When my aunt stared at the golden name chain around my neck, this question stumped me. Look, for many women in my family, jewelry is essential. My grandmother never left her thick hoop. My aunt always shows her latest bracelets (amulets given to her by her best friend). Oops, before I said my first word, I even had gold stud earrings and a bracelet with a name engraved on it. There is no doubt that jewelry is always related to my Latin culture.

However, since I was a child, I hated name chains, door ring earrings and big hoops, most likely because I was worried that they would make me look too "different", just like I would never be taken seriously in a non-BIPOC conspicuous space . In 2018, The New York Times writer Sandra E. Garcia explained a similar feeling: "I think wearing a big hoop will make me stand out, making me look too loud, too conspicuous, too slum, and too dark."

But despite my (and many other BIPOC women) inner turmoil and identity crisis, the fashion industry keeps telling us that basketball is "cool! Trendy! Chic!" Of course, I think this is good. Until you see who is rocking them and how to call them "hot must-haves," years of black and Latino history are ignored.

About that period of history: The earliest gold hoop earrings appeared in Africa (especially Egypt and Sudan) and Asia (especially Iraq) around 1500-2500 BC, as a symbol of cultural identity, class and protection. This style was introduced to Greece and Rome in 330 BC, where it was popular with royal families and everyday women (and men), although even cats, pirates, and pharaohs were reportedly wearing them.

In the 16th century, earrings became unpopular because Europeans spent more time worrying about their hairstyles and clothes. But, like any style, they made a comeback in the 17th century in the form of pearls, buckles and diamonds.

The 1900s brought a new stigma to basketball due to the ties to Native Americans and Latin cultures considered "barbaric". It wasn't until the 1960s and 1970s that they became a beacon of empowerment and activism, when black women like Nina Simone, Donna Summer, and Angela Davis shocked them along with the black power movement. "Say'black is beautiful' is destructive, and'black power' is destructive, and their appearance reflects this. Those beautiful Africans; shiny, glowing, radiant skin; hoop earrings ——Very artistic, not excessive, not complicated. It's very unique," Davis told Women's Wear Daily.

The cultural significance of the golden hoop (and the appearance of door knockers/bamboo earrings) continued in the 80s and 90s, thanks to celebrities such as Salt N Pepa, Sade, and Jennifer Lopez, as well as the Mexican-American California of the Southern Chola Movement.

Bottom line: They have always represented the cultural pride and power of black and Latino communities.

But, of course, as long as there are hoop earrings, there are critics who think this appearance is unprofessional, slum and distracting. In TV and movies, when a BIPOC woman wears hoop earrings, she is regarded as exotic, funny or useless. (Think of Gloria Pritchett in a modern family.) They are synonymous with noisy friends, promiscuity mistresses or terrible aggressors. (You know why I hesitate to wear them, right?)

Okay, so we all agree that stigmatizing traditional black and Latino accessories is a mess. But what about the appropriation of mainstream (mostly white) influencers and celebrities?

Although there have been long-standing examples of Latino misappropriation (Drew Barrymore's obsession with hoop in the 90s or Gwen Stefani's corn on the cob, pencil thin eyebrows and big hoop in the early 00s), it was true for me in 2016. At that time, Urban Outfitters started selling basketballs for $16. Then I saw Marc Jacobs's $45 nameplate hoop. 45 dollars? ! These staple foods usually sell for less than $5 in the beauty shop where I live in New York. For some people, this is high fashion. But for us, this reminds us that things from white culture are more valuable than things from our own communities.

In short, appropriation highlights what many women like me already know: the "It" girl role does not include BIPOC. Black and Latino women must constantly re-guess what we are wearing in order to enter a space where we already think we are inferior. But what about white women? This is very interesting, even a trend.

Uh, so we can't even wear earrings now? I can already see my inbox filled with this question (with a virtual eyeball scrolling to match). The short answer: Of course you can.

The bigger question is how do we present "trends" rooted in Latino and black culture. First, think about the environment in which you wear them and whether this is an insult to the community that created this look. Think of Taylor Swift wearing big hoop earrings in the "Shake It Off" video with black dancers in the background. Or when Illana Wexler wears "Latin" earrings in Broad City, even though she is not Latin. Next, think about the way you label these accessories. In the same sentence you call a piece of jewelry "fashionable and luxurious", do you also call it "avant-garde and radical"? Or, in the case of Carrie Bradshaw, do you think gold jewelry is "slum fun"?

Fortunately, many black and Latino millennials and Gen Z pioneers were calling for funding when they saw it; in 2016, Latino students at Pitzer College drew: "White girl, take off your earrings!!!" And said in an email: "This culture actually comes from a historical background of oppression and exclusion." Others are revisiting the rich cultural history of earrings. In 2017, Puerto Rican artist Tanya Melendez held a photography exhibition to celebrate women of color wearing hoops. Years later, representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore gold hoop earrings, a white pants suit and bright red lips during her congressional swearing ceremony-this was a revocation of the negative stigma Another step.

When talking about the power of that moment, the author Francis Sola-Santiago put it best, “For Latinos in a position of power, wearing earrings is like a small rebellion against the status quo. The company is gray. In suits and naked nail art, they announced our existence loudly and proudly."

So, when my aunt asked this question, I realized that I had changed. I am no longer the girl who is ashamed of wearing jewelry. I am proud to have the tradition that my women have celebrated over the years. As I became more and more satisfied with my identity, I found that this "so-called trend" can come and go, but for me, it will always be indispensable. These days, I am proud to be able to wear the big earrings on my name chest and ears on my name (even though I am still working up the courage to increase the size of the earrings).

It reminds me of power, community and beauty. There is nothing "fashionable".

Related: 8 fashion trends and sports from black culture

More importantly, they all wear hoop earrings—not once or twice, but always. This is part of their collective MO, and if any of you want the same swagger, now is the time to consider piercing your earlobes and pile on bling.

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