Melania Trump's safari accessory symbolizes colonialism

Melania Trump wore a hat on a safari tour in Nairobi on Friday. Sure, lots of people wear hats outside, it seems like a pretty normal accessory given the activity at hand.

But this was not a normal hat. Trump sported a white pith helmet, an accessory that was popularized by colonists in the 19th century, and that has widely become a symbol of colonialism. Although, Trump is not the first First Lady to sport one of these hats. In 1994, the Washington Post reported Hillary Clinton wearing the accessory as well.

The hats did serve a practical purpose and were initially worn to keep sun off of the head, with a wide brim to keep rain out of the wearer's eyes. Their design allows for air to circulate around the head, the Washington Post noted.

The First Lady told reporters to, "focus on what I do, not what I wear."

When you are the First Lady, you are being watched much closer than most others in the country. Whether her choice was intentional or not, deflecting from her mistake shows that above all she hasn't learned from the pushback and probably will not change her behavior.