Henna : More Than Just a Pretty Design?

Just as if temporary tattoos weren't enough, henna booths began flooding all sorts of festivals alike across the world in the last decade or so. It's almost as if once the stuff touches your skin, you need to get more — and let's be thankful it isn't permanent. I went through a similar phase last summer, when I was introduced to the stuff at a pride festival.

You can't deny that this is art

From what I understood back then, although henna was primarily a South-East Asian invention, it's popularity lead it to be commonly enjoyed throughout the world without a problem. Henna tattoos are made by crushing leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis) an making a paste, which then stains the skin in whatever pattern it is applied in. In fact, there is even a similar South American practice with the jagua plant (Genipia americana). Crushing up plant bits and making tattoos can't be all that special, right?

Westernized henna, used in non-Indian patterns as temporary tattoos

Here are two South American women with jagua tattoos

Well, let's say there's a little bit of controversy and disagreement on this subject. Despite how Westernized henna has become, it also has a long history of use on women during Hindu weddings. Also called mehendi, Hindu deities are even seen wearing it in some depictions, and it's used in various Hindu celebrations and fasts.

A beautiful Indian bride receives henna, as a traditional custom in Hindu weddings

Many may argue that even though henna is a symbolic Hindu practice, a religion born in India, henna was a practice in North Africa and the Middle-East before. This leaves an interesting question for many people : is henna on non-Hindu women considered offensive?

Personally, I'd say that henna has reached such a popularity worldwide that it has lost much of it's Hindu traditional meaning. As long as you don't try to replicate Indian/Hindu designs without knowing what they mean, I don't really see much of a problem, since henna had history long before it became a Hindu practice. To me, I see it as drinking wine ; even though wine is symbolically used in Christianity as the body of Christ, who's to tell you that you can't drink it for pleasure? Have any of my readers had an experience with henna, and what would you have to say about it?

Sources : "What Is the Historical and Religious Significance of Mehendi in Hinduism?" About.com Religion & Spirituality. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"Not Ready For A Tattoo? Try Jagua Gel Instead." XOVain. Web. 20 Jan. 2016

Just a Scarf? Not So Much...

I was walking down the halls a few weeks ago, when I got a glimpse of a black & white flashing before my eyes. I looked over to see a scarf, but not any scarf : a white and black checkered one. Now, you may ask yourself the significance of it, or maybe you're one of my more cultured Arab readers, but the scarf I saw has a long historical and cultural importance behind it.

Palestinian children, wearing the kuffiyeh as a ghutrah (headscarf)

The kuffiyeh, also known under plethora of names in various languages, is a typically checkered scarf worn in the Arab world. Although it was originally intended for protecting against sand, wind and heat, it grew to mean more than that ; black and white kuffiyehs are associated with Palestine and it's struggle.

Bolivia's UN representative wearing a kuffiyeh in solidarity with Palestine, after attacks on Gaza

The significance of the kuffiyeh originated during the 1930s, and the Arab world's fight of independence against the British Empire. As kuffiyehs were seen more commonly on the less rich, the British scoped out for kuffiyehs to attack Palestinians. In a great act of solidarity, the rich disguised themselves in the scarf to confuse the soldiers, and it has been a national symbol every since. Still to this day, the kuffiyeh is used as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians in the current Israel-Palestine conflicts.

Colin Farrell, wearing a kuffiyeh. He wore the same scarf to the premiere of a Pro-Palestinian film. Is he appropriating?

There is something different these days however ; god forbid a symbolic item of clothing goes without being stolen by the Western world! In the early 2000s, kuffiyeh grew in popularity as run-of-the-mill scarves found in retail stores across America. Why is this a problem? There is currently only one kuffiyeh factory in Palestine, which has seen economic decline due to cheaper, often China-made versions of the scarf. A national symbol has been stripped of the Palestinians for other countries to profit on, and now we have hipsters across the Western world sporting a cultural custom, without even knowing it.

