Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Sept. 26, 2002, edition 1 / Page 2
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Page 2 The Blue Banner September 26,2002 Features Deep inside the knots: dreadlocks at UNCA Corbie Hill Featur :s Reporter People have very strong feelings about dreadlocks, they either hate them or have them. Dreadlocks have become an acceptable accessory of popular entertainers or television personalities, and appear all over Asheville’s downtown. In many parts of America, how ever, dreadlocks are a little-under- stood fashion statement only seen on television. Andy Faulk, an undeclared sopho- more, has had several sets of dreadlocks. He currently doesn’t, but misses having his. “They’re seen as something cool in the American media, and I can understand that. I see a lot of people around town sporting ‘locks, I’m supportive, but sometimes it makes you think they’re doing it just to be cool or different,” said Faulk. “I think that people should get them, but for the right reasons.” Dolly J. Mullen, an assistant pro fessor in the political science de partment, began growing her dreadlocks many years ago. She and her son, Jamal, both wear them. Many people expect those with dreadlocks to be unsuccessful po litical extremists, rather than col lege professors. “A lot of people look down on dreadlocks,” said Mullen. “Dreads make a strong statement about someone’s political views, so you have to get past people’s precon ceptions.” “I see kids in supermarkets saying to their parents, ‘See! She has dreads, why can’t I?’ And, I’m a college professor,” said Mullen. “I prob ably couldn’t wear my hair like this if I were a lawyer. “Toni Morrison had dreads for a COURTESY OF THIRDF1ELD.COM Bob Marley, with the old-school natty dreads, helped popularize both Rasafari and roots, rock, reggae. while, and I’m pretty sure Alice Walker did too. I feel like I’m in good company.” Haircuts that deviate from what is expected immediately subject their wearers to prefabricated stereotypes. People with mohawks, men with long hair and girls with shaved heads can all be challenged by these preju dices. But there are many stereo types that can be applied to short- haired men and long-haired women. Anyone who grows dreadlocks has to be aware of the statement that they are making, intentionally or unintentionally. A social precedent has made dreadlocks the mark of a dissident. “Jamal complains sometimes that people just see his dreads, and that he’s not just Jamal, but Jamal with the dreads,” said Mullen. “He’s had dreads since he was nine. I told him when he started growing his dreads that people would assume things about him, and that he would have to be an individual so much more powerfully to overcome that.” Though no one I interviewed claimed to be a Rastafarian, dreadlocks are indicative of that The Rastafarian faith originates with the belief that Haile Selassie, an Ethiopian emperor, who died in 1976, was a living god. Haile Selassie’s original name was Ras Tafari before his coronation, and many Rastafarians believe he still lives today, according to www.swagga.com, a Web site that documents black culture and his tory worldwide. Rastafarian dreadlocks are a sym bol for African roots and defiance towards “Babylon,” the white power structure. A chapter out of the Bible, which Rastafarians believe has been im properly interpreted by past churches, supports the freely grown hair and beards, according to the Web site. “(Dreadlocks) symbolize the Rasta’s roots, contrasting the straight, blond look of the white man and establishment. It not only shows their roots, but it is sup ported in the Bible: Leviticus 21:5 (reads), ‘They shall not make bald ness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.’ The way the hair grows comes to represent the symbol of the Lion of Judah, which represents Haile Selassie, the conqueror,” according to the Web site. Though he’s not a Rastafarian, Andy Faulk found a spiritual con nection through his dreadlocks. “It felt good, letting nature take its course and letting your hair grow like it was supposed to. I felt like I could put my mind to more impor tant things without having to worry about my hair,” said Faulk. Mike Cole, an undeclared fresh man, doesn’t have a spiritual con nection to his dreadlocks. “I’ve had dreads for about three years because I found a knot in my hair one day, and that’s about it,” said Cole. There is also a contingent of UNCA students who don’t have positive feelings about dreadlocks. Jack Senechal, a senior math ma jor, has a problem with people who let their dreadlocks get out of con trol. “I have a problem with nasty hip pie dreads,” said Senechal. “If a person is going to get dreads they should have them nice, and well manicured and clean. If