Columbusing a Culture

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.

 

Baby hair, DKNY Spring 2015

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.