Grown Men With Braids In Their Hair
May 9th, 2006
Like most people, braids on men never bothered me before, but the older I got the more they disturbed me as I found many traits I disliked seemed to be found in men with braids, or as I like to say, men who wear their hair like little girls.
The first thing I have noticed is that grown men with braids tend to either not have jobs, or very low paying jobs where they can basically get away with looking any old kind of way. You’ll never find a man with braids in any professional type of environment as there is most likely a dress code to adhere to and a man with braids would automatically be breaking that code. Let’s face it, nobody is gonna hire a braid wearing, beads hanging from the end Brotha to help run their company… they just aren’t.
I also find men with braids are extremely looks conscious to the point where they won’t work jobs that require them to cut their hair. Their hair is a part of their overall look and they are not willing to give that up… not even for a pay hike. It seems a lot of Brothas also keep braids in their hair as a way of bucking the White man’s system that demands they look a certain way. Now I am not against that at all. But if you are gonna buck the White man’s system you had better have your own to back you up.
But what I find most unappealing about men with braids is that they seem incredibly immature and not quite ready to grow up. I have yet to meet a Man that wore braids in his hair. I have met plenty of Boys, but not one man. Some of those boys were over 30 but their mentality that was that of a teenager. Rather than caring about the things adults care about, they care about the things of teenagers: looking cool, dressing fly and being down. Believe me I know of what I speak. When my ex decided to dump his family and hit the clubs again, he immediately ran out and got braids. I know you all think I’m reaching here but I am not. There is a direct link between immature, unemployed, baby daddies and braids.
Don’t believe me… pay extra close attention to the men you come in contact with who have braids in their hair. Mark my words, they will have 90% of the traits I mentioned above and then some.
Holla back y’all 
[tags]Black Hairstyles, Braids, Black Haircare, African American Haircare[/tags]
65 comments on “Grown Men With Braids In Their Hair”
01
Shawna some of your posts keep me on the floor rolling.
Seriously though, a lot of the fellas do be looking good (AI comes to mind) and I have nothing against them.Some things you say may be true though.Braids aren’t allowed on my job so yeah, fellas who wear them generally do have low level jobs that don’t care too much about appearance.
I’m not sure if I would date a man with braids or dreads for that matter.I just don’t like those two styles on any man.But a lot of it depends on the man too.Basically I’m with you on some points and still up in the air on others girl.
02
Like your new site design….Don’t have braids and never really thought about them until reading your post….Don’t know where I stand yet.
03
And I thought I was the only woman who felt this way.Shawna I don’t know if braids are an indicator of immaturity or not but I do know they are ugly as all get out on a grown ass man.For me it just so icky looking.My girlfriend married last year and the whole wedding party was beautiful except for het husband who had braids.He just looked so out of place.Grown men definitely should not have braided hair of any kind.Dreads don’t bother me though-contadiction I know.
04
hehe- thinking about all the braided brothers i see hanging in front of my building when i go to work and still there when i come home.
by george you may be on to something shawna.
05
All then men that I know with braids are broke too. You may be on to something.
06
I disagree, I am a 32 year old Black man who wore braids, with a good paying job, I’ve been wearing my braids for two years now, I recently cut them off, not because of my job or any sign of “immaturity” either, I am in college, don’t go clubhopping, and I’m very active in my community, I think this blog is very asinine to insinuate that all Black men with braids fit these stereotypes, stop letting the media tell lies to your vision.
07
I feel the same as “that dude”. Are the people who contributed to this blog aware of the fact that “white supremacy” would make you say something like”it justs looks icky”, “out of place” “can’t get a job”. Physical slavery is over but I see Mental slavery never stopped. some of you people obviously are not aware of any inkling of African culture that was lost when some of our ancestors were enslaved here.
08
what about women who wear braids? how would you classifiy them? Are they poor, broke and lonely, too?
09
Robyn, braids are a woman’s hairdo- I think this answers your question.
djuan, wrong blog.You may be looking for Lashawn Barber.
thatdude, my eyes are wide open.A victim of the media I am not.I simply recognize a grown man shouldn’t be walking around with a girl’s hairdo with beads, rubber bands and reynolds wrap on the ends.
10
I think she wrong for saying that, she one in a million who thinks that. I have braids and Im in school doing more then most of what i have to do I’m looking forwarsd to go to college for astronomy and\or construction. I play ball I have responsibilities of take care of to of my own with help from my girl And I’m 19
11
Locks (dreads) are not the same as braids. Both hairstyles come from an African culture. Locks (dreads) can still be seen today with in the West Indian community and the Black American community as a connection to our History and culture. White slave owners feared Locks because when the slaves revolted thats what they saw during the night.
If you decide to wear either hairstyle you must have your own business because you will be bucking the system.
A lot of men with braids are immature but not all. I cut my Locks 2 years ago and recieved a promotion. If I decide to wear them again it will be when I start my own business.
12
I agree that men with braids are less likely to hold corporate level jobs. While this may be a stereotype it doesn’t make it far from the truth either. Some folks want to believe that this is 2006 and we have a right to freedom of expression but the reality is that prejudice is still prevalent and unfortunately you have to present a certain image or you will most likely be overlooked for someone who has a more “professional” image.
13
Your observation about men wearing braids is interesting and insightful. I agree. In a sense, it seems to me, the desire to have braids equates to the old Mandarin practise of growing long fingernails, a true indicator that one performs no labor. In the case of the Mandarins,however, the were at the top of society and didn’t need to work. The brothers with the braids are at the bottom and either have no work or have degenerated to the point where they won’t work.
Braids on women of course have been for thousands of years accepted as a standard of beauty. Braids on men, as far as I know, is a recent phenomena that allows some men who have the time to become objects of fixation by some women or provides a social activity for men sitting around the jail house with nothing else to do.
14
I know a few brothers with braids, one a college professor and another a computer wiz who can do anything with a computer, including the ability to hack into almost any “secure” system. Is this thread about braids an example of letting one’s hairstyle get in the way of judging one’s ability to do the job and do it well. Back in the late ’70s an ABC station in San Francisco tried to fire an award winning Black female reporter for wearing braids. The courts ruled that she could not be fired because the braids did not prevent her from doing her job. Another station tried to implement a dress code that required all females to wear skirts and dresses; that didn’t sit well with female technicans and camerawomen and this policy was also laughed out of court.
