You may be wondering why I’m telling you to wear dreadlocks. Well, here’s why:
I’ve made no secret about how I think the idea of cultural appropriation is ignorant. See this post if you want to read more on that.
But the other day I had a text exchange with a Hopi medicine woman I met at a spiritual retreat last spring. Here’s part of what she had to say:
“Remember–we’re all in this together. And if you search deep inside you’ll remember it’s all the same. Carry the message.”
When I break this down I see three things that resonate with what I’ve written here this year:
1. “You’ll remember.” Recall some recent posts where I describe how we never really learn anything in life, we simply remember what we already know.
2. “It’s all the same.” That’s why real indigenous people don’t hold their secrets close to their vest. They know there is nothing unique in the human condition and that every culture’s concepts are similar–and we need to be reminded of that.
3. “Carry the message.” Sharing. That’s why cultural appropriation is such a silly and so American thing. It’s my experience that the concept doesn’t resonate with real indigenous people because they want to share their rituals, their knowledge and most of all–their message. “Carry the message,” she told me.
That echoed the inclusiveness we heard again and again all weekend long at the spiritual gathering: we were exhorted to carry the message, the rituals and the ideals forward. They didn’t ask for our racial credentials. It was enough that we belong to the same race: the human race.
So when I read people going all ballastic about cultural appropriation–“don’t wear dreadlocks!” “don’t call them ‘aunties’!” “Don’t do their rituals!” I have to laugh.
That is just not what real indigenous peoples say at all. So remember that. Wear dreadlocks if you want to. Call anyone “auntie.” And do what rituals resonate for you, regardless of origin.
Because as Hopi Grandmother said to me, “it’s all the same.”
Her final text to me was this:
“Remember, where positive energy is, the negative energy cannot survive!”
So enough of this fault finding for every so-called cultural infraction, real or imagined. If good humans are gathered together to do good it doesn’t matter how they do it. Let’s wear dreadlocks if we like. Let’s heal the world.
Just sayin’.
I totally agree. My grandma was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. She wanted us to learn all we could about our roots.
Wise words. Maybe we don’t actually wear dreadlocks but if we can put ourselves in other’s experience we may understand them better.
Ann LaMott wears dreads. Always has. It’s part of her. I think your post is very valid. If nothing else, opening our hearts to images that say FRIEND, HUMAN, CITIZEN and not “oh she’s black of she’s Native American works best. We can still be proud of our differences. And we must be.
I agree to a certain point. I believe we should we should absolutely “carry the message” but we should also know and be prepared to carry what “our message” is and how best to share it. If you want to wear Dreads, or wear a Buddhist monk’’s golden robe, or a priest’s collar, or a nun’s habit, or a Shaman’s wolf head, or a Paqo’s fancy hat and poncho….then try to understand what they mean and their significance. There is a time and place for everything, ceremony and rituals included.and if you have the connection with the spiritual connection ( the universal one that connects us ALL like the Grandmother spoke of) then wear your stuff with pride and power. Thank you Carol for bringing us(all of us) together!
yes, that is so true, Dan. Thank you for this. xoxo
I agree cultural appropriation seems to be a huge buzz word. However I also have to disagree. Some cultural, tribal, customs are really only for tribe members.
Yes, I don’t disagree with that. But usually we do not see those things that are for the tribes alone. Thanks, Haralee, for always weighing in on the big stuff. xoxo