- Position1 of 3›
- Yes, white people should be able to have dreadlocks
Since dreadlocks come from multiple cultures, one group of people cannot claim ownership.
The argument
Before the development of modern technology, homo-sapiens let their hair naturally mat and lock, so it is difficult to pinpoint the first use of the hairstyle. Egyptians have been credited as the first culture to have dreadlocks since they have been discovered on mummies. Since then, others such as Romans, Greeks, Vikings, Indians, Christians, Germans, and Africans have also incorporated dreads into their cultures. Traditionally, people have dreaded their hair to prevent energies from leaving their bodies, which they believed to come from a person's head. The tight knotting and matting will trap the energy so it stays with the person longer. Most commonly, dreadlocks are associated with Jamaican and Rastafarian culture. Ex-slaves used the hairstyle to revolt against European values that were being forced upon them. Rastafarians have dreads because of their belief from the Bible that hair gives people strength, and weakens them if cut.
Premises
Counter-arguments
Despite being from many cultures, dreadlocks are most connected to African and Rastafarian cultures. Those minority groups have also faced the most discrimination and prejudice because of their hair. White people should not have dreadlocks since they do not have ties to those cultures and do not face the same discrimination.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] Although this was true in the past, dreadlocks are now associated primarily with African and Rastafarian cultures.