Travis Kelce is perhaps the most well-known active professional athlete, largely due to his romantic involvement with pop star Taylor Swift. Consequently, males throughout the United States and Canada aspire to emulate him, or at the very least, sport a similar hairstyle. Recently, an article in The New York Times highlighted a new trend in barber shops where customers specifically request “the Travis Kelce,” a fade haircut. The piece humorously compares the popularity of this haircut to that of Jennifer Aniston’s iconic hairstyle. Barbers both in America and abroad are being inundated with requests for this particular style.
According to one barber interviewed for the article, clients often bring in a picture of Kelce to ensure that the desired outcome of the haircut is achieved. “They usually come in with a picture of him,” explained barber Jeffrey Dugas. “I’m familiar with who he is.” This harmless and trendy article, despite its focus on Kelce’s relationship with Swift, received immediate backlash. However, the criticism took a racially-charged turn, with some accusing The Times and Kelce of cultural appropriation regarding the fade haircut.
Critics demanded that black people be given credit for popularizing the style. However, it is important to note that black people did not create the fade haircut. Its origins can be traced back to the U.S. military during the 1940s and 1950s. In 2016, Ebony magazine featured an article on the fade, revealing that it wasn’t until around 40 years later that the black community began to embrace and popularize this hairstyle. Over time, the fade evolved and became a staple in hip-hop culture during its golden era.
The Community Notes feature on X has since rectified several posts that falsely claimed cultural appropriation. The outrage surrounding The Times’ article highlights society’s desperate desire to incite racial tension. We have become so divided that we argue over which race deserves credit for a particular hairstyle. However, the reality is that neither race can claim ownership of the fade. The Times never made such a claim either. The article simply states that the fade is currently the most popular hairstyle for men, and Travis Kelce has played a significant role in its rise to popularity.
In conclusion, this article in The New York Times is relatively benign and uncontroversial. Only those with racist tendencies perceive racism where it does not exist.