Culture Appropri-What??
Remember that time your uncle Ben thought it would be funny to dress up as a Mexican in a sombrero and poncho for Halloween? He probably thought it was funny and harmless, but as it turns out, it’s much more damaging than what he might have thought.
Cultural appropriation is “a sociological concept which views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as a largely negative phenomenon.”
Basically, that means your uncle Ben (hopefully) unintentionally disrespected an entire culture just by pulling out those maracas of his, alongside his fake burro.
In mainstream media and society, cultural appropriation is a daily thing we encounter.
For example, seeing photos of your favorite celebrities with bindi’s on their foreheads at Coachella and pop stars wearing Native American head dresses in their videos and on stage.
Not to mention magazine spreads where the clothes are inspired by “African” culture, bur don’t actually include any African American people in them (…yikes).
So what exactly is the problem with sporting different items from different cultures? As a society, shouldn’t we be eager to share our cultures with each other?
The main problem that people of ethnic background see with this is that people appropriate culture rather than appreciate it. Meaning that they take items of significance and lessen it to nothing more than a costume or a fashion trend.
During the Halloween season is when instances of cultural appropriation are more likely to happen.
In 2013, Ohio University STARS (Students Teaching About Racism in Society) released a poster campaign titled “We’re a Culture, Not a Costume”.
So before you go costume shopping this year, think about whether or not it could offend someone, and everyone will have a great Halloween!
Other than that, remember to stay safe and have fun!
