by
Black Girl With Long Hair
By now we are all very familiar with the Kardashian playbook; lift elements of black beauty and black culture, apply them and make a killing. Butt enhancements, lip fillers and heavy association with black entertainers and athletes are all part of the modus operandi. And while many black women either ignore the famous sisters or let out a heavy sigh and keep it moving when one of their antics hits the news, actress Amandla Stenberg decided she’d had enough.
Kylie Jenner recently posted a picture of herself on Instagram rocking cornrows with the caption “I woke up like disss”.
https://instagram.com/p/5AWcLYHGty/?taken-by=kyliejenner
The picture was well-received by Kylie’s many millions of Instagram followers, but Amandla wasn’t having it and commented
“When u appropriate black features and culture but fail to use ur position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards ur wigs instead of police brutality or racism #whitegirlsdoitbetter.”
At which point we were like…
“Mad if I don’t, Mad if I do…. Go hang w Jaden or something”
You will recall Jaden Smith accompanied Amandla to her prom and is a former boyfriend of Kylie’s.
But let’s dig into Amandla’s comments for a second…
In my opinion it is thoroughly unrealistic to expect the Kardashians to be socially aware or concerned. They are capitalism queens and masters of branding and will do whatever it takes to expand their influence and build their wealth. And that means associating with black culture for profit. I mean, it would be nice if they gave a damn but let’s all remember this…
And this…
And this…
And this…
Not to mention how petty they become when they feel they’ve been upstaged by a black woman;
But Amandla makes a very potent point. For all the butt shots, the Timberlands, the cornrows, the faux locs, the slang, the black lovers and friends, the Kardashians are deathly silent when it comes to speaking up on civil rights or promoting it in some way. While other celebrities pay bail for Ferguson protestors, wear I Can’t Breath t-shirts, use their influence to bring black narratives to the screen or call out public shaming of black women, the Kardashians are busy trying to milk as much press as they can out of 17-year-old Kylie’s creepy relationship with a highly mediocre 25-year-old rapper. I guess caring holistically about the black people they copy and associate with to promote their own interests is not part of their brand.
Ladies, what are your thoughts?
48 Responses
This article read the Kardashians for filth ???
In all these years I have lost many brain cells trying to understand what the Kardashians (and Jenners) do in the public eye and I concluded that the only way to stop losing brain cells is to stop focusing on them ( They act as if they live in another dimension anyway). All I do is stare at what they are wearing and move on to the next page.
OMG did you call Tyga “highly mediocre”??? LMBO! I almost died!
But Tyga is mediocre LOLOLOL. He has taken so many L’s I’m still curious as to why he shows his face. XDD
Oh my gosh how long she will make her ass like a watermelon? LOL
She has already stolen black cultural appropriation look her boobs,look her lips,look her hair,look her ass! This isn’t black beauty?
Hi! Busy busy few days, as you can guess I could not find the original comment that made the statement. I’m guessing it was either reported or I didn’t look hard enough. (There were soooo many comments). The only proof now that I have is the fact that the articles online say a commenter made the comment. I’m sorry for keeping you. :/
But then the elevation of Sternberg and other mixed women as the standard bearers of black beauty contributes to my erasure as a monoracial black woman….
https://bglh-marketplace.com/2015/06/teen-vogue-put-on-blast-after-publishing-editorial-on-senegalese-twists-and-limiting-faces-of-color/
I commented on this earlier: “Some of you ladies don’t understand the concept of cultural appropriation. It is not the idea that if it’s not original to you, you shouldn’t use it; I don’t think anyone is saying that white girls can’t wear braids. the issues is why is it “innovative” “cute” “inspiring” when white people do something that was originally (or most often) worn by black people but denoted as “ghetto” “classless” “unprofessional” on black people? That is the problem. Ex: The offensive Native American hair dress is considered appropriated when its mocked by americans as being “weird” and “inappropriate”, yet when KK show up at a party with it, its “trendy” “beautiful”. The double standard is ridiculous and it feeds into the notion that “#whitegirlsdoitbetter”….it has white kids feeling and actual believing that they are innovative and black kids thinking they are ghetto and inferior no matter what they do.
You’re right, it’s not a part of their brand AT ALL…that is why I have NEVER seen an episode of any of these females’ franchises and don’t follow on any social media site. It’s possible to live without them. We as a black people have the strongest influential power regarding pop culture, and consumerism. If we stop buying, they will stop this crap. if we demand respect by holding out our might green, they will start giving respect. The Hispanic/Latino community hit Donald trump where it hurts, his pocket, so let’s start doing the same for crying out loud. Stop supporting and co-signing this madness!
