Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin is sporting a new look this season - dreadlocks.
Lin has experimented with a number of different hairstyles throughout his NBA career, including a dangerously spiky mohawk, double braids and a mini pony tail, but his most recent look took some serious thought.
The 29-year old vet recently wrote and article for The Player's Tribune titled, "So... About My Hair," wherein he opens up about his decision to get dreadlocks and how he discussed the move with several people, from teammates to Nets staffers, because he was worried about appropriating black culture.
Lin writes, via The Player's Tribune,
"I still wasn’t sure. A recent conversation I had with Savannah Hart, a Nets staff member who’s African-American, really resonated with me. I told her about my thought process — how I was really unsure about getting dreads because I was worried I’d be appropriating black culture. She said that if it wasn’t my intention to be dismissive of another culture, then maybe it could be an opportunity to learn about that culture."
...
"I took some time to think about it but still had reservations. I asked Rondae if he’d be willing to get dreads with me and he said, “Bro, I’ve been growing my hair out for you. Let’s do it.” So this weekend, Rondae and I got our hair dreaded — for eight hours straight."
"At the beginning of this article, I said I wanted to hear what you think. I truly do."
"Because honestly, I may be wrong here. Maybe one day I’ll look back and laugh at myself, or even cringe. I don’t have the answers. But I hope the thing you take away from what I’m writing is not that everyone should feel free to get braids or dreads — or that one gesture can smooth over the real misunderstandings that exist in our society around race and cultural identity. Not at all."
You can read Lin's full piece, "So... About My Hair," right here.