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Durag

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"Durag" redirects here. For the village in Poland, see Durąg. For the village in Iran, see Durag, Iran.
Durag
TypeCap
Place of originUnited States
Introduced19th century

A do-rag, durag, silky or du-rag, also called a wave cap, is a cap typically worn:

  1. To accelerate the development of long curly/kinky hair, waves or locks in the hair[1]
  2. To maintain natural oils in hair (similar to a bonnet)
  3. To stop hair breakage
  4. To keep afro hair, wave patterns and braids from shifting while sleeping
  5. Simply as a form of identity-making fashion, popular in black culture and hip-hop

History

Durags were originally worn by Ethiopian kings especially by menelik the second (1841-1921) and later enslaved African American women and laborers in the 19th century. In the 1930s, during the Harlem Renaissance and Great Depression, the durag was used to maintain hairstyles. After the Black Power Movement in the late 1960s, the durag became a fashion statement among African Americans, worn by rappers, athletes and men of all ages. However, because of rappers such as A$AP Ferg[2] and the renewed popularity of waves, they have regained their status.

Controversy

Some United States high schools attempted to ban the wearing of durags.[3][4] When John Muir High School in Pasadena, California, banned durags as part of a school dress-code policy, the Black Student Union staged a peaceful walk-out in February 2019.[5] Protesting students contended that school administrators banned the head-wear because of its affiliation with gang culture, although the principal claimed that durags were banned because "of values we have for how we present ourselves at school".

In 2001, the National Football League banned its players from wearing durags and bandanas underneath their helmets.[6]

Etymology

Merriam-Webster placed the earliest usage of "do-rag" in 1968.[7] The simplest answer is that "do-rag" is a "rag" worn to protect one's "hair-do." However, The New York Times claims that the true spelling of the word is "durag," and its popularity began in the 1970s.[8] An alternative etymology claimed that "do-rag" is "dew-rag", and "dew" is a euphemism for sweat.[9]

Earlier usage
  • In the August 27, 1965 edition of LIFE magazine, a page 22 photo caption describes a man wearing a "do-rag on his new hair-do".[10]
  • On June 4, 1966, the Akron Beacon Journal printed "do rag ... a cloth band worn around the forehead as a sweatband or to keep hair in place".[11]
  • On September 2, 1966, the Dayton Daily News printed "the man with the black dew rag... one with the black bandana".[12]
  • In late 1966, "do rag ... processed hair done up in black rags" appeared in Newsweek.[13]
Master P wearing a durag

American singer and bassist Thundercat's album It Is What It Is features 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 cartoon Dragon Ball. [14]

Rapper Royce da 5'9" has a song on the 2020 album The Allegory entitled "Rhinestone Doo Rag".

Rihanna wore a durag on the cover of British Vogue, which marked a milestone of durags as seen as a fashion symbol.[15]

The character of Leon Black on Curb Your Enthusiasm is famous for wearing his do-rag on the show. [16]

In 2021, contestant Symone wore an outfit with a do-rag, which extended to a train, on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tom Dalzell (2009), "do-rag", The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English, Routledge, p. 308, ISBN 978-0-415-37182-7
  2. ^ Dawson, Lamar. "How to Tie a Durag, According to A$AP Ferg". GQ. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  3. ^ Rubio, Karolena (13 December 2018). "Du-Rag Controversy Resolved". raidervoice.com. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  4. ^ Miller, Rann (20 July 2018). "A Charter School's Explanation for Banning Durags Is Worse Than the Ban". progressive.org. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  5. ^ Kenney, Tanasia (26 February 2019). "California High School Students Stage Mass Walkout Over Policy Banning Durags". Atlanta Black Star.
  6. ^ Official NFL Playing Rules, Rule 5: Players, Substitutes, Equipment, General Rules. National Football League. 2011. p. 29.
  7. ^ "Definition of DO-RAG". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  8. ^ Garcia, Sandra E. (2018-05-14). "The Durag, Explained". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  9. ^ Preston, Dennis R. (23 March 2005). "Do-Rag (1966)". Lingualist. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  10. ^ Alexander, Shana (27 August 1965). "Out of the Cauldron of Hate - Arson and Death". LIFE: 22. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  11. ^ "The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio on June 4, 1966 · Page 37". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  12. ^ "Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio on September 2, 1966 · 4". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  13. ^ "" the do rag " - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  14. ^ "Dragon Ball Durag Lyrics". Durag Wave. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  15. ^ "Rihanna makes history: 'Did I ever imagine that I would see a durag on the cover of Vogue?'". the Guardian. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  16. ^ "Is Leon Black on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" The Most Influential Durag Ambassador on TV?". Durag Wave. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  17. ^ "Eliminations return as Drag Race celebrates cheesy holiday movies". TV Club. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
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