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Durag

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(Redirected fromDo-rag)
For the village in Poland, seeDurąg.For the provinces in Iran, seeDurag, Iran (disambiguation).
Durag
American rapperSlim Thugwearing a durag
TypeCap
Materialsilk, satin, polyester, and cotton.
Place of originUnited States
Introduced20th century

Adurag(alternate spellings) is a close-fitting cloth tied around the top of the head to protect the hair; similarly awave capis a close-fittingcapfor the same purpose.[1]Durags may be worn to accelerate the development of long curly/kinky hair,wavesorlocksin the hair;[2]to maintain natural oils in hair (similar to abonnet); to stop hair breakage; to manage hair in general; or to keep hair, wave patterns and braids from shifting while sleeping. Durags are also worn as an identity-making fashion choice, popular inBlack cultureandAfrican-American culture.

Spelling and etymology

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Numerous alternative spellings exist fordurag,includingdo-rag,dew-rag,anddoo-rag,all of which may be spelled with a space instead of a hyphen, or with neither a hyphen nor a space; especially asdurag.The simplest etymology fordo-ragis that it is named as such because it is aragworn to protect one's hairdo.However, one writer inThe New York Timesclaims that the correct spelling of the word isdurag.[3]An alternative etymology claims that name should be spelleddew-rag,anddewis a euphemism for sweat.[4]

Early usage

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TheOxford English Dictionarydates the first published usage of "do-rag" to the 1964Facing RealitypamphletNegro Americans take the Lead,[5]written byMartin Glaberman.The pamphlet noted that in the wake of the 1963Detroit Walk to Freedom,"the leading local newspaper announced it would feature a one-a-week column by a prominent local Negro. Trying to be a laborer worthy of his hire, the prominent local figure wrote a column denouncing 'do-rags.' The common habit of wearing a silk stocking over the head, presumably to protect the setting, aroused his ire."[6]

Other early published usages include:

  • In the August 27, 1965, edition ofLIFEmagazine, a page 22 photo caption describes a man wearing a"'do-rag' on his new hair-do ".[7]
  • On June 4, 1966, theAkron Beacon Journalprinted "do rag... a cloth band worn around the forehead as a sweatband or to keep hair in place".[8]
  • On September 2, 1966, theDayton Daily Newsprinted "the man with the black dew rag... one with the black bandana".[9]
  • In late 1966, "do rag... processed hair done up in black rags" appeared inNewsweek.[10]

TheMerriam-Websteronline dictionary places the earliest usage ofdo-ragin 1968.[1]

History

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In the 1930s, during theHarlem RenaissanceandGreat Depression,the durag was used to maintain hairstyles.

During theBlack Pridemovement of the 1960s and '70s, durags became a fashion statement.[11]In the 1990s, durags were further popularized by rappers likeJay-Z,Nelly,and50 Cent.[11]The popularity of rappers such asA$AP Ferg[12]and thewaves hairstylehave re-popularized the use of durags.

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GZAwearing a durag in 2000

The 1974 song "Uncle Remus,"cowritten byFrank ZappaandGeorge Duke,includes the lyric, "I can't wait till myFrois full-grown / I'll just throw 'way my Doo-Rag at home. "[13]

American singer and bassistThundercat'salbumIt Is What It Isfeatures the song entitled "Dragonball Durag".The lyrics references the headwear as the title piece to impress women. The durag referenced has a pattern taken from popular Japanese television cartoonDragon Ball. [14]

RapperRoyce da 5'9 "has a song on the 2020 albumThe Allegoryentitled "Rhinestone Doo Rag".

Rihannawore a durag on the cover of theBritishVogue,which marked a milestone of durags as seen as a fashion symbol.[15]

The character of Leon Black onCurb Your Enthusiasmis famous for wearing his durag on the show.[16]

In 2021, contestant Symone wore an outfit with a durag, which extended to atrain,on thethirteenth seasonofRuPaul's Drag Race.[17]

The rapperBaby Keem,with a feature fromTravis Scott,released a single in 2021 with the name "durag activity".

Kvarforth,frontman of the Swedish depressive suicidal black metal bandShining,is known to wear a durag as part of his onstage look, in contrast to thecorpse painttraditionally synonymous withblack metal.

