cultural appropriation
Thief in the Night: The White Brand Co-Opting the Black History of Sleep Bonnets
When white people appropriate Black haircare, they reshape the conversation to prioritize the very people who called Black hair into question to begin with.
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Break the Spell: Witchcraft Is Capitalism’s New Trick
While many critiques of the Pinrose Witch Kit are valid and well-argued, most fail to address the bigger issue: Witchcraft and New Age spirituality have long been a site of cultural theft.
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Remember Me: The History of Día de Muertos
The cobblestone streets of Pátzcuaro, Mexico, bustle with frenzied preparation in the weeks leading up to Día de Muertos.
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“Coco” Proves Cultural Appreciation is Possible
I set out to the theater on Thanksgiving Day expecting to hate Disney-Pixar’s Coco. I was delightfully surprised.
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Feminist Snack Break: El Día de los Muertos is not Halloween
Day of the Dead products at Target are what happens when capitalism takes cultural traditions that go back centuries and repackages them for profit.
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What Not to Wear On Halloween
Your annual reminder that racist and transphobic costumes are no good.
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Feminist Snack Break: This Is What Cultural Appropriation Looks Like
Newsflash: Día de los Muertos and Halloween aren’t the same thing.
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The Fragility of Solidarity: Family History and Political Identity
Easier to blame POC “identity politics” than anti-Blackness or wages of whiteness. Easier to fall in line with the new president than to resist.
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Too Many Kooks in the Kitchen: #Burritogate and Co-opting Mexican Culture
This “adventure narrative” is hugely successful in food culture: The chef has a cultural experience, and patrons get to taste a new version of the inspiration. It’s a story that sells.
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Our Nails Will Shine Forever: The History of Acrylics and Appropriation
Nails are emblems of honor.
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