I can feel for the brothers with braids, I sometimes get a negative reaction because I have a full beard; I’ve been asked more than a few times to shave it off and know people in law enforcement who have been forced to shave their beards off although some departments, such as Boston, allows men with beards on the
One thing in life I have learned is not to make snap judgements based on a person’s hairstyle. One would assume that a person with dreads smokes mucho weed and is a reggaehead, but I have met folks with dreads who don’t smoke anything and hate reggae
True that most men in corporate America have short hair but the new CEO of Sun Microsystems has a ponytail….
15
I have locks ….had them for 7 years, have a great paying job and know plenty Bro’s that are the same as myself. So all you are saying to me is that you want a man with short hair. That’s fine, but you seem a little ignorant to me. It’s as though you are saying the only smart people are white people. Grow up!!
16
I don’t recall mentioning locs anywhere in my post.This articles isn’t titled “Grown Men With Locs”.And you all can stop calling me confused, brainwashed or white because none of them apply to me.
I do not clutch my purse out of fear when I see Brothas with braids coming my way.Nor do I assume they are future inmates.I have simply stated undesirable traits I find in men with braids, just as posted undesirable traits I have found in Sistas with tattoos.
I never said it was 100%.Only that many men with braids seem to be mentally stuck in their teens.
17
When I was a teenager back in the late 70’s I used to ask my girlfriends to french braid my hair so that when I took the braids down my fro would look bigger. One time I went over to my grammothers house with my hair braided and she told me to never, ever wear my hair like that in public because everybody would think I just got out of prison (off the chain gang in her words). I just laughed but I always did what gramma said so I wore a doo rag until the weekend when I sported my fro.
Around that same time shortly thereafter I had a job interview at Sears and I asked my father if I could borrow a neck tie. As he tied it for me he noticed that I didn’t have a belt on. I told him I couldn’t find it and he told me the only people walking around half dressed without a belt are people that just got out of prison. I asked him what’s with this “just got of prison” stuff, gramma said the same thing about braids. He said, “when you go to jail the first thing they do is take away anything that you might be able to use as a weapon or a tool to escape. So they take your belt, socks, shoe laces, jewelry, keys, etc…, and they usually don’t bother to give it back when you get out. So if you see a brotha walking around with his pants hanging off his ass because he didn’t have a belt and moving slow because his shoes was dragging without shoe laces and his hair knotted up or pulled back because he couldn’t get a haircut then you could assume he just got out of jail.”
Now, it seems back when gramma was young having been to jail didn’t have as much negative stigma attached as it does now because white folks was always railroading Black men to prison for the free chain gang labor and if they survived it they came out looking like greek gods, cock strong, ripped. But,the first thing they tried to do was get a new suit of clothes and a haircut, not wanting to look like a new-day slave.
But gramma lived long enough to see the day when what used to look like “just got out of prison” is the style and her mother wit sensed that these kids now are hell bent on “going TO prison”. She said she knew she had gotten too old when the young folks act like slaves after the old folks went through hell to get free.
18
I think this is one of the most self hate posting
that i have ever read. I am 42 and wore braids up until 2 years ago, now i have dreads
I work as a Computer Enterprise Analyst, have good credit and also a 10 year marriage and I also own a few apartment buildings accross 3 states.
19
I think the comparison between braids and black men being lazy,unemployed, and childish is way off base. I know many sucessful black men with braids that are taking seriously in there profession. I think you also metioned that braids are a womans hairdo? What about woman who wear short hairdo? Maybe you should write an article about that and how thats a mans hairdo.
20
Good afternoon -
For the record, I am a mature man. I don’t have any children, I’ve never been to prison, I’m a college graduate with a degree in Business Economics and worked for several years in corporate America. It just so happened that I was working for myself as a Realtor when the opportunity for a good career in financial services came along. Although, my hair was worn in braids I went on the interview anyway. My logic was that my resume would speak for itself. Furthermore, I felt any company that would discriminate against me because of how I decided to wear my hair wasn’t one worth working for. The interview went great and the recruiter made it a point to mention that I took a big risk coming in with my braids. I basically told her what I just mentioned and that my cultural expression doesn’t have anything to do with my intellect or work ethic and all one would have to do is talk to me for a few seconds to realize I don’t fit any of their perceievd negative stereotypes surrounding brothers with braids. Once hired with the company, I quickly advanced and came to be one of their head Trainers, responsible for teaching several of their new employee classes. I was on the fast track to becoming a manager and had immense responsibility with my team. All while sporting my funky, beaded braids. In fact, at the time, I knew several white collar working brothers who wore the same style. The point is that the originator of this blog has negative sterotypes of us as Black men. The fact says a lot more about your lack of character and you should take a good look in the mirror. The same negative perceptions you have about braids can also be attributed to men with beards, people with dreads, etc. Where does the cultural ignorance cease! I’m sorry your marriage didn’t work out but don’t use that as any form of an excuse to look at us in a negative light. If you’re as mature as you’d like to think, then you should see the obvious flaw in this logic. And for the record, I’ve been braid free for several years and the decision to cut them had as much to do with my job as my initial decision to grow them in the first place - i.e my job had no effect on my decisioin!
Go with God!
21
Oh yeah!! Look in history and you’ll find not only men with dreads but wearing braids also. Wake up! It’s not just a “woman’s” hairstyle! My sistahs do some more reading and learn more of your history before you place your ignorance on display to the world!
22
Greetings… I am a former braid wearing African/black male. I have, in the past year, grown my braids into locks. And just so that many of you know, the term “dreads” are of European origin, as scorn toward those black men and women who wore locks or twists in their hair. They deemed it dreadful.
Our cultural celebration with our hair dates back to antiquity. And is also part of the biblical tradition and culture that gave us Sampson, and Jesus the Nasarine, who were taught to never cut their hair and allow it to lock in seven strands.
The braids evolved and became prominent in both West and South Africa. Especially amongst soldiers preparing for war. Traditionally the women would braid the hair of those soldiers before battle.
Me, I’m pursuing my Ph.D in African and African American studies. I’m am an educator and student of who we are and where we come from as a people.
Sister I respect your love of life and choice. But I implore you to take your time before judging the bodies that look so much like yourself. We do still suffer from a form of self hatred, as proven by the NAACP in Brown vs. Board., when they demonstrated that black children prefered most things white. That was back in ‘54. We still do cherrish much of what white america teaches us to aspire to. And that is not a problem, as long as we stem the tide of judging those black bodies who choose openly to wear their love of life and self in their hair or clothing, no matter the consequences.