it’s just one, big, unkempt, nasty dread, then they should shave it off.’' Dennis Woods, a junior multi- media arts and sciences major, is disgusted by dreadlocks. “To me it’s awful nasty, not wash ing your hair for a long time, letting it get all knotted up,” said Woods. Dreads aren’t a result of unclean ness, according to Andy Faulk. People assumed that he was dirty because of his dreadlocks. “I got the usual reactions when I had dreads. People who knew what they were talking about would say ‘Hey, nice dreads,’ and ignorant people would think I was dirty,” said Faulk. “I bathed, I kept myself clean, I just happened to have dreads. Andy no longer has dreads, and why? “Because it was the summer time, and they got really hot. I was work ing outside a lot, and I was sweating and it just got nasty so I cut them off,” said Faulk. “I wasn’t patient enough, and I guess that’s what dreads are all about is patience, letting nature take its course.” “Toni Morrison had dreads for a while, and I’m pretty sure Alice Walker did too. I feel like I’m in good company.” -Dr. Dolly Mullen New music venue to open downtown Max Taintor Features Reporter The Orange Peel, a new live music venue in downtown Asheville, will hold its innagural concert Oct. 25 The opening show features Sonny Landreth, a Louisiana-based blues slide guitarist who plays an unor thodox guitar style. He simulta neously plays slide and makes fin gering movements on the fret board for a unique sound. He will be performing with Tift Merritt from the former group The Carbines. Other upcoming shows include Galactic with Mofro, J unior Brown, Kad Denson’s Tiny Universe, the power trio Medesid, Martin and Wood, and the band Pork Tor nado, a side project of Phish drum mer Jon Fishman. The Orange Peel owners. Jack and Leslie Groetch, ran nightclubs for over 12 years in New Orleans. They decided to come to Asheville to visit friends, and they loved it here. They initially wanted to get out of the club business but decided to give it another go. “The Orange Peel has a mission to become not only a live music venue to rival any in the nation, but also to become a community center for cultural arts and events in Asheville,” said Jack and Leslie Groetch. They consider it more of a “social aid and pleasure club” than a con cert hall. Locally, The Orange Peel will ri val the Asheville Music Zone, Stella Blue, and the Grey Eagle. “As far as competition we’re not looking at them like, oh, they’ve got big shows and we’ve got to be COURTESY OF NEWSON MANAGEMENT Karl Denson (above) and his Tiny Universe are among the first acts scheduled to perform at Asheville’s newest music venue, The Orange Peel. The first show is scheduled for Oct. 25. Upcoming shows that won^t sunk Jack of the Wood- 9/27- Sons of Ralph Stella Blue-10/2-David Nelson Band Emerald Lounae-10/4- Strut 10/5-Magraw Gap reunion featuring Larry Keel 10/10- Snake Oil Medicine Show Grey Eagle- 9/27-Count Clovis 10/11-The Hackensaw Boys 10/13-Larry Keel solo 10/18-James Mcmurtry Get out there and boogie ‘till ya fall over. bigger and better,” said Kris Baldwin, head bartender and office manager of the Asheville Music Zone. “I plan to go to some of their upcoming shows, and just like all the other music venues in town, we try to keep it professional and cour teous,” said Baldwin. Upcoming Orange Peel shows include an Oct. 27 date with Little Feat and special guest Blue Dogs. Little Feat has a large cult follow ing and are a hit with the critics. Their classic sound is a mix of Blues, R & B, country, and rock and roll. Music enthusiasts in Asheville hope to find changes from the usual music venue at the Orange Peel. Many complain about the lack of room in various clubs, the cost of food and limited variety of activi- “The atmosphere (of Asheville music venues) certainly depends on whoever’s playing, but the com pany is usudly good and the drinks are too,” said Mary Anne Bennick, a junior at UNCA. “If they (Orange Peel) stick with what they love, and can intuit their customers’ wants, it should be a fabulous place for Asheville to take full advantage of,” said Bennick. The Orange Peel is also planning theme nights, such as swing, contra or Latin dance nights, and special Sundays that could become pig pickings or hoedowns. Several bands previously booked at the Asheville Music Zone already appear on the the Orange Peel’s concert schedule. For upcoming show, tickets and more information visit The Or ange Peel Web site at viTvw.theorangepeel.net. 10/29-Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe with Soulive 10/31-Bjorn Again 11/2-Sound Tribe Sec tor 9 11/9-Galactic 11/10-Pork Tornado 11/16-Junior Brown 11/24-Dick Dale
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
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