I’m just waiting for the day when I hear someone call them “Kim K braids.” There are multiple reasons why Kardashian wearing these braids is problematic, but the point that should be acknowledged is her lack of effort to credit the style from its rightful origins. And as frustrating and tiring as situations like these are, we can’t let them go unnoticed.
Taken from GLAMOUR US. Read the original here.
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