I think that’s a beautiful thing. Imagine a people who do not suffer the rejection of their history to any other people or society, just for the benefit of a “good job.”
Love your braids and your locks black people, and celebrate your survival here in the land of North America.
One Love
Miles
23
Alright listen up:
Statistically, where do we find more Black American men, in school or in jail? Where do you find Black men in the work force, are they doing the hiring or waiting to be hired? Of course we all can name possibly a phone books worth of highly educated and well off Black Americans. However, they are the minority. As many Black American Men we see in college and have well paying careers there are just that many more on the other side of the tracks, (no pun intended). Now this young woman has stated her opinion (
24
Uhhh, sorry but i have to say “something”.
As part of my families religion, the men do not cut our hair. So, I have cousins, uncles, brothers, with braids from birth, as well as dreadlocks. All of us are gainfully employed. Several are lawyers. One is an artist, who has had shows in several countries. Some are S.B.O.’s, and even I,(17 years and the shortest) had dreads thats hung well past my waist. Surprisingly, I am employed at the New York Stock Exchange, designing, building, and maintaining high speed data lines aroudn the world. But the best part, the head of communications offered me another position, and I turned him down. True manhood, isnt defined by the style of hair, nor the length, but commitment to do what you have to do for you and yours to survive. THese’s cats your talking about..trust me…its not their hair…its their minds.
25
The fact that some of the Brothers are so sensitive about it indicates that the Sister is right on it. As Malcolm X once said, “If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that hollers is the one that got hit.”
I used to think that there was nothing wrong with a man wearing braids until my nephew with braids came to live with me. Watching him stressing to make hair appointments so that he could look “fresh” for certain events, and using my shampoo, oil sheen and blow dryer hipped me to the fact of how feminine it is.
We can speak all day about antiquity and hair and men, but the fact of the matter is the Brothers allowed the hair to grow naturally. They weren’t sitting up in salons or in between some girls thighs every week to have their hair braided, nor were they in styling salons having their locks manicured and dyed, and lined ever so precisely.
Recently I heard a Christian minister say that we used to have hard working men and pretty women, now we have hard working women and pretty men. Brothers, its time to grow up and be MEN. Later for all of this primping.
26
^ There it is!
27
This is a result of women raising sons without fathers.They trying to be like they moma.Similarly to women,they have no pity on another woman.That’s why they call her the same names there momas call other women.They’ll smack her too.That’s not natural Brother.Yes,all the negative traits mentioned above are right on point.I’ve also noticed that these brother pocess an astounding load of ignorance.Many of them don’t even know anything about Malcom X.If he under 30 years old,NOTHING comes out of his head.I’m so sick and tired of talking to these little ignorant brothers.I can’t be in the presence of an idiot.I spit knowledge and I cans see the blank look in his eyes.It’s sad.
28
Shawna, if U must know, when I had my braids, I never put beads at the end, and there’s nothing wrong with having rubber bands at the end either, they keep the braids from coming loose, from your response U seem to be one of those uppity “independent” sisters who has a college degree, I know your type and it’s all to the good sweetheart, but don’t knock the brothers who choose to wear that style, plus there are sisters out there, EDUCATED & PROFESSIONAL sisters who find that look attractive.
Peace.
29
I am assuming that you are black, however, this seems to be a comment that I would expect from a non black person. It’s stereotypical and very non adult to imply that “most” or “all” black males with braids are shiftless. Perhaps some, but not even most. Don’t forget about those who own their own businesses. That seems to be a forgotten thought. Working for somone is like being on the plantation so if they disapprove of your hairstyle, obviously, you must change it. There are positive, conscious brothas who wear braids and who also own their own businesses. Let’s not accept other peoples views of us. Also, if these guys are unemployed, let’s find out why and perhaps assist them in finding a job. Don’t be so judgemental when it comes to your own family. Peace to all my brothas and sistas, whatever you look like. Remember Angie Stones record, BROTHA. Black brotha I love ya.
30
wow,y’all, that is some of the most disturbing ish i’ve read from my own people.and you all are so convinced that you are right.no wonder my people have so many problems.judge not lest ye be judged,as harshly and foolishly as you judge others.i still have love for y’all though.next on the agenda black men(like myself) with bald heads.lol
ps this is the first time i heard of the black honey site,i shall return
31
this is what I was thinking about while reading this article ….
Old White Cracker Blog:
Like most people.. Skin color never bothered me before, but there is something to be said about those women of the darker complexion…. You know the ones who refer to themselves as African Americans.
The first thing I’ve noticed is that they are so immature. They talk so loud in public transportation. They have this look in their face like they’re mad at the world.
I think there is a direct correlation between immaturity and black women. and they are so Color conscious, They always think that the white man hates them because of their skin color. Let’s face it .. no white man in his right mind should hire these women.
What I find most unappealing about women with that complexion is that they act like little girls. Rather than thinking about what grwon women think about they think about high school things… whos’ wearing the best outfits, gossiping about their peers etc..
Don’t believe me.. .Pay close attention to the women of the darker complexion that you come into contact with. Trust me, they will have 90% of the traits I mentioned above.
32
respect to ypu sis, i’m a college grag who just stopped smoking and drinking and i have a casual work place … the brothers w/ issues do wear braids and what concerns me is that i though about joining them … i’m flippant ( the education factor … as opposed to silly) anf youy gave me somethinh to think about
peace
33
Rene; What type of post was that? Why shouldn’t we have an open discussion about this? That’s why alot of Black Women have problems with Black Men….damned if you say something , damned if you don’t. You’re showing a sign of immaturity thats sort of disturbing. There’s nothing wrong with having a dicussion among grown folks. But to say that and I’m quoting you, “If you throw a Rock in a pack of dogs, the one that hollers is the one that got hit”. Now we are back to the dog thing! C’mon sis, this does nothing to promote healing. Most of the posts from the man are pretty good and defend with facts and good points. If you cannot add to the conversation with something that helps, then it’s better that you don’t add at all because that just keeps the mess going, and frankly we have enough of that already.
34
I am embarrassed for this blogger. I am an AfricanAmerican Male professional, who makes really decent money. I own my home and I am involved in several business ventures. Happily married to a Black Woman (12 years). The braided hairstyle and the economic situation of men may have a correlation but it is not a cause. It may be that the men with braids happen to be part of the same sub-culture. The comments by posters go beyond behavioral and social and economic status, but to an attack on African based hairstyles.
