SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: BTS' V recently went live on the fan-to-artist communication app Weverse to engage with ARMYs after attending American rapper and singer Lil Uzi Vert's afterparty following his performance at the One Universe Festival 2023 in Seoul.
During the session, V chatted with fans about his time at the afterparty and his interaction with Lil Uzi Vert. However, what grabbed more attention was that he was seen with a durag during the fan engagement session.
He shared, "It's this. It's a 두건 (doogun, a term encompassing various bandanas). I received it as a gift."
Historical origins of the durag
The durag, originally designed as a protective tool for Black men to safeguard textured hair and maintain hairstyles and curl patterns, has a historical background rooted in the head wraps worn by Black American slaves.
These head wraps were often associated with poverty and subordination.
However, over time, the durag evolved and was embraced within the Black community in the 1990s as both a hair protection tool and a symbol of empowerment and pride.
Mixed reactions to V wearing a durag
V's choice to wear the durag sparked a variety of responses, with some individuals expressing their dissatisfaction regarding its use as a fashion accessory by someone who is not of Black heritage.
One user wrote, “Taehyung wearing a durag just shows you how ALL kpop idols are not “trained” or “educated” about what’s wrong to say or do, they simply are more controlled by agencies about what to post and that’s why you don’t get to see that side of them anymore until they slip.”
Another added, "For the people trying to downplay Taehyung wearing the durag: it’s part of black culture and used to protect our hair. it’s been used especially in kpop to portray „hiphop“ and „hood“ or „gansta“ vibes, linking blackness to these stereotypes. he is not racist but it is ignorant."
Someone else wrote, "Bringing up other artists who also wore durag does not magically absolve any artists from being in the wrong. Having a competition of who did it worse - they're all wrong and shouldn't have happened it the first place wdym!?"
However, others defended the star as one X user wrote, “Anyone can wear a Durag. I see it all the time around me & yes I’m black. Taehyung always promotes black artists. He even works with them.”
"Durag is wore by black people to hold their hair and anyone can wear it. And whoever gave him , Tae didn't disrespect it and didn't took it like fashion accessory. He just wants to show what he got. We love you taehyung, We are so proud of you Kim Taehyung," another comment read.
"As a black person I don’t understand why taehyung wearing a durag is offensive especially if it’s not being used in an offensive way and especially cause it was a gift. I don’t know educate me if I’m wrong," someone else wrote.
