S5 E7: The month of heroines: HEADWRAPS, AN AFRICAN EPIC!

My African Cliches (English)

YOUR WRAP, YOUR STYLE, YOUR IDENTITY

My African cliché of the day is question to you: do you think that if a White American white lady chooses to wear a headwrap, it is cultural appropriation? Is it paying tribute? Is it respect? Is it free advert for that culture?

Cultural appropriation refers to when a dominant culture appropriates the codes of a dominated culture, either the colonized peoples or the oppressed minorities.

• Is it respect when it’s done for fun, and money, while erasing the cultural side of it? Like wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh patterns without ever mentioning the pain of the people?
• Is it tribute when it’s all about everything but the burden, when it is like entering and leaving a culture without bearing the burden and using the codes without suffering while retaining one’s privileges?
• Isn’t a stealing when big brands use those cultures materials and symbols to produce gadgets and goodies to enrich themselves and their advertising icons?