I do not personally wear braids in my hair, but I know that Black men wearing braids is deeper than just a fad even if they do not realize it. The texture of our hair makes it natural development to wear braids or locks as a hairstyle. Braids/twists and locks are worn by Amahra, Rendille, Maasai, Fulani, Oromo, Sambura, Beja, Tigreans, and various other ethnic groups across Africa. We should ask why would ancient Egyptians and Nubians wear braids unlike other cultures
I can see that their is such a level of ignorance that it is mindboggling.
35
So, where did you get the statiscal data to support your claims of older men with braids being unemployed, low paying jobs and they have a lot of kids? You paint with too broad a brush. And should it matter what’s on a persons head? Isn’t what’s in it more important? I know some well groomed men that fit in that same category. I get tired of all the negative indicments on black men especially by other blacks. I happen to know some older men rocking braids that look well groomed and with very good jobs who take care of their families. It’s okay to have an opinion, but don’t make it seem like “THEY ALL” are one way or another. We get enough of that from white folks everyday.
36
Interesting article. I on the other hand have been wearing braids for quite a while. I just finished my Master’s Degree in Religious Studies with a focus on African American Religious experience. I also have a B.A. from the Univerisity of Washington. I am currently shopping the academic market for a Phd program with hopes of becoming a college professor. I have done all of these things and more while rocking my hair in various braided designs and patterns. Matter of fact I have an appoitment at 11:00 am today to get another set of braids. However, I hear what you saying but be very careful not to over-analyze or enter the arena of stereotypes without being cautious about what you are saying. Every black man with braids is not immature or a criminal. Furthermore it is important that we look past one’s apperance and deal with the social situations that create the enviroment that tends to lead our blackmen in the direction they are headed. The problem with white supremacy is it doesn’t make room for individuality, its sole purpose is to make one conform to its ideology. So, of course I have been questioned in my various academic settings about my hair. So, What. I work a part time job at Sears as salesman and my hair has never been an issue. In both settings I perform well. I graduated with the highest gpa in my department, and currently one of the top sellers in my department at Sears. So, at the end of the day what I’m saying is a person’s actions and character will far outshine their appearance especially something as trivial as cornrows, braids or even Locs for that matter.
37
“But come this time around you’ll choose to walk a different path, you’ll embrace what you turned away and cry at what you laughed, ’cause that’s the only way we’re going to make it through this storm, where ignorance is common sense and senselessness the norm.” – Saul Williams
Wow, I was almost overwhelmed by the ignorance of this blog entry and some of the responses. Thankfully, there are some voices of reasons (i.e. jon, Crenshaw, Miles, ect). Crenshaw made an excellent point. You do need to make a distinction between correlation and causation. First, I’m not aware of any correlation between hair style and maturity level. The only “evidence” I’ve read here is anecdotal in nature. Secondly, let’s assume that such a correlation exists. You still cannot say that hairstyle is responsible for maturity.
For example, I’ve been to several prisons (not as an inmate :). I’ve noticed that the majority population is Black. Should I conclude that Black people are predisposed to crime? Of course not! I have yet to read one credible study that suggests black people are more likely to engage in criminal activity than any other group. In fact, there are plenty of studies that suggest black people are either less likely to engage in criminal activity and drug use or at a level that is commensurate with our represenation in the larger population. The reason why we are locked up en masse is the subject of another discussion. If I were to go solely on my feelings and the hundreds of inmates I’ve come across, then I might make the mistake of believing that blackness is the root cause of crime.
Anecdotally speaking (I can use anecdotes too :), I have had to deal with people who think like you. It happens in many different areas. Your issue is hair. Bill Cosby’s issue might be someone’s name. For others the issue might be gender, ethnicity or class. Here’s the interesting point. I can completely understand your position. You may have had to deal with “knuckleheads” on the “street” and I have to deal with some “knuckleheads” who take your position on the “street” or in the classroom. We differ in that I don’t believe everyone who fits certain criteria will fall into some negative category. More importantly, I’ve decided to use my experiences to help people recognize the ways in which they’ve been conditioned (and we all have) and to think more critically about these issues.
I would rather build people up (my people rocking dreads, locks, stocking caps, naps and bald heads
then tear them down. You have a very long way to go. I do too, but at least I recognize that. You speak of immaturity, but neglect the immaturity(at best) of your own thinking. Seriously, sit down and take a good look at the assumptions one needs to have in order to make the claims you have made. Are they really any better than the assumptions you think one might need in order to get a hairstyle that you don’t like? The necessary assumptions in your case are disgusting and they should be to any reasonable, compassionate person. The fact that you(not just you per se) are “educated” makes it worse because you should know better. You are in a prime position to deconstruct these negative stereotypes. You are in a prime position to make things better. You can help to destroy the correlation, if any, between (insert something relating to blackness here) and (insert something negative here).
Check out this audio that was sent to me. I recommend it for everyone who takes her position. His observations should be obvious, but I’ve learned that sometimes you have to state the obvious(many times
It’s by an “anti-racist” activist. He doesn’t have braids. He’s not black. His name isn’t Jerome. Hopefully, that should add some credibility to his statements for those of you who agree with this blog entry 
White Privilege by Tim Wise
38
Hmm.. interesting replies, but I bet half of you females would drop everything to go date an NFL player or NBA star who had dreads. I mean c’mon…you women aren’t consistant with what you want. Guys don’t get braids to impress other guys. They get them to impress Black women who for some starnge dumb reason seem to be attracted to hoodlums.
There, I said it. And at least the guy is wearing his own hair instead of buying it out of a plastic bag. I think you bald chicks are just jealous. Trying like hell to fit into the white mans ideals about what looks “corporate”.
12 years ago, they said the same thing about flat tops. 20 years ago it was Afro’s.
Why I don’t ever see any white females writing articles about men with Mullets? Because they got better thing to do than worry about a man’s hair. Learn something from them.
39
Geez! So Sisters express their opinions about something and all of a sudden we are race traitors and hate all Black men and the rest of that? Give me a break. Why don’t you all save some of that venom for your Brothers who are disrepecting Black women, the Mothers and Sisters of our community, instead of cutting down the Sisters for expressing an opinion. Oh — but I forgot, you aren’t MAN enough to confront another male, so you save all of your venom for the Sisters, and use that as an excuse for why you date white women and the rest of that. If you were a real man you wouldn’t be crying, but you would have the AUTHORITY to control your community, including the women in it. Grow up and stop being so sissified. Get some balls and make something happen.
