“Appropriation” Journaling Questions

What in this presentation surprised you, or did you have trouble agreeing with?

You have a beautiful African-inspired jacket that you love to wear for special occasions. It’s colorful and so artistically made. What would you want to learn and say about its culture and/or the artisan so that the celebration feels about a collective “us” instead of just you?

What role does the media and pop culture, as a reflection or distortion of dominant culture norms, play in disseminating appropriation? What unconscious biases might you hold or encounter in these environments?

How do mainstream monocultural norms in predominantly white settings reinforce stereotyping, tokenization, or fetishization of people of color or ethnic “diversity”?

Consider some of the reasons why you think people like this assume an identity “of color”: Deep desire for affinity, connection, and belonging? Wishing to gain cultural and social capital as “a minority”—such as platforms, a fan base, and awards? Desire to attract sympathy or validation associated with having survived discrimination? Professional advancement or trendiness: gaining buzz, or career advancement by representing oneself as underrepresented or marginalized? Or something else?

Reflect on a time you experienced or witnessed exoticization or objectification based on race or culture. How did it shape your understanding of othering and the subtle ways it manifests in daily interactions?

Consider the idea that intention does not negate impact. How have you reacted, or might you react, to being “othered” despite someone’s claim that it was meant as a compliment? (If you are a white person, imagine what this scenario might actually entail.)

Reflect on how cultural appropriation differs from appreciation. What questions can you ask yourself to critically evaluate whether an action crosses this line, especially in fashion and popular culture?

What is your thought about rock and roll as a genre that “borrowed” from Delta Bluesmen? Is there ever a justification for the “roots of rock”? How has your thinking about this changed over time?

Explore the role of privilege in cultural borrowing. How does the ability to “take off” a cultural signifier and return to one’s dominant identity affect the experience of the culture being borrowed from?

In what ways does centering whiteness as the norm shape perceptions of culture and identity in society? How do these dynamics perpetuate systemic racism and exclusion?

Think about the phenomenon of “mashups” and blending of cultural elements. When does cultural mixing become harmful or disrespectful, and how can awareness prevent this?

How does the commercialization and commodification of sacred cultural symbols—like Native American war bonnets—contribute to ongoing power imbalances and marginalization?

Consider how racial identity is tied to lived experience, history, and systemic realities rather than just self-identification. What challenges arise when identity is assumed or performed without this context?

Reflect on the challenges faced by progressive allies in navigating cultural appropriation and exoticism. How can intentions align more closely with respectful and informed actions?

What personal or societal steps can you take to educate yourself and others about cultural appropriation, to challenge hidden bias, and to foster genuine respect for diverse cultures?

Reflect on the stories of “pretendians” like Buffy and Rachel who have claimed identities or cultural heritages they may not authentically hold. How do these situations impact communities whose identities are taken or misrepresented? If you were familiar with these news stories when they first broke, has your opinion changed at all, and if so, how?