I don't ever want to hear that the field Negro doesn't advocate for white folks from time to time. Because it's just not true. Unlike some other folks, I will always speak out against injustice no matter where I see it, or who it happens to hurt.
Take, for instance, the case of Thomas Strain. Poor Thomas is a police officer in the-predominantly black- 35th District here in Philly. He is a five year veteran and from all indication is a fine police officer.
Unfortunately for Thomas, he was recently ordered off the street and assigned to desk duty. Why? Did Thomas have a questionable shoot? No. Did Thomas violate some perp's civil rights? No. Is Thomas an unreliable partner? No. Thomas wore cornrows to work. Oh, did I mention that Thomas is white? Yes, that's not some light skinned brother in the pic, that's a white man.
"They pulled him out of roll call and took him right up to the inspector's office," said an officer who asked to remain anonymous." That's a shame, Philly's finest can't even do their job without having to worry about the fashion police -literally speaking-.
"Oh field, stop it, rules are rules. What is Thomas doing wearing cornrows? What rules? There are no rules against wearing corn rows, Thomas just has to have a neat hear cut that can fit comfortably under his hat. Wait, let me give you another quote from Dana DiFilippo's article:
"Police policy requires officers to have "clean, properly trimmed and combed hair" that doesn't prevent them from wearing their uniform hat "in a military-manner," Vanore said.
The policy prohibits "unnatural" hair colors such as blue, purple or green but doesn't ban specific styles, such as cornrows, mohawks, dreadlocks or bouffants."
The policy prohibits "unnatural" hair colors such as blue, purple or green but doesn't ban specific styles, such as cornrows, mohawks, dreadlocks or bouffants."
So what's the problem Lt. Vanore? I am looking at that pic of old Thomas and his hair looks pretty neat to me. And now look what you caused, dissension in the ranks. Now, of course, Strain's white colleagues are crying reverse discrimination. "It's absolutely discriminatory," said one officer. Strain's cornrows 'do "was neat. It was above his collar. It's not like he shaved a Nazi sign or something anti-black or anti-Hispanic on his head. It's just cornrows. I don't know what the problem is." I hear you officer. It's a disgrace! A white man can't even get his Allen Iverson on? Come on, how soon do we forget? Does the name Bo Derek mean anything to anyone?
Poor officer Strain, I sure hope they put him back on the street where he belongs. It certainly seems like he is a good cop.
".. friends describe him as a hardworking cop who hails from a family of police officers and who adores police work. The former Marine served in Iraq, where he twice survived explosions when his Hummer hit roadside bombs in 2006, co-workers said. 'He's a guy that, when things go bad, you want him there,' one officer said."
Yep, especially if they go bad in one of the neighborhood braid shops.
105 comments:
smh!
I wonder whether the Philly police department has also punished any black cops who have sported cornrows.
Brother Field...his commanders should be glad/proud he showed some commonality with the population he is there to serve. Only if this style was specifically prohibited.
this is absolutely assinine. This police officer hair was neat, lice free, off the shoulder and in no way obstructing the way his hat fit on his head.
The bigger picture...all this will extend to the black males and females on the force. This way there is no lawsuit down the line.
There's real crime in Philly and everywhere else! Many police departments need to address the apparent lack of physical weight control by their officers. I often wonder how some can run after criminals or climb the stairs after a long winded run.
I'm curious if similiar rules exist for the women in Blue as well.
Everything seems to go now: multiple piercings, tatts, long nails, weaves...etc. where's the cut off point?
"Yep, especially if they go bad in one of the neighborhood braid shops."
[After BlackButterfly pulled herself up off the floor] She Agreed!
Discrimination, pure and simple. Folks need to drop the reverse part as there's no such thing as reverse discrimination just discrimination.
At any rate, I think this is also very revealing about the feelings of (1) whoever pulled the officer out of roll call and (2) the inspector. I bet these two gems don't like cornrows on black or female officers either and think it's "low class" but wouldn't dare say it to black officers because they know they'd get called on it.
I hope this officer sues and sets things to right.
Field, this actually reminds me of an article on integrating college football that I stumbled across not long ago. The author talked about how the real fights took place in the North and Midwest as black players started to challenge the white paternalism that used to rule college coaching on the grounds of cultural expressions and civil liberties. Despite numerous suspensions, boycotts, and incidents these young black players eventually won a lot of freedoms for all players, including the right to wear hair the way they wanted and the right to wear facial hair. The author points out also that the gains college players were bigger than even these personal freedoms because what they really did was change the way college football operated. They ushered out the white paternal father figure (who, if you know about how coaches used to treat their players, often went way over the line in discipline and coaching and well into outright abuse of his players on a regular basis). That said, there were also consequences like the loss of four-year scholarships which led to a loss of a lot other things.
It's a very interesting read if you care about Civil Rights (which I know most here do) and love college football. For me, it was a perfect combination of interests.
Here's the link if anyone's interested in reading it.
--j
Hey, this published before I wanted it to. Got called away for a second, and somehow hit my publish button without proper editing.
Anywhoo, you all make some good points. Honestly, I don't think it's a big deal. Someone above (cinco, I think) mentioned out of shape police officers. I agree. That's a bigger issue as far as I am concerned.
"I wonder whether the Philly police department has also punished any black cops who have sported cornrows."
