Recently I've been hearing a lot of talk about cultural appropriation. Other races have always been fond of the black culture, but now it seems that they are so fond that they have been taking things that are specifically for the black culture, renaming it and making it theirs. And if you think I'm lying here are a few examples.
Twerking- In 2013 Miley Cyrus made the song "We Can't Stop" where she was seen twerking and gyrating. When the media saw this they went crazy and made it seem like Miley Cyrus invented twerking. NEWS FLASH! Black people have been twerking for years. The song "Back that Azz Up" was made in the 2000s and that song discussed and provoked the act of twerking.
Bantu knots- Bantu Knots have been a natural hairstyle black women have styled their hair with for years. But all of a sudden white people get hold of it, change the name and call it mini buns. I have no problem with white people wearing the style but don't act like you made it up.
Braids- Bo Derek braids... really? Kim Kardashian is known for culture appropriating. Her whole family is, from the big lips like black women, butts the size of basketballs. These are all qualities many black women have naturally. They date black men and want to have mixed babies so bad it's pathetic. Then for Kim to act like Bo Derek really created those braids, or to wear cornrows then call them Boxer Braids like our parents haven't been putting those styles in our heads before the Kardashians even knew what they were.
This comes to the question, can black people culture appropriate, too?
Many have said no because black people feel that since white people are the majority they set the rules. So if black people wear their hair straight or dress a certain way it's because they are trying to conform to society because they have to if they want to get a good job.Which is called assimilation, that's why many natural hair black women will often straighten their hair for interviews and then once they are guaranteed the job, then they will wear their natural hair.
But one thing I was confused on when black people wear things such as tribal wear and dashikis, is that cultural appropriation? because technically we are not African. Some Africans don't even like to be known as black or grouped in with African Americans. Because if you think about it, Africans have a completely different culture than African Americans. We share similarities but there are still total differences.
Like when Beyoncé wore a hijab in her music video "Hymn for the Weekend." It was an Indian themed music video. Is that not appropriation? If a white person dressed in another cultures clothing, people would be mad, so whats the difference?
Comment on your opinion.
