Cultural appropriation

[Newbiemumsy66]

So this is a term which seems to be used a lot more these day (to my knowledge). I am a white woman and before I start, I am genuinely interested in the definition and especially hearing from those who feel their culture is appropriated.

My understanding is that it is deemed offensive when people (especially white people as we are/were generally an oppressive bunch) steal, wear, eat, cook elements from different cultures. I understand that it is often the case that these things are done disrespectfully, which of course is totally wrong. However, why isn’t it ok for a white woman to wear corn rows because she really likes the style for example? Surely doing something like that shows respect for another culture and shows that it’s a good thing to embrace our differences. Also why is it then not offensive for black people to straighten their hair such as their European counterparts natural hair? Surely everything is appropriated from everywhere in one way or another - it’s a positive step forward for inclusivity and to embrace one another’s differences in a good way. Surely by keeping these traditions within specific races only breeds further segregation?

Apologies if my post is tone deaf or not worded particularly sensitively, but it is just something that I feel I need educating on if my opinion comes from a place of privilege and is ill informed. I mean no offence, so please don’t reply with hate, if I’m wrong tell me why.

Whenever you annoy the black community.,

I disagree and I disagree with the term “Black community”. It suggest that we are all of one mind and we meet up several times a year to decide on different topics. Many of us don’t like R. Kelly and want to see him in jail. Many of us eyeroll or ignore Kanye West. He hasn’t been right since his mum passed away years ago. Many of us also side-eye the church and don’t automatically change our mind if they start putting gospel in their music.

That was to QualCheckbot

I don't understand the "community" thing either, agree it suggests hive mind across massive groups, which makes no sense.

Well, I believe CA is total bullshit. Of course, other people are perfectly entitled to believe the absolute opposite. Each unto their own.

@Passthecherrycoke I read that yoga originated as a mix of religion and meditation. I remember discussions when some church banned it years ago as they considered it too religious (hindu). So I just wondered whether that would count too since now anyone of any religion and ethnicity does it and it's not what it originally was supposed to be? IYKWIM
Not taking a piss btw.

@KiaraN83 silly comment to make. Just shows how very little you understand.

My daughter is half blank therefore more “African” than you daughter will ever be but, I will still explain to her the privileges that her lighter skin bring to her vs my/ my sister darker skin. My daughter will know and be sensitive to black womens stuggle.
Also, I would thinkt theres many other ways your daughter can explore her “Africa heritage” without using cornrows no?!

Its not only blacks who were discriminated against in the US. Irish were routinely discrimination against. There is a phrase "black Irish" which was used to refer to Irish who simply didn't fit the blond, blue eyed ideal.

The issue is a lot more complex than cornrows and fashion.*

I agree, many groups were discriminated against however the Irish were considered white in many instances and were still given and allowed rights that many non-whites weren’t allowed to have.

@AutumnRose1

Right! Yet, there is no “white” community.

But practising a religion that doesn’t traditionally exist in your culture isn’t CA. If I wanted to practise Hinduism and approached it respectfully I’m sure I’d be welcomed in any temple. So I don’t see how yogas religious origins would affect anyone’s practise of it?

I do agree with the poster above re Buddhism though, I think Buddhist symbols are very disrespected and wonder why that hasnt had more attention in the past

flirtygirl It continues when a part that should have gone to a east Asian actor in a film series (like the recent ones based on old mangas and anime) have gone to white actresses. White washing. The lack of east Asian representation on TV and in film is worrying especially when aspects of so many East Asian cultures are copied time and again by the western media.

I agree. Its almost as if East Asians don't exist, except in "acceptable stereotypes". Unless doing Kung-Fu or are a strangely gymnastic member of a triad enforcement team. Don't get me started!

My, perhaps limited, understanding is that it's when someone from a dominant culture takes something from a minority culture that was previously a point of discrimination. E.g. a black woman is pulled up for her hair, a black man is told his afro isn't appropriate for the workplace, but then a white person takes those looks and it's ok because they're white (so they get none of the discrimination)

Some evolution will happen by virtue of globalisation and that can't be avoided e.g. pasta and sushi have travelled around the world, but as a PP said, sushi only became cool and accepted once it was approved and rubber stamped by the dominant culture (white).

@phoenixrosehere however you or I feel about the term 'black community', this is a tactic that these artists adopt because it sadly actually works. Artists like R Kelly couldnt financially afford to piss off black people for too long, so the damage control usually looked like gospel/church songs and positive adorations. Or in the case of black men who piss off black women, the strategy is to release a song celebrating black women. Kanye wants to have odd political beliefs but hold on to some semblance of 'blackness'. He still has his white audience financially supporting him, but you can see that he is desperately trying to regain favour with black audiences.

