Durag & Bonnet Day

By: Max Morant

Every February, the Black Student Movement hosts a month-long series of events celebrating Black History Month. Durag & Bonnet Day has traditionally been the nal event of the series, in which students wear their favorite durags and bonnets to the pit to enjoy fellowship and vibes. Similar events at NC A&T State University and Morehouse College inspired the event where Blackness and solidarity are displayed. Since it began, the event’s intentions and impact have proven controversial within UNC’s Black community. As with any topic, all Black perspectives must be heard concerning the well-being and uplift of our community. In this article, I aim to outline the most common stances on the celebration and hopefully drive the conversation in a positive direction.

Sentiments surrounding the event lie on a spectrum. On one end, people celebrate the occasion to its fullest, and on the other end, critics argue that the day centers the wrong part of Black culture. Speaking to Black alumni from the late 90s and early 2000s, they’ve expressed concern that wearing unprofessional attire may affect our potential careers. One alumnus stated, “every interaction you have is an interview.” They argue that we could be robbing ourselves of opportunities without even knowing. This stance is common, but I argue that any opportunity lost due to simply wearing a durag on campus is probably an opportunity we didn’t need.

Older generations also recall that their parents faced signi cantly more risk than us in predominately white spaces and want us to consider their perspectives as we shift our own narratives. It isn’t easy to imagine what the Black Carolina student experience may have been like decades ago and how different older folks’ lived experiences are. Still, understanding this generational disconnect makes it easier for us to empathize and nd the lesson in their statements.

To me, Durag & Bonnet Day is an unapologetic celebration that gives us the space to be comfortable despite the

white gaze. As with most students of color at a PWI, our perspective is minimized and disregarded constantly. The white experience’s pervasiveness will mute Black culture and lifestyle if we allow it. This silencing manifests itself in making our cultural practices and standards secondary. To many, durags and bonnets may be unprofessional, disrespectful, or lazy because we aren’t presenting the “best version” of ourselves – the same sentiment shared among some Black alumni. From my perspective, Durag & Bonnet Day emphasizes the level of comfort we should feel on a day-to-day basis. I treasure the day because an entire community steps outside of harmful “norms” and into a culture of acceptance on our terms.

Current students I’ve spoken to have expressed support for the day, recognizing that older generations reached maturity in a different era, so their lived experiences create other convictions. One student argued that wearing a durag or a bonnet does not impact their character and that issues with protective cloth stem from malice and hate. Another student expressed gratitude for older generations, recognizing that we wouldn’t have the space to wear durags and bonnets on our terms without our predecessors’ unspeakable sacri ces.

Our goal is never to discredit these predecessors’ contributions, but we also have to turn our sights toward the future. Because positive Black expression has been taboo for so long, students understand that celebrations like Durag & Bonnet Day naturally create concern about how it affects our prospects. However, progress requires courage, and we are dedicated to playing our role.