Culture appropriation seems to be a very big topic that I have never really came across until recently. This occurs and is usually talked about when a group of people from another culture (usually a privileged culture) do something or wear something that is typically associated with a different culture, (usually a minority) without understanding that culture or giving credit to that culture. For example Indian Halloween costumes. I personally am all for wanting people not to mock other cultures for the sake of fashion. Although I feel like there is always a way messages can be relayed without being harsh. Along with being able to understand that not everyone is out to offend another individual.
Last week the girls volleyball team at my school had a home game. Some individuals of the student body got upset when they saw the team from the school we were playing against wearing cornrows and box braids.The whole team was apparently white, but there was one white girl in particular that went more in depth with her braids than all the other girls. People were shouting at her, mainly screaming "culture appropriation" and taking pictures of her. In my opinion, that was so uncalled for. In all honesty if I was at that game seeing a white girl with cornrows it would have shocked me a little too. Although I wouldn't have went as far as shouting at her and saying rude remarks. People need to understand that not everything white people do is to target a specific culture group. Have you ever thought that it was her first time having braids and really liked the idea of it and wanted to try it out. When was there ever a law saying White girls, Chinese girls or even Jewish girls couldn't have cornrows or box braids.
Everyone knows these are called "Bantu Knots" which originated from African culture. This was a way to make their puffs curly or more puffy. Or simply just a regular hairstyle. I remember not to long ago I saw an advertisement saying that this was a new in-style way that white women can curl their hair and called it something completely different. I am all for everyone sticking together and not targeting each other, but don't take credit for something you did not create. That advertisement should have introduced that method as "Bantu Knots". Unfortunately that woman's hair didn't turn out correctly so it was honestly a waste of an advertisement, along with false claiming information. Give credit when credit is due. In that moment the credit was due to the African culture.
All in all I want everyone to know that there is a way we should deal with culture appropriation and not have to get hostile about it. There is also a way that credit for cultural styles should be given and not portrayed as something that it is not, or given credit to someone else that does not deserve the credit. Everyone needs to be at an understanding in order to be on the same page.
