Think about two words, when used separately they stimulate a positive meaning but when used right next to each other they break hearts and hurt feelings.
Only two words: cultural appropriation.
For some of you who may not know what I am talking about, here is a great definition: cultural appropriation is simply “borrowing” without asking for permission. It is the usage and exploitation of the culture of less-privileged group by the members of a dominant one. Sounds disturbing, right? So why do the majority of people keep borrowing without making any returns?
Because they can.
This should stop. Minorities are being culturally appropriated for decades now and this is wrong. Black people are constantly being judged for their dark skin, big lips and ghetto hair, while their white counterparts are being praised for the same features. The problem is not the trend but the color of the people following it.
Dreadlocks have been everywhere since last month when famous models such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Adriana Lima wore multicolored dreadlocks at Marc Jacobs NYFW show. Correction, dreads were used for centuries but they just got appropriated for the usage of white people. Maybe this runway look was fun and fresh for some, but it disturbed girls like Zendaya Coleman who were told they “look like they smell like weed” because of their dreads. The problem was not the appearance of the dreadlocks on the majority of white models, but the exclusion of any kind of reference to the origins of dreadlocks in Black culture. And now there has been a new ruling which disregards dreadlock discrimination under the category of racial intolerance. Amazing news!
What about “boxer braids” which took over social media as the HOT NEW TREND! but have been worn by black girls for years and are actually named cornrows? Did you know that according to Vogue, 2016 is “the year of the butt”? It is now en vogue to have big butts, plumped up lips and dark skin, even though it’s from a bottle. Oh and the #KylieJennerChallenge ! If you have no idea what I am talking about, you haven’t been keeping up with the Kardashians! Kylie Jenner, the 19-year-old, has h-u-g-e lips now! So now of course, it’s “in” to have puffy lips. So here we go, one more cultural appropriation example coming right at you! Black people have had voluptuous lips for centuries and they were mocked because of it.
What about Disney Store’s newest “Moana” items? Today, even kids are growing up in environments in which cultural appropriation is present. Is brown skin a costume? No, it isn’t. So why do people act like it is? What about Coldplay’s new music video which misrepresents India as an exotic playground? How would you feel if your culture was misrepresented?
Look around yourself. There is a difference between appreciating and appropriating a culture. Which one implemented more? People are changing, damaging and hurting the cultures that do not belong to them. No! Braids… Dreadlocks… Big butts… These are not recent “trends.” They represent well-rounded cultures, various kinds of people and their histories. Now it is time for the majority to stop borrowing and start giving back. Now it is time for the people to realize the damage they have done and start appreciating other cultures without claiming them.
