Cultural appropriation in climate activism?
Hey! Can someone tell me if I'm being nuts or if I'm kinda justified? I can't get my head around this.
For a long time since I've been coming to terms with my white privilege I've been more and more aware of how things I've been involved in in the past are products of white privilege.
Am I alone in thinking climate activism is one of the main outlets for this? At least in this country, all you see on protests are white, middle class, mostly students, 20-40 year olds with no dependants and decent cashflow. Anyway, I could never quite put my finger on it. however...
This publicity photo from the last Climate Camp kinda sums it up for me.
Sadly I can't find a better resolution version. Is this cultural appropriation? As far as I can tell this is a group of almost entirely white folk, using overly stereotyped images of people over the world. The banner too - makes me want to cry. Armed with peer reviewed science, and enough privilege to spend a week in a field protesting against a power station and fighting the cops!
Comments? Anyone else have similar feelings or am I oversimplifying?
For a long time since I've been coming to terms with my white privilege I've been more and more aware of how things I've been involved in in the past are products of white privilege.
Am I alone in thinking climate activism is one of the main outlets for this? At least in this country, all you see on protests are white, middle class, mostly students, 20-40 year olds with no dependants and decent cashflow. Anyway, I could never quite put my finger on it. however...
This publicity photo from the last Climate Camp kinda sums it up for me.
Sadly I can't find a better resolution version. Is this cultural appropriation? As far as I can tell this is a group of almost entirely white folk, using overly stereotyped images of people over the world. The banner too - makes me want to cry. Armed with peer reviewed science, and enough privilege to spend a week in a field protesting against a power station and fighting the cops!
Comments? Anyone else have similar feelings or am I oversimplifying?