Do Not Appropriate, Rather Learn To Appreciate

According to Susan Scafidi, a law professor at Fordham University, cultural appropriation is “Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission. This can include unauthorized use of another culture's dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, religious symbols, etc. It's most likely to be harmful when the source community is a minority group that has been oppressed or exploited in other ways or when the object of appropriation is particularly sensitive, e.g. sacred objects.” In today’s 

society, pieces of black culture are cut and commercialize for white consumption.

For today’s post, I will be focusing on when white folks appropriate – not because I think white people are the only ones capable of causing impairment, but because the United States is dominated by a system of white supremacy that gives white people institutional power over Black people.

There is a difference between appropriating and appreciating a culture.

If your intention is to appreciate the Black culture you should be open to learning about the history of what you are appreciating, and about the struggles and successes of the people you are borrowing from. Then you will be the kind of supporter who is knowledgeable enough to honor our culture in a way that supports us – instead of just taking the bits and pieces that you like and portray it in a way that is “appropriate”. This kind of action hurts our community.

Most white Americans would agree that the influence of black culture on America is significant. There would be no rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis or Jerry Lee without the black swing, blues, and jazz musicians. The impact is noticeable in all facet of American culture, from food to fashion, from literature to language. What most white Americans won’t agree with is that there is anything wrong with that. In fact, they would dispute that such accommodation of cultural influences has occurred with every immigrant group in America, whether Irish or Latino or Vietnamese. They would argue that it is an emblem of American inclusion that we so eagerly embrace these foreign influences into our culture. American culture is not appropriating anything—that would be stealing!—it’s honoring black culture through homage. America acknowledges the influence and gives the influencers full credit. And, after all, isn’t intertwining black culture into mainstream American culture the best way to end racism?

When blacks generate something that is later embraced by the white culture, white people tend to make a lot more money from it or is applaud for it. Undoubtedly, one can see why that is both infuriating and disheartening.  

Take for example when Kylie Jenner wore her hair in 'faux Locs'  Guiliana, a Fashion Police host said she looked 'edgy' but when biracial Zendaya wore her hair like this to the Oscars 'she smells like patchouli and weed'? Although Zendaya responded with the utmost class, this is just another example of white women being praised for the same styles black women are derided for.

Below is a video related to cultural appropriation that I found interesting and I'd like to share it with you guys.  

Whether we call it cultural appropriation, assimilation, exploitation, homage, plundering or honoring, it will continue to happen unabated or affected by complaints and protests. In a recent interview, Zendaya talked about the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. What she said sums up the points that I was trying to make throughout this post. I am going to leave you all with some of Zendaya’s thoughts. “You can go about it as cultural appreciation or cultural appropriation. You have to be very careful. Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them…. I’m someone who feels uncomfortable with things unless I know [about them], I’m not going to try something unless I’ve taken the time and effort to learn about it. I just think with the Internet and the resources we have, you should do a little research." 

I hope that you understand my goal here is to inform you about the difference and not insult those who appreciate the black culture.