I think every time I write a piece on cultural appropriation I have to first make reference to the definition because there is so much confusion surrounding it, it isn’t even funny anymore.
What is cultural appropriation? (Direct from Wikipedia for convenience):
Cultural appropriation is a sociological concept which views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as a largely negative phenomenon. Generally, an assumption that the culture being borrowed from is also being oppressed by the culture doing the borrowing is prerequisite to the concept.
This view of cultural borrowing is controversial, both in academic circles, and in general society. According to proponents of the concept of cultural appropriation, such cultural borrowings are problematic for a variety of reasons, ranging from group identity, and questions of cultural oppression, to claims of intellectual property rights.
According to proponents of the theory, cultural appropriation differs from acculturation or assimilation in that the “appropriation” or “misappropriation” refers to the adoption of these cultural elements in a colonial manner: elements are copied from a minority culture by members of the dominant culture, and these elements are used outside of their original cultural context – sometimes even against the expressed, stated wishes of representatives of the originating culture.
Zipporah Gene is a freelance journalist who wrote an article that asked the question Can Black people culturally appropriate one other? In her opinion African American’s are culturally appropriating African culture when they wear African clothing and do tribal make up in an effort to be ‘trendy’.
Here is a snippet of what she had to say:
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It’s a nuanced question that seems to either set tempers aflare or create vacuums of silence in a room but, after going through pictures taken at the latest Afropunk Festival, it’s definitely one that I have to ask.
And if Blacks can, why is the disgust and uproar surrounding this ongoing phenomenon only reserved for instances when White people appropriate us?
I ask this because Black Twitter is littered with countless examples of the uproar that ensues when White people appropriate Black culture. Words such as fancy dress, mockery and profiteering are thrown around quite freely, but no one seems to realize that this selfsame violation is committed against us Africans — all under the guise of tribal fashion and connecting to The Motherland.
Yes, I know that African-inspired prints are poppin’ right now and many African designers have chosen to showcase certain styles to the global fashion scene, but it appears to me and my African friends that it’s been taken a step further. I understand that, for the most part, many of my own Black American friends are well meaning when they talk about African fashion, but the end result is still the same. You take a cultural dress, mark or trait, with all its religious and historical connotations, dilute it, and bring it out for occasions when you want to look ‘trendy’.
Ask yourself, how exactly is that any better?
I’m not trying to start a war, but I would just like you all to realize the hypocrisy of seeing someone wearing a Fulani septum ring, rocking a djellaba, painted with Yoruba-like tribal marks, all the while claiming that this is meant to be respectful. It’s a hodgepodge, a juxtaposition, a right mess of regional, ethnic and cultural customs and it screams ignorance and cultural insensitivity.
Yes, that’s right, even when worn by Black people.
I know it looks cool and the wearer looks unique, but if you look at it for what it is, it’s still cultural appropriation.
If this author took a moment to just think about how awesome Afro Punk was not just for African Americans but for African people on a whole, she would have probably written a more well rounded post.
The value of women copying images from their own heritage even with very little knowledge of the historical origin is an opportunity for a history lesson not chastisement.
What can an African American woman or man hold on to as part of their own cultural make up? America stands today as a mixture of various cultures, histories and practices combined on one continent.
The American Indians have their culture, Caribbean people who are also a product of Africa have their own culture, Mexicans, Europeans and the list goes on and on.
To separate the African American from the African to make the point that we should not complain when white people do it is ignorant. If tribal make up is worn at a festival that celebrates African culture and black people why in the world is anyone complaining?
If there is a demand for African inspired dresses and skirts authentically made from African designers, how is that bad for the African economy, Africans or black people generally?
If more people are inspired to visit Africa and spend money because they want to learn more after going to festivals like Afro Punk, explain to me again, how that is a bad thing?
Sometimes I think we as in black people are our biggest problem, we often like focus on the negatives even when there are more pros than cons to something that will never be perfect.
Again cultural appropriation is taking the culture of a minority people and exploiting it for financial or other gains without any reference to the origin of the culture you stole.
Afro Punk attire or women who wear tribal makeup or wear cute African skirts did not do that. Personally, even though I have not stepped one foot on the African Continent, I am so inspired by our African sisters who demonstrate traditional tribal makeup on YouTube. Or the sisters starting online stores selling their garments giving little history lessons on each caption.
I am inspired by AfroPunk which successfully created a nostalgic celebration of black culture that only added to the conversation.