A white hipster's opinion on his "scarf", vs. an actual Palestinian

I don't blame people for wearing a kuffiyeh, since it's significance isn't very well known, but I find this a barely humorous reminder that the Western world dominates oh-too-many industries. This is definitely a milder form of cultural appropriation, but in genuine curiosity, I ask :

As someone that finds myself involved and passionate about the Palestinian independence conflict, were I to purchase a kuffiyeh directly from Palestine, would it be cultural appropriation? What do my readers have to say?

Sources : "A History of the Keffiyeh" LEAD Magazine. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"White People & Keffiyeh: Solidarity vs. Cultural Appropriation." Ben Norton. 2015. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

The War on War Bonnets : Culture or Couture?

Goyakla, an Bedonkhoe Apache warrior and leader, with a 48-feather headdress.

The war bonnet, also known as a headdress, is an undoubtfully beautiful headpiece worn by certain Native Americans. Like a crown of eagle feathers each intrically sewn by hand, it's no wonder why it's such a symbol of nobility and respect ; but the respect is lost when outsiders replicate the look. I'd definitely say the Native American headdress is one of the, if not the, most commonly appropriated commodities of any race.

"Edgy" white girl paints her face and wears war bonnet for no reason

You can easily search the Internet and find dozens of instances where (usually) white women sport the war bonnet on runways or music videos, and that's where the first issue arises. War bonnets are almost exclusively worn men, and Native men at that. Eagles are said to be the highest flying birds in First Nation mythology, and are seen as the closest to god. For that reason, each single feather on a headdress has a honorable story behind it, and have to be earned by tribe leaders or warriors. The warbonnet is considered so sacred that non-Native people are often asked to refraining from touching them.

"But, I'm just honoring the culture!" is probably the most commonly heard thing about cultural appropriation, and in this case, the invalidity of the statement is very apparent. Not only does it have a rich symbolic meaning, but taking anything from First Nations would be horrific. I'd go as far as saying that Native American are one of the less represented minorities across media and despite their mass genocide, still don't have enough justice today (in my opinion).

Native Americans are rarely in movies or other media, but hey, let's make an entire culture a mascot!

I still remember when I was around 12, and a relative informed me of my Native American descend ; my stepmom told me "Don't tell anyone though, it's kind of uncool.". Now although this heritage takes up a pointless percentage of my nationality, this comment really stuck with me. To know that some of my ancestors were victim to so many horrific crimes makes me want to speak louder and use my privilege to give them a voice.

Something important I've learned about cultural appropriation is that people really only seem to care when they are benefiting. People will whine about how "sensitive" society has become because they can't wear a headdress, but even the government doesn't want to talk about the 1,200+ missing or murdered Native women. To strip the First Nations of one of their most sacred things, along with their land and people is an indescribably vile thing and I hope this post explains to you why you shouldn't wear the headdress.

Sources : "Geronimo, the Native American Indian Chief of Chiricahua Apache Tribe." NDepth. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress?" Native Appropriations. 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" AMMSA. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"Atrocities Against Native Americans" United to End Genocide. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

Dia de Muertos : Is It All That Similar to Halloween?

Oh, Halloween : the spooky holiday, where everyone gets to dress as something they're not. While I'd love to take this opportunity to talk about racially offensive costumes, I'd rather talk about something more subtle : sugarskulls.

It's almost inevitable on Halloween night to see someone with skull makeup, covered with jewels and whatever else they found at the craft store. Also known as a sugarskull or calavera, it's an important part of Dia de Muertos (roughly translated to "Day of the Dead"), a Mexican holiday celebrated on October 31st (often till two days later). Unknown to many however, is the cultural and spiritual importance of the day. To understand this, a little clarification is needed.

Halloween : the night of capitalism and cavities!

You see, Halloween is a Westernized holiday with origins coming from both Pagan and Christian influences. Although the holiday formerly focused on the souls of the departed, it has become a celebration of urban legends, dressing up and getting drunk. It's basically a scary Mardi Gras.

Dia de muertos : a beautiful celebration of life and death

#CultureNotCostume

Dia de Muertos, however, still retains it's original meaning, which can possibly trace back all the way to Aztec civilization. As opposed to being a grim and creepy holiday, it's an actual celebration of the dead. People flood cemeteries with offerings to their relatives, gift bouquets of marigolds and make sweet skull-shaped cookies — the original purpose of the sugarskull. On a deeper level, the holiday is about recognizing ancestors and Latin heritage. It's a religious day ; like a mass funeral, but less grim and more celebratory.

