Reverse Racism

morethanmerecontradiction:

Seriously?

WE ARE FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  ANY CULTURE THAT WE HAVE HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED.  WE ARE DECEDENTS OF HUNDREDS OF CULTURES THAT HAVE ALL BEEN MASHED TOGETHER.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO CALL OUR OWN.  WE APPROPRIATE ALL CULTURES.

Why is the concept of “culture appropriation” considered negative, anyway?  Why isn’t it flattering?  Since when does a culture “own” a certain look or holiday or article of clothing?  I don’t get my knickers in a twist over the fact that the majority of atheists celebrate Christmas, or claim that they’ve appropriated my Christian holidays for their own gain.  I say, more power to you.  Enjoy Christmas.  

I follow a DIY blog and the author reblogged a DIY for making fezzes with which to have a Doctor Who party.  She then suffered from a ridiculous amount of negative feedback, assuming that she is some kind of white supremist (when, for all anyone knows, she could be any race, or any mix of races; it’s not like she has a census form posted on her site) who is seeking to destroy other cultures by encouraging people to wear fezzes in a mockery.  Seriously?

This strange obsession with cultural appropriation is stupid to me.  What if someone has parents of two different “races”?  Are they still allowed to celebrate holidays/wear clothing from both parents’ cultures?  What about their children?  When does it end?  When are you “pure” enough in a culture to be allowed to celebrate said culture without “appropriating” it?

My ancestors are Native American, Irish, Scottish, English, German, and Scandinavian.  Am I only allowed to celebrate holidays/wear clothing associated with these cultures?  I’m 1/16 Native American.  Is it culture appropriation for me to participate in Native American celebrations?  What about my mom?  She’s 1/8.  My grandma at 1/4?  At what point do we reach the “purity” line?

All of this garble about cultural appropriation is yet another way of trying to make white people feel guilty about the fact that some non-white races have been/are being oppressed.  You can’t have it both ways.  It’s impossible for you to be angry that I don’t understand your culture/have no interest in your culture, and to also be angry that I am learning about/imitating/becoming involved in your culture.

Personally, I don’t think a person can claim a culture as their own to defend.  There are no culture police who determine who is or who isn’t worthy to participate in cultural activities.  As usual, it’s racism that doesn’t count as racism because it’s a minority race making the accusations.

I don’t think a lot of white people will ever understand why cultural appropriation is looked down on. Especially when they’re like this one, claiming some Native America ancestry when it’s convenient.