Are Black Americans guilty of Cultural Appropriation if they wear traditional African clothes as they are not AFRICAN?

[Anonymous]

Yes they're guilty

No as the notion of cultural appropriation is baloney

Its only cultural appropriation when white people are involved

[Charnelle]

I feel as though most people, especially white people, don't know the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Appropriation is taking something from another culture claiming it as your own and then bashing or dismissing the people you have taken it from. This has been discussed in other cultures not just "black/African American culture. The hamsa, chola look, and geisha image are also a few example of things that have been appropriated many times.

Cultural appropriation is taking something from another culture and not respecting the thing or the people from which it was taken from. Cultural appreciation is when you understand and respect another culture. I would never dare to wear a hamsa because I'm not Jewish and I understand the meaning behind it. I never say the n-word because I know the history behind it. A lot of people don't respect other cultures, especially here in the states because they don't get called out for it and when they do they want to play the victim.

That being said I understand somethings are just about liking the way something looks. If a white person wants to wear braids I'm cool with it, but if you want to "act black", feed into stereotypes, bad-mouth black people, say the n-word, act like you invented it yourself (cough cough... Miley Cyrus), and not respecting the culture then that is where the issue lies.

I feel as though the word gets thrown around a lot when it's not just white people who do it. When I talk to my husband or other white friends they don't understand what the big difference is between appropriation and appreciation until I use other examples outside of black culture. SO to answer your question is it appropriation if I wore African clothing yes because I'm Panamanian. I know my culture and I take part in Panamanian folk dancing. But there are African Americans who know their culture so if they choose to wear those garments then it's not appropriation and if they're just wearing it for fashion then it's appropriation.

[Asker]

Is a black American's own culture American not African?

[Charnelle]

No its black/African American culture. African American culture has ties to Africa but most of it was created in the states by black people aka slaves, then their descendants added to that culture. So it will never simply be called American culture because that is honestly not what it is.

And if you're going to label black/African American culture as American culture then you might want to start a post asking why its important to make everyone put their race on documents and surveys and call everyone Americans. That will never happen because its a discrete form of segregation that most do not take notice of. You should try to get more informed and read before you start taking about race relations and "american" culture.

[Asker]

See its that kind of attitude that makes actual Africans dislike black Americans.

[Charnelle]

How would you know how the majority of Africans think? I know a lot of actual Africans and they are very loving and warm people. They wish African Americans would come and visit and love their brothers and sisters here in America.
Why is it whenever a "Black American" has an opinion that they're not afraid to vioce poeple claim we have an attitude. I don't have an attitude, What I said is how I feel. And while I'm on the topic of how I feel: I'd have a little more respect if you didn't ask a racial question without the cloak of anonymity because you can claim to be whatever race you want to be but based on how you thumbs down every opinion that goes against your own one can only assume...
Stop playing the victim and educate yourself before you talk about an issue.

[Asker]

Playing the victim is your lifestyle choice not mine.

[Realfire22]

I like your question. You're very observant.
I'm a black Native American (but people only see me as black rme) and I even be wondering why the heck black people are parading around in African apparel and claiming African names when they're so far from African blood it ain't even funny. Just because you're of a certain skin color, that doesn't mean you're automatically African. And sure ok, MAYBE your ancestors from way back when the Earth was first created were African, but that doesn't mean YOU yourself are unless it's from 4-5 generations away.
I hate when blacks do ish like that and then dare Caucasians to say something, just so there can be an uproar. Smh.

[CHARismatic110]

And this right here is what I mean when I say that Africans don't like black Americans. Smh.

[Anonymous]

Finally someone speaking sense. Usually the ones that spit venom at white folks for this are usually those ones who studied in a non degree in racial studies. Are we going to get mad at Asian people for wearing suits? Would Scottish people get mad at a black American for wearing a kilt, would irish people get mad at a black American who made a living playing Irish music? The answer NO! Seems like the topics of white privilege and entitlement cultural appropriation is just something anti white racists use as a divisive tool to blame white folks for all their ills, start trouble or in Al Sharpton's case make shit loads of cash.

[Realfire22]

Al Sharpton the charlatan

[biracialQT]

Yes and no, if we just pretend for a minute that cultural appropriation is a bad thing and shouldn't be done, then yes they are, but in my opinion using an element of a certain culture that isn't your own, as a fashion statement isn't offensive at all! In fact i think it contributes to the acceptance of cultural differences in society. If i wear a bindi because i think it looks beautiful on Buddhist and hinduist women, i wear it to honor their culture, not to offend them or their culture. So i would never use the word guilty when it comes to your question.

[JDavid25]

No, as Africans actually sell those type of clothes in the states.. It would be closer to appropriation if a "Black" American came saw the style, took it back to America, and claimed it as they own that was maybe inspired by African culture.. Plus "Black" Americans have always wanted to get somewhat back to the "African" roots.. So it's more appreciation.

[BlackDynamite83]

The only people that talk about this is militant black Americans and well off white socially conscious chicks so its really not an important or relevant issue.

[jjmarvin]

It's only appropriation if it's disingenuous and about actual culture.

If it's just about fashion is just fashion, and if they are ingrained in a culture then it's just expression.

Like if black and white people like each others shit in America, that's normal because America is all about black and white people stuff.

But if those two start eating pocky all the time and speaking terrible Japanese, they're appropriating.

[Asker]

But having been to Japan and seeing their take on western/American culture should I not have been offended?

[jjmarvin]

If you find it offensive

[Asker]

I dont and there will always be someone offended by something no matter what

[ElissaDido]

Those "ethnicity appropriation " are only a big deal in the USA, I'm nor black and my Senegalese friend offered me a pagne and I wore it, no [problem... She also wears Tunisians clothes that she got from her friends and no problem...

[Anonymous]

Shhhh. You're not supposed to notice that. Only white people are in the wrong, black people are only victims remember?

[allahu_snackbar]

I think people can wear whatever the fuck they want.

[DocT1977]

If black people have ancestry in Africa, and if wearing such clothing makes them feel like they are connecting them to their heritage, Then who are we to question it?

[Anonymous]

Cultural appropriation is a term invented by SJWs to make themselves feel superior when they say bigoted things.

[scorchedwater]

yep. WAKANA FOREV---shut the fuck up. You don't even like Africa.
thank you for actually making sense.

[ThatBritishLad]

I saw an American wearing a cravat once. I was so insulted I bit my biscuit and spilt my tea.

[Northeast106]

No, this would not be an instance of cultural appropriation.

[AngelLily]

There of African descent so no there's no way for it to be cultural appropriation.

[TheOldMan59]

Cultural what now?