Put Some Respek On My Culture
I once adopted the mindset that the people who were offended by cultural appropriation were too sensitive. There was no real justification for their cries other than just to create a façade. I even went as far as saying your culture is being appropriated because you are not doing enough to protect it. It wasn’t until I attend the Perceptions of Beauty event hosted by Women Like Me at the Braidbox in London a few months ago that I realised that we each have a responsibility to protect and promote our own culture which means if cultural appropriation is not done with some respect, we have every right to be mad. The event was designed to educate and explore a discussion about beauty, gender, and politics. I attended the event simply because I was curious about the influence behind other people’s views. At the end of the event, it finally clicked in mind, people are mad about cultural appropriation (and I should be too) because of the lack of respect behind it and the exploitation.
No doubt in the last few years we have seen all these major brands jumping on the ‘diversity’ bandwagon. Unfortunately, diversity is just that an activity, cause, etc. that is currently fashionable or popular and attracting increasing support. (Google’s definition). For a number of brands, it is just that, it stops there until diversity stops trending and it’s on to the next trend faster than you can say ‘hey give me back my culture’
You may appear diverse but if your brand lacks inclusion you are doing it all wrong. You can brag about how many different shades of foundation your brand offers but until you show some genuine respect and concern for the people you are serving, I am not interested keep it moving.
It’s certainly not that white girls should not twerk or wear cornrows, it’s just that if you are going to do that ‘put some respek’ on it. Cornrows should be not be glorified as some phenomenal overnight discovery that some influencer has just brought onto the mainstream. Cornrows have been around since our ancestors were out in the fields singing songs of redemption. There is a deeper meaning behind that and furthermore, there are people who have been struggling and been discriminated because they wore cornrows to work. So please tell me why is it all of sudden a glorified fashion choice?
Genuine embracement means inclusion. If you want an Asian model on your front cover or catwalk, go out and get an Asian model, don’t take a white model and give her artificial Asian looks and call your campaign the Asian edition. That is purely offensive. Last time I checked there were Asian models out there looking for work.
Someone’s culture has a deeper meaning and connection than you will ever comprehend so if you are going to do it, do it with respek.
You cannot pick and choose when you want to embrace a culture. We are shit until you approve of us? Nah Master, that’s not how it works. There should be no such thing of having to prove ourselves to anyone. We don’t need to strip ourselves of our being just to sit on the edge of someone else’s table when we can build our own table and still maintain our dignity.
You cannot cherry pick what you want from the culture, you must be ready to face it all. I love that other people like to take an interest in our culture, but when it’s done out of exploitation or mockery there is plenty wrong with it.
Ohh and going back to doing more to protect our culture, those who have an influence, yes you Influencer with 1million followers real or bought, I urge you to do your utmost to embrace the culture, educate and promote because until we stand up for ourselves, our culture will always be available to others use and abuse. Whatever culture we each to embrace let us do it with less ignorance.
By Nicole Samoto
