Culture appropriation is when recognizable parts of a culture or race are used by people who are not a part of the culture they are representing (may that representation be poor or not). Seems like a pretty easy topic to grasp, but then why are college students so aloof about the topic?
“To be completely honest I don’t really know anything about culture appropriation,” Jess Breuning, member of Cabrini’s soccer and lacrosse team, said.
Culture appropriation is becoming a problem in the world now, because people are not respecting certain cultures when they are trying to resemble them, which is ignorant and insulting to the actual members of the cultures.
Examples of negative culture appropriation really come to the surface around Halloween, when young adults try to pull of costumes using black face, or dress up as, “Indians,” with skimpy leather outfits. Or it can be seen on a daily basis in fashion; kimonos and ponchos are a fashion statement and even jewelry can misinterpret cultures.
Cabrini’s Diversity office held a dialogue about the subject recently in Widener Center Hall. The lecture was held during Black History Month which was no coincidence. The black culture has been misinterpreted and disrespected for years. Everything from hairstyles to music has been taken from the culture.
But is Cabrini a culprit for this disrespect?
“I believe Cabrini opens up to all cultures and has been very open to starting groups to make other students more aware of our multicultural campus,” Caitlyn Poole, a senior with an elementary and secondary education major. “They want to make all feel welcomed and that their culture is known and appreciated.”
As culture appropriation is a major topic within the Black Lives Matter Movement, more and more people are becoming aware of its meaning. Hopefully the appropriate of these cultures will stop and respect will be given to all cultures.
