Khloe Kardashian is the latest in her famous family to take on a Black hairstyle. The reality television star tweeted and then deleted a photo of herself in Bantu knots with a caption calling herself “Bantu babe.”
She later replaced it with another photo.
I like this one better ☺️ pic.twitter.com/yUJfKjEoQz
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) August 9, 2016
But Kardashian could not escape criticism, and Black Twitter let her have it.
@IGoByAlice expected white YouTube beauty gurus to jump on the look and give Kardashian all the credit.
Cant wait for those white YouTube gurus to make a tutorial on this innovative "Bantu babe" look that khloe started pic.twitter.com/MzXL3WQcjd
— Salone Titi (@IGoByAlice) August 9, 2016
Claire called out the former TV host for her lack of African lineage.
@khloekardashian hi last time I checked you weren't a Bantu ANYTHING pic.twitter.com/qU8Zv2ByoN
— hoeslay (@hoeslay) August 10, 2016
Many of the criticisms were based on Bantu knots being an “unprofessional” hairstyle on Black women. Yet once the California native tried it on, it became fashionable.
Khloe kardashian can walk around with "bantu knots" and its hip but if a black woman wore it to a job interview, its "unprofessional"
— Claire (@lilmisshaitian) August 10, 2016
@GotThatFaceDoh pointed out the hypocrisy aimed at Rihanna for wearing the hairstyle to the iHeart Radio Music Awards in 2014. She also donned them for a magazine shoot a year later.
Rihanna got dragged for having Bantu knots & now Khloe Kardashian has these "mini twisted buns".. ok
— #ThickLivesMatter ⚢ (@GotThatFaceDoh) August 10, 2016
@caramelcakesx also discussed the double standard between Black and white women wearing the hairstyle. She pointed to Blac Chyna – Kardashian’s soon-to-be sister-in-law – who wore the look in April. The user also disappointingly acknowledged the praise white women get for wearing Black styles but knew African-Americans would be called “ghetto” for wearing them.
Let a black woman wear braids, Bantu knots or dreads they're deemed "ghetto" but a non BW gets praised for having the SAME style… Smh…
— Coconut Oil❤️ (@caramelcakesx) August 9, 2016
Arlett took the time to show what authentic Bantu knots look like.
Tired of yall saying Khloe Kardashian got bantu knots so here are some REAL bantu knots done neatly. pic.twitter.com/yxqhdSRuXr
— arlett (@foreverarlett) August 10, 2016
@WeTheBroadCast advised Kardashian to look to Blac Chyna for style tips.
@khloekardashian you should ask Blac Chyna for tips on how to clean those Bantu knots up pic.twitter.com/KMtKwpVE7g
— The Broad-Cast (@WeTheBroadCast) August 10, 2016
@30bcCleopatra summed it up in an imaginary exchange between Black people and white people, covered in cultural appropriation.
Khloe's Hair
Black People:They're called,"Bantu Knots"
White People: They're called,"Mini Buns"
*ME* pic.twitter.com/RgCkmaY5Kl— AUGUST 12 (@30BCCLEOPATRA) August 9, 2016
@Neo_url called out Kardashian for possibly believing Bantu knots are only a hairstyle. She is alluding to the fact that Bantu is a colonial word used to describe the Zulu people in Africa. Atlanta Black Star reported Bantu is used to distinguish the people who speak the dialect of the same name. The hairstyle named after the group of more than 10 million Africans has been worn by Black women as a protective hairstyle since time began.
Does. She. Even. Know. What. Bantu. Means. Or. Does. She. Think. It's. Just. A. Hairstyle.
— Blocking Champion (@Neo_url) August 9, 2016
This is not the first time a member of the Kardashian clan has come under fire for wearing a Black hairstyle. Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian was credited with “boxer braids” while rocking what are actually called cornrows.
Black ppl can naturally have blonde hair and blue eyes. So the comparison is not the same.
She doesn't look good, in that style…However, she can wear whatever she wants, I guess…
I wish the Kardashianx would quit attacking Black Women and stop appropriating. I also would love to see BW quit wearing blonde hair. I don't want to merge looks, skin shades, etc. I don't hate or dislike anyone else's color but after all this time, considering we are the most hated yet most copied peopke on earth, it's time for us to take control of the situation as BW, deal with the images of us that we din't control in innovative ways, take control of the Asian controlled beauty supply industry, put our peopke to work in it and tell bullies like the Kardashians, self hating antagonistic BM who push this and gentrifers who resent the power of the EXPANDING Black beauty supply businesses (Korean owned) in the neighborhoids they wish to invade to all go straight to hell and stay out of out business.
EVERY time I step out the frong door my hair is a topic for someone. Comments ae used as a tool to grind us into useless human garbage. Enough already.
Ahh….It's in style to act black but not to BE Black.