Cultural Appropriation Appreciation

By Amelia Loewer, Social Media Editor

As a Latina woman, I have felt alienated because I did not fit the norms within the “Zionsville bubble”. Growing up, my parents strive to help me understand and appreciate the world and the cultures that thrive outside of our small town.

I have had the unique opportunity to travel to 22 different countries and be exposed to countless cultures and the people who hold significance to them. Being immersed in many cultural traditions during my time abroad, I have become more aware of the importance of cultural celebrations.

According to the U.S. Census, 91% of the Zionsville population identifies as Caucasian, making cultural diversity something that we lack. But this doesn’t mean that our community fails to provide opportunities that expand our viewpoint on the world outside of the bubble; we just need to learn the respectful way to celebrate other cultures without cultural appropriation.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, cultural appropriation is: “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture”.

While this textbook definition is a good start, the personal experiences that students have had with appropriation must be heard.

Charlie Krone, junior, and a member of Chinese Club said that cultural appropriation occurs “when it starts becoming offensive to the culture.”

Others agree with this idea and have even witnessed some examples on campus.

Alexa Green, sophomore, and a member of the Black Student Union has her own experiences with cultural appropriation when it comes to the use of Black protective hairstyles by her Caucasian peers.

“So as a Black person [I have witnessed]… someone trying to repeat a hairstyle. It’s not for their hair. It’s a protective hairstyle for my type of hair,” Green said.

Hair is only one of the many ways that people might unknowingly appropriate ethnic expression. Cultural attire is also a piece of tradition that is often exploited, especially during the holidays

“For example, Halloween costumes, like dressing up as a Black person [when] you’re not. That can be too far,” Green said.

I have personally witnessed people at Halloween parties dressing up as “Mexicans” and mocking traditional Hispanic attire. People do this assuming that dressing up in a costume is not offensive because it’s “just for fun”, but they don’t realize how harmful it can be to others.

I remember feeling like an outsider when everyone laughed at the costume; it felt like one giant joke about me that I wasn’t a part of.

Although Krone acknowledges that he doesn’t speak for all Chinese people, he thinks that “for Chinese [culture] specifically, there are different cultural things you can do like wearing traditional clothing. And you could consider that cultural appropriation if you’re using it to make fun of Chinese culture.”

As an Irish dancer, I have often considered the impact of the clothing I wear. For 12 years I have been required to perform in traditional Irish clothing. But in my case, I consider it a form of cultural appreciation because of my love of the culture that comes with it. This unfortunately isn’t the mindset of many who use cultural products without any understanding of their importance.

We as a society have normalized the exploitation of ethnic food, clothing, and hairstyles without comprehending why it is harmful. However, education is the simple solution to ignorance.

Victor Ogundele, sophomore and another member of the Black Student Union, said “if [you] see someone doing something like that, [you] can try to educate them about the context of what they’re wearing or doing with their hair.”

By being respectful and willing to be educated, you can create a positive environment for yourself and those around you.

When visiting Nepal to climb the Everest Base Camp, I was able to participate in rituals, traditions, and hiking prayers from the Nepalese culture. Because of my willingness to learn and the permission from the Nepali people, I was able to appreciate the culture and grow my understanding of their way of life.

The same can be said about my experience with Irish dancing and the pride in my Mexican heritage.

The celebration of other cultures is a necessity because it allows us to celebrate each other. I have come to the understanding that even though we lack cultural diversity in Zionsville, we have our own things to celebrate: our love for brick street, our community events, and our beloved school traditions are all things that make Zionsville home. Realizing this has helped me appreciate all of the traditions within “the bubble” while respecting other cultures that live outside of it. w