Black influence has been mainstream in America for a while.
The African American community has proven themselves as trendsetters across the entertainment landscape as trends in music, fashion, dancing, and aesthetic have been heavily influenced by the African-American community. Elements of black culture are even subtlety appropriated in other cultures.
Despite the popularity of black culture, black people, on the other hand still face obstacles due solely to the color of their skin.
This is meant in the most literal way possible. The black population in America is currently at 13 percent while the white population make up 70 percent . So, economically white people have the volition to take parts of black culture without any real repercussions. These instances include but are not limited to dreadlocks, using slang, appropriating black music (such as Elvis Presley), and wearing dashikis.
However, there has been a shift. Black beauty is being taken from the dominant white culture and glamorized. But somehow, the standard of white beauty still applies. If you are reading this article, Google "beautiful women." None of the women in those images have a speck of melanin. There might be a token black women on each page but other than that it is mostly light skinned women.
So why is the beauty and innovation of black people not being acknowledged and instead appropriated? Why are they being imitated by the very same people who have always felt superior to them? White people take ownership of it.
The appropriation of black culture can be accredited to laziness and ignorance. They fail to acknowledge or credit black culture. They let the entertainment black people distract them from what's really going on in terms of the socioeconomic and political issues that plague the black community.
Some people view selling black culture as another way to succeed. America likes to see things from a black perspective. That's the reason why films such as "Black Panther" and "Get Out" are as successful as they are. The problem is that people take from the culture without properly crediting black culture while having an ignorance of what its like to be black.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Black people are still not getting the credit they deserve and it looks like that won't be the case for a long time. This won't change until people start educating themselves or until the black community starts trademarking the culture they create.
On the bright side, it is nice to appreciate how widespread black culture is in America while it continues to innovate and transcend popular culture.