Cultural appropriation or the act of Columbusing is
becoming increasing more popular. The terms are interchangeable and refers to, mainstream’s popularization
of something by claiming it as a new discovery or invention without
acknowledging the importance or origin of which a disenfranchised culture has
for decades or centuries relied upon as a unique cultural identifying marker.
Fashion
is a revolving door. Trends rise and fall with the change of each season. One industry exclusive factor in fashion is a fad-whose popularity changes as
often as the rising and setting of the sun. Take an industry that is known for
its constant change and obsolescent nature and you have the most vexing concept when speaking
in terms of the fashion industry and Columbusing Black culture. Columbusing
takes the treasured, unique cultural identifying markers of the Black
community, claims discovery and ownership, bulldozes over the cultural history
and pride of the people, then disposes of what has been appropriated and moves
on to the next. When Columbusing, mainstream takes what was once considered to be ghetto or
less than classy, puts it on a runway or ‘It’ girl, and voilà suddenly it is
accepted.
Here
are some great cultural appropriation examples that have made their way to the
runways.
Cornrows, Giorgio Armani Spring 2015 |
Bamboo earrings, Balmain Fall 2014 |
Let’s not forget Vogue magazine’s declaration that we are “officially in the era of the big booty,” thanks to the likes of Kim Kardashian and Iggy Azalea. There was a vegan du-rag featured on Nasty Gal. Marie Claire claimed that Kendall Jenner took cornrows to an “epic level”. Elle magazine claimed that Timberland boots are now a trend. I hope Lucky Magazine alerted Chilli from TLC that her slicked down 'tendrils' (baby hair) is now trendy and "wild".
The list goes on
but can be summed up by the words of the illustrious Paul Mooney,
“Everybody wants to be a n*gga, but nobody wants to be a n*gga”.
I do not claim ownership of the above images.
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