“What if we loved black people as much as we love black culture?”~ Amandla Stenberg

Culture Appropriation: a term so uncommon, yet an issue so widely prevalent. Oxford dictionary defines culture appropriation, or as some say, culture misappropriation, as the act of copying or using the customs and traditions of a particular group or culture, by somebody from a more dominant group in society.

Sound more familiar now? Think of a white model wearing cornrows on the runway, without the label even hinting at the fact that it is indeed a traditional hairstyle of the African Americans. The stylists have “borrowed” from them and made a profit of their own, without providing the much-needed acknowledgement that this hairstyle is native to a certain group- a certain historically oppressed group. Although it may be nothing more than a fashion statement to the designers, it holds great cultural value and is representative of something more supreme than a trend to the African Americans.

Familiarity to the term and, unfortunately, the act itself have both gained popularity over the recent years. From Kylie Jenner wearing cornrows on an Instagram post to YouTuber Lily Singh doing the same, both women have received backlash for doing so. This is not to say it was their intention of taking from an oppressed group, but rather, their lack of awareness and education about this certain topic.

The huge problem with African American culture appropriation is that this group in particular has been facing repression and injustice from the 17th century to this very day- the Black Lives Matter movement still remains prominent as protests occur across the United States. The people who partake in such immoral offenses are some of the ones who adopt elements of Black Culture for the sole purpose of “appearing trendy”. And not only all elements, just the ones they prefer and find to be the hottest. Doing so is disrespectful and corrupt in a multitude of ways. If you wish to borrow from a culture, you are required to respect it, educate yourself about it and accept it as a whole- not cherry-pick the parts you want.

Still, many today are unable to see how culture appropriation is even a problem. “How is the way that I dress going to change the world?” They ask. And the truth- it’s not. But it’s going to show you have morals and respect for the culture you’re taking a part of; that you’re educated enough to know the difference between appreciation and appropriation.

Appreciation is taking inspiration from a group and crediting them as deserved. It consists of being respectful and showing your admiration for their culture through your style. A lot of artists take inspiration from the world­– the people­­­– around them. In fact, this is the splendor of globalization: the amalgamation of cultures coming together in harmony to create something beautiful. The world wouldn’t be the way it is today if it hadn’t been for our exchange of ideas, traditions and beliefs. The line where appreciation becomes appropriation is again, when you don’t credit the culture you are taking from. Do so, and you become part of something greater than yourself; you become a part of something divine. As Amandla Stenberg so rightly said “What if we loved black people as much as we love black culture?”. We would thrive as one. We would fall as one. We would be one.