climate protest
“Signs of oppression”: Fridays for Future invites a singer – because she wears dreadlocks
Ronja Maltzahn provides information on Instagram about the discussion with Fridays for Future.
© Screenshot @ronjamaltzahn
Hanoverian Ronja Maltzahn should have performed at a Fridays for Future event on Friday. Nothing will come of it now – her dreadlocks are said to be to blame for the cancellation.
As usual, the Hanover group of Fridays for Future had planned a so-called climate strike for Friday. Also present: singer Ronja Maltzahn, who was supposed to sing at the event. But nothing will come of it, because Fridays for Future canceled her at short notice – with reference to her hairstyle.
Dreadlocks are a symbol of black oppression
Maltzahn wears dreadlocks, a hairstyle that has been known across different cultures throughout time, but is now primarily associated with African American people. In the 20th century in particular, the Afro-American dreadlocks became a political message with which parts of the black population wanted to protest against oppression and become more visible. The dreadlocks were a means to an end of carving out one’s own identity.
It has been controversial for some time whether white people should also wear dreadlocks. The thought behind it: In contrast to black people, they have not perceived the oppression and the fight against it themselves and only wear the hairstyle for aesthetic reasons. The Hanoverian Fridays for Future group is now also taking this line and wrote Ronja Maltzahn at short notice that her participation would have to be canceled: dreadlocks are a “form of cultural appropriation”, so “white people shouldn’t wear dreadlocks”.
Fridays for Future suggests: singer should cut off her dreadlocks
The only exception: Maltzahn can “of course” play on the demo if they “decide to do so by Friday [würde]to cut off your dreadlocks.” The latter “suggestion” in particular is viewed critically in the comments below the singer’s post. The short-term cancellation of Fridays for Future is seen as “embarrassing”, the demand to cut off the dreadlocks as “extremely abusive”. According to Maltzahn, Fridays for Future have since apologized for the “insensitive tone”.
Singer Ronja Maltzahn herself is also disappointed with Fridays for Future’s decision: “It’s a shame that we are excluded from it because of external characteristics. We don’t want to discriminate against people because of their cultural origin.”
Swell:IMAGE, “New Press” Instagram