The dance moves were exactly the same – even down to the facial expressions. Delia, who had found some community and minor success on social media platform Tik Tok, was floored. A white girl was imitating her moves, getting millions of views, and reaping the financial benefits!
But white people stealing our dances is nothing new.
Though Black dancers were doing the “Black Bottom” dance at least as early as 1907, it only became famous after white people stole the dance and began putting it in Broadway musicals. It became a “national craze,” but Black creators were never given full credit.
Shorty George Snowden and his partner dominated dance floors in the 1920s and 1930s. When he improvised a dance move during one of their performances, white people lost their minds. Soon they were copying the dance, called the “Lindy Hop,” and making big profits.
Alfonso Ribeiro’s “The Carlton” helped define the 90s on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The dance defined his role on the show, but that didn’t keep the hugely popular video game Fortnite from stealing it and renaming it “The Fresh.”
White thieves stealing Black dance moves is no longer done in secret thanks to social media. We have to support Black creators and businesses – so that WE reap the benefits of our creative work instead of imitators!