To answer the question Can Black people culturally appropriate one other? The answer is no black people are not appropriating within their own race.
Comment below and let us know if you agree
Foolishness
Lol they’re on the same bandwagon as these racist white folk who are working overtime to distract and deny the real problem! Smh
Amen!!! Always have been!!!
Fighting over a word I don’t know…it sounds silly, I do know that.
Wouldn’t it be misappropriate or misappropriation- wrong or dishonest use.
Appropriate – to secure, proper, suitable, fitting, devote, assign to a particular use.
Maybe we, they, all of us are using the word in the wrong context. Because white folks can’t steal something we have and use it the same way we use it. If they take a dashiki and alter it with, let’s say placing baseball numbers on it, it is no longer an african dashiki. It now becomes an AFRICAN INSPIRED, pullover, baseball shirt. If they put shea butter in their hair, it will not magically make their hair look like our hair. Our look, clothes, hair styles and color have been held ransom for years and years and it is not ever going to change. If anything, I find the whole thing laughable because look how hard they try to be like us. The same us that they beat, whipped, stole, enslaved and hung up a tree. I think the joke is on them.
Interesting. While I agree that whites are not the only ones who can appropriate culture, I’m hesitant to say in this particular instance that what black Americans are doing is appropriation. It’s sticky and I don’t actually have an answer but my question is: is it really appropriation or are we trying to get back to our roots? When cultural appropriation is involved, the majority is receiving praise while the minority and culture where this particular trend stems from is being oppressed. Is that the case here? I see where they’re going but is it a bit of a stretch?
What the hell they want us to do? It’s not like they’re raising hands to come over in teach us ANYTHING. American Blacks are all ways in somebody MOUTH. Such BS…
These people were beautiful and were having fun and she didn’t like it, end up story.
Yes black Americans can and do misappropriate AFRICAN inspired cultures and design. Why PAINT TRIBAL MARKINGS ON YOUR FACE AND YOU DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT IT MEANS? YOU JUST WANT TO LOOK CUTE/DIFFERENT. AFRICAN PEOPLE PAINT THEIR FACES FOR A PURPOSE NOT A TREND OR FASHION. Yes it it is SIMILAR TO WHEN CAUCASIANS WEAR A DASHIKI BUT NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE. BLACK AMERICANS ARE REALLY PITIFUL SOMETIMES. WE HAVE NO OFFICIAL HISTORY OR CULTURE OTHER THAN THAT WE HAVE IN AMERICA. WHAT COUNTRY, WHAT TRIBE DID YOU COME FROM?
We don’t know
Everything is not that simple… I wear African cloth just like I wear denim… Black Americans have ancestors who came from where? Africa…. That was the official culture until it was beat out of black Americans…. Pitiful never… The beauty of me being a black American is that I can choose my culture and learn my history freely… Life is short and the chooses are endless so why not do and be who you want?
THE CHOICES are endless. It is pitiful. We don’t know where we COME from and MOST don’t know where they are going. That’s my opinion only.
Well maybe if my ancestors weren’t kidnap and sold to some Europeans on a piece of ass ship. Maybe my black ass would still be in Africa wearing tribal clothing and paintings on my face. But that’s not the case I’m in America where I can wear whatever I want. I wonder if this is the same argument when top designers (white) used tribal designs and headbands that’s ok (right?) .
AFRICA IS A CONTINENT. NOT A COUNTRY. AFRICA IS MADE UP OF MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. EVERY COUNTRY HAS A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE AND CULTURE. IT IS PITIFUL BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT CONTINENT OUR ANCESTORS CAME FROM BUT NOT THE COUNTRY. SO WE DO NOT KNOW OUR TRUE CULTURE AND HISTORY. JUST LIKE YOU THINK AFRICA IS A MERE COUNTRY IT IS NOT. IT IS A CONTINENT. LIKE EUROPE is a CONTINENT. FRANCE, SPAIN, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, these are all COUNTRIES SITTING ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. SOUTH AFRICA, NIGERIA, EGYPT, MOROCCO, SUDAN, THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT COUNTRIES SITTING ON THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA
Lucia Taylor my ancestors came from Africa. I don’t know what tribe! No. Black Americans are not pitiful, we are envy by many and consistent being stoned for whatever reasons. Pure hate! Hey let’s continue to beat the hell outta those outcasts AFRICAN AMERICANS. They’re lost souls, lost unknown history, lost languages! Since Africa has over 3,000 languages! I couldn’t possibly say one is my ancestors! … Since we Americans are so despised, i don’t see any educated African on a Visa flying over trying to protest to teach African Americans kid’s K-12, African culture or a African dialect. The only pitful is your opinion. ..
