Oh please.

There's a big leap from rightfully criticizing a White woman starting a company and making a profit on a traditional African head covering, to saying no White woman should ever wear any kind of head wrap ever.

In many cultures all over the world, women cover their heads to protect our hair, to signal our marital status or religious beliefs, or simply for comfort. In fact, it's in the Bible (I Cor 11:5) and many traditional Christian women follow that command to the letter to this day.

I was a member of such a religious group for a while, and got in the habit of covering my head with a hat or scarf. Later, I left that group, but still cover my head when out in public. I feel naked with my head uncovered, and protected with my head covered. When it's hot, I can wet the scarf down and it keeps me cool. When it's cold, a nice wool scarf helps me conserve body heat. I'm Autistic, so protecting myself from distracting sensations is a big deal for me.

I've always lived in cities with all sorts of people and have never had a Black woman give me the stink-eye for covering my head. I've even gotten compliments on my headgear! Of course, I stick with regular hats and scarves, I wouldn't wear any recognizably African prints because that would look ridiculous on me. Moreover, many of those prints have traditional meanings and it would indeed be cultural appropriation to wear such a print without understanding and respecting its meaning. But a regular ol' scarf? Aren't there bigger fish to fry?

The author of this article is trying to come off as so woke that she protests on behalf of Black women over something that's way down at the bottom of the list behind police brutality, food shortages, the school to prison pipeline, health disparities, economic disparities, workplace hazards ... get the picture?

I clicked on this article because I thought it would be a Black woman saying that White women should not wear scarves -- and I'd give that a listen. But what gives a White woman the right to speak for Black women and tell other White women what to wear?

White folks -- let's educate ourselves and each other, amplify Black voices, and let Black people speak for themselves! People are dying out here and she jumps from criticizing a White woman for patenting and profiting on a traditional African head-wrap design to saying no women should ever wrap their heads unless they're Black.

I'll wear my hats and scarves because they help me feel comfortable and safe. If a Black woman ever says she's offended, I'll respectfully consider what she's got to say. But I've been covering my head for over 40 years and that hasn't happened yet.

Peace -- JP