As we continue to observe and/or participate in the Black Lives Matter protests across the globe, I have been reflecting on how we racialize some certain aspects of black fashion and culture. Very often, they are deemed loud, ghetto, or not classy enough. Some habitually relegate black fashion items to one-off holiday wear portraying them as not proper enough to be worn daily in public spaces.
A Trinidadian friend of mine made a post on social media a few days ago in response to an ‘All lives Matter’ post where she highlighted that Black Trinidadians often embrace Indian wear, but the reciprocation was far and few between. While our experiences may vary, it made me realise that though I am half Black and half Indian, growing up I had many salwars and other Indian pieces, but never owned a single piece of traditional African wear.