It won't work for all. No, the 'black community' is not homogeneous. But it's interesting to note how these artists react to public outrage.

I wouldn’t worry about it. Wear what you like and dress in what you want. As long as you don’t do it with the intention of mocking a culture or trying to claim cultural ownership it’s not a problem.

@JayDot500 I’m Black. I have stopped listening to Kanye a long time ago. Even before the whole “slavery was a choice”. Many of my black friends and family don’t listen to him.
There’s probably more white people(spec young boys ) listening to him, buying his Yeezy trainers etc than black people than black people so, your point is what exactly????
Just because we share the same skin tone, don’t assume we are think the same.
Re R.Kelly. People want to see him in jail too but he has money so it’s more difficult as money talks. I don’t listen to him nor do my friends.
Again, your point is ???
Your post is very offensive! Sort of implies that black people turn a blind eye to a pedophile?? If that’s so, it will be reported.

i think the problem is when white people take elements of people cultures that they have been opressed by for years and use it as throw away fashion statements. if you learn about cultures or respect cultures then i don't see the problem but when you have someone dressing up in saris for an instagram photo when the backstory is years of it being ingrained into their entire lives and respected then that is disrespectful. but if you're going to an asain wedding with friends and dress in a sari to show respect and appreciation then i don't see the problem.

same with dreadlocks, dreadlocks have been used as a hairstyle for the black community to protect their hair but there have been many many instances of being called offensive things and getting told they're not professional in the work place even though their natural hair would probably be told the same thing. when you get white people just getting them to be cool even though they don't need to at all because they think it's a nice look then that's quite offensive because they have not dealt with the repurcussions and it is a fashion statement. my husband is black and i braid and dreadlock his hair, my son and daughter are mixed race and have very curly hair but i would not braid or dreadlock it because it is not the right hair type and would do more harm than good, the same as most white people.

So white people shouldn't eat sushi?

sakura "but when you have someone dressing up in saris for an instagram photo when the backstory is years of it being ingrained into their entire lives and respected then that is disrespectful."

so it's not okay even when the person has had the backstory including a sari? I'm so confused right now.

also this constant black, white, brown thing that seems to come up on these threads- I was shocked the first time I was told I was brown in real life, I thought it was a racist comment, I had no idea it was the done thing now - it's so meaningless. You cannot know what anyone's heritage is by looking at them. And nor should you ask them because it's fecking nosey. Let them tell you if they want to.

my sister and I have the same parents and vastly different skin colours.

Tbf, what R Kelly did was produce some really excellent popularity songs that could be used for graduations, weddings etc forever more. Same tactic as releasing a brilliant Christmas song. Or you know, Robbie Williams’ angels or Ed Sheehan you’re beautiful. Not that they are sex offenders. It’s just those kinds of songs are a longevity tactic.

As a teenager I was mocked for things like wearing glasses and having a plant-based diet, but now these things have been appropriated into mainstream culture and I'm really happy about that! It makes me feel more proud about those traits and more comfortable with them.

If I'd been born with a big black ass instead of dodgy eyes then I think I'd still
be happy that other people wanted to imitate my natural look.

But then that's just my opinion and I'm not easily offended.

@autumnrose1 i mean within an Asian community o the sari is a garment which is implemented into the culture from a young age. it is a garment that is respected and when you have somebody not from that culture wearing one just because they want to then it offensive. firstly because there is none of the respectful intention behind it, they do not have the history and value and if they did they probably wouldn't wear one apart from exceptions like i stated before. and secondly because a white person wearing a sari is not going to get all of the racial slurs that have been linked to the community and if they do as soon as they take it off and put on their normal clothes they will get none.

@JayDot500 of course you care!
Did I say “no black people defend him” did I say “no black people play Step in the name of live in family gathering”? No, I didn’t
I simply said not every black person is on his side and a few black peoples are not every black people.

You’re just picking and choosing.
And since you do not care, comment reported.
Adeus

@Passthecherrycoke

But Ed and Robbie didn't previously and subsequently release overly sexual songs.

I am Indian and have thick beach-waves . I have often been told my hair is inappropriate and messy and yet when female white colleagues go for the same look using salt spray they are complimented. I also have thick black eyebrows and it has been suggested many times that I thin them down - yet when my white colleagues come in with similar HD brows they are complimented. I have a figure like Kim Kardashion’s - big toned bum / hips, small waist. Yet my figure is seen as fat or indecent (in the past I have been told to cover my bum) and white or black friends with similar figures are complimented. It is racism, as simple as that.