Some of you ladies don’t understand the concept of cultural appropriation. It is not the idea that if it’s not original to you, you shouldn’t use it; I don’t think anyone is saying that white girls can’t wear braids. the issues is why is it “innovative” “cute” “inspiring” when white people do something that was originally (or most often) worn by black people but denoted as “ghetto” “classless” “unprofessional” on black people? That is the problem. Ex: The offensive Native American hair dress is considered appropriated when its mocked by americans as being “weird” and “inappropriate”, yet when KK show up at a party with it, its “trendy” “beautiful”. The double standard is ridiculous and it feeds into the notion that “#whitegirlsdoitbetter”….it has white kids feeling and actual believing that they are innovative and black kids thinking they are ghetto and inferior no matter what they do.
Hi sorry for late response, I’m still new to disqus. So I did some deeper research and it seems a fan NOT kylie posted the hashtag, that is my fault for jumping the gun after only reading a few articles. I’m going to try and dig through her comments/try to find the pic online and I’ll post it here ASAP.
No problem! Thanks for clearing that up.
It’s always at the fault of a “fan” when things go awry on these social media sites…hmmmmm?
#whitegirlsdoitbetter? … idunno? I got a flat arse … xx
You do realise that the black diaspora have African ancestry right? So it is no wonder that the food in the Caribbean is similar/same as traditional. West African food. It was never about burrowing. lastly, culture encompasses a whole lot of things and hair styles, food and music all play a huge part in our lives as black people.
Well if your properly read my comment I emphasize the fact that the current people living in Caribbean is a mix of different cultures, African of course but also Native-Indians, India, Europe and it shows in our music, clothes, gastronomy. Even if the African culture is predominant, we can deny the influence of others as we borrowed from them. For example, the most well-known dish in my island is called Colombo (like the main city in Sri Lanka), it is some sort of curry coming from the Tamul (India) population that came in the 19th century. It’s not denying the greatness of black culture to acknowledge that for thousand of years when cultures meet, they borrow and interact. It’s an anthropological concept that a culture or a civilisation who would stay only with her own tradition, her own people without contact and learning from others would die.
Are you guadeloupean ? :DDD
It has been a long time since I ate Colombo
I try not to pay attention to the antics of the Kardashians. The person that called them the Trashians, lol, kudos that is funny! They are merely talentless, opportunistic, capitalistic attention whores.
You cannot blame the Kardashians/Jenner entirely you have to blame the media for promoting features that are predominantly found in some women of African decent and are being seen as disgusting, trashy, looking like monkey etc but when white women have them or get them done surgically or by make up are being praised. That is culture appropriation. Since slavery Africans were told in order to be beautiful you have to be white now those same features that were overlooked are now being praised but with different women.Asia,Africa and latin America (Caribbean and SA) have the same problem. Not everything is racist I believe Kylie was just wearing the hairstyle perfectly ok but to post #whitegirlsdoitbetter is racist because you are oppressing woc when already beauty is associated with eurocentric feautures.
I agree with everything you said except one thing: EVERYTHING is racist. Ever looked into the “Isis Paper”? give it a read one day and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Yes, Kylie wore it ok, but she IS the media, she knows what she is doing and the power they have, which is why they exploit the hell out of it to get paid.
Yes, I just read about this on Twitter and I was shocked! LC response was written as, “Ummmm, Bo Derek?”
Ok, well if you don’t understand US culture, it’s probably because you’re not an American. Therefore, you have nothing to say on the subject. You can’t possibly understand what’s happened here in American history. You never had to deal with it and neither did your ancestors. So, have a seat and stick to discussions about things that happen in your culture. Thanks.
@elodie. Stop reaching. African culture was first, end of
Well…I may not be African American but I’m Caribbean therefore black. My island is still a French territory so my ancestors were slave and current people living in my island are still dealing with same issues you are. Now, I believe my comment was polite, your tone on the contrary is very rude and your words are offensive and harsh especially as if you read my comment, I’m asking for further explanation to understand the context showing open-mindness. If you are not interested to debate and discuss with people with different point of view or asking for informations that’s your problem not mine. Me on my side, when someone is not from my country or my culture, I give him keys of understanding and I don’t shut the door in his face because I consider than understanding is essential to improve intercultural exchanges.
