Farewell to Cultural Appropriation

[@KirbyFerguson]

GET ONE OF THE INTERNET'S BEST SHIRTS IN OUR NEW SHOP www.everythingisaremix.info/shop

[@squarebearderry]

Great content, love from ireland

[@carlosrivas1629]

my response to cultural approrpriation, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHKkYqudibmqb9k

[@carlosrivas1629]

the black accent is actually from the south orginally. Thomas Sowell kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXfFnqWhibeHeZI

[@carlosrivas1629]

Crazy rich Asians is a movie made for white liberals who care way too much about politics. the rest of watch other stuff.

[@carlosrivas1629]

when blackface was a thing, people where not giant gaping pussies and could take a joke for what it is. also people didnt like sslavery which is why we fought a civil war to end it, the republicans not the democrats BTW!!

[@joegolike]

“The naive dream of earlier generations was harmony. And it’s still the best dream.” Excellent ending to another great video, Kirby.

[@KirbyFerguson]

thank u joe!

[@helloagain6243]

Won't happen if people keep calling eachother labels of segregation.

[@rustyshackleford735]

Harmony requires equality first. The typical lib problem is thinking in platitudes with no real world analysis or solutions. Let's all squint and imagine harmony, but let's not consider what it actually takes to get there.

[@greysnake2903]

what will I call you then if you don't like labels?

[@muayboran6111]

Just to be clear, this is an American thing. I feel pround when a foreigner wears traditionap thai clothings, adopt thai customs. It means that they see value in it. What a bunch of weakling

[@piakrut3476]

It’s a problem of those who were born in an english language country like america, australia etc and spoke English their whole life, I studied that in psychology.

[@AlexanderBarakhov]

Agree, not a big deal in EU

[@mytime4798]

Ignorant asf what else is new

[@CentauriSphere]

@@AlexanderBarakhov people are trying to make it a big deal, but people of minorities actually say they aren't offended:D (at least what i know from my region)

[@AlexanderBarakhov]

@@CentauriSphere Yes, same in my region 😊

[@morbid1.]

people forget that in many other countries only knowledge about black americans is from pop culture and movies...

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Hence the problem

[@tinxsaurus]

I’m half thai and half swedish, and this is a thing in Sweden too, at least where I live, like gosh, I remember one time where my swede boyfriend got a lot of nasty comments from only wearing an asian strawhat, t-shirt and shorts (like being called a literal racist). No, this is no joke, even his ex reached out to him to tell him he was a racist. Some people think they know everything about a culture when they don’t know that much in reality, AKA has anyone asked the actual minorities? My thai mom would be so confused if I were to explain what ”cultural appropriation” meant. And what about when she saw my boyfriend in the hat? She loved it, she giggled and said it looked nice on him

[@tinxsaurus]

We should appreciate culture and bring out other cultures in a positive and supporting way. When someone is actually making fun of a culture or is being straight up disrespectful then hell no! Cause that is not okay!

[@vanissaberg5824]

This! Thank you!

[@BlackSunCompany]

I definitely agree on this take. What it's always felt to me is it's appropriation when there is *zero* respect, minimal effort, and it's only being done for publicity or to push some product. It's the same reason people get angry over greenwashing (trying to appear environmentally-friendly while not actually having impactful business practices) and PRIDEwashing (offering token support to the LGBTQ+ community for one month a year but only in already "friendly" countries). I think there's a large amount of cynicism involved because we do see companies and public figures doing this frequently, so people start assuming everyone is doing it even when they're not.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Such as this video

[@MelonKnees]

I think the critical piece you're missing in your video is that folks who are appropriating might have appreciation of the specific cultural aspects they're co-opting, but not the culture as a whole. They therefore lack the understanding of the meaning those aspects hold in their home culture. Additionally, "pop culture" as you described it does have a large appreciation for portions of black culture, but don't have an appreciation for the black people who created that culture. White folks taking the culture while leaving the people to be oppressed.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

And then justify all this by saying it belongs to all of us, etc.

[@curiouschronic582]

Thats exactly the message i recieved from social media if its not in your genetics you cant talk about it im only just now finding the less toxic discussions that actually have nuance involved. Thank you very much ❤

[@HeribertoEstolano]

This video is every ten seconds you feeling an urge to go to the comments and write mean things and then he presents an argument that tottally chills you down into returning to reason and you end up happy you actually learned something.

[@rohaxfx001]

I'm bi-racial, and while there are certainly instances where appropriation is insensitive and wrong, all the modern accusations of appropriation I've seen are extraordinarily trivial, and as someone who is the product of mixing cultures I have to say I take it a bit personally. Culture is not just about blood or skin colour, its about knowledge, and love, and connection. When someone gets targeted with accusations like these I totally feel like doing the whole leave Britney alone thing... ;) Btw, why do some individuals claim to speak for their entire culture? Also not ok.

[@KirbyFerguson]

Well said, Rohan.

[@rustyshackleford735]

You're white with a white outlook.

[@bofbob1]

As someone who grew up across different cultures (though not bi-racial), I also tend to take it personally. The way I see it, if they got their way, I could end up being deprived of any cultural expression at all. I mean, if people from both of the cultures I'm from say "you can't do this coz you're not entirely like us", yeah...they'd squeeze me out of existence...

[@pouncepounce7417]

The whole idea is in my opinion silly for that very reason, the question of if your skincolor determines what music you are allowed to play/hear, it all boils down to politeness as soon it is about culture, "stealing" it is impossible, culture is an idea, not an invention, as soon we make it patent-able we are in deep doodoo

[@Desertpunk1986]

Mixed race Hapa here. And a whole life of trying to find who I fit in with, is now being pointed at as cultural appropriation. It’s weird.

[@tamago2474]

Fantastic work Kirby, thank you!

[@1CT1]

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” King James Version (KJV) John 3:16 King James Version 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Galatians 3:26 King James Version 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Titus 3:5-7 King James Version 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Revelation 21:4 King James Version 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Matthew 28:19-20 King James Version 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

[@e7venjedi]

Entertaining and endlessly thought-provoking as always Kirby! It's a tough temptation to resist when cancel culture is so powerful at winning people virtue points. Yet people of decency want to listen and be sympathetic when people are feeling taken advantage of. I like your 'best practices' ideas of just going for it out of love for the 'cultures' you happen to like, and asking for forgiveness rather than permission. If someone comes to you after you've made something and says, "hey, I feel like you copied this... and you don't have the right because you're not one of us", all you can do is be honest about your love for the things you value. The 2nd part of that is just really hard to please some people on without having a sterile culture. It may be a little harsh, but I think eventually you just have to air your grievances and move on. Especially in our globalized world of the internet, no culture stays segregated for long, whether you like it or not. And if you don't want segregation of people, why would you expect to be able to keep cultures from blending?

