Reflection on AAPI Month: Cultural Appreciation or Cultural Appropriation?

By Pat Kozu

Have we all experienced this? It’s that uncomfortable moment when we see someone insensitively appropriating another culture’s symbol, clothing, hair style, practice, art, music or a whole group’s identity. This might be seen in the form of a demeaning sports team mascot, an oversexualized Geisha Halloween costume, tattoos of sacred symbols, a tee-shirt with phrases that are misspelled, incorrectly used, or not native to the wearer’s identity. But, are each of these instances truly cultural appropriation or might it just be a clumsy attempt to appreciate another culture? Who has the right to make that call?

Appropriation or Appreciation

Cultural appreciation is about honoring another tradition; honoring a tradition generally entails learning about or gaining more understanding of that culture. On the other hand, appropriation involves exploiting or demeaning a people, a practice, or a product, often taking on aspects of that culture as your own.

Still, not all appropriation is created equal and it does not have to end negatively. Japan has a long history and culture of borrowing, improving, and integrating aspects of other traditions. However, immediately following World War II, the label, “Made in Japan,” signaled to consumers  cheap or inferior goods. Later, many Japanese companies studied, adopted, and enhanced US technology and quality-control measures to the point that electronic products and vehicles made in Japan were considered superior to US goods. A further example is the transistor. It was said that the US invented the transistor in the 1940s but it wasn't until the 1960s that Japanese companies figured out how to use it in radios, electronics, and miniaturization of consumer products. This type of positive appropriation, adaptation, and enhancement extends across the globe and in many fields. Without cross-fertilization we would not have fusion foods, blues/jazz/World music, modern dance, trendy social media, and creative fashion.

Appropriation done for fraudulent purposes and/or to exploit less advantaged groups is clearly wrong. Ignorant appropriation or the inaccurate distortion of cultural significance is disrespectful.

Nevertheless, much progress has been made and the proverbial melting pot is richer when diverse cultures borrow from and share with each other. The key is respectfully acknowledging and appreciating the source materials. 

Today, we are getting accustomed to hearing and articulating land acknowledgements, for example, the land that is now politically designated as New York City is the unceded homeland of the Lenape (Lenapehoking) people. Even if we personally were not party to an appropriation, we can acknowledge that we are beneficiaries. When we are consciously borrowing another idea, concept, or design, we should acknowledge our debt and we should work to ensure that we are not disrespecting or wrongfully exploiting another’s culture or heritage.

How much acknowledgement is enough?  There is an unfair distribution of outrage towards artists who dabble into other cultures of music. Some are allowed to venture into other cultures while others face pushback for exploring their own culture. Paul Simon integrated and popularized aspects of Latin American, Caribbean, and African genres into his music. He received a lot of criticism  for his Graceland album, a collaboration with South African musicians. Some people were aggrieved that a white man was acclaimed for “discovering” their music. Linda Ronstadt with her Mexican heritage and Yoyo Ma who was born in Paris and educated in the US did not face the same criticism for their forays into Latin and Silk Road music, respectively. Yet, the late civil rights activist, singer, actor, and Harlem-born Harry Belafonte, Jr., was “denounced as a pretender in Trinidad” for his popularization of calypso music despite having parents with Caribbean heritage.  

Who Belongs and Who’s to Judge

There often isn’t a consistent criterion on how to define one’s identity or group membership. In many traditions, identity is patrilineal – passed through the father or male line. In others, it’s through the mother. During World War II on the US West Coast, it was determined that citizens and immigrants with as little as 1/16th Japanese ancestry would be incarcerated under Executive Order 9066. From the 1700s to well into the 20th century, the then-hypodescent rule designated anyone with any black descendent as black (“one drop of blood”). For native Americans, Alaskans, and other indigenous people, each tribe has its own membership criteria.

So, who is entitled to pass judgment on what is culturally acceptable for each culture? Who can tell us if we’ve crossed the line between appreciation and insensitive, exploitive appropriation?

And, even if there were authentic arbiters for each culture, it is likely there would not always be consensus on what is appropriation versus acceptable use.

When in Rome…

When you are a visitor or traveler, it is generally considered respectful to adopt the customs of where you are – wear a head covering, take off your shoes when entering a home or religious space, eat with your right hand when not using utensils, cover your arms or your legs, don’t show the bottoms of your shoes.

But, what if a custom is antithetical to your core beliefs? First of all, what is the basis of your standing on the matter – do you belong to the group or are you an interloper? If one takes an ethical stand in a culture where one is a guest, is this akin to a foreign missionary with a “white-savior” complex imposing his/her beliefs on others? What is the nature of the issue? Does it make a difference if you are fighting against practices like female genital mutilation versus protesting dress codes? Where does the right for women to drive a car or be financially independent fit in the hierarchy of concerns where there might be a moral imperative to speak up?

Where’s the Line?

Like other subjective determinations such as what defines pornography, “I know it when I see it” becomes the default for answering these tough questions about when we cross the lines into demeaning appropriation or missionary zeal.

While there might not be hard and fast boundaries, here are some guideposts to consider. Before adopting something from another culture especially if you are from a dominant group, examine your motivations. Is that sari, kimono, or dashiki just a trendy fashion statement or an exotic costume? Do you understand the underlying significance of that tattoo? Have you done your research to ensure that you are not perpetuating a stereotype or promoting a fetish? Have you respectfully acknowledged your cultural debt? Are you exploiting your privilege if, for example, you are not Black and wear dreadlocks without experiencing the negative consequences of racism? Are you demeaning a religious belief, distorting a tradition, violating a norm, disrespecting a people, desecrating a symbol, or removing the cultural context of a fashion, music, food, product, or practice?  

The fuzzy line between cultural appreciation and harmful cultural appropriation is not always apparent. Let’s take time to inquire, learn, and share more about our own and other people’s history and culture.