No Comrade, not that I know of. But there has been suits by black officers regrding religious wear.
I somewhat have mix feelings, but I'm still trying to put it together.
if they're going for the strict uniform military look, then I could understand their point. (Even though his rows could still fit neatly under a uniformed hat, since they want to make that an issue). They need to lose the hat logic on that note. I would also hope this would only apply to male officers in particular, and regardless of race (then of course there would be the argument of gender discrimination).
They really need to get this together fast, and be specific with who and what. I say this because, what if there was a black female officer with natural hair? Clearly you can NOT discriminate against a black female with natural gravity defying kinky hair (And you can't ask her to cut her hair because of it's natural state, just like you can't ask white female officers to do the same). Cornrows would be one of the practical styles for the black female officer to fit neatly under her 'hat' etc.
(Btw, I wonder who's hooking up Mr. Officer with the cornrows. Don't be surprise how these type white guys like to tap into black culture, and still have the nerve to have white girlfriends.)
Okay let me get this str8; a police officer wears cornrows and the department doesn't hesitate to discipline him but if the same officer had beaten or shot a Black person the same department would have done everything possible to defend his actions. (scratches head)
I'm surprised to be the first person to come up with the following guess.
Maybe someone in the P.D. interpreted a white cop's wearing of a hairstyle that is only seen among black people as a form of mockery, or at least something that might be perceived that way among the black people of the precinct.
Personally, of all the "signature" black hairstyles, i.e., the old Afro, dredlocks, cornrows, my favorite is cornrows. I think they look good, and I'm not saying this as any sort of provocation. I like 'em.
But I have yet to see a white person wear 'em. Maybe I am out of touch with the leading edge of white appropriation of black styles, which we all know is constant. Maybe there are other white people out there with cornrows, but I've never seen it.
I think whites look really stupid in dredlocks (but then, I don't think blacks look all that good in them either) and I thought the white Afro was the dumbest theft since, well, I don't know, because it was the first big stylistic theft that I saw as a kid.
Anyway, given that excessive force complaints are lodged against even good cops in some situations, I could understand it if the Philly P.D. said, basically, the last thing we need is for this cop to get in a jam, and then be called out for not just beating some black guy's ass but doing while wearing cornrows fer chrissakes.
Only a guess.
this is why the police in Philly receive no respect.
And if my guess is right, I'm sure there's someone in the the Philly P.D. saying to himself right now, "Damned if we do, damned if we don't. You just can't win."
I'm thinking of a scene in the 1970s-era movie, Crusing in which Al Pacino played a NYPD detective investigating a murder in the gay S&M scene. He wears leather gear to the leather bars, etc., which made for no small amount of snickering among gay people at Hollywood's stilted attempt to depict that particular sub-subculture.
Anyway, there's a completely gratuitous scene where they have some huge black cop clad in nothing but a police hat and a jockstrap beat the shit out of someone in the interrogation room.
The cop wasn't depicted as being gay. In the context of the scene, his get-up was a form of mockery and intimidation (and probably a bit of a '70s-era Hollywood sexploitation device to attract gay moviegoers, but that's another story) of the interrogation suspect.
Well, if this "good cop" was later suspected of not being so good, then I could imagine those cornrows being salt in the community's wounds. Or so the P.D. thinking when they told the guy to get rid of 'em.
Ok man, I'm laughing my ass off at this story. Not that I don't think dude shouldn't get back on the streets. But can you imagine a Negro being allowed to look like R.Kelly and wear a badge? I have this thing about grown ass men in cornrows. But I'm thinking dude should go for the Al Sharpton perm look instead.
I'm thinking cornrows to hide an outrageous hair style in civilian life.
Brother Field....imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We have imitated them for 400+. Feels good for someone to put a crown on his crown. StillaPanther2
Grinder, I don't think white guys look all that good with pony tails, parts in your hair.... (sandals, backpacks, dirty holey jeans), the list goes on. And yeah I wish white people especially would stay away from black hairstyles, especially dredlocks. They don't suite you ever, they tend to look dirty and nasty when you mock them on your scalpy heads.
Who does he think he is? Bo Derek?
Incog, I am no fan of pony tails either, but "parts in your hair?" That's pretty close to saying that you don't think white people look to great with white skin. And what's a "scalpy" head?
People take cornrows and locs on whites too seriously. Despite the fact that both have been largely black styles in this country, both rows and dreads have been historically worn by both African and European cultures. Now for the stinky hippie types that don't know how to wear their hair someone needs to school them. They're just looking unkept and nasty but honestly I think that's how some of them like it. I don't like to be around someone in public who hasn't kept up with their personal hygiene if I can help it.
And grinder where have you been? Whites have been wearing rows for decades now. It's not as common but it's not an uncommon thing either. I also think stillapanther2 is right about the flattery. It also shows that white America is starting to appreciate black beauty. And just in general, I don't think it's good to start saying this is 'mine' and that's 'yours.' That's the kind of shit that leads people to react and say well then my straight or kinky hair is SUPERIOR. Nah, let's appreciate difference and love every bit of the diverse BEAUTY that's out there in all shapes and forms.
--j
I've seen plenty of white people with dreads. Musicians like 'em. This guy's hair ia neat & manageable, & long as his hat fits o.k., what's the problem?
And grinder where have you been? Whites have been wearing rows for decades now. It's not as common but it's not an uncommon thing either.
I'm not exactly homebound, and I've never seen cornrows on a white person. Oh well.
@grinder -- Don't take it personal. I was teasing you about where you've been. I'm surprised you've never seen it -- shocked really. I've even seen cornrows on whites in rural 90+% white areas. Maybe it's your age group?
--j
Could be, but I am very widely traveled and really get around to a lot of places, including some of those really rural white areas. Where are you seeing cornrows on white people? I believe you, so trust me, you've got my curiosity up.
Northern and midwestern cities as well as in rural East Tennessee. I guess it all depends on where you go. Mostly kids and young adults wearing them. Not lots but you see em on occasion.
--j
I'll keep a sharper eye out for them, especially this Christmas when I'm back in the Midwest
Dreads on the white guy? Not a nice look. Although back on the rock I had a couple of Chinese and Syrian Jamaican friends with dreads. :)And speaking of Jamaican; is it me or does that cop look like Sean Paul? Him "doty yeah"...let me stop. :)
i had dreads once, done by a woman in jamaica while i was on vacation. it was not a good look for me and in general not on any white person. did they give him a chance to unplat?
this seems really stupid, tho, to discipline him.
I am going to say something that may offend a lot of white people reading this. I personally do not take it as flattery when white people (especially as a group) try to emulate certain things that are "indigenous" or "signature" to black people/African culture.
In my opinion, white society has a history of non-assimilation, and more so exploitation and taking over of other cultures beyond generational recognition.
Therefore, I get weary, and not so flattered. Just my opinion.
"I wonder whether the Philly police department has also punished any black cops who have sported cornrows."
The question is are cops in Philly allowed to wear cornrows?
Some departments prohibit them.
If the Philadelphia Police department allows black cops to wear cornrows but punishes white cops for wearing them it's a clear case of discrimination.
But something tells me that's not the case.
I meant to say I get wary, but weary could also contribute to my feelings.
And y'all wonder why no one takes y'all seriously...
I don't know, but if I had pubic hair on my head...oh forget it.
Field, please don't stop rockin that Ving Rhames look, and don't tell me you haven't watched that scene in Pulp Fiction 1000 times..
Frank
"And y'all wonder why no one takes y'all seriously..."
Yet you're here everyday trying to get a rise out of people.
Frank, you ever been laid?
ditto fn!
shame!!!
i hope he sues and wins like so many neatly cornrowed sistas have done...
african hairstyles are hated even on white men's heads.
shame!!!
i shaved my head bald to grow my flowing locked mane in 1996 in cali...i was employed at a fortune 500 corp and wore black silk african wraps with my suits until i grew 1 inch of soft unpermed new hair to twist and lock...
the first time i unveiled my new tiny twists, a film called "liar liar" had just come out...
a few wm's joked about that film...but my job was never at risk
i would NEVER work for any employer who would ignore my resume/skills simply because they hated my neat locks!
i am locked for life!!!
http://www.geocities.com/ambwww/LOCKS.htm
grinder:
i travel often
in the north and south
and west
i see TONS of young white men wearing cornrows...latinos too
and i see TONS of young white men and young white women donning dreadlocks
even pop star justin timberlake wore cornrows when he was a memebr of the pop band n'sync
and a recent wm american idol contestant wore long thick dreadlocks too....
grinder:
soccer icon david beckham often dons cornrows too
so do many wm and latino runway models
see
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=justin+timberlake+cornrows&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1
Up Town Steve,
Save the Drama for Yo Mama...and speakin of Yo Mama, the answer is "yes",
Have you?
Frank
Field,
I think the guy was sporting the cornrows as a form of mockery!
Discrimination my ass!
There are all sorts of different ways that white people can wear their hair and be accepted, but Black people must wear our hair either as President Obama does, or as First Lady Michelle Obama does.
Any Black haircut that reminds white people that Blacks came from a different continent is a haircut that white people will not accept.
If a Black officer had worn his hair in this cornrow style he would have been reprimanded as well, but this white officer committed two "crimes" at once:
(a) he wore a naturally Black heritage haircut, and
(b) he identified with the oppressed rather than the oppressor and risked being perceived as someone who loves and has respect for Black people and our culture. He "went native", to use a comprehensible expression that is usually used pejoratively, like when white people call a Black person a "N***** -lover".
I usually say that what we call "race" is really just skin color and "skin color-associated physical characteristics". As most people correctly point out, there are NO physical characteristics that all Blacks have and that no whites have.
Field, pardon me for hijacking your thread, but I have a question about sex with which I think you and your readers may be able to help me:
It's a very private question that I'm going to ask in a very public place, in order to get a number of perspectives and the right answer:
Once, many years ago, I was engaging in some very heavy foreplay with a very beautiful and professional Black woman, for the first time. As we got to a turning point, she asked me, smiling devilishly, "Are you trying to turn me out?" She asked as a kind of playful pillow-talk, but there seemed to be a fundamental meaning behind it that I didn't understand as was too uneasy to ask her to explain.
I was practicing law at the time and she was also a very successful professional, so I know she wasn't asking me if I was trying to turn her into a prostitute.
