#BlackBlogsMatter [Run Us Our Respect] Day 5

#BlackBlogsMatter Challenge Day 5 – Cultural Appropriation

Just to be clear, this is about a lot more than money, more of decency, courtesy, respect, value, and being human.

Cultural Appropriation: 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.

That is one of the easiest definitions of any word in the dictionary.

This is about more than Kim Kardashian wearing braids, its the act of wearing the braids and not having the decency to give credit where credit is due, I know she can access Google, I’m very positive of this. It is the pure disrespect that anyone feels like they can take something that isn’t theirs and slap a randoms person name on it to claim it. Last time I checked, I’d fail a class if I did it in a paper, or be put in jail for theft if it was an item.

Those same braids will get a Black woman fired from her job, the same tattoos will get a Black man called a thug, the same dancing will get a Black woman called out her name.

Just because you are married to a man or woman does not give you the right to say or do certain things, if you wouldn’t have said that word before you married them, what gives you the right to do so now? I can’t tell you what to do in your household, if your spouse rocks with it then fine they married you, not I. But, don’t expect to come out in public and show that same disrespect and think others will not want to stick up for what is right. It’s that simple, believing in and doing what is right.

It’s more than countless people throwing videos up online saying words that shouldn’t come out of their mouth and crying when they are caught. You’re tears don’t impress me. Countless black men and women were the first to walk in their schools, simply trying to get an education.

It’s more than you thinking it’s funny to put on black makeup and run around for Halloween because, “This person is my favorite artist, actress, athlete, etc.”.  Serena Williams has 23 Grand Slams and people still won’t acknowledge her skills and dedication because of the color of her skin.

Also, it’s not just about the celebrities, we are talking real life problems faced by people who are middle class workers and still get no acknowledgment or help from the government, but they get up and make a way because they have to. What gives anyone the right to take away the accomplishments they’ve achieved?

I watched the Superbowl game last night, shocking, and I still can’t stop thinking about the TRUCK commercial that uses Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. voice and words … to promote … a truck. This man stood for so much in this world, to diminish his words down to a truck ad is disrespectful!

I don’t think marketing agencies or companies are blind to the decisions being made.  I believe they are doing these things to get us talking about their company, at any expense.

The excuse of “I don’t understand” is the biggest issue when it comes to cultural appropriation, because most don’t care to understand. People want something to look fashionable for their convenience, but don’t want to learn about or respect it.

Respect – to consider worthy of high regard … too many people don’t hold us to a high (or even equal) regard though, so why am I expecting for this to be understood.

#BlackBlogsMatter Challenge