Many recent news stories have caught my attention these past few weeks, but none have been more interesting and question-sparking than recent “cultural appropriation” stories.  Sorry Stormy and Donald and Comey – you folks are just run of the mill bad actors and bad politicians, in my opinion.  The only things your stories spark for me is that most life troubles can be avoided if you practice basic skills:  sleep only with your spouse, practice safe sex and wash your hands, and shut your pie-hole about personal matters if you’re in “public service”.

No, for me, the phrase that pays today is “cultural appropriation”.   I realized after researching the topic that it has been around a while.   You’ll have to forgive me, I am old.  I predate the internet, cell phones and, according to my kids, dirt.  The term “snail mail” is still one of endearment to me, and I use it often.  But after turning on the internet wi-fi (no dial-up for me anymore!)  and waiting for my laptop to boot up, I took a look.  Boy is it a loaded issue.

Justin Timberlake, just to name one artist, apparently has a long history of this most egregious act.  He produces, sings, plays, and enjoys, music that has a rythmic beat, rhymes and raps, and, well…..he’s white.  Articles have been written about his slights to other communities, slights whose sole basis is his music genre of choice and his language use, coupled with the performers’ race.  I didn’t see the problem, and still don’t.  You see, when I grew up in the seventies, right after the height of the civil rights movement, it was “ok” for all folks, white, black, brown, anyone, to explore and enjoy all types of music , language, and style of dress.  Anybody remember Soul Train?  Don Cornelius? Although I’m as white as a bleached egg shell, I loved the music, the dancing, and Don’s voice on that show.  I grew up in a mixed neighborhood, and we would all go to school Monday morning reciting the cool new sounds.  I could not stand American Bandstand.  I was under the apparently mistaken impression that if you’re good at something, or enjoy it, or it appeals to you, have fun and do it to your heart’s content.  Apparently not anymore.

There was a more recent story of a young lady who selected a Chinese-style dress for her prom.  She did so despite having the audacity of not being born of Asian decent.  Oh the humanity.  Being a teenager, she posted pictures of herself on her social media accounts.  The backlash was swift, and mean-spirited.  Asian-american groups accused her of “cultural appropriation”, belittled her for her apparent “insensitivity” to their group and culture, and generally made a mess of what was supposed to be and should have been a very joyous occasion for her.  At least a few social media responses came to her defense.  One very pointedly reminded the “haters” that they were Americans also, just like the young lady, and while they were Asian-American they were not Chinese.  The young lady’s subtle yet poignant response reminded me of my oldest daughter.  She simply responded that she looked in the mirror, said “I look good”, and out she went. Good for her.  When and why did it become such an affront to people when others simply wish to revel in being alive, and wish to wear or do something different than what they experienced in their own “culture” or prior life experience?

In my view, it is the recent (last fifty-years or so) phenomena of generating identity not on the basis of the individual, but of some larger perceived “group”, whatever “group” that may be.  While a celebration and historical remembrance of a shared history is necessary to cleanse the soul and, sometimes,  the soul of the nation itself, the assignment of resources and partitioning of public discourse and participation on the basis of group identity is very limiting.  It is also not helpful or beneficial to a democracy.  Democracy is based on the founding premise of the equality and worth of each individual, and that each individual has the right to participate in society on an equal footing, and receive the benefits of society, not because they ascribe to a particular group but because they simply and individually exist.  The country has failed in this regard more than once in our past, but that is a failing of the country, not the premise.

To further complicate things, an individual may be a culturally-identified member of more than one group.  If that multi-group person holds a strict view of cultural identity and is prone to anxiousness or anger at the very slightest perceived provocation, oh my.   That person will be in for a very long day and a very long and painful existence.   What’s also interesting, is there are certain individuals whose appearance, age, gender, and race, place them in a category such that they are wholly excluded from being able to participate in the culture games.  For example, I’m male, and white, and middle-aged, so my opportunity for offense, and thus participation in this frivolous exercise, is much more limited apparently.  In fact, due to the presence of subconscious “white privilege” to which I’m sure a more learned person would easily ascribe to me, I probably don’t have the capacity, justification, or right, to be offended, according to some current schools of thought.  Rudolph, these reindeer games are not for you.  Keep drinking until your nose is red.

I’m not complaining, however.  I prefer individualism over the herd mentality of group thought.  I enjoy what I enjoy, dislike what I dislike, and none of it is based on group or collective action, guilt, or innocence.  I’ve never been mistreated by a group, just a few individuals.  I’ve never been treated well by any group, just a few wonderful individuals. I’ve enjoyed the company and friendship of a number of very different individuals in my lifetime, and not once have I ascribed my like or dislike of them to any group characteristic.  To quote the old basketball saying we had back in the day, “if the kid can play, he plays.”

Individualism is the antithesis of racism and group identity.  Honesty is honesty.  Integrity is integrity.  And music is music.  Time to put on my Bruce Lee ninja pants and play some Earth, Wind and Fire.  Crank it up.

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For further reading on this topic from a writer more gifted than I, please see the link below:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/01/how-americas-identity-politics-went-from-inclusion-to-division