To not fully understand "cultural appropriation"

[hettyGreek]

It seems like its a US phrase that is slowly getting adopted in the UK.

For the most part I just don't get it. If something is racist just call it racist.

I don't have any issue with someone white having dreadlocks for instance. These have been worn by many people of different cultures across the earth. Or am I missing something? If anything its funny if one culture try to take ownership of something that has a very mixed origin.

One great example of genuine cultural appropriation is this new trend for throwing around powder paint at events like fun runs. It's been appropriated from the Hindu festival of Holi.

Now there's no law that says you can't have powder paint fights for a laugh, but that doesn't take away from the fact that a bunch of white kids imitating this custom is a bit weird, to my mind.

Can I just point out that dreadlocks are a religious symbol and are the same for a Rastafarian as a turban is for a sikh.
So it is religious and cultural appropriation, in the Rasta faith anyone that wears locks as a fashion trend is seen as insulting their faith whether it be black or white.
As someone who was raised Rasta I find it deeply offensive to have the Rastafarian religion not recognized as such and the affirmations of my religion discussed as a fashion item.

There have been some openly goady posts on this thread.

A Google search brings up the definition. It doesn't mention it being left wing;

racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/fl/What-Is-Cultural-Appropriation-and-Why-Is-It-Wrong.htm
It has little to do with one’s exposure to and familiarity with different cultures. Instead, cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups — often with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience and traditions.'

So no, an Asian businessman wearing a suit is not appropriating your culture, belittling it and oppressing you. And you can eat your Chinese take away with a clear conscience.

im pretty sure that dreadlocks were worn long before rastafarianism was invented in the 1930 Awademumbo, although I do appreciate they have religious significance for you and many people. That doesnt mean they belong to any one group.

It seems a bit too easy to have a go at the odd hippy for some non existent oppression from them, rather than lookng at who really is doing the oppressing

DN4geek you have saved me from getting a headache trying to explain ca on this thread. The last CA thread was enough. 👏

When it comes to white dreadlocks, there is no historical usage of them in Europe - the Celtic glibs involved adding things to the hair to matt their hair together which is nothing like dreadlocks.
Yes that is true. The difference is a black person with dreads is treated differently to a white person.

Re: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2966383/Zendaya-hits-Fashion-Police-s-Giuliana-Rancic-racist-comments-dreadlocks.html

You don't hear many Pastafarians whining about people using their sacred headgear as a kitchen utensil.

*So I can't drink Gluehwein or enjoy Lebkuchen because they are a German Advent tradition? (Christmas trees anyone?) Or enjoy Belgian chocolate because it's er Belgian and not British?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery as they say, so if you like a tradition of another culture, by all means embrace it.*

This is cultural appreciation. The fact is no one is making fun of it. It's respected and no one race is put down for celebrating it. That is the difference.

That's a really interesting post Vague - I absolutely didn't know that!

Branleuse Sikhs are weren't the first people to wear turbans but we still see them as Sikh symbol of Religion.

Yes that is true. The difference is a black person with dreads is treated differently to a white person.

But that's not the fault of the person wearing them. That's the fault of the person doing the judging or even society.

So wearing your hair in a traditionally black hair style wouldn't be committing CA.

Exactly what DN4GeekinDerby said.

I can never understand why people have such an issue respecting this. There are eleventy-bazillion different fashion items in the world; why would it have such a negative impact on your life not to wear the handful that for certain religions/races/cultures aren't simply a fashion item but have real meaning as an emblem of something significant? Are you going to have a really disappointing time at Coachella if you can't wear your Native American headdress? Is that going to make the music sound worse?

Yes that is true. The difference is a black person with dreads is treated differently to a white person.
But that's not the fault of the person wearing them. That's the fault of the person doing the judging or even society.

Exactly. I can't imagine any white person with dreads judging anyone of any colour who wore dreads.

But I'm also shocked at the idea that some people don't like dreads on black people but have no problem with white people having them. My experience is the opposite... if you have afro hair then they're seen as normal/acceptable, if a white person has them they're dirty/scruffy/etc

Page, presumably because people don't know! Until recently I had no idea that native americans found this offensive, now I do I certainly wouldn't do it (not that I ever have). I certainly had no idea about the Hindu festival of Holi.

Which is fair enough descalina, but once you (generic 'you') DO know then decent people presumably stop causing offence. Not dismiss CA as "a bit silly" or "enlightened leftieism gone mad" or insist that the complaints are spurious because "we're all integrated now" or "it's flattery". All POVs expressed on this thread btw.

A lot of my friends had dreadlocks on the 1990s, as was the fashion among goths and emos at the time.

MsBlandings - I've since Googled and found it's called the Color Run 5k.

Coldplay also ripped it off for a music video, IIRC.

Also a bunch of music festivals that use the Holi name (according to this article; www.newstatesman.com/politics/religion/2015/09/how-festival-holi-has-become-textbook-case-cultural-appropriation-profit) that have nothing to do with Holi or Hinduism or even happen around the time that Holi does - it's a Spring festival.

I find it kind of fascinating. Can't imagine the same sort of appropriation happening for more widely known religious festivals, like Eid or Hanukkah, somehow...

My Chinese family think people that have Chinese symbols tattooed on themselves look daft. None of my Chinese relatives or friends have them, wtf is that all about?

What happens in the usa is not what has happened in the uk. The uk has been a lot more integrated by comparison. The term cultural appropriation would appear to have roots in what has happened previously which I can understand in the US context. However, within the uk there has been greater integration and movements between cultures, therefore in the uk context I do not think there is an issue with hair design/traditions. With regard to religious symbols I do think there is a difference. this should in my view apply to all symbols across all religions including Christianity.

Next time I see tourists eating fish and chips I tell them to stop the cultural appropriation. I'm not even going to start on the topic of leprechaun hats.
Unless it's some holy and treasured religious symbol, I see no problem. And I hope all those who criticize cultural appropriation avoid eating curry and Chinese.

Genuine question. When is the line crossed from copying something cool and fun, into CA? Like I imagine the powder paint thing will be copied because it's pretty and fun with no sinister motivations.

What college is that? This doesn't sound true to me, at least not for anything to do with what the OP is talking about.

Oops, I meant to quote the poster who said sushi was banned at an American college.

i do think its more of an issue in the USA because of their discriminatory laws, and pretty much genocide of black people which is still going on.

Those Color Run things, along with other theme races like "Tough Mudder," are WILDLY popular in the U.S. (And quite stupid in my opinion.). I barely know any American 20-something who hasn't done one of them. I had no idea they were inspired by or in any way related to the festival of Holi, and I would bet 90% of the participants don't know that either. I'm not sure what that says but to me it seems different than something like dreadlocks, which seem to be popular among white people who feel that they admire or identify with certain aspects of their limited knowledge of the Rastafarian culture.

Sadly real, Bea

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