Time and again, I see people going out of their way to justify their use and abuse of culture, explaining that their appreciation is somehow reason enough that they can do what they please and revel in ignorance.
A major problem is the conflation of “appreciation” with “appropriation.” We’re all fully capable and welcome (in some cases) to appreciate culture. Appreciation comes in many forms, from eating at an authentic restaurant to going to an open powwow, to purchasing goods meant to be displayed on you from cultural events. Depending on the situation, they’re made public, and thus the public is open to appreciate them. Where appreciation crosses into appropriation is when one decides to take some aspect of the culture and make it a part of oneself.
The difference is consent. A culture may choose to share aspects of itself for appreciation (food, dances, clothing styles, images, stories, etc.), and one is welcome so long as that door is open. But one mistakes a presently open door as a permanent invitation. If a friend invites one over to their house, they are not obliged to do so whenever one feels like. If I invite you to experience my culture, I’m not welcoming you to stay. I’m not welcoming you to advertise my culture for me. I’m not welcoming you to take pieces of my culture and replicate them.
“Appreciation” does not warrant any further involvement on one’s part. We have many rights in this country, but one has no right to experience anything one is not welcome to experience. One has no right to adopt what is not one’s to adopt.
One’s unwillingness to obtain consent is not justification for one’s disrespect. One’s inability to distinguish between appreciation and appropriation does not excuse one’s ignorance.
— Jordan Clapper
MFA and MA candidate
University of Idaho English Department