The issue is not the particular hair style it’s how the Kardashians consistently appropriate US Black culture for financial gain without supporting Black people in the States. This support doesn’t have to be financial but can even be just speaking out on political issues.
Other famous people have gone out of their way to speak out, help out financially and/or help out in person. Just have a look at the links in the article.
BTW I’m not based in the US either but I speak to people and read articles about how minorities are treated in other countries. So I’m not surprised that if you can read and write English that a couple of the posters were rude to you.
My apologies, someone else on the photo stated the hashtag, not Kylie.
Guys, Kylie’s original caption included the hashtag #whitegirlsdoitbetter, (it was this trending nonsense on twitter some days ago) which was what had everyone up in arms. Then she changed it to the one that’s there now. No one cares about the cornrows, if that’s what you gathered from this, then you are missing the entire point. Amandla just wants her and other celebs who do have a lot of influence especially in black culture to acknowledge the injustices that occur.
Do you have a screenshot of the post with the hashtag #whitegirsldoitbetter? This is the first I’m hearing of this. The post was bad enough, if she she used that hashtag then she knew exactly what she was doing.
Maybe I don’t understand US culture enough but I don’t really see the matter with the picture and the comment…could someone explain me why everybody thinks the “I woke up like diss” refers to her hairstyle and not to her moody face? I don’t want to defend the Kardashian family but why can’t they rock cornrows ? And why does anybody who carry cornrow, braidboxes should advocate for the African American community ? Not every black man or woman (even celebrities) spoke publicly on the last racial events why should this family do it ? Besides, the Kardashians had clearly expressed they are on the entertaining side of culture and nothing else, we cannot expect from them to have political point of views…
The “cultural appropriation” tends to come often on BGLH and I don’t quite understand it…it’s like we would like everything that “belongs” to black culture stays in black communities…and that is ignore that we “appropriate too”. Soul food has borrowed to native-indians culinary habits. Black caribbean food has borrowed to native-indians, to French, British and African gastronomy…Cultures who are in contact has always borrowed from each other either by war, colonization, cohabitation…and that’s good because it allows some cultural features to spread. Of course, they are some bad sides but we should stop focusing on them and cream “thief” each time someone adopts a black culture feature…then the question is what is black culture ? is it only some typical hairstyles, food, musical style? We are more than that, more sophisticated…
Good for Amandla and her verbal photo bomb! It’s disrespectful to think its ok to pick at a culture, adopt aspects for your own gain, profit from it, and then perpetuate stereotypes (“I woke up like diss”). WTF?? And there are people who don’t have a problem with this? Because the Kardashians are, for whatever reason, famous for doing everything humanly possible to look black and everyone pays attention to these highly unenlightened people, it is VERY necessary to point out their bullshit when it arises. So hats off to Amandla!
Of course the majority of people will completely miss this young lady’s point. Justin Bieber’s dumb ass was already there. Same one that had nothing to say about ongoing police brutality.
On top of that a grown ass man, Andy Cohen called her, I believe the Jackass of The Week on his show and 2 black individuals were there (Laverne Cox and Andre Leon Talley) and were just laughing along…like…really…
I don’t even give those people my attention. They don’t pay attention to what they can and can not do in different cultures, or who they should be making mention of when they post it, so it at least what gave them the inspiration gets a shout out. There a waste to me. If the girl wants to cornrow then fine. They do that in Mexico when you are vacation it’s no big deal. Now if she tried to pass it off as if she was the founder of the hairstyle then I would be quick to call her on that, but wearing the style is nothing.
What a stupid argument. Black people don’t own cornrows or dreadlocks. Anyone with hair can do whatever the hell they want with it. Aren’t we the same people who scorch our scalps with chemicals in order to ‘appropriate’ straight hair?
Well, non-black people who rock black hairstyles, especially dreadlocks tend to look disgusting, and you can hear stories from white people about how their “dreadlocks” grew mold… But anyway, white people don’t own straight hair either. Non-black people of color and even some black people have naturally straight hair. The thing is with black hairstyles is that it’s intended for afro textured hair, which most if not all non-black people do not have. Black hairstyles also tend to have cultural and historic significance.
