Something that I think should be studied is the sort of 'gentrification' of cultures. I come from a beautiful culture, as I think everyone does. But, it's hard for people to understand that. Whenever I see media of my homeland, it's always a colonized version. It does nothing but promote the laziness, sleaziness, and lasciviousness of vacationers. Our beaches are used as 'Here's the perfect vacation spot!'. Our dancers seen as 'sexual beings in the tropics'. My people are seen as either very happy and jovial, without a care, or mad and violent for seemingly 'no reason'. Our language is mocked, our land is destroyed to make way for businesses and homes for people that don't have the right. The sacred land and animals and plants are decimated, harmed for fun. And it's seen as 'good', simply because it's being shaped as the ideal vacation spot for ignorant white people.
And it's absolutely disgusting. MY LAND IS NOT YOURS TO TAKE. MY CULTURE IS NOT YOURS TO GENTRIFY. MY PEOPLE ARE MOT YOURS TO OPPRESS.
I've voiced these concerns before, but was always brushed off. I won't stand for that anymore.
The thing is, no one pays attention to it. Locals know it's happening. They can't stop it. Media doesn't care. I can find nearly no accurate representation of my culture in video games, shows, movies, books, forums, etc. Everything is shown through a special ✨✨✨light, and is nearly complety false - hardships are glanced over without a second thought.
The most frustrating part is that I can't do anything. Even as connected as I am to my culture, there's still a lot I can't do, simply because I was forced to live away from the land. I'm bssically an intruder to my own culture. It's disgusting. Plus, I can't rally people to the cause. We simply won't have enough dedicated forces. I hate all of it.