[@helloagain6243]

Yes

[@greysnake2903]

Globalism 101

[@StephenDeagle]

I'm amazed this point even needs to be made, but I appreciate someone is making it and doing so well.

[@Wazoox]

Cultural appropriation itself is profoundly alien to people around the world. However, the huge weight of American culture, both through adhesion and through imperialism, is also gradually making cultural appropriation a thing everywhere. Too bad that we can't simply take the good things and leave the crazy shit out.

[@helloagain6243]

Humans cannot appropriate human culture.

[@gabe_s_videos]

You said it...

[@pavelow235]

"Cultural appropriation itself is profoundly alien to people around the world." Your first sentence is nonsense and Mr. Ferguson proved as much in his everything is a remix series.

[@ethanhartsell7059]

Brilliant insight. Cultural appropriation may largely be an ideological construct of Anglo-American culture.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

"Too bad we can't simply take the good things and leave the crazy shit out" the epitome of the argument of Culture Appropriation.

[@knocks42]

Every time you upload you appropriate 100% of my attention. I wish I could frame these videos you make, they are art.

[@IWML]

magnificent as always! so much love for you and what you do.

[@emotionalmath]

You’re just reaaaaaally really good at this stuff. And while it shares some vibe with EIAR, this video in particular has a flow through it of love and appreciation. Thanks for your brain Kirby! Keep it up.

[@FeebleAntelope]

I had no idea anyone thought there was a "stain" on Awkwafina's career. There's definitely something to how people are interfacing with media/social media. I know smartphones and the Internet are a significant part of life, but I dunno, maybe people need to unplug just a smidge more, touch grass, talk to people in real life a little more. *We had a campaign for fitness once in the US. Maybe we need a campaign for Better Ways to Handle the Pocket Computers We All Carry.*

[@KirbyFerguson]

Easy to say when you’re not the one getting mobbed. She deleted her Twitter account in response and was the subject of hundreds of news articles. She’s very very very aware of this controversy. Digital life is life dude. Peoples lives are destroyed by things like this and It’s inane to say it’s just pocket computers.

[@FeebleAntelope]

@@KirbyFerguson Oh, I apologize.... My intention was not to minimize what happened at all. 1.) I was attempting to comment on the power smartphones have when I referred to them as pocket computers. We all carry these devices in our pockets that have increasingly higher levels of computing power. I was recalling a comment I heard somewhere about our phones being more powerful than the computers that took humans to the Moon. I was commenting on how these devices have developed faster than humans have adapted to them. 2.) And that, as a species, we could maybe benefit from some sort of campaign to push for healthier use of these devices most of us carry in our pockets. And that was intended not to mean that Awkwafina could have handled things better by touching grass, etc. I was envisioning an environment where the mobs would not be going after people because they could be learning a different way of interfacing with smartphones. Probably a hopeless idea. :(

[@UncleDane]

Another banger, man. Fantastic work.

[@tirsden]

Man, if I got rid of everything that isn't somehow... what... blood-related to me?... then I'd essentially have very little left, and almost no clothes! Add to that the fact that I have had little contact with half my blood-related culture and essentially none with another quarter, uh, yeah, for one thing I'd have to move to western Europe and then everybody would be like "lady, you're American, what are you trying to prove?" Boiling down the concept of cultural appropriation through liking or appreciating another culture really does point out how silly it all gets on the "don't do that" side of the fence.

[@helloagain6243]

Exactly. This guy is talking about people not having enough shame... While he SHAMELESSLY occupies native American land and will probably say something like "my ancestors are here generations so I'm good" 😂 😂

[@heronimousbrapson863]

The problem with the whole concept of cultural appropriation, is that it has to be determined by someone in a position of self-appointed authority. We can never trust such a person's motives.

[@bengarland]

The great thing about Japanese culture (src: I lived there for a few years) is that they LOVE it when people "culturally appropriate" ANYTHING Japanese. To them it's not appropriation, it's APPRECIATION (edit: I wrote that before I got to the end of the video where Kirby points this out). They want you to wear kimono, dress up like anime characters, samurai, kawaii dolls, geisha, etc... eat sushi, ramen, takoyaki, kobe beef, and any other Japanese food that you want to share around the world... and adopt + celebrate their culture anywhere and everywhere. They really don't understand why westerners are so concerned about "cultural appropriation".

[@mytime4798]

Because it's important, to respect othes cultures, point blank period. It's not something to take lightly 🤷‍♀️

[@BravoBrakas]

I'm Swedish and I would just think it would be awesome for people to dress up like vikings. I don't understand the issue 🤔 Even if it's historically inaccurate that they had horns on their helmets I still just think it looks cool. I just think that the fact that people can copy and adopt culture leads to a bigger understanding of one another and overall better culture. Its when we adopt and share culture across the borders that the culture improves. Many times things have been done a specific way until culture appropriation and we got a fresh insight of things. Like the video suggests, jumping on people for cultural appropriation will only lead to more segregation. We also don't need some white Americans to point out when someone is doing a poor job at adopting our culture, we can do that fine ourselves...

[@DN-wy3ud]

As an African that's lived in a few African countries, it's the same here. It's actually seen as personal rejection when a foreign person doesn't partake in the culture. And people love it when their cultural practices are adopted by a foreigner. I was so shocked to see Americans trying to criminalize people loving something outside of their norm🤦🏽‍♀️

[@NeoDark93]

Westerners aren't concerned about cultural appropiation. It's only silly americans who do.

[@lt3746]

@@mytime4798 so expressing a love for cultural practices and taking part is disrespectful?

[@gamera3000]

If writing only about your own becomes a rule, how could an author write a story with characters from a variety of background & cultures when he/she is only from one culture? It is successfully done with empathy, research & ackowledgement of those who assisted.

