I’ve been thinking about cultural appropriation, especially as I see many people upset with the concept.
Let’s look at what the problem is.
Suppose a rich guy bought the same car you did. Same color, style, etc. And then they started stereotyping you — talking about how they were embracing the “slumming” lifestyle, how quaint it was to drive that car instead of their Lamborghini, how driving your car was like embracing a lazy and uneducated lifestyle, etc. He defines the way other people look at you by imitating this one part of your existence. And when he’s tired of that, he moves on to someone else.
It’s that same impulse of irritation children get when one imitates the other. The whole “stop copying me” thing.
The reason it’s rude is because it’s an imitation that gives you more control over who the other person is and how they are seen than that person. It can be disrespectful — not for no reason, but because you’re taking traditions that may mean a lot to the people they’re coming from, and then using that tradition to define them in ways they don’t want to be defined. Like trapping them in a box where they don’t have a voice, and taking over their voice and speaking for them.
It’s just not very nice. And it’s completely different from respecting the other person or culture and realizing that your indulgence in parts of their culture IN NO WAY defines their culture or gives you more control over it than they have.
It’s claiming authority to define a culture that’s the problem, not your respect of the culture. The problem comes when one is doing it from a sense a pride or superiority instead of humility and respect. And let’s be honest — it’s hard to do some things (like blackface, given the history) from a sense of pride and respect. Why not be considerate?
I mean, relax. Explore other cultures. Respect them. But use some humility; don’t think you have authority to define a culture people have been living in their whole lives because you participated.
You’re a participant, not a definer.
Have an awesome Halloween.
P.S. I have a Patreon, in case you want to help me keep doing what I’m doing.