Does anyone know what she was asking me, in layman's language, or more scholarly language? At the time, I just smiled because I didn't understand what she was asking me and I didn't want to give the wrong answer.
But that moment of ignorance of slang on my part was a turning point in our relationship -- a failure to give the answer that would have been pleasing or truthful, after which our sexual relationship didn't go any further instead becoming more intimate.
What was she asking me, and what could/should I have said? "Are You Trying To Turn Me Out?"
francislholland@gmail.com
La♥Incognita said...
I am going to say something that may offend a lot of white people reading this. I personally do not take it as flattery when white people (especially as a group) try to emulate certain things that are "indigenous" or "signature" to black people/African culture.
In my opinion, white society has a history of non-assimilation, and more so exploitation and taking over of other cultures beyond generational recognition.
Therefore, I get weary, and not so flattered. Just my opinion.
since you're comment followed mine, i'll assume you were addressing me. i did it on a whim on vacation and it was more because the woman who did it needed money and was offering something in return. i wasn't trying to imitate or flatter anyone.
sadly, those asking for $$ can be very intense in certain parts of the world, and that also probably explains why i purchased pot while still in the airport parking lot after landing.
i took the braids out almost as soon as i got them in. never did it again
I'd hate to see what they'd do to him if he had DREADS.
flh:
it is a generic reference to sexual prowess/orgasmic skill
it was a compliment
see more:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=turn+out
I personally do not take it as flattery when white people (especially as a group) try to emulate certain things that are "indigenous" or "signature" to black people/African culture.
The same thing happens with straight people and gay people. All kinds of styles and trends start in the gay community before branching out. Most gay people have mixed feelings about it. Sometimes we'd like it if there was more recognition of where something came from, although at the same time I'm not sure that I really want credit for disco music.
All in all, getting pissed off about the transmigration of styles is a little like being mad about the progression of weather fronts. Nothing you'll do about it, so might as well accept it. In any case, your view does not offend me.
There are all sorts of different ways that white people can wear their hair and be accepted, but Black people must wear our hair either as President Obama does, or as First Lady Michelle Obama does.
Any Black haircut that reminds white people that Blacks came from a different continent is a haircut that white people will not accept.
If a Black officer had worn his hair in this cornrow style he would have been reprimanded as well
I disagree with that comment. What gets whites out of joint (and not just about black people, but about everything) is mere "change" or "unfamiliarity." In time, people get used to change, although I don't know if I will ever fully accept the change from Miles Davis and St. John Coltrane to hip-hop.
he identified with the oppressed rather than the oppressor and risked being perceived as someone who loves and has respect for Black people and our culture. He "went native"
The reports are that there are a couple dozen black officers on the Philly P.D. who wear cornrows. The more I read about this, the more I am thinking that my guess might be right.
I wish someone in Philly (field?) would track down the real explanation, which thus far hasn't been given. I think it's going to turn out to be someone's attempt at racial sensitivity. Probably someone like me who is clueless about the spread of cornrow hair among whites.
No shit, folks, I had no idea that white people were doing this. I have done some investigating and am told, not just here, that it's more common than I had realized. By the way, not that whites are constantly having conversations about black people, but the few times I can ever recall discussing this one with other whites, cornrows got good reviews.
But that could be my own viewpoint, ahem, coloring my memory. As I said before, of all the signature black hairstyles, cornrows is my favorite. They've got to be well-executed, i.e., neat and tight, otherwise they look foolish. But when they're done right, they look really good to me, anyway.
Dredlocks, on the other hand ...
My first reaction to dredlocks is to think, "Holy Christ, how many months has it been since that guy washed his hair? What the fuck is living in there, anyway?"
At the rat-brain level, dredlocks are in the same category as Charles Manson's haircut, such as it was. They scream "serial killer."
Also, now that I've become familiar with the full extent of anti-gay violence in Jamaica (a place I'll never visit, that's for damn sure), dredlocks are symbolic to me of something else. The equivalent of white skinheads with a swastika tattoo.
"There are all sorts of different ways that white people can wear their hair and be accepted, but Black people must wear our hair either as President Obama does, or as First Lady Michelle Obama does."
__________________________________
Francis, I think you are totally right about that.
The music industry is notorious for having musicians who have hairstyles that co-opt other ethnicities, Keith Jarrett is a prime example, he is white, but everybody thought he was Black because of how he wore this hair.
My problem with wearing certain hairstyes would be that being white, I wouldn't necesarily know if a hair style represented a sacred or symbolic meaning, that would actually be offensive, so I don't think I would do that. Also, I think it's kinda offensive to try to effect a certain look, but still have the same stupid mindset.
grinder
you are grossly ignorant about dreadlocks
fix that
people of all races with poor hygiene wear all kinds of hairstyles..ie like many caucasians i see daily with greasy, rank, lice infested, UNlocked silky hair...
fyi
i wash, condition, and oil my locks just as often as i did my perms
my hair is always clean and i have to fight people of all races daily to keep their hands out of my long locks...
those who do not neatly style their locks are rastas, who beileve that their free form/matted should only be styled by jah, and grow freely as appendages like arms/legs...but even rastas wash and style their locks
for rastas, locks are a religion, and they often bathe them daily in saltwater/oceans...
for me, it is a beautiful natural cosmetic gift from god...