[@KirbyFerguson]

Yes, Lionel Shriver has made this point: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/13/lionel-shrivers-full-speech-i-hope-the-concept-of-cultural-appropriation-is-a-passing-fad

[@josephpublico2337]

Indeed, only vampires have the right to write vampire stories, axe murderers are a bit limited too, but luckily thrillers can be written not only by spies, mercenaries and hit men but ordinary super-heroes too.

[@miar.4009]

To be fair though, I remember that a lot of this controversy was about the marketing campaign for the book which included very tasteful stuff like barbed wire table decorations ... ​@@KirbyFerguson

[@UldisTrapencieris]

I frocking cry after all your videos. It starts to become ridiculous.

[@KirbyFerguson]

yer a big softie like me :)

[@1CT1]

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” King James Version (KJV) John 3:16 King James Version 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Galatians 3:26 King James Version 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Titus 3:5-7 King James Version 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Revelation 21:4 King James Version 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Matthew 28:19-20 King James Version 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

[@harrychestwigg]

@@1CT1 ....and your point is?

[@ericgarcia5401]

That's too American for me to be honest... From an outsider's perspective it all looks like nonsense and I can't relate with the video.

[@helloagain6243]

💯

[@helloagain6243]

@@krisu0100 I don't think you grasp that it's American ideology, it doesn't have to exist solely in America.

[@Risky_Boots999]

yeah it's almost like america's history is different than your countries

[@helloagain6243]

Almost

[@Risky_Boots999]

@@helloagain6243 ah you must not understand what the sarcastic use of ‘almost as if’ does to the meaning of a sentence

[@brandonburton5928]

One thing I'll add to this gumbo: I think a major part of the Elvis controversy was that it was sort of the straw that broke the camel's back with the rise of Country music as a "White" Genre, while everyone who knows knows that the white country musicians learned from black players and very few humans know their names. Elvis was sort of the greatest example of that experienced cultural erasure.

[@Phronesis7]

Your videos are always so in depth and informative, shedding much needed light on the history and nature of creativity, and it’s clear that your intentions are good. However, as an example to shed more light on how this feels: if you never have to live with the reality and generational effects of a loss every day, you’re happy to give the loss some short term focus. Anything beyond that becomes whiny to you. You want to get back to your regularly scheduled programming- because you can! Nothing is lost to YOU long term. So it’s easy to assume those dealing with it just “need to f-ing get over it already coz these things happen” because you never have to think about it for long.

[@collinwimbish4516]

This is well done and pretty nuanced as always

[@hismajesty6272]

You can talk in a fake accent without being hateful. I’ve heard northern Americans using a twangy accent with a very hateful, condescending tone towards southerners and it made me sick. However, using a fake accent for a bit as a gag is fine as long as you aren’t being rude like making fun of whoever’s voice you’re using. I don’t see blackface as cultural appropriation, because it wasn’t a thing black folks did, it was just a racist character of them.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

That last part. One of the things he got very wrong.

[@mrfoozy47]

I actually know a white person who has very publicly made an effort to not use any AAVE terms and encourages other white people to stop too. She even posted a chart on her Instagram story of common AAVE phrases and “white” equivalents. She has good intentions, but doesn’t it feel kinda wrong for a white person to be like “let’s make sure we aren’t talking like black people!”

[@SuperAwesomeMicro]

Kirby - you're a learned fellow. Thanks for all your great work.

Amazing video, as always. Thanks Mr. Ferguson. I use your EIAR series in classroom to talk about digital culture. I am a Brazilian designer and teacher and have to say that this discussion is a bit surreal if taken into Brazilian culture. Brazilian culture is all mixed. ALL MIXED. As are Brazilian people. There's a few whites and a few blacks, and a few indigenous people that didn't mixed, but it is clear for us, in the XXI century, that Brazilian people is mixed since the XVI century. So, Brazilian literature, painting, dace and music is 100% mixed. And this is ok. nobody will try to shame you because a (apprently) white person would make black music, or the other way around. It is our natural state. If anybody tries to shame you about this, people will almost always laught it. Of course there is still prejudice against black people, and indians, well, I'm not saying there isn't but even that is begining to fade. Slowly but steadily. So, for me at least, culture is always a mix. Latin culture in III century AD is a mix of mediterranean cultures... Why are we discurssing this now?!? Be free to use greek philosophy, french cuisine and italian gestures. That's the state of civilization as it always were and, fortunately, always will be. Cheers! And keep makgin videos like this! We love it!

[@Francois_L_7933]

Everything has already been invented. If you can't lovingly appropriate stuff, you can't create anything new. And if you can't create anything new or show appreciation towards other cultures, it quickly becomes a downwards spiral towards intolerance, segregation, misunderstanding and all the bad things that go with it.

[@Beepbopboop19]

👏👏👏

[@wcp4jc]

everything has not already been invented. there are still new things happening in "the culture" so there go's that excuse...

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Cognitive dissonance

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Appropriation and Appreciation are two different things.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

The nerve to talk about intolerance and segregation because that only matters when you want to take or benefit off someone.

[@arashafzhan]

Wow..that finishing with Ben E King..so beautiful, yet it all make sense.. Splendid job, fellow middle age man.. :D

[@klauskillski3881]

Billie Eilish wears mostly european luxury brands like louis vuitton and co. in the 2010s rapper switched from baggy pants to skinny jeans, which where worn the decades before by indie and punk rockers i think Elvis credited his the back music influences in interviews

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Rappers didn't claim the fame of skinny jeans. Elvis said something along those lines but it didn't matter. The world still didn't and still don't credit FBA for the music, history, or transcendence. Black ppl sure as hell wasn't able to collect the wealth off it.

[@johnnypopstar]

Awesome work man! One amusing thing: oh boy did "fast forward 30 years" after the Michael Jackson bit ever hit me over the head with how old I am 😂

[@KirbyFerguson]

Oh man, tell me about it. :)

[@wnavarrobr]

Another thing I wonder about cultural appropriation is how you are able the "true origin" or something from your culture.. I mean, how can we track back something that's exclusive to one specific culture and how that wasn't built on mixing from other cultures in other periods. I imagine cultures always absorbed each other's ideas and influences

[@wcp4jc]

spoken like a true culture vulture

[@bombercountyblues]

Indeed.. the language you used to write your comment is a mish mash of old norse,, Greek,, germanic and Latin..

