I don't care if someone other than black wants to wear braids, cornrows, dreads, or whatever. As a black person that doesn't offend me, what offends other cultures is when that culture is taken by someone that doesn't belong in that culture and suddenly gets recognized by the media/ beauty industries. They call it new, trendy, unique when someone outside that culture is wearing or representing it, but the people who KNOW, PRACTICE, and UNDERSTAND it from being taught for generations, are completely ignored and don't get any credit for it. The fact that you used kylie Jenner's picture is a great example, she had naturally thin lips then gets lip injection and suddenly she's becomes the queen of big full lips when black women have been rocking big lips since we were created. That's why a lot of people of different cultures get offended cause they feel like it has something to do with the color of their skin and why their not praised for it. I don't mind sharing our food, our fashion, our music or beliefs, but don't freaking act like its new/freshly invented when its not. However i do think there are some things we should respect, for example, the Native American war bonnet. That is not a fashion statement, its not to make you look good or cute, its worn by native men in their tribes to show great respect mainly cause they were used in war. And i see a lot Americans kind of role their eyes at it like other's shouldn't take offense, but if someone wears the united states military uniform or purple heart without actually serving, they get all high and mighty about it and loose their shit. If the American fan was ripped down, put on the ground and suddenly stopped, a lot of Americans would want that person freaking dead or kicked out the country. As long its not them who's being disrespected, they could give two flying shits. So yes okay to share cultures? Yes. Take it and try to make it like it something that's brand new? No. Wear certain clothing and items that represent respect, honor, rank, or for religious purposes? No.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b33twnpqvEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ6VmxuNl0s
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It's considered cultural appropriation if a culture's practices are adopted and praised in the adopting culture when the original culture gets flack for it (physical features, style of clothing, cultural practices, etc.).
In either case, I have honestly only had an issue with white people styling their hair in more Afrocentric styles... not because they're white and I feel they shouldn't be allowed to do it... but because it looks ugly as shit on most white people who do it. There are hair textures that fit certain hair styles more. I've seen an Asian musician style his hair in partial cornrows and I thought it was sexy and fit him so well. Asian people tend to have very coarse hair, even more coarse than black hair is considered to be. If your hair is of a finer texture (which tends to be the case for white people, but is not always so), certain hairstyles just look HORRIBLE because they require a natural hold from the texture of your hair.
Another example is my own hair. The hair at the back of my head are of are a finer texture (I'm told they feel like silk). It makes braiding the back of my hair a problem because the braid barely holds and my hair always slips out without the use of gel or holding products. The hair on the rest of my head does not need that much product to be braided. If my hair were as soft as the hair on the back of my head, I wouldn't even bother with braids.
The Oxford Dictionary defines cultural appropriation as, the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society. So to answer your question, yes, you don't have to be white to appropriate the culture of another. And to all the idiots saying things like, "well then black people can't use computers, play frisbee, etc" those things are not part of a culture. White people may have invented them, but those things carry no significance to any given culture. That's the key difference. And, as a black person, I really don't care what people do with their hair. Just give credit where credit is due. Don't act like things like cornrows or henna tattoos are "trendy". And lastly, be aware of the double standard minorities face when expressing their culture. Styles like cornrows are considered "ghetto" when worn by black people but are "fashionable" when worn by white people. Bottom line is, show some respect. Take the time to educate yourself if you're really curious about another culture.
Cultural appropriation is bullshit so no.
A race does not have a culture. Somalis and Nigerians may both be black (how most see it) but their cultures are drastically different. Etc.
Ps. There is a world outside America. A big wide world of so many different cultures, even within a single country alone or a city.
Dred locks are not black, they have been found on every continent pre contact with Africa, plaiting the hair was actually really common, Vikings did it, Prussians (Poland, Russia) did it and it was found in the middle east and in asia. Same goes for braiding the hair, again, it was found every where. So their are few hair styles in general that can be considered unique to one group or another. That said, if your going to claim cultural appropriation for a white person wearing dred locks, even ignoring that its not a black hairstyle to begin with, are you also going to call cultural appropriation for every non white person who wears jeans? Or any modern clothing we associate with the west? How about modern medicine which was created by western society and is derived from our culture, same goes for rationalism, and science, how about modern technology or the internet which is an invention of the west? What about equality of all people regardless of race which actually is a western concept (which is why you will not see the levels of diversity you see in the west in asia, or the middle east or any non white nation. In fact studies have shown that the most racist nations are actually Asian, middle eastern and African while the least are all western European, and both North and latin America)? I'm guessing not, and that's my issue with the concept (beyond the fact that every culture has borrowed from every other culture and this should in fact be encouraged rather then this idea of cultural isolationsism borderlineing on xenophobia) that you (as in those who ascribe to the ide of cultural appropriation not you specifically) are not applying these rules evenly, in fact they are applied along racial lines i. e. if its white its okay to appropriate, if its not then whites cannot "appropriate" it. Its one sided white cannot appropriate culture from non whites but non whites absolutely can appropariate from white culture, without question. Its actually incredibly racist. So no cultural appropriation is not a thing, its just another tool meant to encourage victim hood and racism.
