One regret I have now is that I never watched the full Tiktok with sound that started the bonnet conversation. I read a lot of tweets responding to it, but I never saw what she was actually saying.
I did get a glimpse of her shaking her head, and there was a tie around her bonnet, so I assumed it was something about keeping it on at night. Mine often slides down while I am sleeping, sometimes completely off, but sometimes just partway down the back of my head.
Even though it seemed like she might have some useful information for me, I felt that if I were ever going to get around to addressing it (again, I am not known for the effort I put into my appearance), I would ask a Black woman.
I suspected that this one had a product she was selling, and she was not going to be my source.
I may have been wrong about that white woman, but there is always this one.
https://www.theroot.com/white-woman-claims-she-invented-the-hair-bonnet-black-1836603944
The Root article is more fun, but I have the Today article there for balance.
Now, if Sarah Marantz Lindenberg was in fact the woman in the one video, I don't know that.
I do know that when this one says she invented this concept out of a need, from her own mind, I do not believe her.
I believe she ripped off a long tradition, felt special and smart, and then set a ridiculous price point. She charges $98 for her model; I bought mine at Fred Meyer for about $5.
I believe she Christopher Columbus-ed that bonnet.
Like two white people seeing the scholarship of a Black woman, being shocked "no one" is talking about it, and then crowdfunding to make a documentary on local segregation, Whitelandia.
Like one white woman being introduced to congee, "elevating" it, and calling herself "The Congee Queen".
She also charged an outrageous amount of money for it.
I actually have an even worse example, but I want to step back to that question of appropriation:
Is the money what makes it appropriation?
Remember, I don't think me wearing the bonnet at night is appropriation, but other people making Tiktok videos about their bonnet wear might be.
That is something I want to explore more.
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