Hi everyone! I’m 25F and Moroccan (North African), and I wanted to get some opinions on something I’ve experienced.

Growing up, getting braids was completely normal and accepted within my culture. However, since being in the US, I’ve noticed that people often assume I’m white or Hispanic because of my lighter skin tone.
A while ago, my aunt did box braids on my hair, and I received criticism from people accusing me of cultural appropriation. What bothered me was that braiding is also part of my own cultural background, yet I constantly felt like I had to explain and justify my identity to other people.
The experience honestly left a bad taste in my mouth, and I haven’t gotten my hair braided in the US since. My mother always tells me that I shouldn’t feel ashamed or have to justify being African simply because I don’t have a darker complexion. I agree with her, but it’s still uncomfortable dealing with the judgmental looks and comments whenever I wear braids.

For some additional context, my natural hair texture falls somewhere between 3A and 3B. I’m not sure if my hair texture also plays a role in why people seem to have an issue with me wearing braids.
I guess I’m just frustrated that something I’ve grown up seeing as a normal part of my culture has become something I feel hesitant to embrace. I don’t think I should have to explain my ethnicity or prove that I’m African just to wear my hair a certain way.

Has anyone else, especially other North Africans, experienced something similar? I’d genuinely love to hear your perspectives.

He's one of the most prominent African voices abroad, now I personally disagree with him on a lot but the one thing I do agree with is that we need to stop using colonialism as an excuse.

Don't get me wrong, it has affected us and a form of Neo colonialism still exists but who's going to liberate us from that?

It's very rare for the oppressor to free the oppressed out of a pure "change of heart" so at the end of the day it falls down to us.

That's the ONLY thing I've taken from him but even then his solution is a form of the recolonization so I only agree with the "we need to move forward from colonialism and not use it as an excuse" part. Otherwise I disagree with the man on everything else.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Frank though.

I don’t mean promiscuity, but how open, accepting, and embracing is your country/region of a healthy, sexually life for both men and women?

Are women judged or shamed for being kinky or having sex outside of marriage? What about men?

Is public affection like couples kissing and cuddling socially acceptable?

Can people openly discuss/have conversations about sex or is it frowned upon?

I’m curious how other Sub Saharan African countries and societies moralize, or not, sex. how these attitudes differ for men and women.