Reverse Cultural Appropriation Of Black Culture

“What if America loved Black people as much as Black Culture?” ("‘Hunger Games’ Star’s Stunning Critique: What If America Loved Black People as Much as Black Culture?", 2015). Hunger Games star, Amandla Stenberg, issued a video titled, “Don’t Cash Crop on my Cornrows”, which addressed the cultural appropriation behind historical hairstyles such as braids and dreadlocks. The video continues to criticize celebrities “for not acknowledging the appropriation of black culture” (“African Student Union discusses Cultural Appropriation, appreciation ”, 2016). Examples of celebrities that have been culturally appropriating black culture are Iggy Azalea, Miley Cyrus, and the Kardashians.
This paper illustrates the negative impact of cultural appropriation through the entertainment and fashion industry and refutes the argument of reverse cultural appropriation. Establishing a reminder of the detrimental consequences are not justifiable by “reverse cultural appropriation”. The definition of culture appropriation varies from person to person, generally consensus defines cultural appropriation as when a dominant group or race “adopts” from the culture of minority …show more content…
However, this should not be the case because “no ethnic group has been as devoted to work ethic than blacks because no ethnic group worked from 1619 to the end of the1850s, and even following the Emancipation” (Reed, 2016). As society continues to marginalize blacks and depict them as the “suspect”, there will always be an issue of “police brutality, massive unemployment, infant mortality, decrepit schools, indecent housing, and mass incarceration” (“Counter-Extremes of the Black Identity”, 2016). American philosopher, Cornel West, states that “the suffering of black people, especially the black poor and working people, is the measure of the black freedom movement….” (“Counter-Extremes”,