"Cultural Appropriation" Is A-OK! Uh, As Long As You Aren't A White Person
One of the things I love about this country is how it's a place where a whole bunch of cultures feed into other and come out with something even better -- the ole "greater than the sum of its parts" thing.
A friend of mine -- who's black and in the music end of things -- admires American music for how it, as he puts it, comes from a combo of "the Jews and the blues."
He's referencing people like Gershwin and the other Jewish songwriters along with the great blues artists and performers of yore.
And for just one more example, during college, whenever I could afford it, I ate at a place in Ann Arbor called "Steve's Lunch" -- my first taste of the Korean deliciousness that is the bi bim bop.
As for how this melting pot thing is working out recently, fashion designer Marc Jacobs sent models down the runway with pastel-colored dreadlocks from Etsy, posts NYMag's The Cut.
Panties bunched. Wadded. In unison.
Jacobs wrote:
And all who cry "cultural appropriation" or whatever nonsense about any race of skin color wearing their hair in a particular style or manner - funny how you don't criticize women of color for straightening their hair. I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don't see color or race- I see people. I'm sorry to read that so many people are so narrow minded...Love is the answer. Appreciation of all and inspiration from anywhere is a beautiful thing. Think about it.
The Cut's blogger sniffed that Jacobs:
...misunderstands the concept of cultural appropriation and refuses to acknowledge that it might offend people.
Or thinks you're hypocritical twats for being offended. As do I.
Order your wool DreadlocksbyJena here!
"The Cut's blogger sniffed that Jacobs:
...misunderstands the concept of cultural appropriation and refuses to acknowledge that it might offend people."
After you stop laughing at this statement ask them if the only reason they can say this is that he disagrees w/them.
Bob in Texas at September 19, 2016 5:29 AM
Aaaaand, I'll be buying a Marc Jacobs handbag in the near future, JUST because he didn't cower under the weight of the "offended".
momof4 at September 19, 2016 5:45 AM
He could make the models wear empty flour sacs with holes for the head and arms and these perpetually offended would still complain that it was worn by the slaves in the South.
Sixclaws at September 19, 2016 6:04 AM
I think raggedy ann had that hair first. So no, they are appropriating it from her.
Ben at September 19, 2016 6:27 AM
When an element of your culture is admired, it is "appropriated" (more accurately, "imitated"). Get over it.
The US is a melting pot; of people, ideas, cultures, and languages; and always has been. With luck, it will continue to be for a long time.
Conan the Grammarian at September 19, 2016 7:10 AM
Ancient Greeks wore dreadlocks. Spartan hoplites wore them as part of their battle dress. Ancient Minoans in Crete and Greece wore dreadlocks.
Dreadlocks were worn by Christian aesthetics and Muslim dervishes. James, Bishop of Jerusalem, was said to have worn dreadlocks down to his ankles.
Ancient Hindu followers of Shiva were described as "wearing hair matted nodes."
It is speculated that the Nazarites in the Book of Numbers wore dreadlocks; they took an oath not to cut their hair. The dreadlocks worn by the Rastafarians are believed to have been influenced by the Nazarite practice of not cutting one's hair.
Samson lost his strength when he was shorn of his seven locks. Dreadlocks?
Conan the Grammarian at September 19, 2016 7:22 AM
These cultural appropriation whiners (how did that even start?) ought to roll up their yoga mats and pull the kids out of Tae Kwon Do.
Canvasback at September 19, 2016 8:06 AM
New Orleans has its Mardi Gras Indians — black people who have, for generations, sewn fantastic, colorful Indian suits and paraded on holidays.
A couple of years ago there was some concern over the "marketing" of this tradition — meaning people who came in, took pictures and sold them. "Cultural appropriation" was thrown around ...
... until a few people pointed out that if there was any cultural appropriation, it was city folks dressing in Native American garb.
