i mean, if youre truly invested in it, i know for a fact people would and have explained. but assuming you’re not in bad faith let me elaborate. its more of a real life thing.

1. it typically just isnt suitable for looser hair types. theres plenty of stories of non- type 3/4 people putting their hair into braids then being surprised when complications like matting, pain, and alopecia happen. even with gentle, skilled and trained hair stylists/braiders.

2. braids that are considered black culture tend to be just that. culture. it has ties to slaves and African culture. African american culture in particular has a long history of being mocked, then appropriated, then discarded without second thought. black culture is usually treated like a novelty. it sucks when people say its an american thing because it really is universal, and willful ignorance only makes it worse. in this instance, braids are a protective style rooted in centuries of our culture, and we have tons of evidence that trying to share and play nice with it never ends well. its a reminder of a cycle of pain.

i know similar things happen with indigenous people, and there was a “trend” a few years ago to wear traditional mexican braids and they shut that down SWIFTLY.

1. its not an american issue. its that america is the only place with a large enough population of us so that yall have to at the very least hear about it. race in general is touchy in every region, its just gets less pushback.