http://africanbynature.com/eyes/openeyes_dreadlocks.html
http://www.geocities.com/ambwww/ALICIAS-PHOTOS.htm
more on the racist myths about dirty locks etc
http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/Natural-Hair-Beauty/articles/3836/1/Dreadlocks-Myths-and-Rumors/Page1.html
see many neat clean locks here:
http://hair.afroglitzmag.com/tag/locktician/
http://www.amazon.com/Dreads-Francesco-Mastalia/dp/157965150X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253645745&sr=8-1
despite the arrogant myths of racists
dreadlocks are also universal to all cultures including hasidic jews/east indians/asians etc...
though jamaicans are most renowned for dreadlocks, they did not invent them
__
Dreadlocks and Rastafari
Rastafarians grow their hair into dreadlocks because it is a part of the Nazarite Vow. (Also their dietary rules are part of the law.) All Rastafarians take this vow and claim it is commanded by the Bible. (Leviticus 21:5: "They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard nor make any cuttings in their flesh.")
Samson is believed to be a Nazarite with dreadlocks. Many Rastafarians believe that like Samson, their hair is their strength and also their weakness if it is cut off . The belief in the weakness of cutting of the dreadlocks was used as a way to intimidate Rastafarians in Jamaica, in the past, as they would be arrested and their hair cut off. This was one of the reasons many of the early Rastafarians moved to isolated areas (bush) of the Island.
To many Rastafarians, dreadlocks also symbolize the mane (locks) of the lion in the "Lion of Judah", which is one of the titles given to all Ethiopian Kings. Emperor Haile Selassie was also very fond of lions and had them as pets around his palace. The lion is also seen as an animal that is gentle but powerful when provoked. He is the "King" of the jungle.
dreadlocks are universal to humas and even canines:
"pulis" are a naturally locked hungarian breed of dog
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=puli+dog&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=2CS5SoG6JZSNtge00_TsDg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1
I read all the comment's and I was waiting for someone to get it!!! and (JUSTICE 58) was the only person to pick up what the officer was saying by wearing cornrow's!
This White man was POKING fun at Black men that wear cornrow's! it is no way in the world a white police officer would do this unless he was up to no GOOD! this man know's for a fact the other white police officer's would Persecute him!he knew what he did would cause Controversy and it has!
I wouldn't be surprised if this was done to try to eliminate Black police officer's from wearing cornrow's all together! this hairdo is used in a way to define the Black Race, it was worn to show Black Pride, or at one time it did! and that's why it doe's not look right on White people!
Well in the end, if this White officer cannot wear his cornrow's then no officer can! and thus someone behind the scene's would have won, I wonder who they are?
iseeisee
iseeisee,
"I wouldn't be surprised if this was done to try to eliminate Black police officer's from wearing cornrow's all together! this hairdo is used in a way to define the Black Race, it was worn to show Black Pride, or at one time it did! and that's why it doe's not look right on White people!"
______________________________
yes, thank you, i think you are right, it was probably done as some kind of stunt!!!
grinder
you are grossly ignorant about dreadlocks
fix that
alicia, I'm telling you about my instant reaction. And the dirty-hair reaction is independent of race. I have exactly the same reaction if I see a white person with dredlocks. This is only my reaction, not some dictate from on high.
I suppose I could tell you to educate yourself about close-cropped hair on white people and the origins of the swastika, and try to make some argument that skinheads are merely expressing their heritage. But it's not an argument I'd believe in, much less try to express with a straight face.
I've gotten used to dredlocks, just as I've gotten used to a lot of things. But I can't say I like 'em very much. It's my right not to like dredlocks, and I don't think my style preference is racist. If that were the case, I'd be down on every hairstyle that has come out of the black community, but I'm not.
I read all the comment's and I was waiting for someone to get it!!! and (JUSTICE 58) was the only person to pick up what the officer was saying by wearing cornrow's!
This White man was POKING fun at Black men that wear cornrow's! it is no way in the world a white police officer would do this unless he was up to no GOOD! this man know's for a fact the other white police officer's would Persecute him!he knew what he did would cause Controversy and it has!
Go back and re-read the comment stream here. I was the first one to suggest the mockery element.
This is an interesting thread. You've got field saying that it's okay for the white cop to wear cornrows. A bunch of commenters agreed.
I guessed that maybe the PD told him to cut 'em because they were worried it would be seen as mockery. Someone else complained that as soon as a white officer grew cornrows to show sympathy with the oppressed, he was told to cut 'em.
Now we've got commenters saying that the guy grew 'em to mock black people. What this tells me is that the PD is probably right to have the guy take 'em off. From the PD perspective, if the guy's hairstyle is going to cause an element of his precinct to think he's a racist, the cornrows ought to go.
grinder:
to each their own
but there is no need to slander any choices...
you do not have to like locks
but your slander in assuming that all locks are dirty/smelly is just dead wrong and based upon racist myths!
ie
i actually wash my locks as often as i wish...even more than i washed perms
when permed, it was toil to reset my hair...and i always hated to wash out expensive and harmful chemicals like lye that straightened my hair
locks are easier to wash and dry and wear...unlike perms
Anon 3:48pm
Hammer Meet Nail!
Lets take a look @ this CAC!
