Why Cultural Appropriation Is Bullsh*t

By Oscar Leigh · Jul 25, 2016 · ·
  1. Okay, so to be clear this is my opinion. This isn't "why it is factually for certain" although I do find it rather simple. In my very strong personal opinion, cultural appropriation is a meaningless concept. Let me provide you with the perfect example.
    .
    In this video this woman, who believes it is appropriate to only respect black viewers despite marketing civil rights, (Segregation anyone?) explains how she believes black ghetto culture belongs to it's inventors. (She also misrepresents the argument against her) (Also, dividing people's culture by race?) Which is an okay point, despite my moral misgivings. Until you realize her username (incorrectly) uses a Greek academic term and a French word (correctly). And that English is littered with other languages, and we use their cultures. Do the ancient Greeks own democracy? Do the Romans own plumbing? Do the French own baguettes? Do the Chinese own tea? Does India own Buddhism? Heck, does the Middle East own the Abrahamic religions, seeing as they started there? (Including Christianity) If cultural appropriation is a thing why do we spend so much goddamn time not respecting this supposed principle of cultural ownership? Now, I'm not saying white people should scream "nigga!" at black people or whatever. That would be very rude. And some uses can come off as condescending (The Washington Redskins). But I am saying the promotion of cultural ownership flies in the face of how often we have elements of other cultures in our lives. It is hypocrisy for each and every one of us, because we're all involved in borrowing. So maybe when someone wants to join in on your culture, you might want to consider not excluding them because of race (Are we "separate but equal"?) Why do you need ownership of this thing? Just consider it. I'd argue that people wanting to join in on your culture to be often a positive thing, because that shows people think of it in a positive way. It's now "cool".
    Thank you for your time! Have a beautiful day! :blowkiss::blowkiss:

Comments

  1. Malisky
    I see your point because I have also wondered about this and because I'm not American, so we don't have this issue here, I did what I always do - searched the web about diverse opinions. I've seen a video were some white people go around asking for directions from black people and in the end, in a friendly manner they say something like "thanks nigga!" This was of course a test with a hidden camera. Something like a social experiment. Some black people, although not offended were kind of dumbstruck. They found it laughable mostly, because it was kind of unexpected. After they told them about the experiment and asked them about their opinion upon the matter, they said that it was cool by them, because they knew in which way "nigga" was addressed to them. It was a trend thing and they were ok with that.
    Although I don't say the word "nigga" myself (no reason to, not my style whatsoever) I find that it is not funny when in a movie a white person is slapped by a black person when he calls him a "nigga", like all the other black friends of him call him that. I mean, aren't they friends? It is a trend thing and although he might say it because he hears it all day long and he is (at least trying to be) one with the group himself, he gets the blame of saying it "differently" like he is a white supremacist or something, when clearly he isn't. This is hypocritical. Why do this? Why be offended when you know that the other person was not intending to offend you rather than blend in the group? Isn't this separation based on color? Friends should stand on equal grounds, so how do you honestly expect a person to be your friend when you separate him and cast him out by forbidding him to interact the same way you or your friends do so naturally? Makes no sense to me.
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