Do-rag

Durags were originally worn by enslaved African American women and laborers in the 19th century. In the 1930s, during the Harlem Renaissance and Great Depression, the durag was used to maintain hairstyles. After the Black Power Movement in the late 1960s, the durag became a fashion statement among African Americans, worn by rappers, athletes and men of all ages. However, because of rappers such as A$AP Ferg[2] and the renewed popularity of waves, they regained their status.

Some United States high schools attempted to ban the wearing of durags.[3][4] When John Muir High School in Pasadena, California, banned durags as part of a school dress-code policy, the Black Student Union staged a peaceful walk-out in February 2019.[5] Protesting students contended that school administrators banned the head-wear because of its affiliation with gang culture, although the principal claimed that durags were banned because "of values we have for how we present ourselves at school".

In 2001, the National Football League banned its players from wearing durags and bandanas underneath their helmets.[6]

Merriam-Webster placed the earliest usage of "do-rag" in 1968.[7] However, The New York Times claims that the true spelling of the word is "durag," and its popularity began in the 1970s.[8] An alternative etymology claimed that "do-rag" is "dew-rag", and "dew" is a euphemism for sweat.[9]

Earlier usage

• In the August 27, 1965 edition of LIFE magazine, a page 22 photo caption describes a man wearing a "do-rag on his new hair-do".[10]
• On June 4, 1966, the Akron Beacon Journal printed "do rag ... a cloth band worn around the forehead as a sweatband or to keep hair in place".[11]
• On September 2, 1966, the Dayton Daily News printed "the man with the black dew rag... one with the black bandana".[12]
• In late 1966, "do rag ... processed hair done up in black rags" appeared in Newsweek.[13]

Master P wearing a durag

American singer and bassist Thundercat's album It Is What It Is features the song entitled "Dragonball Durag". The lyrics references the headwear as the title piece to impress women. The durag referenced has a pattern taken from popular Japanese television cartoon Dragon Ball.

Rapper Royce da 5'9" has a song on the 2020 album The Allegory entitled "Rhinestone Doo Rag".

Rihanna wore a durag on the cover of British Vogue, which marked a milestone of durags as seen as a fashion symbol.[14]

The character of Leon Black on Curb Your Enthusiasm is famous for wearing his do-rag on the show.

In 2021, contestant Symone wore an outfit with a do-rag, which extended to a train, on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.[15]

• Kerchief
• List of headgear
• Cap

• Media related to People wearing do-rags at Wikimedia Commons