Bans and controversy

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In 1995, theNational Football League(NFL) considered banning players from wearing "bandanas,known as do-rags. "League executiveGene Washingtonsaid durags were associated with crime andgang violencebut insisted that the idea was "driven largely by black people, not white people."SafetyMerton Hankssaid that he wore one because it made his helmet fit better and was therefore akin to safety equipment. Ultimately, the league decided to take no action.[18]In 2001, however, the league owners voted 30–1 to ban players from wearing all headwear under helmets except for "skull caps"in what the league claimed was" a matter of image. "Although there were concerns that the move may have been racially biased, the league again framed the ban as being originated by black members of their competition committee, includingDenny Green.[19][20]Some players argued unsuccessfully that wearing durags under helmets helped them preventhair loss.[19]

During a preseason game in 2000, theNational Basketball Association( NBA ) toldIndiana PacersplayerSam Perkinsthat he could not wear a durag because it was "a safety hazard."[21]In October 2005, the NBA issueda dress codewhich, among other changes, forbade players from wearing durags not just on thecourtbut while engaged in any manner of team or league business.[22]

Some United States high schools have attempted to ban the wearing of durags.[23][24]WhenJohn Muir High SchoolinPasadena, California,banned durags as part of a school dress-code policy, the Black Student Union staged a peaceful walk-out in February 2019.[25]Protesting students contended that school administrators banned the headwear because of its affiliation withgang culture,although the principal claimed that durags were banned because "of values we have for how we present ourselves at school".[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Definition of DO-RAG".merriam-webster.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  2. ^Tom Dalzell(2009), "durag",The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English,Routledge, p. 308,ISBN978-0-415-37182-7
  3. ^Garcia, Sandra E. (2018-05-14)."The Durag, Explained".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  4. ^Preston, Dennis R. (23 March 2005)."Do-Rag (1966)".Lingualist.Retrieved6 May2019.
  5. ^"do-rag".Oxford English Dictionary(Online ed.).Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/OED/9165380679.(Subscription orparticipating institution membershiprequired.)
  6. ^Glaberman, Martin(September 1964). "American People and the American Crisis".Negro Americans take the Lead.Highland Park, Michigan:Facing Reality.pp. 34–35 – viaAdam Matthew Digital.
  7. ^Alexander, Shana (27 August 1965)."Out of the Cauldron of Hate - Arson and Death".LIFE.p. 22.Retrieved13 September2020.
  8. ^"The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio on June 4, 1966 · Page 37".Newspapers.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  9. ^"Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio on September 2, 1966 · 4".Newspapers.Retrieved2020-12-26.
  10. ^""the do rag" - Google Search ".google.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  11. ^abShen, Ann (2020).Nevertheless, She Wore It: 50 Iconic Fashion Moments.San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC. p. 44.ISBN978-1452184012.
  12. ^Dawson, Lamar (6 April 2018)."How to Tie a Durag, According to A$AP Ferg".GQ.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  13. ^García Albertos, Román."Apostrophe('): Uncle Remus".Information Is Not Knowledge.RetrievedJanuary 12,2022.
  14. ^"Dragon Ball Durag Lyrics".Durag Wave.Retrieved2021-03-29.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^"Rihanna makes history: 'Did I ever imagine that I would see a durag on the cover of Vogue?'".the Guardian.2020-03-31.Retrieved2020-11-02.
  16. ^"Is Leon Black on" Curb Your Enthusiasm "The Most Influential Durag Ambassador on TV?".Durag Wave.Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-21.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  17. ^Kulzick, Kate (23 January 2021)."Eliminations return asRuPaul's Drag Racecelebrates cheesy holiday movies ".TV Club.Retrieved2021-03-29.
  18. ^"The idea of an NFL ban on bandanas isn't sitting well with some players".AP News.Associated Press.May 23, 1995. Archived fromthe originalon 6 May 2022.Retrieved6 May2022.
  19. ^ab"NFL to players... dump the do-rags".Chicago Tribune.April 3, 2001.Archivedfrom the original on 6 May 2022.Retrieved6 May2022.
  20. ^George, Thomas (4 April 2001)."On Pro Football; Blacks at Center Stage in Rancorous Debate on Headgear".The New York Times.Retrieved6 May2022.
  21. ^"League notes".Sports Business Journal.October 17, 2000.Archivedfrom the original on 21 Feb 2024.Retrieved6 May2022.
  22. ^MacLeod, Robert (18 October 2005)."Do-rags done for in NBA code".The Globe and Mail.Archivedfrom the original on 6 May 2022.Retrieved6 May2022.
  23. ^Rubio, Karolena (13 December 2018)."Du-Rag Controversy Resolved".OuRCity News.The Raider Voice. p. 1. Archived fromthe originalon 30 November 2020.Retrieved15 July2019.
  24. ^Miller, Rann (20 July 2018)."A Charter School's Explanation for Banning Durags Is Worse Than the Ban".progressive.org.p. 1.Retrieved15 July2019.
  25. ^abKenney, Tanasia (26 February 2019)."California High School Students Stage Mass Walkout Over Policy Banning Durags".Atlanta Black Star.Archivedfrom the original on Apr 4, 2023.
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