tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584868171560193549.post2099920481501382782..comments2013-05-17T08:29:52.328-04:00Comments on The Art of Hintz: Thoughts on cultural things...Jen Hintzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00540155018604680575noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584868171560193549.post-29021866132481865682012-10-27T17:51:35.851-04:002012-10-27T17:51:35.851-04:00Thanks for commenting and being thorough, I have n...Thanks for commenting and being thorough, I have no problem with long windedness :) I definitely agree that blackface is never ok, primarily because it's never respectful. In considering the quote I can definitely see how it could come off as deeply hurtful if the result of someone's actions are to appropriate and not to remember/honor the history. Jen Hintzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00540155018604680575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584868171560193549.post-87415369572161599712012-10-27T15:39:12.739-04:002012-10-27T15:39:12.739-04:00This is my take on it, as a multiracial individual...This is my take on it, as a multiracial individual. My opinion on this may be different than what others may say or feel, but I know that these feelings are echoed by many minorities I know (because within those group of friends I know, we've discussed this before). This may be a bit long, and for that I apologize.<br /><br />I personally don't see an issue with being interested in a culture and wanting to learn about that culture and the history of that culture. I don't see an issue with examining it and learning and respecting that culture, and embracing it if it interests you. There is a way to do it in a manner that is respectful to those of that heritage/culture. Just like when someone travels internationally and partakes of meals or traditions of a culture foreign to their own, that's not a problem. You are engaging in this with the acceptance of those within that culture, in a safe manner, and in a way that respects their culture, and that is okay.<br /><br />What I take issue with is when people dress up as a minority in a disrespectful manner. Now, when I say disrespectful, this is mainly my personal view on it, the one I have seen echoed by friends I have who are also racial minorities. Blackface is completely unacceptable to me, something I would never in any situation be okay with (and I probably feel strongest about this because I am partially African-American). Dressing up in Native American head dress when you are not Native American, and when you're doing it to be "cute", to me, is just as bad.<br /><br />This goes for other cultural appropriation beyond just that against African-American and Native American cultures / heritage, but it is easier for me to relate to these because both are a part of my personal background, and they are the most easy to cite. It isn't ironic or hip to dress up as a African-American with black face, or as a Native American. There's nothing funny about the origins of blackface and the racism that still permeates society today, and when I see people dressing up as Native American on Halloween it just disappoints me because these same people will celebrate Thanksgiving with joy not recognizing the genocide involved in the history of the holiday, or call themselves derogatory terms that should no longer be within our vocabulary. Or even in itself, not understand the meaning behind why Native Americans wore head dresses, and the cultural meaning behind that. <br /><br />I can understand how not being a part of these cultures, it may be hard to understand why these actions are so overwhelmingly offensive. But when it comes down to it, it's a difference of respect. And to close, I'm going to finish with a quote I found online that describes the act of cultural appropriation better than I could ever articulate myself:<br /><br />"Cultural appropriation is when a dominant culture (i.e. the colonizer) raids another culture with lesser social, political, economic, or military status (i.e. the colonized) and begins using aspects of that culture without properly acknowledging where the aspects came from. By taking these elements of a culture, whether they are related to art, fashion, spirituality, or speech, and using them merely for the sake of appearing “cool,” you essentially attempt to erase the history of the people from which they originated."Samantha Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630579209811510244noreply@blogger.com