40
It is sad that in this day and age we still have people that hate themselves. Do you know that a disproportionate amount of lighter skin black get higher paying jobs than darker skin blacks do? So, should we bleach our skin as well? Do you know that people with names that seem ethinc get housing applications denied more when they try to seek housing? Should they change their names to be more Eurocentric? This is what you black people need to wake up and understand. NO matter how much you change your appearance to appease the white man, you will still be a Nigger in his eyes. Either a complacent Nigger or a rebelious Nigger. Unless someone challenges the “status quo”, like Dr.King and Malcom X did, we will be stuck in the same ignorant cycle that takes place today. Dont sell your soul to earn that extra dollar. Lets challenge ignorance and make changes, so we can all live Free one day.
“Sistah be True”
Peace and Blessings.
41
Two things:
1) When will people learn to accept that most arguments, comments, discussions, etc. are based on generalities? I think it is so stupid when people deny the likelihood of a general statement because they happen to know of an exception. In general, men with braids are unemployed, unemployable, broke and quite proficient at memorizing rap lyrics. If you are an exception, good for you.
2)When will black folks realize that learning to “play the game” in America is not the worst thing that could happen to you. Anytime someone openly discusses the silly things we do, they are instantly accused of being self-hating, ignorant, a sell out. “Yeah I wear braids and refuse to get a job cuz I’m a strong black man that will not conform to the white man’s standards…blah, blah, blah.” Negro, cut your hair, get a job, invest your earnings in your own business, buy a house instead of an Escalade, send your kids to college. Do the things that are widely accepted as being the ways to get ahead in America. You don’t live anywhere else, right? So why not figure it out and play along for your own benefit. I know plenty of Persians and assorted Asians that call themselves “Mary” or “John” at work, but their family knows them as Thuynh or Dong. They are doing what they need to in order to play the game, get ahead and make a better life for their families. They don’t consider themselves sellouts or weak. Black man, figure it out, cut your hair and get a job!
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This is all prison culture gone mainstream.The pants with no belt hanging off their behinds comes straight from the prisons.The oftentimes dirty and unkempt braided or half braided hair also came from the prisons.The young boys today think they are thumbing their noses at authority and all that is decent by walking around with their hair this way.It is a form of rebellion to them.This newest trend is actually half braided hair.That is, walking the streets purposely looking af if someone didn’t have time to finish the other side of your head.Don’t crucify messenger because you don’t like the message.Our young men need to take better pride in themselves and take note of the mesage their appearance send to people.
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A very interesting discussion on a somewhat trivial (arguable, but let’s not) topic. Sprinkled w/ differing viewpoints, passion, knowledge, anger, ignorance, etc… Of course, we all know (don’t we) intelligence/drive/success is not measured in the length of your hair or how one chooses to wear it. And we know some people play the game (corporate), create their own (self employment), and some have been marginalized & can’t even get on the playing field. Hard work, drive, determination, the ability to learn & grow is instilled in all of us by our ancestors - they overcame bigger matters & concerns than some d*mn braids…
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… and yet you took the time to respond to this trivial topic :/
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you are totally INCORRECT. a black man or anyone else should not have to conform to the majority in this country in order to get a decent job. if you do you lose your identity. i am a a young black professional (RN) who was hired with braids and worked for a year before i cut my hair low(under my own free will). i made it my point to have braids just so i could show young people that they can still be themselves and be a successful professional. its sad that we as well as the white majority look down on our culture. most black men cannot shave everyday like most whites do. are we supposed to deal with the uncomfortable feeling of our curly hair growing under our skin and causing razor bumps, infections an scarring(which make it look like we need a shave anyway. if we come with the right credentials why shouldnt we get the great jobs. why should we feel uncomfortable in our own skin or hair. thats just another way of oppressing us instead of blatently using skin color. who defines what a proffesional looks like. its obviously not us. im growing my row back after the summer. you are judging the everyone from the ones you have encountered. so sad
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I agree with the upset Black professional, because I’m in the same situation, I work in the corproate world, go to school, get passing grades, and I cut my braids off last weekend, mainly because of a sports bet that I lost with my friends, I’ve only been locked up once in my life, back in 1994, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I agree with some of you who point the finger at the media for popularizing the prison culture, however, a lot of us brothers who rock the braids are not criminals, deadbeats or immature, and I get criticized for my taste in fashion as well, yes I wear baggy jeans, however, I don’t let them sag off of my behind, and people try to get me to conform with their opinion of what is presentable, I hear it a lot “You’re 32 now, you need to start dressing like it” on the contrary, I see a lot of older brothers who still wear braids, and dress like I do, and those cats are my inspiration to be true to myself, but at the same time do it in a positive and professional manner. We as brothers and sisters need to stop allowing the media to continuously divide and conquer our race.
I AM THAT DUDE & I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.
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First of all I think it is necessary to take a step back from the overall topic of “Grown” Black Men with Braids, and contextualize the subject within the social system that we as Africans in America currently exist. Though physical slavery has long since been legally outlawed in the United States (with the exception of the prison system where we as Black Men have large numbers in residence) Mental enslavement has not been sufficiently dealt with by the African American community. The sociological actions of Black Men that Black Honey has described and connected with pyschological actions finds its origins in the intial breaking of the strands of the African worldview and culture and the African definition of manhood. The connection with hairstyle is tenuous at best and would be better understood, if we deal with the fact that the cultural orientation that we are using for what it means to look like a man and what are proper men and women hairstyles are being defined from European parameters. For a visual presentation the works of Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher such as “Faces of Africa” would be a good start.
At any rate regardless of hairstyle what Blackhoney described were not men true. Dr. Naim Akbar in his book Visions for Black Men, describes three levels in the development from male to Man. The Male is defined simply by his anatomy and is totally dependent on others for all needs. The Boy has some discipline and an awareness of right and wrong, but is given to playing games (for free), being a player, sleeping in a crib, cohabitating with “bitches” (not Women) and so forth. The Man is concerned with nation building, community protection and development being a complement to the Woman who is also his complement and so forth.
Unfortunately, in Black America, many Black “hard legs” are stuck within the stages of male and boyhood (suffering from arrested development) and it is generally these who with a boyish rebellion gravitate on a subconscious level to aspects of Africanity such as certain hairstyles which in reality from an African context are far more than merely a “style” the incorporate the knowledge of the sciences and mathematics (a topic for another day).
