Adele

[angieb89]

I don't understand how she is being culturally appropriate for wearing Jamaican bikini and wearing her hair in a Jamaican style in honour of Notting Hill carnival?
She doesn't seem to be doing it to offend anyone?

Call me ignorant but I would like to understand why some people are kicking off? Seems it mainly African-Americans that are offended and Jamaicans are fine with it.

Seems we can't do anything without upsetting or offending anyone?

For context, I'm white British female.

Yeah I can't say I get it. I have family in Trinidad and am also white but no one would be offended if I wore a TT flag clothing. In fact, a Trinibagonian bought me flag clothing. I think cultural appropriation offense is a British thing. I've had Trinis offer to braid my hair but I never do it for fear of coming home (back to the uk) and being accused of being offensive. Can't win. I used to have family in Pakistan too and I had some beautiful embroidered shalwar kameez that I had to donate because I worried it wouldn't be considered appropriate if I wore them in the UK.

Anybody else thinking how completely unrecognisable she is since her weight loss?

She really does look like a totally different person.

I think I know more straight people that wear dungarees or have an undercut than I do gay people! That makes no sense what you said!?

I remember hearing a few of the LGBT community getting offended with the use of the rainbow during covid in the UK! I couldn't believe it! The rainbow is a weather phenomenon! Anyone can claim that! But that is an arguement not for this thread!

It’s not about the flag bikini it’s about the Bantu knots. Black people are often told certain hairstyles are unprofessional, yet white people who wear them are ‘fashionable’.

She just looks like most lassies hanging out at carnival
No biggie

She'd look like a right twat if she rocked up dressed as a Pearly Queen wouldn't she?

@Merriden

I’m black British with Jamaican parents and I personally don’t have an issue with Adele’s outfit. It’s up to her.

However, when people (usually white) say that is it not cultural appropriation when black people wear blond wigs etc... it is a little different. Often we do it to fit in. We are told that our natural hair isn’t ‘professional’ or looks messy. Black children are still discriminated against in school uniform policies with locs and braids being banned. There was a case not so long ago where a young mixed race girl was discriminated against at school for wearing her hair in her natural afro...

So whilst I do not have an issue with Adele’s outfit, likening black people often feeling like they have to fit in with what society deems acceptable with white people, who when they are usually accused of cultural appropriation are doing so for entertainment seems a bit off.

They are not the same thing at all.

Thank you for that. Back to my main reason for posting so someone can help me understand why it could cause upset!

@angieb89

I’ve explained to you what the issue is for lots of black people and you seen to have ignored this and just replied to those who feel similar to your own opinion. I was hoping you started this thread to learn more about why this is an issue

Undercuts and dungarees (is the skirt version called the same?) were in when I was a teenager😁 Never realised we looked like lesbians. I never even knew lesbians had "a look". Every day is a school day.

I can see why African Americans would be upset - depending on the state poc can be fired for hairstyles as not everywhere has the CROWN Act.

Because it’s getting all the ‘good’ from a culture without having to experience all the negative experiences that often come with being black

But that is the point of carnival. To come together as a community, no matter your cultural heritage, to celebrate Jamaican and West Indian culture and what it brings to our society, putting the bad aside for a weekend. No one is saying it’s not there, just that for this one weekend we can celebrate the integration and multiculturalism thy enriches are life as one community.

so people gettting offended on behalf of others-getting ridiculous

you literally cant say ir do anything

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@angieb89

I’ve explained to you what the issue is for lots of black people and you seen to have ignored this and just replied to those who feel similar to your own opinion. I was hoping you started this thread to learn more about why this is an issue[/quote]
Apologies, difficult to keep up with everyone's comments. Everything everyone has said I'm taking on board and learning!

I thought cultural appropriation was mostly a matter of various black cultures being mined and re-packaged for marketing purposes. It has the effect of tapping in to lucrative themes whilst simultaneously stripping meaning, symbolism and narrative to create profit for companies that have no affinity with the culture.

I think it's a stretch to see how Adele is doing that but perhaps if you consider her the product then you could make the claim if you were eager. I think that would make more sense though if Adele were dressing like this every day of the week and not clearly a one off to celebrate and participate within an event.

@MorganKitten

It’s not about the flag bikini it’s about the Bantu knots. Black people are often told certain hairstyles are unprofessional, yet white people who wear them are ‘fashionable’.

As a white person I too couldn't wear that into the office though.

I agree however, that natural hair should not be an issue and it's ridiculous black people are told to do x and y styling and can't just come in with natural hair in some workplaces.

I am getting on in years and through those years I have known many gay women. Most you would have no idea they were gay until they told you or you were introduced to their partner.
I had a under cut back in the late 80’s and never knew I was sending out gay signals but then I am sure that gay people didn’t either as I was never approached.

@angieb89

I think I know more straight people that wear dungarees or have an undercut than I do gay people! That makes no sense what you said!?

I remember hearing a few of the LGBT community getting offended with the use of the rainbow during covid in the UK! I couldn't believe it! The rainbow is a weather phenomenon! Anyone can claim that! But that is an arguement not for this thread!

The LGBTQAI community were not offended by use of rainbows, they were upset people used the Pride flag and disregarded pride. Totally different from rainbows.

Notting Hill, to me, is also a celebration of Black British culture. It's great to see a high profile white woman acknowledge and celebrate that. To me there are aspects of Black British culture that don't get acknowledged or celebrated enough. We have to recognise how much immigration has bought to our small island. Disclaimer i'm not Jamaican my Dad was as a Windrush babe.

Going by Facebook comments over the years a lot of Black Americans seem to think all black people are "African American" .

Black people in the US are being killed and treated differently by not only the police but there is a racial divide growing bigger between citizens. Adele can wear her Bantu knots and Jamaican flag without fear of being killed owing to her skin colour. To society it's "cute" and lovely that she's embracing it but to people with genuine fears for their/their child's/partner's/parent's lives over their skin colour it's not cute.

That is why some people may be offended.

Absolutely missing the point here but Adele looks amazing, I didn't know she had lost so much weight, I didn't recognise her at all!

As a white person I too couldn't wear that into the office though. But you don't need protective styles for your hear to ensure your "messy" afro hair is "neat" and "professional", do you?

Gosh, I don't even think it's the Adele picture that's the problem. It's the tone deaf responses with the argument.

Adele can wear her Bantu knots and Jamaican flag without fear of being killed owing to her skin colour. To society it's "cute" and lovely that she's embracing it but to people with genuine fears for their/their child's/partner's/parent's lives over their skin colour it's not cute.

YES, well explained. Thank you

Then change your user name overtherainbow... you seem not to be white, American or living in either Kansas or Oz!

Your posting the kind of tripe that increases othering, reduces inclusion. The exact opposite if the Carnival and Adele's post... and that of all white, Asian and other non Jamaican participants.

Why do that? It's undoing decades of work, creating division.

@PonfusedCarent

Black people in the US are being killed and treated differently by not only the police but there is a racial divide growing bigger between citizens. Adele can wear her Bantu knots and Jamaican flag without fear of being killed owing to her skin colour. To society it's "cute" and lovely that she's embracing it but to people with genuine fears for their/their child's/partner's/parent's lives over their skin colour it's not cute.

That is why some people may be offended.

Not going to argue with that. I agree totally. However, to apply this argument to this particular circumstance would be to miss out a whole chunk of context.