John McWhorter, argues, “The new idea that it is … grievous when a dominant group imitates a subordinate one’s cultural traits gets us nowhere.” In this Columbia Professors’ New York Times article Borrowing from Other Cultures Is Human Nature, McWhorter identifies what the relationship between imitation and appropriation is. Clearly, McWhorter expresses an unpopular opinion regarding cultural appropriation. With that, there is truth to what he has to say. The idea that appropriation is, at its core, majority groups stealing cultures from minorities is not true. By definition ‘cultural appropriation’ is “a term used to describe the borrowing of creative or artistic forms, themes, or practices by one cultural group from another.” (Oxford). Cultural
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It seems like in Western society, it is only wrong when a majority group borrows from a minority group. But shouldn’t a person who advocates against cultural appropriation, argue for both sides? Too often we see majority groups being slapped on the wrist for appropriation, simply because they are from a majority group. But we never see this from minority groups; because one can’t do so without being labeled as ‘racist’. People who discourage appropriation should discourage it by everyone, no matter the level of historical oppression inflicted on that group. Arguing against cultural appropriation shouldn’t be about redeeming, or justifying, for the past. In addition, if it’s so disrespectful to borrow from other cultures, why do most people do it every day? There’s mundane activity that are borrowed, or evolved from other cultures, but aren’t as outrageous, because they’ve become normalized by Western society. Have you ever eaten at a foreign restaurant, taken a yoga or tango class? What about studied another language? All of these things are borrowing from other cultures, but why are none of them discourage? Maybe it’s because none of these examples have any negative histories attached to them. What about St. Patrick’s Day? A widely celebrated holiday surrounding Irish culture and St. Patrick; as well as actively showcasing the stereotype of the Irish as drunks. In fact, according to a 2017 study, 5.6 percent of Americans planned to celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, and 82.5 percent of those Americans planned to wear green (Ktrk 1). As it happens, there is a negative history with why green is the colour that symbolizes St. Patrick’s Day. A Times article states, “the earliest use of green for nationalistic reasons was seen during the violent Great Irish Rebellion of 1641, in which displaced Catholic landowners and bishops rebelled against
It seems like in Western society, it is only wrong when a majority group borrows from a minority group. But shouldn’t a person who advocates against cultural appropriation, argue for both sides? Too often we see majority groups being slapped on the wrist for appropriation, simply because they are from a majority group. But we never see this from minority groups; because one can’t do so without being labeled as ‘racist’. People who discourage appropriation should discourage it by everyone, no matter the level of historical oppression inflicted on that group. Arguing against cultural appropriation shouldn’t be about redeeming, or justifying, for the past. In addition, if it’s so disrespectful to borrow from other cultures, why do most people do it every day? There’s mundane activity that are borrowed, or evolved from other cultures, but aren’t as outrageous, because they’ve become normalized by Western society. Have you ever eaten at a foreign restaurant, taken a yoga or tango class? What about studied another language? All of these things are borrowing from other cultures, but why are none of them discourage? Maybe it’s because none of these examples have any negative histories attached to them. What about St. Patrick’s Day? A widely celebrated holiday surrounding Irish culture and St. Patrick; as well as actively showcasing the stereotype of the Irish as drunks. In fact, according to a 2017 study, 5.6 percent of Americans planned to celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, and 82.5 percent of those Americans planned to wear green (Ktrk 1). As it happens, there is a negative history with why green is the colour that symbolizes St. Patrick’s Day. A Times article states, “the earliest use of green for nationalistic reasons was seen during the violent Great Irish Rebellion of 1641, in which displaced Catholic landowners and bishops rebelled against