We should Appreciate Different Cultures Instead of Appropriating Them

by Suchi Mehta

Cultural appropriation is defined as the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, and/or ideas of one people or society by members of another (and typically more dominant) people or society. There can be a very fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, but cultural appropriation is very common and sadly normalized, often at the expense of the people whose culture is being appropriated. People often have conflicting opinions on what is appropriation and what isn’t, but it is very important to listen to different perspectives and make sure that you are always being respectful.

There are innumerable examples of cultural appropriation of different groups of people. Wearing Halloween costumes of different cultures is cultural appropriation, even though there can be a fine line between what is acceptable and what is not. Costumes of popular characters like Moana and Aladdin can be offensive if done by the wrong people or handled the wrong way. Generalized costumes of other cultures (especially stereotyped ones) like a ninja or a Native American should never be worn. It caricatures an entire group of people into a stereotype and is always offensive. The names and symbols of some sports teams, like the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Redskins (which has since been changed temporarily to the Washington Football Team) are also considered cultural appropriation because they are not honoring the Native American cultures that these names/symbols were taken from. The appropriation of AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) by non-Black Americans is a very common example of cultural appropriation, especially because many words and phrases from AAVE are used frequently as internet slang/lingo without people even realizing that they are appropriating. Wearing hair in dreadlocks or box braids is also cultural appropriation, because Black people face discrimination for having their hair in those styles and for speaking in AAVE.

Cultural appropriation is something that I personally have noticed happening to my culture. As an Indian-American, I was made fun of for my culture growing up. From food and spices to religious practices to fashion and culture, it was not considered “cool” to be Indian. This makes it all the more painful now when the same aspects of my culture that I and many others were made fun of for are now considered “trendy” and “cool.” The haldi doodh (or turmeric milk) that my mother made for me when I was sick is now marketed as a “golden milk latte” for people to buy at Starbucks. Putting oil in your hair to make it healthy is a brilliant hair-care technique now that white people are doing it, when we have been doing it for centuries and were ridiculed for it. From people appropriating yoga and manifestation (which have roots in Hindu scriptures) to South Asian fashion (bindis, henna, etc.), the list never ends.

It’s not so much the popularity of these things that is the problem, but it’s the lack of recognition of their roots and often the outright racism towards the people whose culture these things are from. It’s not okay to cherry pick the “desirable” parts of someone else’s culture and use it however you want, especially when people of that culture face backlash, discrimination, and racism because of it.

So what is cultural appreciation? Cultural appreciation is partaking in a different culture respectfully, and in a way that isn’t offensive to the people that belong to it. Wearing ethnic clothes to a friend’s wedding, genuinely taking classes to learn another culture’s dance, or listening to music from another country is cultural appreciation; the roots of the culture or the traditions are not lost, and you are often partaking in them under the guidance or permission of someone who belongs to that culture. It’s important to listen to the voices of the people whose culture you are borrowing (or stealing) from, and to make sure to stop any behaviors that they consider offensive. However, it’s totally okay and often appreciated to respectfully participate in other cultures and to explore other customs and traditions, as long as it is done in a mindful way.