Braids have been worn by black people for centuries and now all of a sudden since a popular white celebrity wears them the media wants to change the name from corn rows to boxer braids. Many black women are upset that the media is saying that Kim Kardashian started the trend of wearing “boxer braids” but in reality this hair style was started eons ago by black people. Zendaya dropped some knowledge on the controversial subject. Check out what she said after the jump.

Instagram | Carli Knox

In a recent interview Zendaya was asked how she felt about the so called new trend of braids and she said

“Well, first of all, braids are not new. Black women have been wearing braids for a very long time, and that’s another part of the frustration… Another problem is it became new and fresh and fun, because it was on someone else other than a black woman. I don’t know if there is an appropriate way—that’s not something I can answer. My girl Amandla [Stenberg]… wished society loved black people as much as they love black culture. That’s the truth. The credit gets taken away from us when we make certain statements or when we do certain things. That is the frustration.”

Zendaya went on to to add how the media can do a better job talking about cultural appropriation, saying

“If something feels personal to your culture or to your background, then you take that personally and you feel affected by it. You can’t tell someone not to be upset about it… Talk to women of color and hear their personal experiences. Get to know the background, understand why people are offended by it, and [learn] how we can be more sensitive of other people’s cultures—how we can enlighten ourselves…”

CORNROWS have been worn by black women and men for a very long time and it is some what a slap in the face when a white woman gets praised for supposedly starting a new trend when this style has been worn as hair styles and protective styles. Yes Kim Kardashian looks fab with her CORNROWS but she did not start the trend and she was not the first to wear the hair style. Zendaya is so classy and wise beyond her years. She couldn’t have answered that question any better.

What are your thoughts about the media saying that Kim Kardashian started this new trend? Comment below and let us know.

Source: Nylon