I don't know what went down, but my understanding of cultural appropriation is, as a white person, we are members of the race responsible for subjugating other races. Taking things from them that are special to them makes them less special and removes a little more of their identity. If a member of a nonwhite race adopts white things to their culture, however, it's different, because the dominant culture can't be oppressed.
The reason, for example, white hipsters wearing headdresses isn't okay, is because white people have already stolen Native Americans' land, so taking their symbols and traditions is just another act to steal something important to them. Or a white person throwing on a sari is offensive because it's an important cultural symbol to Indians, but the difference is white people can just take that symbol off and put it aside at the end of the day. Indians can't do that- it remains a part of their identity.
At least that's the understanding of it I've gained.
But what about people who're racially part of a group but not culturally? Which is my point about different cultures within a race.
And moreover, the view of "whitey can't borrow from anything" smacks of a very "sins of the father" perspective, that we're always guilty of what our ancestors did no matter what WE do, and that never sat well with me. Does that mean that I have to take responsibility for subjugating Gypsies because I have Romanian ancestors? That I have to own up for the Russian Revolution because I have Russian ancestors? That makes no fucking sense to me. I'm me. I didn't have a part of any of that and it's insulting to insist guilt by vague association.
The theory being that we're benefiting from that oppression today, I think. Which makes sense- we do live on stolen land, have an easier time finding employment than minorities, etc. Personally I just feel like I should err on the side of respecting cultures more than "I am a bad white person, I shouldn't enjoy this". I know that I shouldn't use things meaningful to other cultures unless I'm completely aware of their meanings and if it's appropriate to do so in that case (wearing Lolita, a Japanese street fashion with very little cultural significance, vs. just wearing a kimono, a traditional garment with tradition and meaning attached to it "because it looks cool" for example), and I do my best to respect those cultures
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But what if it's not "your" culture? I have no connections to Russian or Romanian culture other than happening to have ancestors from there. I wasn't raised in anything that I would identify as either. Why would it be suddenly ok for me to partake of those and not those of other races, even though they're equally foreign to me?
They're your heritage, and knowing/appreciating your heritage is great and something that needs to happen more these days as culture becomes greatly homogenized. And I think your statement hit on what the crux of the appropriation discussion seems to be, from my understanding- white people think they have no culture, so they need to take from other cultures, but the truth is they do, and there's plenty in their own cultures to embrace or celebrate rather than needing to dip into others' to feel complete.
But that's not it at all. There's a difference between homogenizing and compartmentalizing, and saying that people from compartment A can't celebrate compartment B is irrational.
And I never said that I think I have no culture. I said that my culture has nothing at all to do with my ancestors. And why would it? I never met them, and they left those countries a long time ago. Why would my culture come from people I never met and places I've never been to?
The same is true for everyone. Our culture is our place, not our bloodline. Why would it be our bloodline? If it was, wouldn't we ALL be related?
The reason, for example, white hipsters wearing headdresses isn't okay, is because white people have already stolen Native Americans' land, so taking their symbols and traditions is just another act to steal something important to them. Or a white person throwing on a sari is offensive because it's an important cultural symbol to Indians, but the difference is white people can just take that symbol off and put it aside at the end of the day. Indians can't do that- it remains a part of their identity.
At least that's the understanding of it I've gained.
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And moreover, the view of "whitey can't borrow from anything" smacks of a very "sins of the father" perspective, that we're always guilty of what our ancestors did no matter what WE do, and that never sat well with me. Does that mean that I have to take responsibility for subjugating Gypsies because I have Romanian ancestors? That I have to own up for the Russian Revolution because I have Russian ancestors? That makes no fucking sense to me. I'm me. I didn't have a part of any of that and it's insulting to insist guilt by vague association.
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And I never said that I think I have no culture. I said that my culture has nothing at all to do with my ancestors. And why would it? I never met them, and they left those countries a long time ago. Why would my culture come from people I never met and places I've never been to?
The same is true for everyone. Our culture is our place, not our bloodline. Why would it be our bloodline? If it was, wouldn't we ALL be related?
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