Y’all lack historical knowledge and it shows 🤡
Apparently, people love to quick search definitions and then rattle them off thinking they’ve won an argument; only problem is that you’ve proven your own ignorance and arrogance instead.
Yes, this is the dictionary definition of cultural appropriation; but clearly it lacks context because it isn’t being applied to any specific situation. Now, apply it to- just as an example- corn rows/box braids/Fulani braids/etc being worn by white women who say “it’s just braids/the Vikings invented braids”- the definition seems to stand a little shaky.
Because some white women might be doing it to appreciate the culture: news flash- that DOESN’T MATTER. The cultural relevance for corn rows alone should be enough for white women to grasp that those braids are in fact not “just a hairstyle” it was a means of literal survival. You wanna talk about appropriating AAPI culture? It’s so hard to because white people built the idea of us 1) being a monolith (before we were called Asian Americans, we were all referred to as orientals) and 2) being the “model minority” to further separate us from our Black allies; the ONLY reason we have the terminology of Asian American is because Black and Asian college groups rallied to change the language that stripped us of our identities. Now because of the “model minority” myth- Asian Americans are thought to not experience racism on the same level or scale that other POC groups experience but that idea in itself is racism at work and is inherently wrong; otherwise we wouldn’t have seen the uptake in AAPI related hate crimes as 2020 rolled around. That isn’t even getting into the historical context for (specifically) Japanese Americans who were SENT TO CAMPS and the Japanese citizens that were NUKED then forced to abandon their everything- such as generational heirloom katanas- that now either live at the bottom of the ocean or in some dead soldiers grandchild’s basement. How about that Chinese Exclusion Act that existed from 1886 (after they had finish uniting the United States with railroad completion) til the mid 1940’s (1943, but the government had added Japanese, Korean, and other Asian ethnicities to the Act and Japanese internment didn’t end until 1945).
And this knowledge is freely accessible; but most of yall ignore it and cry about being wrongfully bullied by POC calling out your inherently racist stance. Because yes babes- it is racist. Why? Because it’s built entirely on the societal structure of white supremacy that is foundational to the USA, its government and where it stands in 2025. Our country is steeped in it- and it’s about time POC started doing the work to preserve their own cultures from further white washing and exploitation. Because why should you get to wear braids when little Black kids across the country are having their braids CUT OUT at school because it’s “distracting”? Why do you get to don our cultural wear when we were forced to abandon ours and burn them to be accepted as people? Why do yall get to wear feather headdresses that were meant for Chiefs when our Indigenous populations are STILL under consistent assault from the government ON THEIR LAND that was stolen from them??? Get so fucking super clear yall, because your privilege is showing.
So if you *think* you know what you’re talking about when you say POC are “gatekeeping”- maybe pick up a non-fiction book about the actual experiences of POC people in the United States, written by actual people who lived through it. Stop chowing down on white washed, propaganda based, revisionist history and read something real. I’m tired of having to explain this shit to entitled little white girls who think the whole world revolves around them because they haven’t done any decolonizing or reeducation work.
The world laughs at us and it’s because yall can’t read beyond the 6th grade level, which means 3 syllable words are too hard for you to comprehend. For the love of god quit making that everyone else’s problem and just get educated. I’m tired of being nice about it; I’ve doing unpaid work educating people who lack the willpower to do it themselves and most of the time- they leave the table with more arrogance and ignorance because they’re uncomfortable with the truths they’ve been given. Facts don’t give a shit about your feelings- isn’t that what right wingers love to say? 🤪🤡
Signed, a disgruntled 2nd gen to a Japanese immigrant who was treated heinously when she arrived here and as a result our entire family doesn’t speak her native tongue and the only culture we can attach ourselves to is our names, belief system and recipes I have spent YEARS trying to recreate through just taste and smell; and having to explain why it rubs me the wrong way when white folks put my culture on for a day or a night and have the privilege to take it off when they get home, like they get to try my skin on and take it off when it isn’t working for them- pisses me tf off.
Cultural appropriation often goes beyond simple borrowing of aesthetic elements; it involves a lack of respect for the original cultural significance and the ongoing struggles faced by marginalized communities. For example, cornrows, box braids, and Fulani braids are not merely hairstyles but carry historical roots tied to resilience and survival within Black communities. These braids served as protective styles during slavery and were sometimes used as maps for escape routes, revealing a history that is both profound and painful. The spread of such cultural elements to majority groups without acknowledging this context often perpetuates systemic inequalities rather than celebrating diversity. Similarly, discussing the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) experiences reveals complex issues. The model minority myth, often perpetuated by mainstream narratives, works to pit AAPI communities against other people of color and downplays their experiences with racism, which notably spiked during events like the 2020 pandemic. Historical injustices such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese American internment during World War II are stark reminders of the discrimination faced by these communities. Such events are not just past occurrences but have shaped present-day cultural identities and struggles. The loss of cultural treasures, such as heirloom katanas, symbolizes the deep scars left by governmental actions and societal prejudices. Understanding cultural appropriation also requires recognizing the persistent existence of white supremacy structures in society. When cultural elements are commodified or worn casually by those in power—while marginalized individuals face restrictions on those very expressions—this highlights the double standard and exploitation embedded in cultural appropriation. To foster true cultural appreciation and equity, it is crucial for individuals, especially those from majority groups, to educate themselves beyond simplified dictionary definitions. Engaging with authentic histories and narratives by people who live these experiences enriches the understanding and challenges revisionist or whitewashed accounts. Ultimately, preserving cultural identity demands active effort from communities of color to protect their heritage from exploitation and erasure. This education and awareness can lead to dismantling harmful stereotypes and fostering respect rather than appropriation.
See more comments