Why wear the cornrows now? Where have you ever seen a CAC just break out with a black signature hair style? What would make him suddenly change his style? If he has spent a considerable amount of his "personal" time hanging out with black people---then I would say--cool. But to suddenly break-out with a hair style that defines black people? Hell No.
The CAC is making a mockery of the black men/women that are sporting the cornrows and either he or someone else want it to stop.
The CAC has a plan! He most likely knew people would be on his ass about it, then he'll file a discrimination lawsuit alleging reverse discrimination so he can get a pay day. CAC!
grinder:
the "black styles" that you like,
do they happen to all involve perms/versions of euro style??
just curious...
white supremacy makes even most blacks hate nappy hair
that is why "DREADlocks" is so approptiate as most people still do dread nappy hair indeed...
it is possible that this white cop is a beckham/jt/model fan...
it is possible he has a bf lover/wife who wants his hair to be braided...
i would have to know this wm personally before i judge him...
my child students love this book
it teaches them to love nappy hair
ie
our african coils are the only perfect circles in nature
thus
african locks are spiritual etc
http://www.amazon.com/Nappy-Dragonfly-Books-Carolivia-Herron/dp/0679894454/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253651826&sr=1-1
White guys sporting the dreads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGq5JlJXgCc
Just Love...
Michael Rose with his sexy voice!;)
Damn!!!!!!
ditto
even racist axl rose of guns n roses wears cornrows and braids often:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&resnum=0&q=axl%20rose%20cornrows&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
like all hair for most people
corn rows are just an afrocentric fashion statement...
even bo derek is a neocon
my adult students love this book on locks best
it is my fav too
http://www.amazon.com/Nice-Dreads-Inspiration-Colored-Considered/dp/140005169X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253654055&sr=1-1
grinder:
i love this one too
i suggest you peruse both
http://www.amazon.com/Locs-Life-Being-African-American-Women/dp/143435721X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253654612&sr=1-1#reader
@La♥Incognita:
You said,
"if they're going for the strict military look, I somewhat have mix feelings, but I'm still trying to put it together."
I would just suggest that they might be going for the strict Nazi military look that would exclude all Blacks, Latinos and women, if they could get away with it.
They don't want anyone Black, or anyone white whose culture looks Black. I think that's why they reacted (and I do mean REACTED like a nuclear reactor) to this man's Black associated physical characteristic - his hair.
the "black styles" that you like, do they happen to all involve perms/versions of euro style??
Cornrows are European? Knock me over with a feather. Hey, there's a whole lot that I don't know about hair. I have a hyper-Euro style: a flat top.
Look, alicia, I'm telling you what I like and don't like. Nothing more. Dredlocks look like animal habitat to me, and they remind me of Jamaica, where I could easily be murdered within a few days for being gay.
I don't think I'm any more of an asshole for those preferences that I am for thinking that the mullet (now there's one I've never seen on a black guy) is a badge of stupidity and that mohawks are laughable.
But you know what? If I meet a mullet-wearin' yahoo with his dredlock-wearin' girlfriend, I'll treat 'em just fine. Maybe walk away thinking something like, "Hmm. Didn't much care for the cover, but that was a hell of a book."
So relax. It's not a personal attack or a racial jihad. I'm only telling you my likes and dislikes. Let's not make a federal case out of it. Oh, and if you think flattops are the dumbest thing since Elvis Presley, trust me, I will live!
I would just suggest that they might be going for the strict Nazi military look that would exclude all Blacks, Latinos and women, if they could get away with it.
Note that you are the one who inserted "Nazi" in there. I have seen plenty of people of color who pull off the "strict military look" just fine.
no grind ass, cornrows are not european.
grinder
???
i never used "nazi" etc
&
i never said locks were european
either...
i said dreadlocks were universal
and
that you have the right to your dislike of locks but NOT to your myths about them...
so
you are not quoting me
fyi
grinder
"animal habitat" = mythical slur
that has nothing to do with preferences and everything to do with slander!
do u not see that?
i hate mullets too
but i do not assume all who don them have "animals" lice etc
see??
i also fear jamaica as a lesbian
i have boycotted it since 1989
straight friends recently invited me on a free cruise...i declined
but i adore clean neat dreadlocks
i am locked for life
see
http://www.geocities.com/ambwww/reggae.htm
Why hasn't someone helped Francis with his question @12:11PM?
Francis, I wish I could help you bro, but I really don't know what she was thinking. I am guessing she just wanted to have a good time and for you to keep doing whatever it is you were doing. ;)
fn:
i did reply to francis...
see
1339
no grind ass, cornrows are not european.
I didn't think so. Maybe you should tell that to alicia, who asked me if I only like "European" hairstyles when in fact I had written two or three times in this thread that cornrows are my favorite "black" hairstyle.
i said dreadlocks were universal
and that you have the right to your dislike of locks but NOT to your myths about them.
I'm not telling you that they ARE animal habitat, just that they strike me as resembling it. Like Charlie Mason's hair looks like a rat's nest, even though there aren't any rats up there. Well, not outside of his skull anyway.
i never used "nazi" etc
I stand corrected. Someone else ("Francis L Holland Blog") wrote that. I misattributed it to you, and I apologize for that.
cool grinder
we agree to disagree
thanks
(Btw, I wonder who's hooking up Mr. Officer with the cornrows. Don't be surprise how these type white guys like to tap into black culture, and still have the nerve to have white girlfriends.)
