Cultural Appropriation

The, "cultural exchange levied through unequal power relations on a systemic level. It is when marginalized people are mocked, berated, targeted, demeaned, and physically assaulted for displays of their own culture—while majority people are free to use and consume the same culture. It is when the deep history behind a culture gets ignored. It is when things that have cultural significance are regarded as props, costumes, themes, or simply aesthetic objects—therefore otherizing and dehumanizing the people of that culture."

-Julie Feng,
"You Don’t Have an Excuse: Cultural Appropriation, Power Dynamics, and Historical Context"

"While we set tables with servings of food that are far too large, the original inhabitants of this great nation struggle to fight for clean drinking water and respect for their ancestors."

Untitled, Tyler Amato

"Appropriation occurs when a style leads to a racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated, but is deemed as high fashion, cool or funny when the privileged take it for themselves. Appropriation occurs when the appropriator is not aware of the deep significance of the culture that they are partaking in.”

Amandla Stenberg,
"Don't Cash Crop On My Cornrows"

"When race and ethnicity become commodified as resources for pleasure, the culture of specific groups, as well as bodies of individuals, can be seen as constituting an alternative playground where members of dominating races, genders, sexual practices affirm their power-over in intimate relations with the Other"

bell hooks,
Eating the Other: Desire and Resistance