Cultural Appropriation Essay

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In the article “What is Cultural Appropriation and Why is it Wrong? By Nadra Kareem Nittle and article “The Difference between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation” by Jarune Uwujaren. It talks about how cultural appropriation and about people wearing and using other cultural things such as the style of the clothes. It is usually known as borrowing but now it is not just borrowing since people who wear things/ objects with meaning and significance from other cultures do not even know the meaning. However, in cultural exchange it is much different when someone uses or does something that other cultures do for example, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the U.S, but it is the Latinos that live in the U.S who are celebrating and they are proud …show more content…

Uwujaren talks about how there are many people who see everything as cultural appropriation since the difference between them is not much. One important thing that Uwujaren points out in the article is that there is a thin line between cultural appropriation and exchange, the main important thing is respect. Many people do not know the difference due to the big number of people who think everything is cultural appropriation. However, when a person who is interested in being part of another culture is allowed to be part of the culture by being invited only otherwise if the person tries to be part of the culture without being invited is seen as disrespectful. As Uwujaren clearly stated in her article “engaging with a culture as a respectful and humble guest, invitation only.” Another example of cultural exchange is when Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo when it is a Mexican celebration but it is only a holiday in America. The reason we celebrate this holiday is because, “Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army 's unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla”( Lee, Special for USA TODAY, Jolie. "Why Do We Celebrate Cinco De Mayo?") In fact, it is the Latinos who celebrate this day because they are proud of their roots but they also celebrate with others who are not Latinos. It is a form of, showing others part of their cultures for example they celebrate with Mexican food like tacos, tamales, tostadas etc. Also they wear Mexican clothing, mustaches, drink hard liquor and watch the popular Mexican dance called folklorico. This is called Cultural Exchange due to Latinos sharing their pride of their roots and culture sharing it with their American friends. Since America is a free country were Latinos can

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