I am writing this post because this topic has been brought up again, and I realize that I owe a formal apology for my actions. I should have done this years ago.
I am a white trans person who had locks for a couple of years when I was a teenager. At the time, I was completely unaware of the oppression Black people face, especially in relation to their hair. Black people are discriminated against in schools, workplaces, and society at large for simply wearing their natural hair or protective styles like locks. Meanwhile, white people who adopt these styles often face little to no consequences—in some cases, they are even praised for the same looks that Black people are punished for. This is cultural appropriation, and it upholds a system where Black culture is exploited while Black people continue to be marginalized.
I did not experience discrimination because of my hairstyle, but Black people do. Many Black individuals are forced to cut their locks due to racist school and workplace policies. Black children are suspended from school, and Black professionals are denied jobs or even fired for wearing their natural hair. The fact that I, as a white person, could wear locks without facing these consequences is an example of white privilege.
Additionally, this hairstyle is often associated with negative stereotypes, particularly in connection to drugs and crime. While I may have been casually judged for my hair, Black people with locks face real dangers—harsher policing, workplace discrimination, and social exclusion. Black people are already disproportionately targeted by law enforcement, and racist stereotypes about locks only increase that danger.
Wearing locks as a white person contributes to these systemic injustices. It reinforces the double standard, where Black people are punished for something that white people can do freely. It allows white people to engage with Black culture on their terms, while Black people are still fighting for the right to exist without discrimination.
I take full responsibility for my actions. I should have listened and learned sooner. I regret that my choices contributed to a system that harms Black people, and I deeply apologize for the hurt and harm I caused.
I will continue to educate myself and use my platform to uplift Black voices, support Black-led movements, and fight against racism in all forms. I encourage others to do the same—listen to Black stories, challenge racist policies, and amplify Black art, music, and culture without appropriating it. Acknowledging past mistakes does not undo harm, but it is a necessary step toward accountability and meaningful change.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
Written by Ryan Cassata