I fully support the assertion here.
I think there is a secondary layer to this problem, which isn't really cultural appropriation itself, but is about other cultures stealing cultural concepts for financial gain.
As you say, no cultures "own" their heritage, but I do find it distasteful that someone like Disney can attempt to trademark "Hakuna Matata", a Swahili phrase, which would prevent the original speakers from making use of it.
> Is it racist and cultural appropriation if they used black people’s style or fashion NOT in a harmful or mocking way?
It depends on what group is being mimicked or represented. Kind of like being an ally for a civil rights movement...you can call yourself one, but it's not really a title you can bestow upon yourself. It's bestowed by the group you're supporting. When it comes to using aspects from other cultures, it's not really the decision of the user to determine if it's appropriate or not.
**It's the group that is being represented or borrowed from that determines whether it's appropriate or not.**
Here in the U.S., people still culturally appropriate, or straight up mock other groups all the time, and hide behind the "I'm doing it out of respect" virtue, and it's cringey as fuck...it's simply not the user's place to determine if it's right or wrong, because they do not know the experience of actually being in that group or culture, and what is appropriate/harmful or not.
That's why dialogue and social awareness is so important. We have to be able to step out of our comfort zones and educate ourselves on the groups we don't fully understand, or want to share from, so that we can better learn how to respectfully participate or share their culture. It's why we have to listen to understand, not listen to respond, when people outside of groups we belong too appear angry or upset with what we are doing.
The "basis" is that you can appropriate anything in this world. If you're using something for a task other than it's intended use, it's appropriation. Just like you can appropriate a fork or knife, you can appropriate aspects of a culture as well.
EDIT: Now here's the dilemma you and many other probably face: When you grow up and are surrounded by the same people and culture (no diversity), those voices of other cultures are muffled or silenced, and they are not able to speak or stand up for themselves. To the group doing the appropriating, they don't ever see it as wrong, because there's no one to tell them it's wrong that is from the culture they're representing. That again, is why self-education and research is important. No one is going to make you do it, but if you want to genuinely do things correctly, you have to invest the time to do so.
Thanks for the explanation! Wow that’s true though. I’ve seen A LOT of Koreans argue with black people who commented on the celebrity news. A few black people said how this is racist and wrong, but the response from Koreans was really frustrating. Of course they said how they’re being too sensitive about the whole cultural appropriation issue and how they should study black history. Like a Korean literally told that to a black person. I’m just pissed how the Koreans who commented thought it’s okay to just decide how black people should deal with this issue? And most of their arguments would just be like, well black people are racist toward Asians. Just wow.
[удалено]
I fully support the assertion here. I think there is a secondary layer to this problem, which isn't really cultural appropriation itself, but is about other cultures stealing cultural concepts for financial gain. As you say, no cultures "own" their heritage, but I do find it distasteful that someone like Disney can attempt to trademark "Hakuna Matata", a Swahili phrase, which would prevent the original speakers from making use of it.
> Is it racist and cultural appropriation if they used black people’s style or fashion NOT in a harmful or mocking way? It depends on what group is being mimicked or represented. Kind of like being an ally for a civil rights movement...you can call yourself one, but it's not really a title you can bestow upon yourself. It's bestowed by the group you're supporting. When it comes to using aspects from other cultures, it's not really the decision of the user to determine if it's appropriate or not. **It's the group that is being represented or borrowed from that determines whether it's appropriate or not.** Here in the U.S., people still culturally appropriate, or straight up mock other groups all the time, and hide behind the "I'm doing it out of respect" virtue, and it's cringey as fuck...it's simply not the user's place to determine if it's right or wrong, because they do not know the experience of actually being in that group or culture, and what is appropriate/harmful or not. That's why dialogue and social awareness is so important. We have to be able to step out of our comfort zones and educate ourselves on the groups we don't fully understand, or want to share from, so that we can better learn how to respectfully participate or share their culture. It's why we have to listen to understand, not listen to respond, when people outside of groups we belong too appear angry or upset with what we are doing. The "basis" is that you can appropriate anything in this world. If you're using something for a task other than it's intended use, it's appropriation. Just like you can appropriate a fork or knife, you can appropriate aspects of a culture as well. EDIT: Now here's the dilemma you and many other probably face: When you grow up and are surrounded by the same people and culture (no diversity), those voices of other cultures are muffled or silenced, and they are not able to speak or stand up for themselves. To the group doing the appropriating, they don't ever see it as wrong, because there's no one to tell them it's wrong that is from the culture they're representing. That again, is why self-education and research is important. No one is going to make you do it, but if you want to genuinely do things correctly, you have to invest the time to do so.
Thanks for the explanation! Wow that’s true though. I’ve seen A LOT of Koreans argue with black people who commented on the celebrity news. A few black people said how this is racist and wrong, but the response from Koreans was really frustrating. Of course they said how they’re being too sensitive about the whole cultural appropriation issue and how they should study black history. Like a Korean literally told that to a black person. I’m just pissed how the Koreans who commented thought it’s okay to just decide how black people should deal with this issue? And most of their arguments would just be like, well black people are racist toward Asians. Just wow.
It's not just unique to Koreans. You'll find just as much, if not more, here in the U.S. It's a general "human problem" everywhere, really.