Cultural appropriation is an aspect of human exchange that refers to the taking of someone else’s culture (expressions, dress, intellectual property, artifacts, knowledge, art forms, etc.) without “permission.” Cultural appropriation is very tricky to navigate as there are fine lines between attributing “ownership,” showing one’s appreciation for,and mocking or parodying another culture. The stakes are also heightened when aspects of culture are taken from minority groups or groups that have traditionally been oppressed or marginalized, and, as a result, those who take, borrow, or ‘exploit’ those aspects of culture benefit from them in terms of capital, power, prestige, and popularity (e.g. Miley Cyrus’s”twerking”). (Is “twerking” really an African American dance???) This benefit often occurs at the expense of the very group from which aspects of culture were appropriated.
Cultural appropriation: when ‘borrowing’ becomes exploitation
https://theconversation.com/cultural-appropriation-when-borrowing-becomes-exploitation-57411
Now that black culture is so mainstream, can we really accuse people of appropriation?
Your Favorite Meme? Chances Are It Was Influenced By Black Culture
https://www.wpr.org/your-favorite-meme-chances-are-it-was-influenced-black-culture
What do you think? Has African American culture been “stolen” or at the very least “borrowed” by other groups? And, have those groups made money or a profit from African American culture at the expense of the original producers of that culture? Or, is it beneficial to African Americans and their community that their culture is appreciated and spread throughout the world?
