The history of locs is fascinating and varied. According to legend, ancient Egyptian pharaohs wore locs, and their hair was depicted in carvings and drawings. In some stories, the dreadlocks of dead kings and lords were still intact, and even mummified bodies were found with them. Several Bible passages even reference the dreadlocks of biblical characters, including the story of Samson, who was stripped of his locs by his captor, Delilah. Many people attribute the dreadlocks of black slaves to the Bible. However, not all Rastas have dreadlocks, and it is not entirely clear who is responsible for this practice.
Some have been baffled by the history of black hair with locs. In the ’70s, Bob Marley introduced dreadlocks to mainstream society. Whoopi Goldberg, Lauryn Hill, and Lenny Kravitz popularized the look. Even some literary giants have rocked the style. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was “discriminatory” to ban locs from the workplace.
