Ther reason I am asking this is because some Black people, not all don't really think about the symbolic meaning of things. Take example soul food. This type of food is very similar to the scrappings given to enslaved people of African descent by plantation owners. This also goes for terms like "good" hair and "bad" hair and nobody even thinks about where it originated. So, when little Black girls wear their hair in a gazillion pigtails smothered in barettes aren't these just modern day plastic ribbons like the stereotypical "pickininny" children or am I overreacting?
-Kiarra S.
2006-12-25 07:35:30 · 9 answers · asked by Walking Contradiction 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I agree with you, but all of these things have reasons behind them. Black soul food is a Southern thing & that is what blacks in the south were used to eating because that is the only thing they could receive. These 'Blacks' brought it to the north & it has spread across the nation. The good hair bad hair thing is just that slave mentality that has been instilled in African Americans & is a form of self hatred. I think the pigtails are okay, they are similar to the pickininny stereotypes, but I guess it has lost all ties to its racial origins, but I've also seen little white girls with ponytails all over their heads. I am very pleased that someone has taken some initiative to question why.
2006-12-25 07:48:02 · answer #1 · answered by princezzjin 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I find elements of your question disturbing. First and foremost, p**** is an ugly word. As a child, I was slapped if I said it. (I'm Irish-American.)
Second, the term "soul food" only came into popular usage in the early 70s. Mother always called it a "sharecropper's dinner" (back in the 50s). And it wasn't scraps; it was what the slaves were allowed to grow on their own. It didn't involve much meat. The term "side meat" was born, as also the notion of flavoring vegetables with bacon or sausage drippings. Side meat is ham hocks, neckbones, salt pork, etc.
Finally, your question. I think the barrettes symbolize that the child's mother doesn't want the braids to come undone. Why add another layer of complexity to the racism discussion?
2006-12-25 12:11:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
"biker bee.." is right. Despite racists stereotypes of how and what other different cultures say about yours, it's what and how your culture percieves, intereprets and invented it that matters. Braiding like cornrolls is apart of your culture not invented by theirs. So, we are lucky in that sense, if not for our natural differences in our darkest skin tones or for being called black when we are truely a different type of African as in descendent as well.
But all black/AA children should wear their beautiful natural styles. Barettes break the circular curved strands. Thus, alot of AA children don't need these clips. The design or natural formation of their strands is pretty. I'm wearing mine. :)
2006-12-25 08:15:36 · answer #3 · answered by Gountha aka Triana 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this would take position plenty at my college. i'm not african american yet i keep in mind that when an african american female would have lengthy hair all the different african american females that did not would both communicate mess or tell her how fortunate she replaced into and replaced into probably blended. i'd say that is stereotypes. I under no circumstances anticipate it isn't organic. =) and if it seems large i praise both way.
2016-12-01 04:12:08 · answer #4 · answered by broadway 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Overreacting
2006-12-25 11:31:56 · answer #5 · answered by micheleh29 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think I agree with Biker on this one. I am not disputing that many stereotypes can certainly have elements of truth, they really only possess whatever power you allow them to. Some of these items you mention such as our cultural food heritage, etc. are remnants of our past, and will remain for many generations to come. They are the elements that make us who and what we are. They are only dangerous when we let others control them.
2006-12-25 07:46:00 · answer #6 · answered by dreamshop78 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I never thought about the soul food being similar to the scraps that were given to them in the past, that is so true! And about the pigtails with barrettes, I honestly think it looks AWFUL! I don't think it looks cute at all! Now that you mention it that hairstyle does resemble the stereotypical pickaninny children and I don't' like it at ALL!
2006-12-25 07:52:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Only if you believe that is what they symbolise.
2006-12-25 07:38:30 · answer #8 · answered by biker_beeotch 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i'm not exactly sure why you think pickninny or pickney is a negative thing.
2006-12-25 08:40:54 · answer #9 · answered by opaque_eggshell 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