[@HanneleKormano]

I feel like we can't give up the cultural appropriation terminology entirely, and I want to explain why I think it's still worth caring about, and why some of the examples you call trivial can still be seen as problematic. I would agree that the controversy is too strong sometimes! But there's babies in the bathwater. Sometimes I think it's worth flipping the conversation, and talking about when cultural protectionism is appropriate, because while you talked about appreciation vs appropriation, there wasn't a lot of discussion about how can you tell, about what's clearly over the fuzzy line. For example, too often, black culture becomes a shorthand for edginess or slumming it, and that's still not OK, because it perpetuates the systems of oppression in terms of the perception of that culture. Too often indigenous culture is a shorthand for mysticism or savagery, and that's still not OK for similar reasons. Similarly, appropriating religious symbology in places where that religion is a minority also runs the risk of othering folks from that religion.

[@MattHill]

Incredible work as usual, Kirby. Wow. Thank you for doing what you do so well.

[@KirbyFerguson]

thank you for watching matt!

[@DurandalsFate]

If you're reading this and you're not one of the roughly 80 million ethnically English people, I'd like to thank you for joining the two billion appropriators of the English language. And thank you to all the non-English companies and artists and other celebrities who benefit from the use of the English language without asking for English people's collective permission. I'm so grateful that we can all speak the language without learning or appreciating the entire history of the language first. It is so much more useful and beautiful because people all over the world can openly enjoy listening to it, try it out, learn it at any level of depth, add local words and improvised words to it, and (not least) profit from it. It is a great acknowledgement of enduring English influence that so many have picked up that key component of English culture and connected with each other through it, with most of those people going to the trouble of learning it as a second language. Thank you!

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

You have absolutely, as usual, no idea what Appropriation is.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

The language of the oppressors.

[@DurandalsFate]

@@dontbmadjusbcareful If you're tempted to see everything through the prism of group power asymmetries, well, "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." If any of the English people object to you using that line outside of its original cultural context, you can ignore them.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

That's what I thought.

[@DurandalsFate]

Of course you thought that. Nothing surprises you. You're so wise.

[@faithoverfear6965]

Well said. Also take into consideration the huge mixed race population that influenced our culture..

[@KirbyFerguson]

Yeah, absolutely.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

What mixed race people influenced your culture? What culture would that be?

[@davideo35]

The second I heard the beginning of the closing song in this video I got chills. And the conclusion you reached--using that song as the evidence--was PERFECT.

[@Desertpunk1986]

Oh shit Kirby. This was a home run! Much love from one happy and finally self found Hapa.

[@MattAngiono]

Came from Peter Coffin.... LOVED THIS! Got my subscription and am checking out "everything is a remix" for sure! Great work!

[@mattmccullough1093]

Cultures are met to be shared, not owned. Claiming cultures based on race is racist because it's segregation. Our history has shown that time and time again. Jackie Robertson and Eminem can both speak for that. A culture is a way of life. Cultures are based on your lifestyle your beliefs and Religion. Most cultures around the world evolved around religion. You cannot claim cultures based on race that is extremely racist.

[@hansolo9585]

Yes but it's important to see who profits most from this cultural exchange.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Black people can't be racist. If they could you wouldn't have their culture in the first place.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

You need to read Jackie Robinson Autobiography and dig a little deeper than Wikipedia on Baseball.

[@jcuttercampbell6696]

I'll just say this i continues to see on social media is just full of whytes doing videos of our culture our music artist styles and just about any of it that you can imagine i'm a guitrist by trade and ones auditioned for an r&b, jazz, and funk band and the white boy was there he was already on board he had nothing to prove to the band members broke his whole bag of tricks out to proove how much he was better and knew more than me instead of humeling himself and be inviting to play with another damn good guitarist i also was a very versatile musician as well as vocals and playing at the same time as that day i never forgot it opened my eyes to all that i needed to know for sure and no cap til this day we don't have music programs for our kid in scjool anymore no after school clubs like was growing up i was able to have those opportunity's in place and took advantage of them and grew as a child and stayed out of trouble as my parents told me assured that i was a good kid and it stayed with me even when fell off i remebered and always git back on track ijs

[@lyontamergaming6235]

Excellence message again. Good stuff. If Everything is a Remix, then everything is Appropriation.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Everything is not a remix though.

[@jo7a_edits]

So happy to see this on my feed! Great video Kirby, thanks for your view on such a complex topic!

[@KirbyFerguson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@josephpublico2337]

@@KirbyFerguson What's your problem with dreadlocks? The rest was interesting, but you completely dismissed a topic which actually affects quite a lot of people.

[@djse]

The real problem is racism, that was cause communities to fold on themself, and the cultural appropriation is just an answer to racism. It means "if you don't accept me as an equal, then you won't have my culture". Racism is like a blindfold that bloc the different community to see what they have in common and instead focus on their difference, without trying to understand the origin of those difference. We got different skin tone just because of how long our ancestor lived in a specific area of the world, nothing more, nothing less. But at first we're all from the same tree, with the same culture, so every culture nuances are all part of our culture as human being. Without racism, no one would be offended by some cultural appropriation, cause their wouldn't be any agression in the first place and we would all know that we're all one unique race. It's weird to say that it sounds utopic, but ironically, it's also scientifically true.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Omfg

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Omfg

[@rogere5585]

Theres more of the opposite of this…? A mermaid is a fictional character. The Rock…so appropriated you think chuck berry is playing whitish music

[@Orf]

19:15 "There is a segregationist aspect to cultural appropriation."

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Segregation wasn't the problem. Inequality, Racism, Opportunity, Oppression, was.

[@windseekervideo]

10:35 Actually, 旗袍(or 長衫）IS a prom dress.

[@rickskeptical]

Great video! Ralph Ellison quote is epic. I guess I will continue to just eat toast and water and sit alone at home in my underwear talking only to myself to avoid the accusatory glances. Geez, my life is lonely.

[@cl114c0777498d]

This was such an excellent video. Reading this comment section is frustrating and dumb as hell though.

[@manzell]

I grew up with 100s of white and asian girls in the 90s who talked like this. I think she does a "blaccent" pretty regularly but it was a horse out of the barn 20 years ago.

[@KirbyFerguson]

Oh yeah, I agree. I’m not sure that’s bad though. I'd need to see clips of Awkawafina doing it in normal life. I didn’t see anything meaningful.

[@Chadrscott]

Way to stick the landing, Kirby. Incredible conclusion to a nuanced argument/thesis.

