Well, it appears that Bonita Tindle is sick and tired of the cultural appropriation that continuously occurs when non-Blacks culture-jack hairstyles commonly rocked by Black people. Tindle’s frustration must’ve reached a fever-pitch a few days ago when she encountered Cory Goldstein flaunting his freeform dreadlocks.
In a video that’s now gone viral online, Tindle and Goldstein, both students at San Francisco State University, go toe-to-toe when Tindle makes it clear she’s not impressed with Goldstein’s dreadlocks. In the video, which was recorded by a bystander, Goldstein asks Tindle, “You’re saying that I can’t have a hairstyle because of your culture? Why?”
Standing beside an unidentified student, Tindles responds, “Because it’s my culture.”
“Are you Egyptian? Nah, man, you’re not,” Goldstein rebuts after pointing out that dreadlocks were also worn in Egyptian culture.
Things got hot from there. As Tindle quizzes Goldstein about his heritage and asks if he knows where Egypt is on a map (implying that he should know it’s in Africa and thus a part of Black culture), she and Goldstein get into a minor physical altercation. Tindle appears to attempt to block Goldstein from leaving. She taunts him and pulls his arm, asking him to “come back.” When Goldstein returns, Tindle says, “You put your hands on me, you’re going to learn.” Goldstein answers, “I don’t need your disrespect.”
Following the release of the video Monday, rumors circulated that Tindle was a university employee; however, SFSU investigated and found that to be false.
While Goldstein filed a formal campus police report, he did not file criminal charges. He recently spoke with ABC’s San Francisco station KGO-TV and said that he will not change his hairstyle. “It’s something I’ve had since I was 17 years old and something that’s part of who I am. I believe they are powerful and helped amplify myself and helped me connect to this world,” he said.
In a statement, SFSU shared its position on the matter: “San Francisco State University promotes the rights of the campus community to engage in free speech, but does not condone behavior that impedes the safety or well-being of others … We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable University channels, including our campus student conduct procedures.”
Tindle has yet to surface and share her side of the story.
What do you think? Did Tindle go too far by questioning Goldstein about his hairstyle? Sound off in the comments section below.