Kevin at September 19, 2016 8:19 AM
Pardon my ignorance Conan, but I doubt that Samson had rainbow colored dreadlocks. We just didn't have the dying technology at the time to generate such rainbow colored hair. I'm not sure where wool hair extensions originated either. But we have had wool dolls for quite some time and some had quite colorful hair. So if someone is going to get all bent out of shape over 'appropriation' then I'll complain that 'Woolite lives matter'.
Ben at September 19, 2016 8:29 AM
Ben:
http://www.annmariegianni.com/7-ways-to-color-your-hair-naturally/
I notice they didn't mention pomegranate, that's a powerful dye/stain.
I R A Darth Aggie at September 19, 2016 9:13 AM
If your cultural aspects are widely adopted, one would generally say you have taken over that culture. So, if asians start wearing western suits, we say they became westernized. If americans adopt rap, soul, blues, and motown music wholesale, then black culture has won the cultural battle. Millions just fell apart when Michael Jackson died. Isn't that good? Doesn't that indicate love and acceptance of the black culture?
This appropriation thing is based on a tribal fantasy, that you can pigeon-hole people into tribes and identify all their cultural traits, and that these traits do not overlap. But in America this is insane. It is not just blacks who eat watermelon and fried chicken. It is not just Jews who eat chinese food on christmas. And I would note that all sorts of people are dyeing their hair funny colors. The desire to keep the races separate is simple racism. Which cultural traits are allowed for people of various mixed-race parentage? If one parent is Korean and one black, can you like Korean food or is that forbidden?
Craig Loehle at September 19, 2016 9:38 AM
They probably weren't rainbow colored, but they were most likely dreadlocks or something very similar.
Conan the Grammarian at September 19, 2016 12:00 PM
It is not just blacks who eat watermelon and fried chicken.
Don't forget the fried okra. That there is good stuff. And as Twain remarked, we know that Eve did not steal a watermelon from the garden, for she repented.
I R A Darth Aggie at September 19, 2016 2:43 PM
Just to be clear IRA, it is your position that Samson, a man who lived in the middle east around 12 BCE, had rainbow colored dreadlocks made from the various plants you linked to?
Conan,
I don't dispute that Samson probably had dreadlocks or any of the other history you cited. It is just that these don't really look like dreadlocks to me. They are dyed wool hair extension if I understand correctly. They are big and puffy while I usually think of dreadlocks as being tightly woven. To me they mostly look like antique doll hair where things have gotten worn and frayed. Hence, Woolite lives matter!
Ben at September 19, 2016 3:15 PM
Without "cultural appropriation" just what are U.S. Jews suppose to eat on Christmas? (hint: it won't be Chinese take out)
charles at September 19, 2016 5:25 PM
If it's Negroes who are complaining about cultural appropriation, they shouldn't be wearing clothes at all. That's an appropriation from Non-Aftican cultures.
Alan at September 19, 2016 8:30 PM
Lets see, what else is cultural appropriation?
medicine, electricity, religion, clothing, jewelry, most modern technology, cars, higher education
Should those decrying cultural appropriation first be required to forgo everything they are appropriating?
lujlp at September 20, 2016 6:52 AM
My father used to joke that by current culinary definitions, he was black, since he grew up eating fried chicken, fried asparagus, collard greens, grits, watermelon, you know, soul food. Every white Southerner in the '30s and '40s grew up eating "soul food."
Conan the Grammarian at September 20, 2016 7:20 AM
Agree Conan. My Grandmother was really happy to get her chicken from the grocery store instead of her backyard.
Farm to table is a joke. It's hard work to 'live off of the land' and no one wants to do it forever. Especially when it's cold, wet, and the kids are sick.
Bob in Texas at September 20, 2016 11:00 AM
White men with dreads 2,200 years ago:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lusius_Quietus#/media/File:Lusius_Quietus_on_Column_of_Trajan.jpg
Ken R at September 20, 2016 12:12 PM
Ken R, I believe they are Berber cavalry of North Africa.
Reading the article about the Berbers was interesting. It looks like they never assimilated to "invaders" even to this day in Libya.
Islamic by force I think their history may foreshadow what's in store for Europe.
Bob in Texas at September 20, 2016 3:33 PM
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