- u
Under what logic does one race "own" a particular hairstyle, fashion, etc? Is it "cultural appropriation" for black men to wear a suit and tie? At one time, that is something that black men did not do; it was entirely a Caucasian thing. Is it "cultural appropriation" for Caucasians to eat collard greens? or to eat egg foo yung?
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yes it is. it's appropriation whenever a person of a different adopts a style that is or was created by another culture... but cultural appropriation isn't necessarily bad, in fact in most cases it is not a bad thing
I don't think so. I think it would be more like wearing and disrespecting a traditional garb. Most styles and hairstyles have been influenced by different cultures, it's called DIVERSITY.
Will stop using you hairstyles if you stop using:
aerosol can, air conditioning, automotive airbag, airplane, airship, alphabet (Yep. Phoenicians were white.), American sign language, animation (films), answering machine, amusement park, aspartame, aspirin, assembly line, astrolabe, AstroTurf, audiotape, ATMs, automobile, asphalt pavement, prepared baby food, flat-bottomed paper bag, Bakelite, ball bearing, balloon, adhesive bandage, bar code, barbed wire, barometer, battery, bicycle, blood bank, home freezer, blow dryer, atomic energy applications, Braille system, bra, bread slicing machine, button, buttonhole, calculator, calculus, Gregorian calendar, flee collar, camcorder, camera, movie camera, tin can, can opener, candle, canning, carbon-14 dating, cardboard and corrugated, cash register, cat litter, mail-order catalog, cellophane, cement, concrete, cereal flakes, chewing gum, chocolate candy, chronometer, pendulum clock, quartz clock, cloning, drip coffee, Styrofoam decaf coffee, coins, compact disc (CD), computed tomography (CT scan, CAT scan), digital computer, laptop computer, network television, adhesive labels, personal computer, reinforced concrete, latex comdum, geometry, contact lenses, oral contraceptives, hybrid corn, bologna, White Out, grocery coupon, crayons, cream separator, credit card, crossword puzzle, DDT, defibulator, dentures, metal detector, smoke alarm, artificial diamond, disposable diaper, DVD, dishwasher, DNA fingerprinting, doughnut, revolving door, drinking fountain, movie theaters, dry cleaning, fabric elastic, bottle caps, cigarettes, electric chair, electrocardiogram (EKG), electroencephalogram, e-mail, subway, passenger elevator, encyclopedia, air brakes, internal combustion engine, jet engine, liquid-fueled rocket engine, steam engine, escalator, eyeglasses, fax, fiber optics, fiberglass, paper envelopes, photographic film, dynamite, adhesive glue, steel suspension bridge, Venetian blinds, portable flashlight battery, baggies, multiple vitamin, vacuum flask, food processor, freeze-dried foods, oxygen tank, frozen foods, magic markers, antifreeze, transistor radio, Fresnel lens, fuel cell, genetic engineering, tissue paper dress pattern, Gieger counter, "drive-through" window, glass, safety glass, greeting card, guillotine, electric guitar, chain saw, wire coat hanger, helicopter, holography, hypodermic syringe, fluoridation in vitro fertilization, ink, insulin extraction and preparation, integrated circuit, Internet,Well I think it by definition 'is', at least as you've asked it. (It's ambiguous in the sense that some hairstyles that may be frequently associated with black people have also been traditionally worn by other cultures).
The question is, is there a problem? If there is a problem, what is it?
I do not believe there is anything wrong with someone using a style that's typical of another culture. Ideally care would be taken in -particular- around elements of a culture that have very specific meanings. For instance, it would be very rude for someone from another culture to wear the exact outfit of a catholic priest, complete with cross, because they liked the look, or for someone to wear an exact replica of a 4 star U. S. general. So we should avoid doing similar things with other cultures.
Beyond that though? Cultural exchange is how the world works, and is a positive thing!
Now there is a -specific- frustration I'm aware of that crops up and 'black hairstyles' is a great example. The issue is: you have a hairstyle that's been considered -unacceptable- or looked down on. Like black women have been told they can't wear that hair style in some workplaces etc. And then some trendy white women do it and now it's fine.
I understand how this would create tremendous rage.
I humbly as a white male suggest the solution is not to prevent white women from wearing black hairstyles, it's that we instead try to STOP BEING FUCKING PREJUDICED and be more accepting of differences without having to wait for some jenner/Kardashian to lead the way first.In my mind it's cultural appropriation when a group of rich white people make money and steal business from a culture business. For example, native Americans. The only income they had was selling Native American stuff. White people picked it up and made fake native shit to sell and drive them out of business. Laws were created of course to prevent that. But it happens with other cultures of course.