As a Black Man who has at points in my 34 years, had the natural and the braids and now locs, I understand that the images are presented negatively in the media (entertainment, print, internet, news) and as such are inculated by all passive observers. This is a natural outgrowth of White Supremacy, or the maintenance of white male power in the world: to wit American actions in the world today. To present brothers such as myself, who make up 2/3 of the Black Male population would not be in the best interest of those who seek to maintain power.
Be that as it may, it is from a proper context that we must deal with subjects such as these. They do not come about in a vacuum.
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Blackhoney,
I’d like to commend you for this blog. I’ve come back daily to read the new responses. It shows that you are more intelligent and more imaginative than many of us who reponded. And I add myself into that group. It’s a wonderful thing you’ve done here. I haven’t heard this many black voices, in one place, speaking on one accord, in a long time.
Even if we differ in our understandings, likes, dislikes and desires for or against black men with braids or sisters who have grown tired of juvenile black men, we seem to say the same thing. All of us demonstrate a care for our culture. Each and every one of the responses seemed to demonstrate a care for the responsibility and survival of black men and women together, whether that be us conforming, changing, growing or rebelling. But, that’s just my opinion, I may be wrong.
I Love You for allowing me to see that. Thank you for thinking up a topic, so crude, yet refined enough to have us dialog and demonstrate our love of who we are and where we are trying to go. Now, all we need to do is refine our new self identity, as a group.
I imagine that you are somewhere in your lab, thinking up another topic that will have us discuss us further.
One Love
Miles
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[...] “Like most people braids on men never bothered me before, but the older I got the more they disturbed me as I found many traits I disliked seemed to be found in men with braids.Or as I like to say “Men who wear their hair like little children and girls”. The first thing I have noticed is that grown men with braids tend to either not have jobs, or very low paying jobs where they can basically get away with looking any old kind of way.You’ll never find a man with braids in any professional type of enviorment as there is most likely a dress code to adhere to and a man with braids would automatically be breaking that code.Let’s face it, nobody is gonna hire a braid wearing, beads hanging from the end Brotha to help run their company… they just aren’t.” (more…) [...]
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I have worn twisties, low-cuts and currently sport a phillie. If a woman has preference, then that is hers to have. If she presumes character traits based on a hair style then she sits on the same side of the table as those who characterize her based on the color of her skin. If there is a diference between the two it is that she is prejudiced against her brotha. As such, I would suggest that we refrain from making such generalizations.
They say that styles typically come back. That is the case with half braided hair as it was worn during the 70’s (watch out your jerri curl lovers). Some styles are simply adopted because they are trends. Although I do agree that there may be a political statement incorporated with braids, I am more inclined to believe that they are a social statement.
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Some of you have to realize that the reasons many of our people wore braids and afros back in the day is not neccesarily why some of our young people wear them today.
There is no political point to braid and afro wearing hairstyles today.Everything is about the thug culture.
Snoop Dogg didn’t don an afro as a Black Power symbol.He wore his afro as a part of his pimp act.There was no political statement to that.His afro was nothing but an accesory.Snoop was repping 70’s thug culture and the Brothas today with the girly braids and uncoiffed hairdos are doing the same- only 21st century style.
Don’t try to attach a political or Black Power message to people walking around looking like girls and acting like thugs and homo-thugs.
These dirty braids that these guys are wearing is like the afro Snoop was sporting.It’s all a part of a husler’s image they are trying to project.
See it for what it is people…
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Greetings!
I am in Kemet (Egypt) and have been here on and off since 2001. I let my hair grow to about a five-inch Afro and received mad push-back. I pressed on, and refused to defend my “right” to grow my hair -after accepting that my insistence on an Afro might cause me to miss a meal or two.
I recently cut my hair bacause I have no experience with long hair and ‘hair maintenance’ became a distraction to a last-minute dresser.
As with all things pertaining to the Afrikan in Amerikkkan experience -this seemingly superficial and “finger-pointing” opinion goes much deeper.
Those who reject our natural appearance and expression reject our Afrikan-ness, period. Whatever about us they can identify becomes a symbol of that rejection for mocking and scorn.
Lest we forget, the historical experience of Afrikans in the “new world” was the attempt by yt towards total elimination of all things Afrikan about Afrikan peoples.
There will ALWAYS be a negative response to any outward sign of ethnic expression of Afrikan-ness by “mainstream Amerikkka.”
Our challenge is to separate the wheat from the chaff.
It cannot be said with certainty that all Afrikan men who wear cornrows are effiminate, lazy, non-working immature wannabe’ thugs.
Some who wear cornrows exhibit some of and a combination of these traits.
Are cornrows the cause or even the effect? I can’t say, though I will assert that cornrows are likely not the core-issue.
The Sista’ spoke from her personal experience (if I read with comprehension).
My initial impulse was to immediately “come-back” with the Afro-centric response.
Catching myself (after reading other posts where my perspective is represented), my observation and fear is that men who wear braids will or have become “a sign and a wonder” that brandishes the Afrikan-male wearer as the “shiftless negro.”
Let’s be careful.
WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYONE’S POINT OF VIEW, HOWEVER EVERYONE’S POINT OF VIEW IS VALID!
I plead to to all concerned Afrikans who never receive relief from fighting and defending the Afrikan-image (globally) to not join the chior in assinating the Afirkan image and consciousness.
The economic impact of Afrikan cultural exression is an example of having to choose between free cultural expression and cultural assimilation in exchange for economic subsustence.
As long as Afrikans are economically dependent on the yt-supremacist capitalist system, we will struggle with concerns such as these.
While black-businesses are a means towards liberation, they are a stepping-stone that will not extend us immunity from the perceptions and prejudices of yte folks. Let us not do thier bidding amongst ourselves.
I also would caution against calling any and every Afrikan who outwardly expresses criticim of other Afrikan a “self-hater.” The truth still hurts!
Finally, the brids/cornrows are innocent! I *think* that we can move towards impacting the mentality of Afrikan men who are engaging in self-destructive behavior who happen to also wear cornrows while at the same time preserving the cultural value and beautiy of cornrows themselves.
If some of us are of the opinion that morphing into the “safe negro” for economic advancement is necessary to attain the material experience of Amerikkka, call it what it is and be honest about it -it is ASSIMILATION.
At the same time, it is SELF-DESTRUCTIVE to hide behind ‘cultural expression’ as a means of avoiding responsibility.
