By | Frigillana Dugan
Both African American and Hispanic culture has been deemed as “street style” since the 90s-2000s. Before this was modernized and turned trendy, this was once discriminated against and deemed as “ghetto, unprofessional, tacky, flashy, and over the top”. Let’s dive into some of the things that come from both Black and Hispanic culture, and how it influenced not only our fashion but our beauty standards today as well.
The Accessorization of Gold
From hoops to door knockers, these earrings manufactured in Southeast Asia have hit flea markets on the streets for a few dollars, to beauty and hair stores in black neighborhoods. Black women popularized hoops rather than the typical stud earrings in the 90s, and they were used as a form of self-expression and looked trendy. They were cheap, affordable, and stylish. Gold hoops date back to Egypt and Iraq cerca 330 BCE, where gold was a symbol of societal status. Jewelry is a luxury to have and to own jewelry that is bigger, shinier, and unique displays a personality that you cannot overlook.
Not only were hoops prevalent in the Black community, but the Hispanic community too, going back to the 60s. Since Cholo’s ( individuals of mixed or pure American Indian ancestry, or other racially mixed origin) are looked at as Mexican gangs, deemed dangerous and foreign, corporate America viewed hoops as a sign that you were from the streets. Women of color with gold jewelry were put into a stereotype as being Cholo/Chicano/gangster because of the pairing of their skin tone, those earrings, and the association with “Locura” (craziness).
You don’t have to be a rapper to wear gold, nor do you have to be a gangster. Hoops come within these communities and are here to stay. Within our beauty stores, which are typically run by Asians, supplying Black and Brown beauty, brings communities together. Gold is worn amongst people of color to let them shine, and express individuality. Nowadays, hoops are normal and tend to be worn in smaller size, however, it originates from African American and Latino-American culture. What was once deemed “ghetto” is now proven “fashionable”.
Braids As we all know, braids are critical to African American culture and identity. Braids have plenty of stereotypes depending on who wears them, and not many understand the importance of why they are so essential amongst the Black community. From protecting your natural hair to letting your hair grow out, or simply just for the style, braids are at the heart of the Black community. Dating back to pre-abolitionary times, women would map out railroads through their hair, keep sunflower seeds in their hair, and secrete messages. We see the difference in how society treats Black women for having braids, while it’s deemed acceptable when a non-BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) has French braids. What’s the difference? Every race carries braids within its culture.
Hispanics and Latinos carry their braids with pride as well, and not many people understand or realize the crossover. Going back to 1526, Christopher Columbus went on his conquest to take over Latin America from Spain, embarking on the Transatlantic Slave Trade. He came to the Caribbean and brought thousands of the enslaved from Africa over to the land of the Indigenous (Ex: the Arawak, Tainos) to sugar and coffee plantations. As a result of the trade, it brought the Spanish language to these countries and created a melting pot in not only the Caribbean, but Latin America overall, with a mix of the Indigenous, Africans, and Europeans. This is why Hispanic and/or Latino is not a race, but is an ethnicity, an identity. This here, over the last hundreds of years, is why we see so much overlap between Black and Hispanic culture, and why we have many Afro-Latinos amongst us.
90's Fashion & The Music Industry
With groups in the Hip Hop and/or music industry, such as TLC, Destiny’s Child, the Cheetah Girls, Outkast, NWA, and singular artists such as Aaliyah, Nelly, Selena, JLo, Tupac, and more, these artists dominated fashion trends and tabloids. With the matching outfits across girl groups, Aaliyah’s small crop top big jeans combination, Tupac & NWA’s California streetwear, and Selena’s iconic stage costumes handmade herself, they set the runways for us to walk on today. The ’90s/2000s were all about the future while keeping the hood within.
This era was the rise of Hip Hop and Black fame. Technology was advancing and the Internet just came about, it was the perfect platform for Black celebrities to showcase their personalities through their talent, especially music videos. We’re currently seeing a resurgence of the 2000s fashion, as pieces from that time are now considered vintage, and looks are being recreated from one celebrity to another. Drake recently performed at a concert with all of his classics and throwbacks and recreated Cam'ron’s iconic pink fur hoodie look. As we can see, the 2000s are coming back, and it is apparent that this style is here to stay.
Sources
Lee, Alicia. “Why Christopher Columbus Wasn't the Hero We Learned about in School.” CNN, Cable News Network, 12 June 2020,
Ocampo, Sandra. “Sandra Ocampo.” La Gente Newsmagazine - University of California, Los Angeles, Sandra Ocampo Https://Lagente.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2014/04/LAGENTE156H.Png, 15 Nov. 2020,
Diaz, Thatiana. “The Complex Relationship between Latinas, Race, & Braids.” Can Latinas Wear Braids Without Backlash?, 23 Apr. 2020, https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8499036/latinas-black-hair-styles-braids-cultural-appropriation.
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