Other than that I say no. It's great that a culture is loved and spread by people. I think it's silly to get upset about that.Cultural appropriation is a term to describe the adoption of elements of a foreign culture. People have been doing this since the beginning of human interaction. Hell, without it, there would no modern civilization. So adopting the hairstyle of another culture is cultural appropriation but it isn't necessarily a bad thing.
If a non-black person wants to wear braids/dreadlock or any other type of black hairstyle then go ahead and do it. But I must warn you that majority of black hairstyles look god awful on non-black people.
I don't know if it's the hair texture difference or what, but whenever a non-black person try to adopt a black hairstyle they usually fail at it miserably.You honestly don't see all that many white people wearing dreadlocks and braids to be honest.
I mean I'm white yet I can pretty much grow an Afro due to have an extremely curly hair genetics and this is just how my hair naturally grows it doesn't get longer it gets higher.
Doesn't mean I'm appropriating black culture and personally I think cultural appropriation is kind of BS to be honest, since almost every culture on earth was more or less influenced by another culture and took things from it.At the risk of having a ton of people try to fight me, I think that cultural appropriation is sort of not the worst thing ever. I understand it being a problem if the person appropriating thinks they wear it better or does not respect the culture but other than that I don't see the big deal.
Before people come at me saying that I'm white and I don't understand (has happened a lot when I say this opinion) I'm actually Mexican, come from a long line of Mexicans, was born in Mexico, lived in Mexico till I was 4. So don't try to come at me with the "you don't understand" crap.As a general rule, I only feel "cultural appropriation" comes into play when it's actually got something to do with the culture. It occurs when you take something of cultural significance and reduce it to a fashion statement.
Hairstyles, unless there's something particularly significant about them (e. g, hair is worn in a certain way for a particular cultural ritual), do not equal culture.
Native American headdresses are cultural, they are crafted in very symbolic fashion and have a high level of religious significance. Polynesian tattoos are cultural, they have a high level of tribal symbolism and significance. To wear a mock headdress because you think they're "pretty" or get a Polynesian tattoo because you think they "look cool" is cultural appropriation.Lol, why wouldn't it be? I mean I never have myself, but I've seen other girls do it and think it's cute, though for guys in my opinion it's a bit harder to pull it off if you are white, cuz sometimes it just looks silly to me. Like, "Oh I'm so badass" Just my opinion though. I've never seen a black dude try to have a white hairstyle, but I've seen plenty of girls straighten/perm their hair to. It's not weird, it's just whatever suits the person best, or whatever they feel most confident with is what they should go for.
Like which kinda hairstyles? But no I don't think simply wearing it is, it's when they do shit like one of those Kardashians did and took stuff and pretended it was all her creation to make money off it.
I think it's as much appropriation as when other black people wear "African clothes" and actually call it that lol (no such thing) and they aren't African and don't even understand what they're wearing beyond it being semi in for some right now.What are 'black hairstyles?' En-fucking-lighten me about such things.
cdn3.bigcommerce.com/.../pob-rope__82184.jpg
www.hairfactory.com/.../new_york_remi_straight.jpgIs it cultural appropriation for white people to do yoga?
Is black women straightening their hair or trying to make their hair look like white people/Indian/Asian peoples hair cultural appropriation?
Black women buy hair extensions made by the hair of Indian women is that cultural appropriation?Well I mean if we can straighten our hair and especially wear weave which most of the time is real and actually belonged to another human being...
Who are we to say that other races can't do the same? If anything I encourage it we try to look like others so why can't others look like us? Like someone already mentioned imitation is the sincerest form of flattery 😉If one believes there is such thing as "cultural appropriation", then one must get on the case of all of those non-white people who use things invented by white people.
No more Christmas for blacks or Japanese.I personally believe it is taking the concept too far - No culture or race has a patent on a certain style - I think stuff that would be wrong is stuff that belittles a culture or race, say their religious beliefs or is offensive to their history, say jewellery based on slave chains or fashion based on concentration camp uniforms.
Honestly? I think it's ridiculous when I see white girls trying to wear their hair in black women styles. Especially that whole annoying top knot thing nowadays. Black women usually wear it best, and when white chicks and Latinas do it it's sloppy most of the time.
Hairstyles are not owned by anyone.. that is really weird and crazy to me that people can believe this. Sure a hairstyle could be more prelevant in a certain race group but that doesn't make it theirs and only theirs. Plus by that logic certain races technially then shouldn't straighten there hair because they are making their hair look like naturally straight racial groups...
Maybe but in those cases where it is it should not be about race but whether you actually grew up in the villages where that hairstyle is considered some kind of significant badge. Almost nobody living in a 1st world country has the right to say who should not be wearing some style.
Appropriation and appreciation are two different things. The reason why Blacks and other minorities get upset is because Elle magazine will take a picture of Kylie wearing cornrows and call them "boxer braids" like they are something new she created, while a black girl is getting suspended for wearing them to school. Where is Kylie during these travesties, minding her Caucasian business. It is like sometimes use "ethnic" things for their come up, but the don't care about "ethnic problems".
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