CONSTANTLY not CONSISTENT. Your OPINION IS NOT ONLY PITIFUL BUT UNEDUCATED. YOUR WRITING IS RIFE WITH POOR GRAMMAR AND SPELLING ERRORS. AFRICANS DO NOT HAVE TO FLY OVER HERE WITH THEIR AFRICAN ISSUED TRAVEL VISAS TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN ANYTHING. IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT THAT OUR ANCESTORS WERE ONCE ENSLAVED. YOU SOUND CRAZY. IF YOU DESIRE TO LEARN AN AFRICAN LANGUAGE WHICH I KNOW YOU DONT; JUST TAKE A COURSE IN THE LANGUAGE YOU DESIRE. PAY THE FEE AND LEARN. THE MOST PITIFUL THING ABOUT BLACK AMERICANS LIKE YOU IS THAT YOU ALWAYS THINK SOME ONE OWES YOU SOMETHING. CHIP ON SHOULDER. AFRICAN PEOPLE DO NOT OWE US ANYTHING. THE PEOPLE WHO DID OUR ANCESTORS WRONG ARE DEAD NOW. SMH. STOP LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT.
I HOPE they get a BOAT and SHIP all the WANNA BE AFRICAN BLACK AMERICANS OVER TO THE MOTHERLAND WITHOUT A RETURN TICKET. I can see you NOW! CUSSING, FIGHTING, FAINTING to get YOUR BEHINDS RIGHT BACK HERE AND STRAINING AT THE BOAT GUARDRAIL NOT TO GET PUT ON IN THE FIRST PLACE. FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND US; ESPECIALLY SINCE I KNOW NOTHING WHATSOEVER ABOUT THEM.
THANK GOD FOR AMERICA. MY ONLY HOME.
person like me .. like me what .. firstly hop off my page .. you dont know me that is one .. don’t give a damn what you are impliying . Secondly i am not looking for acceptance from African people or culture . I have culture … stick to the topic of the post … we were speaking about fashion . it is art … people can express themselves any damn way they would like to.. African culture is the root of many if not all cultres …period .. you are as ignorant as they come … Yes clown Civil union – with a man .. whom has a last name of Civil… Cursed by who? im supposed to be aaah what concerned … come back to earth and debate like a sane human being …matter of fact never mind .. you dont warrant my time … next!!!
I hate when white racist men hide behind fake profiles of black women. It’s disgusting and cowardly. Be a man show your face and have a real conversation. Otherwise just go to your usual hate sites and talk hate with your like minded friends.
So what’s the problem
don’t get me started because if they feel that way then they need to pop on back to Africa. I am seeing so many African/ Nigerian men with white women its crazy.
Cough cough… Hebrew Israelites *drops mic*
A comment from one journalist who is African, an op Ed, is now associated with the whole continent hmmm….. We seriously need to evaluate ourselves.
Divided we will always remain I guess or is it perhaps an issue with reading comprehension?
its tru we do tht.. im guilty fir doin it… but thts just how it is now its ok to show yur heritage.. its the movement for some ppl..the wave is to say now i am a proud black woman.. bcuz bfre some of us used to say im mixed to feel and look sexier in ppl eyes
These comments sad as s**t.
Where do they come from again ?
Black culture is embarrassing. And rude to black women who are disgraced. By the traditions of our people. Who participate. In these African dress activities. Today. I am appalled. And sad that I havero suffer with The dress of Africa and lifestyle. Of many Negros today,,, its really embarrassing. And rude,,, I like to be pretty. And warm and loved taken care of ,,,, with clothes that look nice and laws that protect. And take care of me , I thank God for white men and women. Who have cared about my true culture by feeding me and wedding. Me and Pete ting me and giving me a life and love and hope and children who love and worship. God and love all these things and listen to me and just dont embarrasse me I guess# black power , # just a thought # just my thought #
This is the type of fools that accept weapons from the real enemy to go and fight his own brother because he’s from a different tribe. How can someone still what’s part of him. He and all those agreeing with this idiot should be ashamed of themselves. Sorry my American brothers and sisters
It’s just the truth. As an African born American citizen, I have always felt the disconnect from black Americans.
Everybody is entitled to feel how they want to.