Appropriation: a newfangled term used primarily by Tumblr fascists, also known as “those darned liberal millennials driving our country and society into the dirt.” This appropriation is not to be mistaken for the allocation of funds to serve diverse purposes, as every dictionary defines the term (unless, of course, the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations all decided to get tribal tattoos and listen to Iggy Azalea while wearing kimonos). In fact, the full term is cultural appropriation, and it refers to the adoption of certain parts or aspects of a culture by people who are not of the culture from whence it came. It also usually targets white adoption of minority cultures. White women in cornrows and kimonos, tribal and Chinese script tattoos on the arms of white men, the infamous Native American Halloween costume, and so on. In a constantly globalizing world and society, and especially in the United States, this “appropriation” is becoming more and more common, and all over the internet, “SJWs” ( Social Justice Warriors, learn more in further installments of Millennials’ Dictionary) are crying out against it with fiery rage. On the other side of the issue, many find the negative feelings toward cultural appropriation absolutely ludicrous, and believe that the issue is pointlessly overdramatized.
I’m somewhere in between, leaning toward the side that says the hype over cultural appropriation is insane, but with qualifications and observations. Taking the extreme standpoint—that no one should adopt anything from another culture—leaves one stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Following this drastic reasoning, learning and speaking another language is cultural appropriation. Learning and doing certain kinds of dance, whether that’s the ancient art of belly dancing from the Middle East or any mixture of twerking, the Dab, the Whip, and the NaeNae, are appropriation. If taking anything from another culture is appropriation, and appropriation is inherently wrong, that limits our food options tremendously, and this is an idea that saddens me. The beloved and faithful Taco Bell, despite being a cheap and inaccurate mimicry of Mexican food, is appropriation. Eminem and Iggy Azalea, along with the majority of American artists going back as far as and further than Elvis Presley, are filthy cultural appropriators. Really, as Americans, the full concept of our culture is based in sanctioned cultural appropriation, making us the “melting pot” of the world (we’re expected to be original now?). Our government system comes from the Greeks, the names of half the cities in Virginia come from Native languages, the names of ninety eight percent of cities in Texas are Spanish (by my guesstimation), and the short list of foods you can thank America for include peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, buffalo wings, s’mores, and brownies—delicious, but I’m trying to live past the age of thirty five. These thoughts are what lead me toward my somewhat dubious view of cultural appropriation.
However, to say that SJWs make no valid points and that their rage is always unjustified and ridiculous goes too far as well. Appropriation is wrong when it mixes with disdain, ignorance, or simply makes a farce of the culture from which it came. Flagrant wearing, for modeling, holidays, or other purposes, of sacred and symbolic clothing from a different culture are not simply “appropriations,” they are inappropriate. In Native American cultures, the feathered headdress is an extremely important ceremonial article worn only by chiefs and great warriors within the tribe. It is not your place to buy one for a couple of bucks to don on for a few hours while having fun with your friends or taking pictures. Black face is not appropriate. A sports team with a Native American as a mascot being called the “Redskins” is not appropriate (and I’m not sure that could even be labeled as simply “cultural appropriation”).
Another valid point that SJWs make about cultural appropriation is the difference in perception that occurs when certain practices from one culture are adopted by another—most of the time, white people. Baggy pants, sagging, cornrows, and dreadlocks are all examples of trends created by the black community. When blacks wear them, it is a symbol of them being ghetto thugs. When whites wear them, it is chic and cool, and ends up in fashion magazines. The problem, however, isn’t the appropriation itself—it’s racism in our society. And typing out CULTURAL APPROPRIATION in all caps, boldface, italics, and underline, followed by exclamation points, isn’t going to even touch that infection in our society.
The diversity of culture in this world, and even in this nation, is stunningly beautiful. By no means should we attempt to erase that by amassing one big homogenous culture. However, what we must realize is that while humanity is scattered across the world, speaks hundreds of languages, and has hundreds upon hundreds of cultures and subcultures, there is still only one human race, and cultural connections, even “appropriations,” can be a good thing. Division should not be something that is continued through the glaring disapproval of every appropriation. Let the white girls wear their cornrows. Let Iggy rap—even if she’s God awful at it. And most importantly, please don’t take Taco Bell away from me!