And you are making a false comparison and false equivalency. Black people are fired from our jobs for having black hairstyles, like dreads and cornrows. Black women are told we HAVE to straighten our hair in order to keep our jobs. White women can just parade around in their “cornrows” (multiple poorly done French braids) and their “dreads” (I don’t even know what those things on their head are…) and no one cares, but black people, especially black women are penalized, criminalized, and dehumanized for wearing the hair that grows naturally on our head.
When has a white women ever been told to somehow turn her hair into an afro or else she’ll be fired? When has a white girl ever been suspended from school for having straight blonde hair? When has a white girl ever been made fun of for having straight hair? Never…!!
Uuh, the history of black people straightening hair dates back to NEEDING to look like white people in order to be respected and get a job. To this day, you can be suspended from school or rejected from university or work for wearing natural hair. It is NOT the same thing as white people stealing the styles we have been shamed for wearing for centuries and reintroducing them as “edgy” and “trendy”.
Thankyou!
Sometimes, I swear, people create racism where racism does not even exsist. I hate this “us” and “them” mentality.What is ‘black’ culture anyway? Does one’s colour of skin define their culture and also give them copyright on everything associated with that culture? By this logic, white people should be writing hate articles about black people straightening their hair.
The reason the Kardashians are famous is because people keep writing theese dumbass articles about every single thing they do. They make money by being the controversial people they are. The more we react, the more money they make. It’s that simple.
I totally agree with you Chi. I find it very reducing to say Black culture as if it was some kind of unique and poor culture when you have various afro cultures in Africa, Brazil, Europe, Cuba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Colombia etc. Every african diaspora has created or re-created something great and original to his environment. It is somehow perpetrating the stéréotypes to claim: cornrows is black and belong to us, twerking is black and belong to us, fried chicken is black etc. Really ? is that all we are ? We use the same predominant features that white people use to determine what is black to identify ourselves ? Nope. She can have the cornrows….I don’t care, she can’t have my history, my values, my héritage and for me that truly matters and defines me and my blackness.
When I see the Kardashians in social media/appropriation action, I immediately wonder how, or if, they will ever be able to explain their actions to North? I’m sure that they will leave that up to Kanye.
Be sure that in the future that this little girl will be reminded that she is black. Let’s see how Kim handles that then.
I feel for that child, seriously. Kim and most of her family really creep me out, there’s just something so off about them.
Any hair that can be cornrowed should be conrowed and celebrated regardless of race . To have an issue with that is beyond me.
If you don’t agree about that aspect, that is fine but her comment was more than just being upset at Kylie cornrowing her hair. Did you read the whole post?
Can somebody explain to me why Amandla can tell ANYONE (regardless of ethnicity) what they SHOULD be supporting?
My biggest issue with this quip is not the message. That’s fine.
Its the fact that Amandla seems to be trying to REQUIRE or GUILT someone into supporting Black issues. Many Black people do not support Black issues, vocally; but no one is beating down their doors. Not to mention; who can qualify that? What is the criteria and how does anyone know if they have met these arbitrary guidelines for “using their platform”?
I don’t like feeling like a hypocrite. I have always felt that your voice is the only thing that is yours. Your parents can’t control it; your friends can’t; and people who want to manipulate you can’t. Once we start getting into the territory where you say someone HAS to do something due to their appearance and their boyfriends skin color to me we are walking into a fascist arena. No matter how much I can endorse the message; I cannot ever comfortably say I want to force someone into supporting me. All you can do is educate and the people who want to learn and support you will show up.
It’s the “I woke up like diss” dumb-ass comment that’s a problem. Proof that yes, she is appropriating “black” culture for her own gain. Now if she had said “I love this hairstyle”, it would be a different story. It’s really sad that people think of the incident as no big deal. The Kardashians are self serving boneheads.
I follow Amandla & her friend of tumblr & when I tell you tumblr has been lit up since the whole situation. The Trashians will do what they want, I try not to look their way because I know I’m gonna get upset they are trash, every single one. They appropriate our culture then talk down on us. Also let’s not forget how salty Kim is because Beyonce will never like her, cmon Kim isn’t even on Beyonce level. Not because of how she got famous but because she’s appropriating our culture also because she’s trash lol sorry but I’m with amandla.
Great article. Crystal clear delivery! Thank you.
And that my friend is misappropriation. Sad.
She spoke well. The Kardashians are business woman who use every opportunity whether good or bad to market themselves and make more money..They can never be role models to anyone..When the head is rotten, the whole body is rotten too..that’s the kardashians for you..messed up family..