From the birth of jazz to the evolution of hip hop; the advents of urban trends to transformative advances in technology, African Americans have played an integral role in molding American culture. Unfortunately, we tend to not be the beneficiaries of our own innovation. Bleaching Black Culture examines the continuum of America's black cultural appropriation and effects on the African American community. The imprint of cultural theft has a long legacy, and this power of influence in music, sports, fashion and art translates into millions of dollars for our country.
We are just âblending and merging until one day were all gonna be one united people. Operation White Wash.âÂ
This documentary features the stolen legacy of African civilization to the shaping of American and global trends, Bleaching Black Culture examines the impact African Americans have on art, culture, technology and more.Â
The documentary features many credible guests, giving the biopic a sense of relativity and importance. Activist Jamal Joseph, who is an author, a former member of Panther 21, and a college professor at Colombia University, was heavily highlighted throughout the documentary. His credentials make him to be a trust worthy source of information, yet his humorous demeanor makes him seem relate able and open to the audience.Â
LOVE, HATE, AND CULTURE WARS by OLUFUNMILAYO B. AREWA
Love, Hate, And Culture Wars by AREWA, OLUFUNMILAYO B is an academic article that discusses how use of cultural elements, including hairstyles, costumes, fashion, cuisine, and music, leads to accusations of cultural appropriation. It mentions borrowing and cultural mixture are concerned with language, religion, agriculture, folklore and food. It mentions appropriations of African American culture by Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azalea and Justin Bieber. The targeted audience is the subculture that experiences cultural appropriation, and also informational for those who donât identify with the concept in sociology.Â
I believe this article further expresses my point that distinguishing borrowing, diffusion, and collaboration from cultural appropriation is challenging. Cultural borrowing often occurs in broader contexts shaped by asymmetries of power. Power differences mean that the powerful may, at times, borrow from the powerless in ways those without power have little ability to control or question. When does a borrowing become an unacceptable appropriation that should not be undertaken without consent? The lines between these are shifting and may at times be unclear.
The article exaggerates that cultural appropriation is often a byproduct of colonialism and oppression. The oppressing or ruling culture often adopts something from the culture it oppresses that it finds cool or interesting and exotic, without understanding the importance or significance of it for the oppressed group. This cool and exotic thing might be of religious and spiritual significance to the culture. Hence, to the oppressing group it feels that their oppressor are taking an important part of their culture and making a mockery out of it. It comes across as disrespectful and ignorant, and it acts only to alienate the other culture.Â
 I really enjoyed this article, it had many valid and consciousness points relevant to my topic and point of view.Â
In the persuasive article âThree Cheers for Cultural Appropriationâ (2017), author Bari Weiss argues that âcharges of cultural appropriation are being hurled at every corner of American lifeâ. Weiss discusses that the word cultural appropriation is being thrown in many directions including high commonly diverse and areas like art museums, restaurants, movie theaters, fashion industries, etc. The authorâs purpose is to share her idea that cultural appropriation is being used to object syncretism â the mixing and amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. This belief suggests that America is a melting pot of cultures and the aspects that come with it should be embraced rather than separated. The author uses examples of times in history America was made great with the use of peculation including the fact both New Zealand and Finland had passed laws for women to vote before the United States. Did we steal that idea? Because of the many examples and comparisons, Bari Weissâs article seems to be intended for a strong-minded audience, who may or may not agree with her opinion due to her insensitive conclusion. Â
Weissâs argument can be standardized as follows:
P1: Charges of cultural appropriation are being hurled at every corner of American life
P2: The accusation of cultural appropriation is being used as an objection of syncretismÂ
P3: Known public figures and celebrities cultural appropriate and create and come up with ideas that have positive impacts across the countryÂ
P4: Everything great and iconic about this country are made with the blending and merging of disparate parts of many cultures.
P5: Historically, America has always stolen ideas and used them to make America a better place.Â
Thesis: Â Culture should be shared, not hoarded.
I chose Bari Weissâs article due to the fact that it was opposed to my approach of cultural appropriation. Bari Weissâs argument personally, does not intrigue me. I am not thinking, âmaybe sheâs right, the accusations of cultural appropriation are sillyâ, but more like âOh, so this is what a person with their head in the sand thinks likeâŚâ Look here, we do realize that many people grow up in diverse communities. This evidently causes the cultural exchange of customs, dialect, and traditions; however, cultural appropriation is its foil. The variance between borrowing, diffusion, and collaboration is often overlooked as appropriation and the context plays a broad role in distinguishing the differences.  The American public interlaces many cultures and should acknowledge distinctive cultures for their creative and unique customs and histories. However, too often do we strip things from cultures, that are not our own, of its originated significance by not studying about the perspectives we pick, which is belittling of its prominence all together. By reducing a culture, you reduce the individuals that belong to them. Cultural appropriation is less about stealing, and more about integrity. America is not a melting pot, nor has it ever been. (Come on, letâs be real) America is a like a salad, together, yet a heterogeneous mixture. Every cultural has its own identity and should be treated as such. The world we live in is huge and so beautifully diverse. Everyone should experience other cultures, traditions, and customs, but do so respectfully. Get out and enjoy your life, but please, be no one, but yourself.
Designer Tory Burch is accused of cultural appropriation after the release of his Summer 2017 collection. The Designer features 3 Caucasian models dressed in merchandise, dancing to hit song âJuju on That Beatâ by Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall. Where does the cultural appropriation come in you ask? The issue many of Tory Burchâs fans have is the advertisement features a âblack songâ with no black models. A đ is also featured in the advisement, rising concern, as the word âđâ has been used as an derogatory label of black people throughout history. What better social to take your popular opinions to than Twitter? The hashtag #ToryurchAd begins. Â
Take a look at the video belowâŚ. wearing âBlack Cultureâ like a jacket.Â
Things got heated on Twitter from a @WarrenAdriana
Whatâs your opinion on this? Leave me an reply..
They say âimitation is the highest form of flatteryâ, but what happens when itâs not so flattering? It may not be so shocking to realize that cultures intermix with one another, considering this world is a just a huge land full of so many people from so many parts of the world , living, experiencing, and creating just like me and you reading this. Every body comes with a story, a background, and most of us , a culture. Even if you culture means youâre uncultured.. *cough* Americans *cough* . Cultural exchange has been apart of history since the beginning of time, this is evident in worldwide spreads of foods, language, and religion. It is now mainstream to be cultured, and whatâs main stream is whatâs in. Everybody falls in line, right?
Itâs 2018, and letâs face it.. the world is still racist. Oh did you not notice? Then youâre apart of the problem. America and race has always been a delicate topic for a minority, and the grass isnât looking much greener as the years go on.. no matter how much they try to spray paint it. Hair styles, music, and sacred fashion pieces and jewelry are stolen from us, flipped, and then in essence, sold back to us. This is called cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is when a privileged groups misinterpret and offensively refashions other ethnicities without giving credit, yet that ethnicity still faces subjugation for it.