[@NickolasNameolas]

I don’t know, all I can think about is the word “woke” and the phrase “Black lives matter.” Phrases that were originally intended to uplift but got coopted and overused by white allies then twisted into something negative by white conservatives. I’m black btw.

[@helloagain6243]

Yeah yeah we know what the leaders of BLM ended up doing... Buying houses in neighbourhoods with nothing but pale skinned people hahaha don't be blame gaming.

[@NickolasNameolas]

@@helloagain6243 Great example, you’re exactly the kind of person I was talking about. Gross.

[@ShinyQuetzalcoatl]

Us indigenous people have dreadlocks and braid our hair as well. We don’t take ownership, we know other cultures do it too. It’s best to know about your culture and where you come from, so others won’t say you’re appropriating another culture. I braid my hair with good intent and to honor my ancestors. I wear my long hair proudly, for my ancestors who were forced to cut their hair. Stay free 💫

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Black ppl are the only Indigenous ppl on this planet.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

That's not what Appropriation is.

[@erinisdizzy]

This was wonderful. Thank you!

[@AndrewPotterton]

Great video! Thank you. I'm thinking about this topic much more now than before....

[@Jamzoe]

Probably the most inaccurate problem with this story is Rock n Roll, yes Elvis made the genre and brought it to a mass audience. But the people who created the genre and pioneered the genre ‘Black People,’ didn’t gain the recognition nor most importantly, the money from doing so. It’s important to note white audiences during that time wanted black music done by white artists. (And this became more apparent with the disco demolition of 1979, the extreme hatred for hip hop music in the 80s and 90s and it’s weird association with it encouraging violence in the black community)That’s why songs were being stolen, people weren’t paid royalties etc. For black culture there’s also the line of [paraphrasing] ‘ For white people, blackness is a thing to consume but not engage with.’ To explain, take Elvis Presley (not to blame him personally) but he was going on tours throughout America singing and selling black music, something white audiences loved. Meanwhile black artists couldn’t go to certain clubs and faced racial abuse and discrimination. Take the UK in the 1970s, Bob Marley is adored and Reggae is topping the charts. Meanwhile Black British Caribbean’s are facing immense discrimination and violence from the public and state. All this is say Racism and Cultural appropriation go hand in hand, they work together. Concerning today, yes some accusations of cultural appropriation are trivial at best. But I adore that people are saying we have learnt from the past and are making sure not to allow these things to happen again. And going with your point pop (especially) and country music aren’t exclusively white genres, considering their origins. A stark comparison from genres like Hip Hop, Rock n Roll, RnB, Soul, Reggae etc. which have staunch black origins.

[@josephpublico2337]

Isn't one of the points discussed here that music genres have very foggy origins? How far back do you trace them? No music genre is exclusively white or black surely, making such argument a little trivial. Don't you think that people like Elvis contributed to ending racial segregation in America? Didn't Bob Marley (who made reggae popular outside of Jamaica probably mainly because he did it in a rock style) make it okay to be black (well, half anyway in his case) and have dreadlocks in a predominantly white culture? I don't think these things should be considered as mistakes not to make again. Awareness is fine, but the main arguments chucked about on the subject seem to me to be the very least important ones. Whether it be for the right reasons or not, it seems too that white people adopting (sorry, appropriating ) black styles is beneficial to black people in the long run. If corn rows become socially acceptable in the work environment because of Kim Kardashian (whoever she is), then it's beneficial, no?

[@Jamzoe]

@@josephpublico2337 But cornrows are not socially acceptable in the workplace, there are literal cases of black people being discriminated against because of their hair at work and in schools LMAOOOOO. Like I really don't know what you're talking about. Elvis did not contribute to ending racial segregation in America - he may have been an ally - but black people and artists did all the work, had to suffer, and in some cases die to end racial segregation. So again, what are you talking about? Bob Marley didn't do reggae in a rock style as well, and he didn't make it okay to be black in the Western World evidently LOOOOOOL ... You've glossed over most, If not all, of my points initially made to make some quite stupid points. And systemic racism did not end in the 60s, so at the very least start from there.

[@josephpublico2337]

@@Jamzoe Hmm...maybe I didn't express myself very clearly. No reason to be so disagreeable though. Whatever, let me explain more in depth. I only "glossed over" your points which I didn't disagree with, so no point in mentioning them. If you find my points stupid, so be it, that's just your opinion which is no more valid than mine. At no point did I say cornrows are socially acceptable in the workplace, but rather that if they do become acceptable, it's not without public attention and awareness being brought to the subject by high profile people. What's acceptable in the workplace is not limited to racial aspects. Hair length was for a long while strictly limited (mainly for men, whatever their race). Why? Because older people didn't like what younger people looked like, that's about all! Long hair is now acceptable in most jobs, simply because older people were forced to get used to it. Nothing to do with skin colour. I experienced prejudice at school just because my hair was below my collar (shock horror!) but it was a style I chose to have. Cornrows are a style choice too, whatever their history, not a physical or cultural or religious obligation. Of course prejudice still exists, but you can't put everything down to the racial argument. Actors and musicians have always had more freedom to look how they wish (though even that can be debatable in the world of big-business where stars are modeled into user-friendly merchandise). This then leaks slowly (yes slowly; not even over the same generation sometimes) into the rest of society. Bob Marley, who had maybe his biggest hit ( I shot the sheriff) with a song that's not even technically a reggae: yes he was adored.....but by young people, not the older generations and certainly not the state. Of course I was talking about Britain with reference to him, not America. So what I'm getting at there is that there's always a distinction between what young people like and accept versus what the old folks think. That's where the evolution is. Let's say Elvis contributed nothing, if you like, except being an ally (whatever that means if not contributing), but he certainly got the masses talking about rock'n roll. Again, I didn't say systemic racism has ended in your country, just the "official" segregation. Speaking of which, the "devil's music" that was once rock'n roll has long been replaced by a societal hatred for electronic music, which suffers from the same old clichés of drug-invested binges corrupting the morals of the youth. The difference is, colour has absolutely nothing to do with it. So maybe it's all as much about youth culture and older people/ the state being afraid of it? As for rap and its violent image.....who are the ones playing that game? Funny how arguably the most "successful" rap artist ever (Eminem) consistently avoids the gangster cliché..... but I'm no expert in rap culture. What I generally see of it is black artists doing what EMI or Universal etc expect of them: singing about money, fast cars and swimming pools surrounded by hookers. Aren't they at least partially responsible for creating that cliché? I don't remember the first popular rappers being like that at all. NWA: girls guns and gold? Nah....I think they had a deeper message.