10:14 PM
The above used to be saved for "balck males" tagging white women... Oh....... how times have changed!!
Btw, I wonder who's hooking up Mr. Officer with the cornrows.
Not a white girl!
[quote]I wonder whether the Philly police department has also punished any black cops who have sported cornrows.[/quote]
In an article that I read:
1) Other Black Officers have been commanded to "redo the do"
2) The command staff that ordered the "White Officer" to "lose it" were Black.
Oh The City Of Progressive Brotherly Love
Who cares if the staff that ordered the white officer to lose it were black? So what? The cracka was up to No good sporting a hairstyle that defines black people. The style is a part of black culture! The cracka move in wearing the cornrows was designed to have the black guys redo their style. Dirty ass cracka!
Justice 58, we all know it ain't no white girl, but he might only be paying a sista in a shop to do it, that ain't the same as having a black girlfriend. I bet he still has a white girlfriend.
Justice 58, we all know it ain't no white girl, but he might only be paying a sista in a shop to do it, that ain't the same as having a black girlfriend. I bet he still has a white girlfriend.
I agree!
The CAC! I see him!
I agree with LaIncognita that "scalpy heads" don't look right with cornrows. Some women who go on vacation in the Caribbean have it done, but unless the hair color is close to the scalp color like with women of color it looks strange. White women even with blond hair who have the dead white scalps look strange. French braiding looks great, but they do it different somehow than corn rows--is it the low number or partial length of the braids?
Alicia likes "neat, tight clean locks" and I do too. The ones that I dislike are the ones that look like hairy bird's nests. The Rastas who have huge bundles of dreads under caps that are bigger than their actual heads I also find off putting.
Alicia likes "neat, tight clean locks" and I do too. The ones that I dislike are the ones that look like hairy bird's nests.
Actually, I was the first one in this thread to say the following about cornrow: "They've got to be well-executed, i.e., neat and tight, otherwise they look foolish. But when they're done right, they look really good to me, anyway."
From there, we got off on a tangent about whether or not my dislike of dreadlocks, and specifically my comparison of them to "animal habitat," was the perpetuation of a racist stereotype.
Along the way, alicia stated that her dreadlocks are neat and clean. So, how about we say that alicia and I both like neat and clean hair? Those rasta style matted dreadlocks are very unattractive to me, and are especially foolish looking to me when I see them on some white wannabe.
But hey, that's just me. No one elected me fashion emperor, and if they did I would reject the honor. I'm just a random crank out here in the cybertorium, trying to keep my head from exploding (again).
grinder "Actually, I was the first one in this thread to say the following about cornrow: "They've got to be well-executed, i.e., neat and tight, otherwise they look foolish. But when they're done right, they look really good to me, anyway.""
Yes you were. Unfortunately, when it comes to cornrows, some Blacks can't bring themselves to give credit where credit is due. It's like a klansman unable to give credit to a black person. Have you noticed that? Black or White, it's totally absurd and prejudiced.
In reply to Francis L. Holland
from the URBAN DICTIONARY.
turn out
To give someone their first orgasm, or first good sexual encounter. To introduce someone to the real world.
turn out
To turn a good person with minimal or shy sexual experience into a freaky sex hungry nympho!
turn out
to lead a woman into prostitution. this is somewhat archaic - term possibly more in use in the 70's-80's
turn out
to force another to become the submissive or receptive partner in a circumstantial homosexual relationship; frequently deployed in the context single-gendered spaces, such as the penitentiary.
turn out
A hoe's first outing.
turn out
Persuading a girl to work over you and your crew. Usually a fat or ugly girl you normally wouldn't get with.
____________
Under the circumstances, it was a positive comment.
____________
My apologies Grinder, I don't always remember correctly and did not go far enough back in the thread.
[quote]he cracka was up to No good sporting a hairstyle that defines black people. The style is a part of black culture! The cracka move in wearing the cornrows was designed to have the black guys redo their style. Dirty ass cracka![/quote]
WOW!!!!!
This is stunning.
So let me get this.
* The White boy DID NOT put on Black pigment upon his skin
* The White boy did not augment his body (widen his nose, thicken his lips) with plastic surgery
* Despite Michael Jackson doing surgery to gravitate closer to Whiteness - this was not a disqualifier to most people on this blog.
YET - when the WHITE BOY - using HIS OWN HAIR (and not any purchased from a Korean at a hair care store) chose to BRAID HIS OWN DAMNED HAIR - he was "copping our style"?
KNEEGROW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder what you had said about 4 years ago when more White men SHAVED THEIR HEADS long after Black males popularized the bald look.
We black folks with a little power, need to be more careful how we conduct ourselves. Especially, if we want to be taken seriously, when complaining about racial issues. If the white man cannot wear cornrows, then NONE of the black officers should be allowed to wear them, either. Otherwise, don't crying to the media or an attorney about unfair treatment from whites!
huh...dis here reminds me of something James [JBrown]once said..."there was a time i use ta...." first, i have to wonder why a white boy with braided hair would rank as relevant to this much attention. Obviously, there might be a "certain" protocol for policepeople, firepeople, and other civic servants [just like the military i.e. marines] where ones hair must be for males within a certain demarcated paradigm. One knows this when they sign up for this kind of duty, they are subscribing to the full tenet down to the fine print no matter how long their tenure. Given that he chose to don one of many urban, black gangster male hair styles when that group has been profiled as the enemy immediate was not quite bright. He might get mistaken in a shot out from the back of his head. you know we all look alike, right?
