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Grace MacMillan Ebbtide Reporter Some people wear dreads with a look of pride that dares you to find out what they're about. Brian Kerin is one such proud bearer of dreadlocks. He is the arts and entertainment editor for The Ebbtide. No doubt you've seen him padding around campus, looking like a wooly lion. "How are dreadlocks, well...created?" Brian had his locks dreaded professionally about two years ago. "There are salons that specialize in unique fad dos," he says. "They thoroughly back-comb sectioned locks of hair with a metal comb and then coat each lock with beeswax."
Soon the hair's natural oils take over and surprisingly, the hair continues to lock as it grows. "How often do you wash your dreadlocks?" "Well, that depends," Brian says. "In the summer, about every three weeks. In the winter, I wash my hair about once a month. It doesn't smell so I figure no one is going to be offended. Generally, people with dreads don't wash that often." Brian uses a naturopathic shampoo and no conditioner. No doubt! Who would need a conditioner after three weeks? "OK, Brian, I really want to know. Why do you wear dreadlocks?" "Well, partly it's the aesthetics. I like the look," he says. "It's also a statement of non-conformity to society - a sort of rebellion. I also use it as a filter for people. I figure if someone rejects me because of my hair, then I'm not interested in knowing that type of person. I am interested in people who have done some soul-searching and have come to terms with themselves. And partly, it was hip at the time." "Wow. What is the history behind dreadlocks?" Brian gave me a book called "Dreads" with introduction by Alice Walker (author of "The Color Purple"). The book is a beautiful photo essay of dreads around the world. Walker says, "Dreads are a modern phenomena with roots that reach as far back as the fifth century. "According to ancient Hindu beliefs, dreadlocks signified a single-minded pursuit of the spiritual....In the West, locks are a relatively recent fashion, born of the Black Power movement of the sixties and the infiltration of reggae into popular music." The Rastafarian story has rich historical roots in Jamaica and includes traditional dreadlocks. They are a special fascination for Brian, along with musician and dreadlocks guru, Bob Marley. Marley brought a proud spiritual dignity to dreads for his fans. According to Walker, "The Rastafarian religion has its roots in the Universal Negro Improvement Association, a Pan-Africanist organization founded in the late twenties by the Jamaican born Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey." Garvey was a political activist and devout Christian who was deported from the U.S. and continued working on his political agenda from Jamaica. Brian thinks a lot about life and society's values. He was raised by parents who were non-conformist "hippie types." He says, "People don't see things the way I do. I think most people are selfish humans, especially on environmental issues." Brian doesn't read newspapers or watch television because he doesn't like being exploited by advertisers. "I don't want to be part of their marketing plan," he says. Brian took this stand four years ago at age 22. Brian loves the arts and performs in a funk and rock bank called "Pimp Saber." You'll have to ask him the reasoning behind the name. It's pretty hysterical - and creative. But Brian loves to review all forms of art and educate his audience. He tends to review what he enjoys because well, right now, no one is asking for his review of the opera! Talking with Brian has reminded me that non-conformists want to make a statement to the world. It's not the dreadlocks, but the non-conformity that has a message for us. We need to listen. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™ |