Much love and appreciation for the opportunity to learn, grow and share. If we don’t get there together, there is no “there” to get to!
Peace & Blessings!
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I appreciate your straight-forwardness in bringing up this issue, and the way you’ve defended your position with just the right balance of humor & seriousness. What I’m learning from reading the comments is that we black people have a romanticized vision of ourselves that doesnt allow for questioning those things that are categorized as “our culture”. I was around in the late 1960’s when we first started wearing our hair natural, slaves no more to “European beauty standards”.
That went on until somewhere in the mid-seventies when the afro was overtaken by the jerri-curl, which as far as I could tell was like an advanced permanent…
I wish I’d asked the kinds of questions about the jerri-curl that you’re raising now where black men and braids are concerned…The re-emergence of straightened hair amongt black people in the midst of the black-consciousness movement…
How does the old saying go? Is it the clothes that make the man, or is it the man that make the clothes?
My hair has remained nappy all these years. As it turns grey & thins out, going the way of dust, I think its worth considering in this conversation as a reminder of why it’s important and at the same time it can be wholly vain thinking about these outward appearances including skin color. The great Equalizer.
vashti
54
Well it’s about time that SISTERS STARTED setting some standards for themselves. It looked to me as though sisters had all but given up on US REAL MEN. A few years ago when my oldest son was about three my ex and my son’s God mother braided my son’s hair and I HIT THE CEILING. I was FURIOUS and TWO BLACK WOMEN MIND YOU; both of whom I loved at the time tried to make me believe that I was wrong. But maybe that’s why OUR FAMILIES ARE IN SUCH DISARRAY. It seems OUR COMMUNITY HAS LOST THE ABILITY to tell the difference between a man and a boy pretending to be a man. We seem to WANT OUR CAKE and to be able to EAT IT TO. We want GOD TO FIX OUR LIVES and OUR FAMILIES but WE’RE NOT WILLING TO LIVE RIGHT. A man NEEDS TO HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN. If he doesn’t UNDERSTAND THIS BASIC TRUTH then he certainly can’t lead a FAMILY. And if he can’t LEAD A FAMILY then HE’S NOT A MAN. Being BORN MAN won’t make him a man. He NEEDS AN EDUCATION, A CAREER, A GOD, and A VISION. Without THESE THINGS he WILL NEVER BE A MAN…
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Thanks Dave R. for representing for the REAL men!!! Brothers need to stop effeminate madness, and they know it, which is why they are so upset! Stop primping and build some schools and some hospitals for your people. Do some international trade and commerce. Get married. Something!!!
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Some of you are bringing up several different issues in the post. You can see how difficult it can be to make the distinction between correlation (establishing and recognizing it) and causation. Some of you are talking about issues pertaining to manhood. Others are talking about issues of hairstyle. Some say there is some sort of connection between the two. Others say, or at least imply, that hair style is the root cause of the problem. For those who believe the hair style is the root cause, you need to think about the issue more. Maybe we can write a grant to supply every black family with some of those cheap Oster clippers I’ve seen at Walmart. We can pick a nice, safe European Holiday (Thanksgiving) and “scalp” everyone. The “buzz” generated will be tremendous. I’m being sarcastic, but I think you get my point. Do you think that eliminating braids will eliminate whatever problem you think is there? This sounds like the “George Bush method of problem solving”. And if you “think” about what that means, then you don’t subscribe to it.
Some of you are even worse. Let me find out we got some up and coming Bill Bennetts posting on this blog. 
Seriously though, I’m going to make a couple of observations. Feel free to disagree. First, Black men are convenient scapegoats for everything: Crime, Violence, Disease, Poverty, Dropout Rates, ect. I am not saying that we don’t suffer greatly from these issues, but I claim we are the scapegoats. There is no empathy or sympathy for the conditions we face. We are blamed for all of these issues. This, in turn, makes people less likely to do anything to want to change those conditions. It almost doesn’t matter what issue is being discussed. We could be talking about the record profits of Oil Companies. There will always be someone who will tie it right back to some failing in the Black man. I can already see a new blog entry. “Maybe if Black men weren’t so lazy, trying to start harems overseas, they would do a better job protecting those pipelines and gas prices would be so high”.:) And there would be plenty of people who would receive those comments and accept them at face value. Prop2 said, “Of course we all can name possibly a phone books worth of highly educated and well off Black Americans. However, they are the minority.” I wonder how many people commenting here really love black people and would fight for them understanding that we come in many different hues and have many different hair textures and styles. I’m not really surprised by many of the responses. You have to know your audience. I already know that anyone who is supports or defends anything associated with black people is facing an uphill battle. It’s the nature of this society.
I’ve noticed(again, these are just personal observations) that as soon as someone points the finger at black men (and this applies in other situations too) as the root cause of a problem, one or two things are usually true: 1) they are extremely frustrated and/or 2) they don’t fully understand the problem. I can understand the first one. The situation is bleak, but it is not hopeless. The second one is the more troubling of the two. You may claim that black men with braids are, by and large, immature, unemployed, criminals. I could claim that the reason this is so is because black women don’t keep their legs close. They’ll mate with anyone who flashes money or jewels like the plumage of a peacock. Am I right? If my claim bothers anyone then I would just defer to Rene’s comment (replacing sister for brother and vice versa),
“The fact that some of the Brothers are so sensitive about it indicates that the Sister is right on it. As Malcolm X once said, “If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that hollers is the one that got hit.”
Are we both right? I’m sure the miseducated within and without my community would agree. “Yes,” they would say, “the problem is with black people as a whole.” In any case, we would have all failed to see the problem in the larger context. The problem does not originate within us, but I think we all can agree that the solution does start with us. Until we begin to think more critically about these issues and drop the divisive finger pointing, we will never make any real progress, individually or collectively. But at least we can take solace in the fact that we are right (by gut feeling and/or consensus). In the meantime, the community continues to suffer. And isn’t it just like black people to sacrifice the health of the community for individual gain or aggrandizement? Ain’t it just like black people to not look at the bigger picture and focus only on what’s been placed directly in front of their eyes? Ain’t it???