Personally, i have always wondered about how whites adopt African/black expressions and blacks adopt white ones. Are they both desiring to be seen like the other or are they both envious and think the unspoken societal demarcation barrier will be smashed by their actions of adapting something from the other. Blacks dying their hair blond or red and straightening out the natural curly kinkyness with grease and hotcomb; whites heading to the tanning parlours because "darker skin" looks more healthy. Doing the cosmetic exterior stuff but still worlds apart at the end of the day since they really dont talk about the real serious deep stuff. Hypocritcs one and all or personal expression which is it...
No discrimination here.. boy just needs to conform back to the protocol he signed up for or get out and chose a profession where hair expression just aint so important in the code.
Constructive Feedback
Fuck you & the horse you rode in on. The cracka was up to no fucking good. Tell me why would a white ass cracka want a black hairstyle other than to start some bullshit. He should have kept his own cracka ass style. Everything black folks have...white ass crackas want it! Cracka Ass Cracka.
CF "YET - when the WHITE BOY - using HIS OWN HAIR (and not any purchased from a Korean at a hair care store) chose to BRAID HIS OWN DAMNED HAIR - he was "copping our style"?"
Yep. that's the way most folks on this blog think, if you can call it that. pure stupidity.
Fuck you & the horse you rode in on. The cracka was up to no fucking good. Tell me why would a white ass cracka want a black hairstyle other than to start some bullshit. He should have kept his own cracka ass style. Everything black folks have...white ass crackas want it! Cracka Ass Cracka.
Does this mean that I have to throw out my jazz collection, and that I will be shot if I'm ever caught listening to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas?
"Everything black folks have...white ass crackas want it! Cracka Ass Cracka."
No, no, no. You are badly mistaken. Whites don't want everything you have. That's ridiculous.
It's amusing the way you use the word "Cracka" as though you are speechless. It is obvious that you are hurting a lot with rage.
I hope you will be able to rise above your hatred.
"The same thing happens with straight people and gay people. All kinds of styles and trends start in the gay community before branching out. Most gay people have mixed feelings about it. Sometimes we'd like it if there was more recognition of where something came from,..."
No Grinder, be more specific and fair! You never cease to amaze me. Disco was originated in the BLACK African American community, and initially founded by gay black men. It only got picked up and popular when the gay white community tried to take it over, and then came the mainstream white society. Again, that is my point. (And there you go again trying to piggy back black oppression for the gay community.)
"...although at the same time I'm not sure that I really want credit for disco music.'
And I wonder why. Could it be because it's popularly associated with 70's black Disco artist, and therefore too "low" for you?
And Maria, I didn't read your comment until just now.
And I wonder why. Could it be because it's popularly associated with 70's black Disco artist, and therefore too "low" for you?
What a bunch of shit. You're really going to sit there and try to argue that I have racist musical tastes? Please, La Idiot, make my fuckin' day.
No, no, no. You are badly mistaken. Whites don't want everything you have. That's ridiculous.
No it's not ridiculous. It happens every damn day. The white bitches want our men. Try and deny that? They try to imitate our skin color by tanning, they inject crap into their lips, ass, breast, you name it. They want it.
Cracka Ass Crackas.
It's amusing the way you use the word "Cracka" as though you are speechless. It is obvious that you are hurting a lot with rage.
Wrong again. Sorry to disappoint. I am only truthtelling.
I hope you will be able to rise above your hatred.
Rise above what? Truthtelling? Hell No! Everything black folks have-----Cracka Ass Crackas Want It.
Anon 2:00, dare I say it? You crack-a me up!
You are sooo subtle and sooo busted. I'm in the 35th and I'll be keeping my eye for him. Don't ever change. Please!
Nice cornrows. Not only do I want him back on the streets, I'd date him. LOL!
Them Yts were scared. Must have brought back memories of the movie Report to the Commissioner - where the character develops a stockholm syndrome type thing with his prisoner. His girlfriend might be black or his jump-off.
Them Yts were scared. Must have brought back memories of the movie Report to the Commissioner - where the character develops a stockholm syndrome type thing with his prisoner. His girlfriend might be black or his jump-off.
[QUOTE](MICHELLE BERNARD) HER YAWDIE ROOTS HELPS, BUT I AM NOT TOO CRAZY ABOUT HER POLIITICS. STILL, PUTTING THAT SERIES ON MSNBC WITH COS ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PROPER NUTRITION AND LEARNING, WAS FIELD NEGRO BEHAVIOR.[/QUOTE]
So let me get this straight, Filled Negro - You hate Michelle Bernard's POLITICS but the people who are in control over the failing Philly School System, being more in line with your ideology - are your BFFs?
Did someone hit you upside the head as a youth Filled Negro?
If i see one more lazy internet junkie use the acronym, "smh", I'm going to start throwing infants. Shaking my head. Not that hard. I don't want to see the human race degress to basic grunts and moans as communication.
Pretty good fact about the Negro doesn't advocate for white folks ,and the pictures are also good.
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Consumer Behaviour Dissertation
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