People understand why I speak out against appropriation of black people, the black community, and/or black culture. I’m black; these injustice affect me on a personal level. I identify with the victims and the community of these injustices. However, people are usually confused whenever I speak on behalf of of injustices not concerning black people. Just this past Cinco de Mayo I uttered the statement “I hope I don’t see too much Mexican culture” due to the usual sombrero and faux mustaches that flood the streets on this celebratory day. “Oh, you’re Mexican, too?” a curious peer wandered. I explained that I am not Mexican, and I proceeded to ask why he thought that. “If you’re not Mexican then why do you care if people appropriate Mexican culture or whatever?”
I don’t understand why people like to make this argument. I don't understand the notion that if you’re not a part of something then you don’t have to respect it nor should you care if others disrespect it. But I’ll explain my perspective. Appropriating any culture is disrespectful. You can disrespect individuals, communities and even whole country of origin by appropriating their culture. How? Your false versions of people’s creations, their ancestors and their beliefs is a mere mockery and a slap in the face to them. A lot of traditions and celebrations have deep roots and meaning behind them and people who use only what they see to generalize and copy for their entertainment often miss these connections.
Their ignorance can also lead to misinformation. Sticking to the topic of Cinco de Mayo,another peer asked if I celebrated the holiday and my response was “not really.” I only say not really because I have taken advantage of the half priced tequila shots in honor of the Mexican holiday. I don’t celebrate the holiday, though. I have no connections to the celebration, no ties to the culture and therefore no need to celebrate. A cheerful Cinco de Mayo to anyone of Mexican heritage who celebrates the holiday and I keep it moving like a non-Mexican US citizen should. “But I see Mexicans celebrate the Fourth of July.” This is the misinformation I speak about.
Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence day. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of victory by the Mexican Army over the French in the Battle of Puebla during the French-American War in 1862. Mexico’s Independence Day ( a holiday more appropriate to compare to the Fourth of July) is celebrated on September 16th. Also, Mexicans in the US have made a decision to come here and be a part of this country. Our country’s history becomes their history and they have a right to celebrate and appreciate the holiday/event that made their passage here possible. Further, celebrating something does not mean that you are appropriating.
Cinco de Mayo has become a huge celebration in the US. In fact the the celebration is bigger here than in Mexico. The parades and festivals hosted by cities that celebrate Mexican culture are all beautiful and appropriate. The US has a huge Mexican and Mexican-American population. I feel that these Cinco de Mayo celebrations are necessary and appreciated. That’s the key - appreciation. Celebrating a culture and heritage with proper knowledge, displays and, more importantly, representation is how you appreciate something. You can't appreciate a culture or even celebrate without including the people to whom the culture belong and who the celebration is for. Their missing voices and inclusion is usually when ignorance, stereotypes and misinformation become the forefront of people’s reason to do what they think of as indulging in a cultural celebration is when appropriation starts, and when appropriation starts, the problem starts.
I care about other cultures because I love culture. I appreciate culture, and I know the pain of seeing your culture appropriated and thus misrepresented. The Kardashians claim black hairstyles like “box braids” as their own innovation. Miley Cyrus receives praise for a (very poor) display of a dance style created by black women who get ridiculed for the same style of dance. Let's not get started on Iggy Azalea's short lived career. Street wear and fashion trends, negative stereotypes used in mainstream media - my culture, black culture, is so very often at the end of the appropriation stick. I know from experience the feeling of your culture and heritage misrepresented and disrespected, and I don’t like it. I don’t like my culture nor any culture to receive this kind of disrespect and that’s why I speak out against this issue. That’s why I care and I feel that you should care, too.