Considering the difference between the two holidays, as well as the racism Mexicans face, it's not difficult to imagine why some would be left offended by those who chose to emulate the sugarskull. Wearing the sugarskull on Halloween is comparable to a Muslim dressing up as baby Jesus on Eid ; it makes no sense.

Personally, I feel as if dressing up as a sugarskull is distasteful. Taking into consideration the oppression hispanic people face, taking a part of their culture for one day just to feel cute and have fun is insulting to their rich heritage. Saying you're "appreciating" their culture means nothing when you do it on the wrong day, and show apathy to their people and struggles any other day of the year.

Want to dress like a calavera? You're allowed to. Heck, I encourage you do whatever inspires you creatively. But if you had any regard for the people it comes from, you'd take a moment to read further about the actual holiday.

Sources : "Day of the Dead History: Ritual Dating Back 3000 Years." Azcentral. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
"Dia De Los Muertos." National Geographic Education. 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.

The "G*psy Life" : Crystal ball or Kristallnacht?

Crystal balls, boho style and the fabulous travelling life are probably the first things to come to mind upon the mention of the word "g*psy". Perhaps you're even familiar with more negative connotations, like "thief", "beggar" or "bum". Although all of the above are commonly associated together under the term throughout all sorts of media, my understanding is that it's one of the more persistent stereotypes of an overlooked community.

Expectation : Gypsy has become synonymous with boho-chic among white girls.

You might ask yourself why the word has been censored throughout this article, and the reason for this is the offensive nature of what many consider a slur. G*psy is a derogatory term referring to the Roma or Romani people, an ethnic group with roots from Northern India, who find themselves scattered throughout Europe and the Americas with a long history of oppression.

I personally find it very unfortunate that the history or even existence of Romani people is still seldom talked about today, even in history class.

Reality : Here is a photo of Romani people living in poverty, as most of them did. 

One of the only truths to the stereotypes is the nomadic lifestyle of the Roma people. However, as opposed to be being go-with-the-flow runaway hippies, the Roma people were nomadic mostly due to the constant persecution and subsequent poverty they were met with in Europe, probably since their appearance in the Balkans around 900-years ago. They were enslaved in the 13th and 14th century throughout Europe, as well as being victims to genocide during the Holocaust. The Romani people still face discrimination today in many communities as a result.

"Okay, but why should I care?" is probably your response to this knowledge. You're also probably still going to wear your gold headpiece to Coachella, because it's "totally cute". And you're allowed to. But I feel as if it's important to recognize the persecution the people faced, before distorting an entire minority culture for the sake of aesthetic.

Put this into perspective : 500,000+  Romani people were murdered during the Holocaust (god knows how many throughout history) and nobody wants to talk about it... But taking a part of their culture to look cute is fine, right?

*It's important to note that despite the title, there are no recorded Romani murdered on the night of Kristallnacht. That being said, it wouldn't be surprising if there were any, considering the lack of records, especially for Romani people.*

Sources : "The History and Origin of the Roma." The History and Origin of the Roma. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
"The Fate of the Roma during the Holocaust: The Untold Story" The Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme. UN News Center. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.

Black is the New Black

From the Victorian era, to Hitler's propaganda, all the way to current media worldwide, it has been long established that white skin is somehow "better skin". There is no doubt that this horribly racist attitude exists, with the popularity of skin-whitening creams all over Asia, and the surprising lack of makeup for dark skin.

To bring it even further, I would say lighter eyes and hair (which are generally but not exclusively Caucasian features) are preferred as well. Heck, half of the top "attractive qualities" for men and women are eurocentric in nature, whether it be minimal body hair, thin noses, high cheek-bones, straight hair — all qualities that are generally less common in people of colour.

