12-Year-Old Mallory Merk decided to try something new with her hair.
Like most 12-year-old girls, she was excited to show off her new look to friends on social media. Things quickly escalated after pictures of Mallory in her new blonde box braids started to make rounds.
Many people found the braids to be ‘offensive’ and just another form of cultural appropriation.
@mallorymerk The point we are trying to make is that its offensive all we have is our culture nd whether u knew it or not u took what’s supp
— CaramelCreamQueen (@Gvddvss) January 18, 2015
RT @shugnice: Black men: “Why are black women up in arms about white girls wearing box braids and locs” pic.twitter.com/fX7BYiP3iK — Praline Queen (@blowticious) January 18, 2015
Black women saying white women can’t get braids while they’re running around with blonde hair. ????
— Keifer. (@HeyKeifer) January 18, 2015
Writer/editor Jamilah Lemieux summed up the majority of backlash and opposition:
Yes, something as “trivial” as a hairstyle can be triggering or upsetting. Let us have it. This goes to everyone, btw.
— jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) January 18, 2015
It’s feeling like psychological torture, esp against the backdrop of state-sanctioned murder and the #BlackLivesMatter movement… — jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) January 18, 2015
…our bodies, our music, our fashion, our lips, our hair…everything about us is ripe for the picking by people WHO DO NOT TREAT US WELL.
— jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) January 18, 2015
This is not happy cultural mixing where you bring the blonde and I bring the braids, because you hate me and tell me as much all the time. — jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) January 18, 2015
It wasn’t all bad though — a lot of people showed support for Mallory and her new choice of hairstyle.
@journeymah @aesthetiches @mallorymerk @xuicy my black ass thinks her hair looks fine. What’s the big deal?
— beavis. (@SadgirlBambi) January 18, 2015
Bringing race into Mallory’s hair is absolutely ridiculous and proves you are indeed a racist.
— ryan (@slootskies) January 18, 2015
Leave @mallorymerk alone Jesus fuck. You should be able to do whatever the fuck too want with your hair no matter what race you are fuck!!
— Bella (@bellaa_raee) January 18, 2015
@mallorymerk you look gorgeous in those braids! Your ethnicity doesn’t determine how you should wear your hair!! You’re werkin it!
— dede (@irlaltruist) January 18, 2015
Mallory later issued the following apology:
We’re not sure if 12-year-old Mallory crafted that apology herself or had help from her parents, but it’s refreshing to see someone make a sincere apology even if their intentions weren’t to offend.
So, we have to ask love muffins — what do you think of Mallory’s braids? Are they offensive? Or are they simply a little girl trying out a new style?
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