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.