Dashiki or no?

Question

*I'm not sure if this is in the right category so don't shoot me!🙅🏾*

So earlier in the year a girl in my class was wearing a Dashiki and I thought it  was cute. I told her that I liked it and that I always wanted one. She then asks me if I'm African and I say no because I'm not African, I'm African American. She then tells me I can't wear one because I'm not African and it'd be Culture Appropriation. Is this true? I didn't want to disrespect the her Culture or anything since I'm not African. I did a little research on it but I didn't see any religious ties to it.

Accepted Answer

Wear whatever the hell you want. Hell, I'm Mexican and would wear that in a heartbeat. Culture is meant to be shared, not kept from people who appreciate it.

Answer

My boyfriend is Senegalese.. Straight from the motherland & he could not give a fuck what an American wears. He takes pride & joy in sharing his culture with people who are willing to listen. & if he sees someone wearing something of African influence, he LOVES it because he loves his country & his people & his culture. & even more so, he loves sharing it.

Answer

As an African let me say what I think. Its not offensive to see you wearing dashiki, its offensive seeing African Americans wearing fake dashiki and fetishize African culture through it. The Dashikis I see African Americans wear are fake, the fabric is thin and poorly made and designs are cheaply printed. It gives a negative view of tradition African dashiki, which is hand made and painted and made from THICK quality fabric. If you are gong to wear dashiki I'm nor saying import one from West Africa (Like all the Africans do) but at least strive to get ones that are real and accurately represent what dashiki is. Dashiki is not a fashion trend or a medium to "get back" to African culture, it is a tradition that deserves respect. This is why many Africans don't like African Americans wearing daskiki, they go around wearing fake dashiki claiming that they are connected with their African culture.

Answer

I feel like some people, especially Africans, need an excuse to be butthurt about everything and we've become the culture that cried cultural appropriation. A great way to learn about a culture and show how much you like it is by getting involved with their food and language and fashion. Am I disrespecting Americans by wearing jeans? Because we did not wear that back home. I say go for it!

Answer

If you're African American then your ancestors are African. She's ignorant.

Answer

Don't even know what Dashiki is... But i'm half W. African and half Italian and i wear whatever suits me 😴 hell I've worn kimonos and straight weaves and tight curls and corn rows... I dare some douche bag confront me about it 😒👊

Answer

Your ancestors are still from there. You still have ties that go way back. I honestly don't see it as cultural appropriation.

Answer

She obviously does not know what cultural appropriation is. When a dominant culture steals, claims and establishes itself as being the original creator of that heritage or whatever it may be. 
What to keep in mind: Tribal prints. I'm not sure how this works.. But you could unintentionally be wearing something sacred. 
If you want to wear a dashiki go for it. Even if you don't have to be raised doing or wearing something to use it. So yes you are African. But it really doesn't matter even if you weren't African American you could wear one as long as it doesn't look like your wearing it to be rude (as in wearing something that looks funny on you and having everyone staring) I don't think it's rude if your being respectful. If something is sacred then it's rude. But it's a piece of clothing.. If she questions you just tell her to go change something she has on that isn't African lol I'm sure she'll call you a racist but that will be ridiculous too. She's not the boss of African clothing.

Answer

You aren't white so she had no right to tell you that's cultural appropriation. It's not, because you are still considered AFRICAN American. You can wear it if you like. I have some that were gifts and they are beautiful. It's only a problem when other races do things that disrespect the race of people that it belongs to. Asian people have stated time and time again they don't want people who aren't educated about their culture and what things mean to take things from their culture... Like wearing kimonos. Native Americans have stated they don't want people wearing their headdresses and everyone needs to respect this. People are too stupid to know that not everything is meant for fashion. These specific things have meaning and history behind them. Ignore that girl. Your ancestors are from Africa therefore you have roots that trace back to Africa which means YOU CAN WEAR IT.

Answer

You are African. & if you don't want to own that, you shouldn't wear something that identifies you as African.

I agree.

Dashiki or no?

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