Melania Trump gets dragged over wearing colonial-style hat during Kenyan safari
Melania Trump faces backlash for wearing a colonial hat in Africa. Twitter users slammed her for her insensitivity and ignorance of African history.
Melania Trump is under fire, yet again, this time for her choice of headgear. While on a safari tour in Kenya during her first solo trip to Africa, the first lady was slammed for wearing a hat reminiscent of colonial civilization.
The first lady “completed the stereotype trifecta" while on tour in Kenya, one critic wrote. https://t.co/2VqYgfdDCW
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) October 6, 2018
Melania visited Nairobi National Park on Friday dressed in a safari-inspired outfit consisting of khaki pants and a white shirt but it was her white pith helmet that earned the ire of Twitter users who blasted her for her ignorance.
First lady Melania Trump's latest white hat evokes a colonialist comparison https://t.co/kOErJuwqGh pic.twitter.com/pcL3sGBI2h
— CNN (@CNN) October 5, 2018
“Melania Trump wearing a pith helmet on her trip to ‘Africa’ is more than a silly sartorial choice. It’s a reflection of her outdated understanding of Africa,” wrote political-science professor Kim Ri Dionne.
Kim Yi Dionne, assistant professor in UCR’s Department of political science, weighs in. @nytimes https://t.co/f7HQkl9lft
— UC Riverside (@UCRiverside) October 7, 2018
During the 19th and 20th century, pith helmets were often worn by European military personnel while seeking colonies in Africa and Asia. They remain symbolic of colonial oppression which is why Melania’s choice of headgear is a big issue.
An African studies historian and coordinator at St. Lawrence University, Matt Carotenuto also slammed Melania who he says “completes the stereotypical trifecta- elephants, orphans and even the pith helmet.”
Melania completes the stereotype trifecta--elephants, orphans and even the pith helmet.....#FLOTUSinAfrica2018 @africasacountry @AFP @AP pic.twitter.com/TkgFb3w4yY
— Matt Carotenuto (@matt_carotenuto) October 5, 2018
Here are some of the other tweets aimed at blasting the first lady.
@FLOTUS That Pith helmet you have carried was used by colonialists during the dark days. Doesn't sit well with us Africans. Who advised you🤦♀️🤦♀️? @CNN @citizentvkenya @ntvkenya
— pauleen (@pauleenmwalo) October 5, 2018
Looks like someone bought a Colonialism Starter Kit, complete with pith helmet before they got on Air Force One. #MelaniaTrump pic.twitter.com/hpJtSShhv7
— Annie Bonney (@SaltyAnneBonney) October 6, 2018
Wife of the wannabe dictator goes with the colonist look in Africa...https://t.co/g3EToO7Iw6
— Facts Do Matter (@WilDonnelly) October 5, 2018
This isn’t the first time Melania gained flak for her wardrobe choice. When she visited detained migrant children in Texas in June, she wore a jacket that said, “I really don’t care, do u?” Many thought it was insensitive of her to wear the message considering her husband Donald Trump’s recent crackdown on immigration. However, her spokesperson defended it as just a jacket with no hidden agenda.
Melania Trump's communications director, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement, "It's a jacket. There was no hidden message." https://t.co/cXJvOwGrnn pic.twitter.com/KCGnk8JO8w
— NPR (@NPR) June 22, 2018
Melania was visibly happy at the beginning of her African trip, her first big solo international outing. She was highly emotional during her visit to Ghana where she dropped by Cape Coast Castle, a slavery holding facility in the 17th century. She described the experience as something she would “never forget” after spending 10 minutes inside a male slave dungeon and walking through the “Door of No Return.” Melania is in Africa to promote child welfare in the region and is scheduled to visit Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt.
Thank you #Ghana! The arrival ceremony, visit to Ridge Hospital, tea at the Jubilee House & meeting the hard workers at the U.S. Embassy made for an amazing first day. Thank you to @RAkufoAddo & the people of #Ghana for such a memorable visit. pic.twitter.com/BCSqgCyGOM
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) October 3, 2018
