Melania Trump in a white pith helmet in Kenya
Pith helmet
Melania was recently criticized for wearing a white pith helmet in Kenya, due to its link with colonial rule.
The U.S. first lady while in the Nairobi National Park in Kenya was filmed seated comfortably in the back seat of a Toyota Land Cruiser as she enjoyed a guided safari ride but what shocked many was her choice of fashion.
The pith helmet, worn with khaki trousers, knee-length boots and white shirt, was used by colonialists in the dark days. European travellers and explorers visiting areas such as Africa, Southeast Asia and the tropics in the late 19th Century were usually in the pith helmet and military personnel from countries such as France, Spain and Britain wore the helmet while commanding local armies.
Here’s a short thread on the history and significance of the pith helmet (as worn by Melania Trump in Kenya today). Media correctly describes the pith helmet as a symbol of colonial rule. But why did colonizers start wearing them in the first place? 1/ pic.twitter.com/2geloBtgOi
— ⚽️ is a Country (@FutbolsaCountry) October 5, 2018
Surely her clothing symbolized white imperialism and showed her understanding of what Africa is in 2018.