[@josephpublico2337]

@@bossshxtonly ...not forgetting all the other countries! But as you point out, a black person from New York won't have the same culture as a black person from London, nor will a rich black person have the same culture as a poor one. I doubt if Barrack Obama shares much in common with Cass Pennant, apart from skin colour!

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Black people also created Country. He got that wrong too. Chuck Berry was doing White music, please. This is why we're having this argument about Cultural Appropriation. He doesn't even know the history. Why? Its because of CA.

[@JamesG714]

yay new Kirby video!!!!!

[@DSparksable]

You saved the best ‘til last! What a beautiful ending!!

[@GabrielHR55]

Country music isn't a white music feel it was invented by black people! 😂😂😂

[@phhifan]

you show me a civilization that dind't copy from anyone and I show u the first human civilization

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Who did the first civilization copy from?

[@brackzaff]

Well done, man. As a black man, I was worried about how you might present this, but this was thoughtfully done. I think the most important aspect of cultural appropriation is that you are stealing food out of someone else's mouth or portraying harmful stereotypes about that culture. It's clear to see blackface in early movies/minstrel shows fits, whereas Eminem rapping or a white woman wearing a prom dress does not. I also want to add that every single culture on this Earth is derivative of some other culture.

[@KirbyFerguson]

Well put!

[@WilliamBruhhh]

Stealing food out of someone else’s mouth? What are you on about?

[@eduardomeza7279]

Most of the entire American culture comes from other cultures

[@definitely.not.Longmaze]

@@WilliamBruhhh doing something that takes money (and thus food) from another person

[@WilliamBruhhh]

@@definitely.not.Longmaze cultures were made to be shared. I’ll express myself in any way I please no matter how offensive your culture finds it.

[@satyr_9]

"pop culture is black culture" I think that is a fallacy. Pop culture certainly includes aspects of black culture. Most importantly, the parts of black culture that are acceptable to white audiences. That is part of the problem. Nobody can appeal to white people like white people. That is very frustrating if you are not white and trying to "integrate," I would say that an example like Michael Jackson is a true exception to the rule in every possible way. I think the Awkwafina backlash was extremely weird, but I wouldn't say that it was "punching down," because again this was done by many people on twitter who weren't actually familiar with her work. It wasn't done by the hip hop illuminati, and it started because she has these high profile Disney contracts. I don't think this is going to make them drop her any time soon. This was more like punching sideways and hoping you hit something because there are so many white people doing worse examples of appropriation, and all Awkwafina did was some self-referential comedic rapping. One of the problems with American Dirt is that even though it reached a wider audience/ whiter audience than a anything a Mexican woman may have written is that it was filled with harmful stereotypes that went unexamined by the author because she was white, which were then passed on to her audience. I would argue that part of it is the audience for American Dirt doesn't want real experiences of Mexican people, they want a fantasy. Elvis made Hound Dog a hit, but he stripped the song of its true meaning, which was a song about a freeloading man. It was written specifically for a black woman, and Lieber was annoyed by its appropriation because it made no sense with a white man singing it. I also want to acknowledge that there are a lot of examples of appropriation that are just mildly annoying, because I think the key to appreciating and loving a culture is actually being educated about that culture. When you are educated about the cultures you appropriate, you make better art. However, I don't think you can look at culture and say that because mainstream culture is an amalgamation of a bunch of different things, that discrete cultures don't produce things that are not necessarily for mainstream consumption. There is a reason white people are not automatically invited to the cookout. For example, Jamie Oliver gets a lot of flack for his recipes, especially when he delves into food that isn't British because he is so clearly uneducated about these foods. There is a good video by Nigel Ng making fun of Jamie Oliver in his Uncle Roger persona because Jamie Oliver never took the time to educate himself about Asian foods. But, you will notice that Uncle Roger will praise people who educate themselves about the food like Gordon Ramsay. I am of Jamaican heritage, and I can tell you that "jerk rice" doesn't make any sense because when you jerk chicken it is not just putting a whole bunch of spices on meat, that you can then put on rice. I will also tell you, as someone who used to have locs, that a lot of white people are wearing locs wrong and don't know it. A lot of times their hair ends up matted and smelling weird, which it shouldn't, promoting the idea that locs are "dreadful." Straight hair is very difficult to loc, simply because it is not a style meant for straight hair. My hair will loc up in a week or two because I have afro-textured hair, but I doubt that is the same for white people. But, again this is only mildly annoying I would never tell a white person not to wear dreads or cornrows, I just wouldn't be their friend.

[@joshuabryant9845]

Great video and well thought out. The end was powerful and honestly I caught my self bobbing along and ready to sing stand by me. What a great song and perfect example. I appreciate this, as a very pale white guy who grew up in the south, living in government housing for a lot my time and around many different cultures, especially African Americans. When we were young none of our friends or I ever thought of it. My sister had rows in like 2001 and nobody in the neighborhood had an issue at all, they loved it lol. Of course back then everyone just wanted to be Allen Iverson no matter what color or background you were honestly. But because of where I grew up and who I grew up around today some people look at me funny or occasionally say something about my vocabulary or the way I talk. I'm not stealing anything, I grew up learning this vocabulary and all from my peers and my influences. It's how I talk. I can honestly say back then, the way you spoke really meant one thing in my area. Class. If you talk like me, you were poor. Only people i encountered then that didn't talk just like me were well off people who don't live in your part of the city. Lol that was it. Crazy to think we we're at now in society

[@coppermoth6069]

My little brother is 6 years old, I don’t know how to tell him not to say “chill” or “bruh” without telling him that being like black people is bad, he doesn’t even know what aave is, he just hears those words a lot from watching shows, movies, music, and from listening to the way everyone speaks on a daily basis, I’m more worried that if I tell him to avoid doing anything remotely “black” he won’t understand and will just think that there’s something wrong with being black, or that there’s something wrong with black people, or that black people should be avoided… so I let him say “bruh” and “chill” and just teach him to be nice in general

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

You know you tell them that just not when you want to indulge in Blackness.

[@NickyNthabane]

Do yt people benefit from being yt? Yes. Should people care about how they use other people culture? Yes. Should people credit their influences? Yes.

[@KirbyFerguson]

Yes, I agree.

