Note to Black Men: White Girls Wear Weave Too.

Summary

The article addresses the double standard among some black men who criticize black women for wearing weave, despite the fact that women of all races, including white women, also wear weave.

Abstract

The author recounts an experience from 2012 when a white female friend stayed with him and revealed the widespread use of weave among white women, a fact often overlooked by black men who harshly judge black women for the same practice. The author emphasizes that he does not have a problem with women wearing weave and that his preferences for natural hair are as inconsequential as a preference for a certain color. He criticizes the hypocrisy of black men who denigrate black women for wearing weave while idolizing white women who engage in the same behavior. The article calls for an end to the double standard and highlights the importance of recognizing that weave-wearing is a universal practice among women, not a racial exclusive.

Opinions

The author has no issue with women wearing weave and believes it should not be a defining factor in a woman's identity or desirability.
He criticizes "ashy-ankled black men" for their public disdain of black women wearing weave, suggesting it implies a preference for whiteness and ignorance of the broader context where women of all races wear weave.
The author points out the irony in black men prioritizing and fetishizing white women, who also wear weave, while simultaneously criticizing black women for the same practice.
He emphasizes that the preference for a certain type of hair should be as trivial as preferring a certain color, and should not be used to judge or ostracize women.
The author expresses frustration with the blind spot that some black men have regarding the practices of white women and the lack of critique they receive for wearing weave.
He advocates for black men to recognize the universality of weave-wearing among women and to stop perpetuating the double standard that negatively impacts black women.

White Girls Wear Weave

It was the summer of 2012, where I allowed a young white woman in her early twenties to live in my apartment in Waikiki, a downtown neighborhood of Honolulu. There was no romantic or lusting interest, she just was a friend who needed a place to stay. The deal wasn’t that bad either; she paid half of the rent and alleviating one’s vault of coin of burden is always a plus.

Black men are known for going in on black women for something technically ALL WOMEN DO. It’s categorically absurd.

Homegirl was very much like a sister living with me; she didn’t have the burden of up-keeping the deceptions women typically apply to men. So from there I learned that white women wear weave. Like, a lot. White women wear, like, one metric fuck-ton of weave. Of course, a fascinating conversation ensued, which was beyond informative.

Let’s get one thing straight — I don’t give a damn about women wearing weave. Hold up, that’s a lie — I do have my preferences but the point is that I don’t dock points off of black women because they are wearing weave. I simply don’t put that much stock in it, like, let’s say… those ashy brothers out there who frequently anathematize black women for wearing weave. I just never really gave a damn.

While I have my preferences, a black woman wearing weave will not preclude me from dating her, and a man’s preference with women doesn’t define what makes a woman a woman. My preference for a woman with natural hair is like my preference for my favorite color: red. I would easily date, love, marry a black woman with weave in the same manner I would do the same with a woman in a blue dress. Hairstyles are so temporary, it’s categorically absurd to hold a permanent disdain for a woman for weave when the next week she’s going natural, braided, faded, or whatever.

Double Standards

Photo Credit: Johnny Silvercloud

The thing that pains me is how these ashy-ankled black men frequently air out their disdain for black women wearing weave on social media. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep on saying it: when a person adds the racial modifier to their complaint (i.e., black men this, black women that) they imply that non-black is better somewhere. More specifically, it implies white folk are without fault somewhere. And that, never sits well with me. So in essence, black men complaining about black women wearing weave ostracizes black women as if it’s an exclusive practice of black women. It isn’t.

The thing that is particularly mind blowing is this assumption that black women are the only racial/ethnic group that places weave in their hair. Black men are known for going in on black women for something technically ALL WOMEN DO. It’s categorically absurd. While I understand the blind-spot that a LOT of hoodrat black men have — which is not having close proximity to white people to learn these things — the fact that THEY (ashy black males) don’t see their own blind-spot in this is immensely frustrating. I mean damn, I hate stupid people. And black men assuming that white chicks don’t wear weave, or weave is exclusive to black women is the very definition of stupid.

While black women get demonized, and ostracized by their own men for the mere act of wearing weave, white women for all this time have been flying below radar, with weave stitched to their skulls, totally unmolested by ridiculously abrasive critique.

Based on my proximity to white men, I don’t even think white men realize that white girls wear a lot of weave. I do know white men who date black women prefer black women with their natural hair out (they fetishize us), but I never heard any white men ever complain about white women wearing weave.

So to all the brothers out there ranting and raving about black women wearing weave, please, by all means, shut the fuck up. These white chicks you prioritize and fetishize, wear weave too. Like, a lot of it. White women wear one-metric fuck-ton of weave. Stop acting like weave is exclusive to black women, because it damn sure isn’t.