Durags
Durags mean different things to different people—whether a fashion statement, a tool for maintaining waves, or a cultural icon in African American communities.
That doesn’t negate the fact that folks from other cultural backgrounds can rock it, too.
I mean, you can also agree that Eminem did rock the bejesus out of his durag while collecting his Grammy in 2003, surrounded by his crew, some of whom were donning durags, too.
All that aside, there is so much to know about Durags.
Durag 101: The Rise of Durags
Some opinion pieces suggest that durags—or some form of it—have been around since the early 19th century as headgear for slaves to maintain their hair.
But durags, as we know them today, can be traced back to the late ‘60s, with various sources mentioning the use of do-rag, dew rag, or durag.
By the ‘70s, hair care companies had popularized durags as the best headwear for keeping waves and other natural hairstyles intact.
By addressing one of the struggles the average African American faced with finding headwear that meet their hair needs, durags quickly found a warm spot in the hearts of many.
After all, they are breathable and flexible, allowing one to adjust theirs to match their hairstyle while comfortably locking hair treatments in. So, why not?
It was only a matter of time before durags shifted from being another hair accessory, to a fashion statement.
That much is clear from the way most of the popular rappers of the ‘90s and early 2000s simply couldn’t stay away from them.
This blog dives into the history, cultural significance, and pop culture influence of durags
The TV Shows and Movies That Made Durags Famous
Curb Your Enthusiasm
For a show that is predominantly white, durags somehow found a way to make a bold and recurring appearance through Leon Black.
Leon Black is a character played by J.B. Smoove in 15 episodes, spanning from seasons 6 through 8.
Interestingly, Leon Black wasn’t trying to control his waves; he was clearly as bald as it gets!
He wasn’t trying to make some fashion statement with the durags, either. Most of his durag-wearing scenes were in casual, at-home settings.
For Leon, his durag was simply an identity. An accessory that makes it clear that he is unapologetically black, and lack of hair wouldn’t stop him from waving the flag high—in this case, wearing a durag.
It’s tempting to say that his durag-wearing scenes were, by and large, some of the funniest Leon Black moments in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Not that the durag has anything to do with it, but maybe!
However anyone chooses to answer that question, Leon has already made it very clear that you don’t need hair to look cool in a durag!
Hustle & Flow
In one of the most-rated movies of all time, Terrence Howard (acting as DJay) plays a pimp—well, a pimp on a path to redemption.
In the movie, we watch as Djay, tired of life in the ghetto and the path he had chosen for himself, pushes for a positive turnaround through music
As you would expect of a movie that tells of the grit, resilience, and persistence one needs to get out of the hood or, at the very least, make a name for themselves, there sure were a lot of scenes that draw one into a whirlpool of conflicting emotions.
However, none draws the viewer in as much as one of the most iconic scenes in the movie: The spiritual experience.
Here, we find Djay wearing his durag while seated in a church listening to Jennifer Bynum’s angelic (yes, angelic by all means) rendition of “Changed Mah Name” until tears trail down his eyes.
For most audiences and critics, this was where DJay’s redemption truly started. And this is the one scene a lot of fans come back to just for the sake of it.
This wasn’t the only time Terrence wore a durag in this movie. He wasn’t the only one wearing a durag in the movie, either; durags were a constant in Ludacris’s role as Skinny Black.
But this scene is where the impact of durag as a core African American accessory is destigmatized.
Where the audience would have ordinarily seen a hustler, a pimp, wearing a durag to look tougher, they see a down-on-his-luck contrite man, whose durag is nothing more than an accessory to keep his long nappy hair together.
The durag stopped being symbolic of a thug or hood life.
There, in the church, as Jennifer’s voice immerses the audience, the durag becomes a centerpiece of the black spiritual experience.
This role brought Terrence Howard fully into the limelight, winning him the Best Breakthrough Performance Award.
The Wire
Various characters in The Wire got numerous opportunities to flaunt their durags, including the largely pitiable Johnny Weeks, played by Leo Fitzpatrick—a white guy. And he rocked it effortlessly!
From the pilot to season 5, episode 10, you’d have a hard time trying to find an episode of The Wire without a durag.
Durags in The Wire embody everything people say they are: fashion items, an identity for the black community, and a wave cap!
In all instances, durags were a clear-cut badge of street credibility and swag in the Wire.
From Omar Little to Avon Barksdale, there is no lack of characters donning a durag in one way or the other.
But we can all agree that Bodie was the most durag-wearing of them all.
For all I care, Bodie could have left the streets to teach a master class on how to wear a durag or start his own durag line and still made it big.
The dude seemed to have a durag for every fit.
He wore them loose, and he wore them tight.
He had them in black, blue, mixed colors, camo, and white.
He didn’t care that he ain’t have any waves; till the end, his durag kept him tight.
In general, The Wire simply made it impossible for the world to ignore durags and their significance.
If you weren’t sure about durags before now, watching The Wire would most likely make you want to try one. It is no wonder that despite the show having ended nearly two decades ago, the characters and their durags still remain the subject of various conversations.
Wrapping Up: Durags for Everyone
The Wire, Hustle & Flow, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, all released between 2000 and 2005, formed a core driving influence that propelled durags in pop culture. The Boondocks’ fans may have also drawn some inspiration from Riley and his occasional affinity for simple durags.
By the 2010s, shows like Power, Atlanta, and Black-ish, among others, had given the durag culture a push in their own capacities.
In 2022, we saw Justin Goodrum premiere "The Stigma of the Durag", a short documentary that explores the nuances surrounding durags in an attempt to destigmatize them.
Durags have evolved far beyond their practical roots. From hair care to cultural pride and fashion, they’ve become a versatile accessory embraced by everyone. Whether you’re maintaining waves or making a statement, there’s a durag for you.
We have seen it with McMahon, Beckham, Eminem, and Travolta.
If there is anything we can take away from any of these shows, it’s that the durag is for everyone and could serve different purposes beyond keeping your wave check.
