Cultural Appropriation

[@kianadk]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with cultural appreciation. I myself have travelt alot to other countries and cultures, and I have always been welcomed and included. Nobody owns braids, styles of clothing, interior design, ect. I'm from Denmark and I experience people from other countries who found their inner viking and live that lifestyle. This makes me happy and proud to be Danish. Also when people from around the world likes the way we "HYGGER" (HYGGE), and try to integrate a bit of it in their daily life. It makes me happy that we danes have contributet with something as positive as hygge around the world. Only glad to share my culture.

[@TIENxSHINHAN]

Cultural appropriation is mostly an online thing. I'm black and grew up in a town in Texas that is around 60% black, 40% Hispanic. The mexican girls where I'm from call box braids "negrita braids" (black girl braids). No one ever cared. Anyone who gets upset about a white chick wearing braids, I guarantee you that they spend a lot of time online. The only time cultural appropriation bothers me is when my culture doesn't get credit for creating it. Like how Jamaican Americans try to claim they created hip hop. They didn't lol it was black Americans. Enjoy hip hop all you like. Be a rapper if you want to. Breakdance, make R&B, whatever. But acknowledge who it came from and don't try to claim it as your own.

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

Love this!!!

[@robertb1840]

I love to see deep discussion like this video. It's becoming increasingly rare. So much instant aggression and everyone is controlled by their feelings. Makes having a reasonable conversation difficult. Definitely keep up the good work!

[@Celcey24]

I don't entirely disagree with you, but I think it's worth pointing out that there are reasons behind those feelings. With box braids or cornrows, for example, when black women wear their hair like that in America, they're often called unprofessional or not taken seriously. So to see someone else wear those styles but not have to face any of those consequences is frustrating, disheartening, and hurtful. But in Ethiopia that doesn't happen, because pretty much everyone in Ethiopia is black. I don't fully agree with it, but I do understand it, and I don't think their feelings are unreasonable. That being said, there is such thing as a closed practice, which outsiders simply aren't welcome to partake in. For example, Native American headdresses aren't just a piece of clothing- they're regalia that you earn through service to your people. It'd be like someone who's never served going around with a fake Purple Heart or Silver Star and being like "look at these honors I *earned*"

[@robertb1840]

I see what you are saying. I wouldn't say a hairstyle has anything to do with not being taken seriously though. Maybe a mohawk would. Idk, just don't think that that is the common association people make. If it were, I would definitely understand. Also, the native american headdresses are revered only by a small minority of people for generally non life threatening achievements. Not that a small minority doesn't matter, but the military purple heart etc, is an honor recognized by almost every american and many people in other countries. In the end, "stolen valor" is still a thing, while the football team, the redskins have to rebrand etc.

[@w3w3w3]

Braids are from white nordic vikings...

[@Celcey24]

​@@robertb1840 It may seem ridiculous to judge someone for a hairstyle (and it is) but it does happen. Many many black folks have shared their personal experience with being told straight out that their hairstyles were unprofessional, even though styles like cornrows are simply part of how you keep Afro-texture hair healthy. Even First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken out about it. Re: headdresses, the things that earn you feather can very much be life-threatening- certain feathers are earned through war. I strongly believe that just because only a small group of people know the meaning doesn't mean make it any less disrespectful than doing it to servicemen/women, it just means you're disrespecting a smaller group of people.

[@robertb1840]

@@Celcey24 these tribes are still going to war?

[@robertb1840]

The difference between someone wearing a headdress and a Purple Heart or other decorations comes down to intent. Nobody is claiming to belong to an Indian tribe and claim valor if they’re wearing a headdress. It’s not that way for actual stolen valor type moments. In fact if someone was wearing a Halloween costume with military decorations I would not give a shit

[@Cibalia]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Instead of finding a reason to be a victim, these people should realise that you are doing these things because you value and like them. If you didn't like a certain culture, why would you want to copy something that they do? This is a toxic mentality coming out of the USA and spreading through the West.

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

Well said ❤️

[@annakalton522]

I'll be honest, with all the hate and ignorance being spread (especially online) lately, when I saw your video in my recommended, I almost made the preconceived judgement that I would not agree with your opinion on this topic, but I am happy that I was proven wrong! It is a great reminder that I should focus less on the negativity and work on fixing my own bias. While we both are from the US, we have very different cultural backgrounds. As a Buddhist, mostly left-leaning, hapa (half asian, half white) female, I completely agree that embracing different cultures is beautiful and people are often too quick to throw words like cultural appropriation at others. It makes me happy when I see people embracing aspects of my culture!! I've even had to stand up against my own friends for accusing someone of appropriation on my behalf and remind them that it does not bother me! I am not a Christian myself, but my belief shares a deep love for the words of Jesus as they are very similar to many of our own virtues. Thank you for sharing!! Also, you are absolutely stunning!

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

Awe!!! Tysm ❤️ I really appreciate this comment

[@typical_ae9200]

Wonderful video! I completely agree with your viewpoint. The world would be happier if everyone could embrace and experience other cultures ☺️

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

Well said!

[@unyimeakpabio3208]

We should be flattered that you design to shine your light on our culture. Girl. Kick rooks. All cultures have braids, but appropriation of a specifically black style, the box braid, and getting upset that members of that cultural community are upset. Is wild. Black hairstyles have been a point of persecution for black people. Hairstyles have been banned in workplaces and schools because they look "dirty" or "unkempt" but then are suddenly fashionable when a white person wears them.

[@unyimeakpabio3208]

You are a fool to associate genetic traits as culture. Black people can be born with straight hair, how is this an unacknowledged adoption of an element of one culture or identity of another culture or identity. If a White person curls their straight hair, or straightens their curly hair, that is fine. But when a White person gets box braids and makes themselves appear racially ambiguous, and somebody in a comment section calls this behaviour out, suddenly Black people cannot wear their hair straight anymore.

[@gypsylee333]

Stop appropriating OUR culture and history, y'all keep trying to make every white queen a black person, every roman general, Cleopatra, the Vikings. Turning all of our white characters and fairy tales swapping them black like Ariel and Snow White. You're embarrassed cuz all you have is braids and no history or real culture 😜

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

Hi, this comment seems to be a little hateful. It also has lots of typos. But I think that hair getting banned from work spaces is not a good thing, So we agree on that! No need to let yourself get worked up though

[@unyimeakpabio3208]

​@gypsylee333, you are the worst type of person. A revisionist that lacks convection in one's words. Your initial comment was :@gypsylee333 Then stop copying our long straight hair with your weaves 💅🏼 Instead of standing behind your initial words, you edited yourself using fictional characters and cartoons as a justification for your false understanding of appropriation.

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

Sorry the pictures are sideways I am still learning 😢

[@MrHaydnSir]

the audio will sound better with the microphone ..but it's a microphone - it will find you and pick you up just fine - you don't need to hold it so close to your mouth, just around the centre of your chest would do just fine

[@HeatherOverstreet-Yoder]

I am wondering if I need a better quality mic because when I clipped it to my shirt it was static 🥲

[@LonnieLawless]

This cultural appropriation business is ridiculous.

[@hansdampf640]

there is no such thing as Cultural Appropriation.....

[@gypsylee333]

@@hansdampf640 what do you call it when woke entertainment race swaps all of our white heroes and history? Like claiming Cleopatra was black, Queen Charlotte, Anne Boylen, Viking hero Jarl, Issac Newton, fictional characters like Ariel of the little mermaid, Snow White... I could be here all day but these important figures of white culture have all been stolen and appropriated by woke people turning them black. Way way worse than wearing a hairstyle of another culture.