[@hjillumi880]

but most other generation's raid my generations styles, from all eras. and literally none of you are talking about this ? ever ? i have never seen as much culture vulturism as i have now and none of you are noticing

[@NickyNthabane]

@@bossshxtonly it is for many African Americans. It came as a result of slavery. Black culture isn't a monolith but it is very strongly tied to race.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

​@@bossshxtonlyOmfg stop

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

​@@hjillumi880stop

[@astrorobinson3716]

There isn’t a black accent. There are black people all over the world. Black Americans speak in all different ways.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

There is a such thing as a Black accent just like there is a White, Spanish, Dutch, African, Jewish, ect.

[@st0rmchild]

Another great and timely video essay. Excellent work once again!

[@margaretthomas8899]

The brief footage from the 1927 movie. The Jazz Singer, how, and why did you come to your conclusions to describe it as you did, and why are you implying everybody agrees with you please?

[@mitchross4002]

If you go to the old blackface films that have been posted on KZbin the comments are mostly full of people talking about how great and unoffensive it is☹️

[@gabe_s_videos]

"People claimed Addison Ray did this on The Tonight Show, but they really should blame the producers of the show." I feel like that's a big part of the cultural appropriation argument that doesn't get the attention it deserves. While there are plenty of performers and artists who do copy other cultures purely of popularity points (apologize all your want, Miley Cyrus, I will never, ever, EVER forget Bangerz) and even those who don't should still give credit where credit is due, just as often, it's white PRODUCERS who promote white performers and artists with clear non-white influences IN FAVOR of said non-white influences. All complaints for Elvis should be directed at Colonel Tom Parker. I want to have more conversations about these subjects, but I DON'T want to have them with someone who plays this sort of progressivism Whack-A-Mole where they go after the big, sexy, popular problems instead of the more banal, uncomfortable ones (but let's also be honest: we only hear about them because they make the best headlines. ALL news sources, including average people on Twitter, do this).

[@DALILOMODIY]

great video as always

[@prof.jenniferrauch4755]

You nailed everything that makes me squeamish about 'cultural appropriation.' 🙂

[@chigozirimfortunate7199]

I think the grievances of most black people is not because of you copying black style. The reason is that others tend to make money or get fame out of it while blacks who are the original owner of the style don't benefit from it. And also, the society in some way tends to accept black style when it is literally done by white or other race and disappointed when done by blacks themselves.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

This guy got everything in this video WRONG!!!

[@holidaygerry]

Thank you , middle aged white man. Ive been sharing your Remix vids for years. I teach Art in multiracial classrooms of Chicago, and afterschool programs literally funded by Star Wars. I prepare my young POC artists to navigate the Art world and I learned to not split hairs on the subject of Cultural Appropriation but instead use Intersectional Feminist and Critical Race Theory to articulate the White Supremacist power structures of domination and subjugation that exploit POC creators then and now. Racism is the DNA of American Culture and Understanding how these power dynamics work you can see the Matrix code of American Society. This is a rather soft narative for the much more insidious reality of living as a POC creator. The saying goes "They want our culture but they dont want us."

[@incollectio]

The funny thing about the Adele incident was that the photo was posted in celebration of the Notting Hill Carnival, now barred by the pandemic. The carnival is a multicultural, Caribbean-rooted festival in London - where she is from(!). Organized since 1966. So, effectively, she was accused of celebrating a festival from her hometown. Because, I don't know... Multicultural local festivals should now be cancelled and nuance thrown out the window?

[@Jamzoe]

Ermmmm I think you need to learn about the history into why the Notting Hill carnival was created, plus also into west-Indian carnival culture first. But as a black person, I found her outfit and hairstyle to be more hilarious than offensive.

[@incollectio]

@@Jamzoe I've read the event's history page on its official website and from Wikipedia. What am I missing?

[@josephpublico2337]

​@@Jamzoe It was created as a response to racial problems following the immigration of West-Indians, yes. So? The internet was created for military purposes, but is now where anyone from any culture in the world can post videos wiggling their ass whilst their cat does funny stuff in the background. So? The Notting Hill carnival is a carnival, with everything "carnival" implies (considering that it's not just rooted in West-Indie carnival but also medieval Christian carnival culture).

[@amigocap]

@@Jamzoe spot on and THAT'S the missing point that most of the idiot contrarians in here just wanting to be contrarian for the troll of it don't get ....... they tend to ignore or dismiss or blatantly gaslight the REASON a Notting Hill carnival or a Black Wall Street was ever created in the first place ...... we decided to take control of our own humanity and sense of self worth out of sheer survival and necessity

[@amigocap]

....... post slavery , Jim crow , apartheid and post colonisation contemporary BLACK cultural / creative innovation IS because of our struggle and what our ancestors endured - out of that pain was the coded / expressive music , attire and lingo the likes of an Adele can dip a toe in but can NEVER truly understand ............. in fact pre WW2 Britain was no were NEAR the the Hip interesting place it became prior to the Windrush Generation !!! So YES who we are musically , linguistically , culinarily etc etc is tied to our very preservation and survival as a people while under a Western gaze and dominance ....... as for Adele she could've been raised by Kalahari Bushmen for all I care ..... just cos she was born in North London doesn't mean she as a white women has carte blanche to blackness whenever it compels her or ANY non black person wanting to " experience blackness " without enduring the BULLSHIT and horror we had to deal with that allowed an Elvis , Rolling Stones or Adele to reap the fruits of black artistic expression all while the innovators /creators usually get brushed aside

[@LucasWende]

As always, fantastic work!!

[@shawntaylor4690]

The major thing you are leaving out is the idea of consequences and impact. When people take from other cultures, they have their culture to retreat to. It's like white women getting to where dreadlocks and "box braids" but there has to be a law passed called the Crown act for Black women to do the same. If you can adopt another culture style, but not have the same consequences, social or otherwise, as the originating culture, there's a problem.

[@josephpublico2337]

What kind of example are you referring to when you say "white women getting to (wear) dreadlocks and box braids"? I suppose you're referring to a workplace or something like that? I've never heard of a case where white women could but black women couldn't... Maybe everyone was refused the right to wear dreadlocks in that place? Dreadlocks are actually a natural state for all hair, whatever the race.

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

​@@josephpublico2337omfg

[@McAngbath]

Very good stuff, in many ways an eye-opener. Thank you!

