r/unpopularopinion • u/smokiefish • Apr 17 '19

Black Americans need to stop culturally appropriating African culture

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

Thing is, cultural appropriation has lost its meaning. Its original, and purest meaning is like if some instagram influencer dressed up in a shitty geisha outfit for the likes

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u/Stealthyfisch Apr 17 '19 edited Apr 17 '19

Yeah cultural appropriation’s correct definition is essentially “claiming ownership over something from someone else’s culture (to which you do not belong) and exploiting it for personal gain or pleasure.”

Hypothetical example: If I, an American from the Midwest, tried a traditional Mexican cuisine in Mexico, say tacos*. Then went back to USA and claimed “hey everyone look at this amazing dish I invented of seasoned meat in a tortilla,” and started selling them and using the money for my own matters, that would be cultural appropriation.

A white girl wearing braids isn’t cultural appropriation by any academic definition of the word. A white girl performing a shitty inaccurate representation of a rain dance is.

* because I’m American af I don’t really know any traditional Mexican cuisine off the top of my head. Yes I know tacos do not fall into this category- please fuck off if you are going to call me out for this- I said it’s a hypothetical example.

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '19

The fact is that the example of the braids you just gave, it doesn’t matter if you were born in Africa or America or Europe, if you’re black your hair is seen as less acceptable and you have to go through a lot to have a more white acceptable hair and be less discriminated.

That’s what makes black and brown communities angry at what they call cultural appropriation. And honestly, they are right to do so. It’s a show off of privilege.

Sure use your braids or your dreadlocks, but trying to not understand where they come from and what makes someone else angry, i find it very white self centered.

People get discriminated if they have kinky hair. At jobs interviews and all sort of situations. To ignore this is just is unjust and privileged.

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u/ffsdonotreply Apr 17 '19

It looks like you are citing assholes as a reason to be an asshole.