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People we’ve got to BE ABLE TO SEE the forest in spite of the trees. This is really NOT JUST ABOUT HAIR; It’s about a dangerous trend. It’s about a SLIPPERY SLOAP SITUATION that’s bound to end in tragedy for the black man. That situation is the feminazation of the black man. In the racist, sexist, classist society that we live in the black man is seen as a LIABLITY that needs to be done away with. I’m concerned that as time goes by more and more men will take on the appearance of A WOMAN and NOT EVEN BE BOTHERED BY IT. It’s a SUBCONCIOUS THING. Let me GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I’m a PROBATION OFFICER with the GEORGIA DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS and on NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I’ve had my probationers come to my office with THEIR DREADS, or BRAIDS tied into TWO PONYTAILS. We NEED TO BE CAREFUL BROTHERS and we NEED TO PRAY FOR DIRECTION. We’re AT A DANGEROUS TIME in our existance….1st Corinthians 13:11 says “When I was a child I thought like a child, talked like a child, and reasoned like a child. But WHEN I BECAME A MAN I put CHILDISH THINGS BEHIND ME….Take care family and GOD BLESS………….
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I don’t know if I can agree that brothers who wear braids are necessarily effeminate since it has been pointed out here that men wearing braids ,as well as ear rings, dates back to black history in ancient Kemet (Egypt) where it can be shown that black men did in fact where braids. Unless you consider black men in ancient Kemet “effeminate” one could make a credible argument that “braids” are expression of modernized ancient black culture. I don’t think one can make sweeping generalization about black men who wear braids are effeminate.
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What others are saying about this article:
1. Black Informant
2. The Effiminization Of Black Men
3. Afrocentric Online
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be serious never mind those homo thugs that you got caught up with. look at the bigger picture. what about dredlocks. these styles have been around for years not just the 21 century. if you have a man who is secure in his manhood(not a wannabee) its sad to see so much self hate. DISGUSTING go date a white guy
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I was born and mostly raised in Nigeria, West Africa, until I was 13yrs old. I have lived in the US since, and I am now 34. I never saw mature responsible professional black men with braids in Nigeria, and I don’t see them here. To claim that men wearing braids is a sign of your ‘african-ness’ is just an excuse for vanity. I’m sick of the bastardization of so-called ‘african’ culture. First off, Africa has way too many cultures to distill everything down to one ‘African’ culture. It’s time for black folks to stop using Africa as a scapegoat for why we don’t want to do what needs to be done.
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Yetunde; what is it we need to do?
What are we doing wrong when we celebrate or learn who we are and where we come from?
Why do you imagine it to be a problem for blacks in America to make efforts to find and celebrate their roots in Africa?
“An excuse for vanity?” If I, as a man, told you that the only reason I began to grow my hair is because I began to study, care for and respect the history of African people across the continent, no matter the many cultures they resonate from, why am I vain to want to immulate and celebrate it.
People around the world celebrate their history and culture. But the African in America is told to conform, and get along and assimilate, play the game, forget about Africa, let it go.
Why?
Why must we forget who we are and let go of Africa, with her myriad of hues, lives, cultures, beliefs systems and beautiful bodies?
Less than seventy years ago, our parents were taught to bow their heads and dear not look a white man in the face, let alone talk anything impolite to a white woman, other wise the lynch mob was coming. We were taught to be good, polite smiling negros to survive in America.
And we bowed, and walked in the streets because we weren’t allowed to brush too close up against white folk. We were forced into a fear of living along side whites, and today, we are still teaching our children that in order to survive, we have to be good clean “African Americans,” and cut our hair, keep it neat, wear the right cloths, play the game and show those pearly whites. Don’t be too intimidating.
Are we afraid to continue the growth that we are destined to after becoming freed men and women. That was only part of the liberation of who we are.
Why are we still telling one another to be good negros to survive here in America?
I imagine its becasue we love one another.
For my christian brothers and sisters, when will you begin again to take stands like your predecessors. Do you believe your work to be done, so now all you have to do is wait for jesus to come?
How do you stand idolly (pun intended) by and let black men start homosexual churches and promote homosexual marriage in the name of jesus christ, but you look down on the brother who hasn’t had the proper models in front of him to teach him to be a man. So he gets his images from the television. But none of you good, law abiding folk, protest the images you see or receive on BET or any other movie. Ask yourselves, why is that every black movie that has come out in the past 15 years has a flamboyant homosexual who gets along so well with the women in the salon. Why do accept that yet criticize the young boy down the street becasue of his pants or his braids?
Someone spoke of priorities on this blog. Black Honey, what would it sound like if you told your sisters that you have grown tired of those men who try so hard to be women? Sister, I feel for you in your search for a good decent man. I really do. And we are here, looking for and finding good women. I can attest to having a gorgeous black woman myself. And it began rocky, and sometimes it still is, but we try, firstly to learn one another, before we reject one another. But that’s neither here nor there.
I’d like to see some of the same women who criticized all of the young men with braids here on your site, send letters to Tyra and ask her to get rid of the black man in drag on her show. Write letters to the movie producers who put black men in dresses and tell them that you are tired of that being the example of black men on tv. Please put an effort into addressing the exploitation of black women in videos.
To all those parents who let their children visit 106 and Park, ask them to stop. Keep your children away from the show that puts the same videos on tv daily. Turn the channel when it comes on. Yes, the television is nurturing our children today, so care about what they are watching. Talk your children into no longer buying one more cd where the video to a song as a half naked black woman in it. Boycot BET for the videos, make them change. We have so many opinions about ourselves, yet, some of the most horrific conditions that attack our community go unchecked. We heckle one another over hair, while predators pray on our children.
Your blog proves two things. There are so many black people who have access to multi media and so many of us are willing to respond, maybe even take action. I mean, some of the responses from the women here sounded as if they were ready to take picket signs to the street in protest of black men with braids.
Maybe that is the most pressing issue to some of you, but there is so much more ill that affects our communities than braids. So, I’m still looking forward to your next blog.
One Love
Miles
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Now come on ladies. I find my Black men quite didtinguish with their braids.Considering the fact that it is a part of us and no carbon copy of anyones other lifestyle.Although when it comes to grooming for the ocassion whatever it may be some may need to reconsider before leaving home.
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Dreads I find distinguishing, especially on an older man.But definitely not braids on anyone older than 5.
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Wow, black sisters, is that all we can do with our day is insult our brothas? This blog is shameful.
Always quick to assume rather than defend. No better than your white counterparts, which you probably attempt everyday to imitate.
I know many black professional men WITH braids, both white and blue collar (though you probably don’t give our blue collar men respects for what they are doing).
Some tribes in Africa and South America wear their braids with pride.
How about you get out of your little box and see the world…you would be surprised on how foolish your generalizations are.
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