Imitating our culture – without acknowledging our struggle – is called “cultural appropriation.” But there’s more to it than most people admit, and it isn’t as harmless as many think! Here’s how culture vultures truly impact us.
Overall, when people of a dominant group take cultural elements from a group they have historically oppressed – especially without credit – this strengthens uneven power structures. It reinforces the idea that white people can take everything they can get their hands on, and Black boundaries are not to be respected.
Frequently, non-Black people are viewed as fashionable or trendsetting for doing things that Black people are simultaneously discriminated against for. Copying superficial aspects of Black culture without acknowledging their history is a form of stereotyping.
Their low-quality, often vulgar imitations often also make us look bad, because many who don’t know the truth assume that they’re representing our culture accurately.
The worst is when our culture is outright stolen, and then white versions make massive profits! From Elvis to $100 satin bonnets, they get the financial rewards of OUR hard work – while we get stuck with the racism.
A final note: since whiteness is the dominant norm, when we do “white” things, we’re assimilating as a form of survival – not appropriating.
There is a huge difference between admiring Black culture and exploiting it. Our culture belongs to us!