[@MrIwannawatchit]

Extra thumbs up for the Lifeforce clip!

[@lilylittlemonster5]

The reason why the teams used American Indians as a mascot is because it is a compliment. It was a way to express an admiration for a great advisory. It took us 400 years to defeat the American Indians. A group that had inferior technology, zero organization, and were unable to unite among themselves. Unfortunately, in our feminized culture, this understanding of male behavior is lost. However, I'm glad to see that many American Indians have spoken up against this attempt to get rid of this compliment. It would be sad to lose this. The Marxists who have spread these ideas and lies don't need another victory.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

This is a good video. I will press the like button

[@KirbyFerguson]

This is a good comment. I have pressed the like button.

[@guy.incognito]

Potato salad and raisins? Never heard of that combination :D

[@helloagain6243]

Same, and I'm in Europe!

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

Thats what happens when they Cultural appropriate things. They mess it up.

[@StephenDeagle]

Couldn't agree more. It is, for instance, a testament to our continued struggle with respecting identity that Black people are made to feel uncomfortable wearing their natural hair. But that is a totally separate issue from cultural appropriation, and conflating the respectful appropriation of braids or dreads or the like with the exact opposite of it, the disallowing of it in certain spaces, is a totally dishonest equivocation.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

Georgia?? I'm black and this is bs comment. Who cares. You are not struggling anymore.

[@StephenDeagle]

@@itsbeyondme5560 I'm not even sure what you're trying to say.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

@@StephenDeagle I don't understand your comment. I'm black. What struggle?

[@StephenDeagle]

@@itsbeyondme5560 A good look into the issue can be found in the documentary produced and headlined by Chris Rock, Good Hair. I'm not arguing that it hair discrimination still occurs en masse. Just that some Black people still feel it's an issue. And that even if we do grant it is or could possibly be an issue still, that does not mean that we should equivocate it with white people mimicking the hair styles of Black people, which-- if anything-- is out of a respect for the style and its cultural signifiers.

[@itsbeyondme5560]

@@StephenDeagle it is just silly. People need to go outside than read Facebook and Twitter. Nobody discriminating natural hair. I mean natural hair is every where. In my opinion, black people are getting too sensitive and privileged. It's 2022.

[@9Tailsfan]

Come to St. Louis Mo, specifically the South side. There are a lot of white folk who talk like this in my neighborhood. There are also black folk who talk like this too. It's like a mix of Southern and Midwest accents and phrases.

[@Crazyashley42]

State streets?

[@asrexproductions]

I am a big fan of "Everything's a Remix," and often recommend it to everyone I think would benefit from seeing it. I've also once been accused of culturally appropriating Black culture, Black slang, etc. And I have to admit, I'm not sure I buy this video. Here's my own personal rule: DON'T CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE. Why not? Because theirs specifically is a culture that has been shit on from the second they got to this country. To me, it's that simple. If Black people weren't seen as the bottom rung of every society, if they hadn't suffered the brutality of slavery and its far-reaching after-effects, this might not be so. The thing is, if you're being honest, you know that they have suffered the most in our society, always profited the least, been forced to live in the worst neighborhoods, and have been blamed for just about every crime known to man regardless of whether they did it. There is literally an industry build off of locking them up and putting them in prisons that big companies profit from. As I write this, I realize that my own avatar is a picture of Muhammad Ali, which I use because I'm Muslim and he's a symbol of strength to us, but that's technically cultural appropriation too, because I'm Indian. See? I did it without even thinking about it. Oh, here's my rule #2: IF BLACK PEOPLE THINK IT'S WRONG, STEP OFF. The term cultural appropriation itself, to my knowledge, was coined by Black people because this pissed them off so much. Do they get credit for that? Hell no. Long story short, you will be safest if you leave Black people specifically alone. Screw arguments about double standards, screw all of this rationalizing. Black people hate that people succeed off of things that they never got a dime for, and their own culture remains in the toilet while others get rich off of what they have done. I believe you called this "loss aversion" in "Everything's a Remix," but to me that's irrelevant here. Because Black people occupy the unique position of being the least regarded community in American society, anything you do to and even for them (remember, Al Jolson used to do duets with Black artists so those scenes wouldn't get cut in the South), you will still piss them off. Let them do their own culture, leave them alone, and if you do their culture but they don't like it, stop. To me that's all there is to it.

[@MrInsdor]

haven't seen anyone put it that well thanks to brendan miller for sharing this video

[@zaggedout]

thank you, needed this

[@meroshango9603]

"Culture apropiation" is the stupiest term ever invented, im happy everyone can use, dress and eat what they want

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

This is what ppl say when they want to steal what you have. When they want to cash in off the resources, money, etc.

[@Dantorenofficial]

gOOD ONE!! I love your voice o visual context of your movie- and i totally agree with tlr love leeds to respect factor

[@RobbyHuang]

Fantastic as always!

[@samanjj]

Thanks for getting it right Kirby! In art there should be no boundaries because love is what inspires us

[@dontbmadjusbcareful]

You ppl, Always getting it wrong.

[@samanjj]

@@dontbmadjusbcareful do elaborate

[@TEJAYheni]

Larger groups force smaller groups to assimilate, for black folks it was mostly into an economic system for cheap labor. However, smaller groups create new ideas because they are excluded from the most dominant culture. It's the exclusion that creates the smaller groups vantage point. It's that vantage point that makes their art unique. Say the art reflects the mood of the disinherited, the downtrodden, the invisible and so on. Now if you switch the context, you need to give respect to the excluded group that pioneered the aesthetic. Why is that so hard? And it's a problem. You keep switching the context, a copy of a copy, until nothing has any meaning anymore. Check this out. There's so much irony here: black folks were excluded from the dominant culture so we created our own interpretations of reality. But then, a group of black folks would gain access to the suburbs. On top of that, we'd all be inundated with mostly white imagery. And then decades later, many white folks would dislike seeing a smaller group desire not only to be included but also to subtly alter the original context of art that was initially eurocentric. See the Little Mermaid for what I'm talking about. 1.5 million people disliked the trailer. I'd call that cultural misorientation. And if these racial and class hierarchies are not truly destroyed its effects can be harmful to a black person's mental health.

[@CDA129]

Cultural appropriation is a myth fueled by our incessant need for angertainment . We seek out reasons to be offended. We ask others "is this bad, should I be offended?" If you have to ask, the answer is no.