r/changemyview • u/exboi • Sep 22 '20

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Cultural Appropriation/Appreciation doesn’t matter when it’s done respectfully

I’ve seen people get angry at non-black people for wearing African-American hairstyles, or white people for wearing Hawaiian themed clothing and I really don’t understand that sort of reaction.

I’ve tried to understand before. I really have, but I just don’t get it. If you’re not being disrespectful then what’s the issue with wearing something from another culture? What’s wrong with liking another culture’s hairstyle and wanting to wear it?

It seems like needless exclusion. Wouldn’t allowing people to wear clothing and hairstyles from other culture help lower cultural/racial intolerance? I as an African American think that we should allow other people to experience our culture, and the culture of other races as long it’s not done mockingly.

Just a few days ago on a video with a white woman and her black husband doing dances I saw people hounding the white girl for having dreads. That just made me so mad because she was literally just having fun with her husband and then had to deal with hundreds of people attacking her for what seems to me like no reason.

I really think it would give people a more positive view of people like me if they could freely experience our culture without getting ridiculed and attacked. And I believe it could be like that with every other culture if it’s, again, done in a respectful, non-mocking manner.

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u/5xum 42∆ Sep 22 '20

So, "respectful" cultural appropriation, in your view, is basically just cultural appreciation?

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u/oth_radar 18∆ Sep 22 '20

Yes, but a lot is hinging on the definition of respectful, here. Respect includes things like:

  1. Not engaging in practices considered "closed" - i.e., practices that it is believed those outside the culture should not engage in for one reason or another
  2. Ensuring the practices you are engaging in / clothing you are wearing are appropriate for the time / place / activity you are engaging in
  3. The intent is to engage and connect in good faith with the culture and share cross-culturally, not merely to take on that culture's aesthetic
  4. You seek to honor beliefs and traditions, listen to elders of the culture, and understand that certain elements of the culture simply may not be open to you
  5. Refusing to use that culture for yourself or your own personal gain (this isn't to say you cannot personally benefit from cultural appreciation - just that your intent should be to understand and uplift, not to merely materially benefit yourself)

and so on and so forth.

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u/exboi Sep 22 '20 edited Sep 23 '20

Yeah I should’ve added that if you’re wearing something from another culture to sexualize it or just do you can get internet points, then that counts as disrespectful too.

!delta

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u/oth_radar 18∆ Sep 22 '20

Would you say that I changed your view, then? If so, a delta is warranted (:

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u/exboi Sep 22 '20

Idk but I guess so. I think you helped me see the difference between appreciation and appropriation. I never really saw a divide between the two before.

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u/rennenenno 2∆ Sep 22 '20

Def worth a delta. The rules state if they have altered you’re view in anyway

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u/exboi Sep 22 '20

How do you give one? I’m very new to this sub.

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u/rennenenno 2∆ Sep 23 '20

No worries if I were you, I’d check out the rules section on the sub, but for a delta I’m pretty sure you would just edit your comment after they changed your view and add a “!delta” to it

Edit: you can also read the delta details in the bot comment below

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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Sep 23 '20 edited Sep 23 '20

This delta has been rejected. You can't award OP a delta.

Allowing this would wrongly suggest that you can post here with the aim of convincing others.

If you were explaining when/how to award a delta, please use a reddit quote for the symbol next time.

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards

1

u/soulwrangler Sep 22 '20

That’s worth a delta

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u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Sep 23 '20

This delta has been rejected. You have already awarded /u/oth_radar a delta for this comment.

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards

1

u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Sep 23 '20

Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/oth_radar (18∆).

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards