The Dreadlocks Myth

 

The term dreadlocks refers to interlocked coils of hair which may form naturally or through manipulation.  It is a symbol of a religious movement, notably the Rastafari movement, although an increasing number of people from different religions and cultures are wearing dreadlocks nowadays. Has it become just another hairstyle?

Today unfortunately, this unique hairstyle with a long tradition of spirituality, is also closely associated with defiance, guns, crime, irresponsibility, insubordination, untidiness, you name it. Even in the U.S, where there’s a lot of talk about freedom and equality, dread-locked folks constantly face stereotypes, often judged by their appearances. I was appalled when a judge in a New Orleans court ordered a teenager wearing dreadlocks to cut them. What happened to freedom?

Do stereotypes based on personal appearance cloud your judgment? Why are dreadlocks constantly associated with negative connotations? Is the dreadlocks myth a reality?

I have been wearing dreadlocks since 2003 – one year after I got admitted to study law at the University of Buea, Cameroon. Initially, people were surprised to see a “law student” wearing locks, but after sometime, it kind of became my “trademark”. People described me as the “guy with dreadlocks” and I managed to literally gain myself some fans and followers  (I still have some today). Fortunately or unfortunately, quite a few people I interacted with are now enlightened enough to embrace the fact that it’s okay to wear dreadlocks, provided you don’t compromise your values and don’t show up for high-profile job interviews wearing them (at least for now).

At home, I encountered some initial resistance from my mom. I remember her telling me that “lawyers don’t wear deadlocks”. Her fear, which I understood, was that I was going to “change” and compromise the values tirelessly instilled in my siblings and I. However, she let me be when she realised it was really what I wanted. It is worth mentioning that her worries were genuine; but I knew better, and never indulged in the things commonly associated with dreadlocks – I never smoked a cigarette (not in my lifetime!), never dropped out of school, never became a criminal and neither did I negate my Christian values or join the rastafari movement. As a matter of fact, I can look you in the face and reaffirm the fact that I’ve never confirmed any of the dreadlocks myths.

Do you know of anyone whose behavior or goals plummeted when s/he started wearing dreadlocks? (I don’t know of any!). Do you know anyone who has been profiled because s/he wears dreadlocks? (I know quite a few) More importantly, have you ever unconsciously labeled a person wearing dreadlocks as a “loser”? These are tough questions that should be answered in an effort to dispel the dreadlocks myth.

When I started wearing locks, I made a promise to myself to take them down after graduating with my Masters degree in law. Although I didn’t meet the deadline of March 2010, I finally did cut them off on 18 July 2010. At this point, I can’t help, but look back with nostalgia at the high and low moments of my 7-year dreadlocks experience.

There were moments when, because of my ‘look’, I was regarded as a local icon. Some friends and acquaintances called me “Icon for Town” – a slang we used at the university, to refer to a trailblazer or someone who stands out from the crowd.

Like I said, there were low moments too – when people MISTAKENLY thought I was just another uneducated, low-life criminal. I always like the look on their faces when I “blow my cover”, though.

Regardless, I’ve never regretted my decision to wear dreadlocks. I’m happy to have represented the many responsible folks out there who wear their hair in this way, and to have “busted” the dreadlocks myth.

From this day onwards, before you prejudge someone who wears dreadlocks, bear in mind that you might be going in for another big surprise because s/he might just be more educated, more successful, more cultured and generally a more dedicated citizen of the world than you are! Get to know the ‘dreadlocks wearer’ before you jump into hasty conclusions.

The dreadlocks myth has been busted!

Permit me to leave you with the words of the legendary dreadlocked artist Bob Marley – “One Love.”

(First published on www.zuzeeko.com)

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