There are a plethora of online sources that explain why this is, but this isn't what I want to focus on. Rather, I'd like to shed a light on a recent double-standard I have been noticing, especially in the beauty industry. As the family of Kardashian and Jenner girls undeniably influence youth, we are seeing the emergence of all sorts of trends. Thick eyebrows, big butts, plump lips have all become more popular, as opposed to the thin-brow 60s (and virtually every year before that) and the drug-addict thin (a style called "heroine-chic") 2000's.

Kim Kardashian, a social media personality with a (probably) cosmetically-enhanced behind

So why do I see this as a double standard? Rewind to the 19th century. Black women were literally placed in circuses (called "human zoos") for their large butts, and blackface served as a tool to humiliate African Americans, who tend to have larger lips and noses. Fun fact : the reason why clowns have afros, bulbous noses and exaggerated lips is because of blackface.

An illustration of Hottentot Venus, an African slave dehumanized in a "human zoo" for her butt 

Kylie Jenner lips?

Come back to the 21st century, where girls do countless squats, and use makeup to make their lips look bigger...all of this while actual black girls are told they are "ugly", or if they're lucky, "pretty...for a black girl".

So despite the fashion industry's fondness of traditionally black characteristics, the eurocentric beauty standards still dominate. This is why we see all sorts of African (or African American) styles with white models, passed off as "urban" or "chic".

A white model modeling as an "African Queen". We're technically all from Africa, right? Try again

White model attempts "dreadlocks", as actual black girls are sent home from school for their dreads. 

I'd say representation plays a large role in this phenomenon. Rarely do I see black models, and out of the few I do see, they're light-skinned and could be passed off as white had they less melanin. It's 2016, and it's about time we begin to show all the shades and shapes of beauty.

Sources : "The Racist Origins of Modern Clown Makeup" Ianthe's Inferno. Web. 19 Jan. 2016. 
"Beauty Whitewashed: How White Ideals Exclude Women of Color." Beauty Redefined. 2011. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
"The 19th Century Kim: 'Hottentot Venus' Whose Big Bottom Sparked a Global Scandal 200 Years before a Certain Miss Kardashian." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 2014. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.

What is Cultural Appropriation? Why Should You Care?

In a society that thrives on new trends, creative media and self-expression, it's not surprising to many that culture is a  great source of inspiration. Although multiculturalism is something to be appreciated, issues arise when a concept known as "cultural appropriation" occurs.

Cultural appropriation is a term described by many social activists, in which meaningful aspects of a minority culture are misrepresented and exploited by another. To put it simply, it's when important cultural/religious customs are treated meaninglessly by a member outside the community. Some simple examples would include :

• Non-Hindu women wearing bindis, because "it's pretty"
• Wearing crosses or other symbols for non-religious reasons
• Dressing up as a culture for Halloween (i.e."Native American","Mexican"..etc)

Still don't understand? Here's a great Twitter thread explaining cultural appropriation using a sandwich as a analogy.

Now before you throw out your sombrero and chopsticks, it's important to realize the difference between cultural appreciation, versus appropriation. Appreciation is immersing yourself in aspects of the culture in an educated manner, and for the right reasons ; you wouldn't wear a hijab if you weren't a Muslim woman, right? Keep in mind that cuisine and language (unless somehow considered sacred) are almost impossible to offensively use.

It's important to remember that there's a wide array of different opinions on the subject and at the end of the day, you're free to do whatever you like (as long as you aren't breaking the law). If you wish to be sensible, here are some questions to ask yourself :

• Is what I'm doing important to a culture or religion? Am I honoring it?
• Am I doing so for the right reasons, or just because "it looks cool"?
• Am I representing the original culture accurately?
• Is the source of my "inspiration" considered a minority, or oppressed?

As someone who's almost exclusively white, my opinion on the subject isn't all that valid or important, but I pride myself on have being exposed to an array of cultures and religions. Personally, I'm against censorship, but I also believe that people should take responsibility for what they do, and the reactions that arise. In other words, if you decide to adopt a custom from a culture and somebody gets mad, instead of lashing back with the "it's free country!" response, take a moment to understand what they are feeling.

Sources : "The Difference Between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation." Everyday Feminism. 2013. Web. 16 Jan. 2016.
"Dialogue: Here's Why We Can't Agree On Cultural Appopriation." Thought Catalog. 2015. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.