cultural appropriation

No, Gwen Stefani, You Aren’t Japanese
A busy street in Tokyo, Japan, at night with bright vertically long signage on buildings lighting the sky.

No, Gwen Stefani, You Aren’t Japanese

In a recent interview, singer Gwen Stefani responds to a question about her cultural appropriation past by claiming a fake ethnic identity.

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1640 1082 Andrew Lee
Halloween is Not an Excuse to be Racist
A person wearing a Ghostface mask from the movie, Scream.

Halloween is Not an Excuse to be Racist

Halloween is culturally a time when many people wear costumes that include blackface or cultural appropriation, in addition to other oppressive or racially charged attire.

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2400 1600 Nicole Cardoza
Blackface in the Digital Age
A 3D computer rendering of a human with a Black body but a white head.

Blackface in the Digital Age

How social spaces and tech profit off the exploitative use of Blackness and racial stereotypes in a repackaged and digitized version of blackface.

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2400 1350 Nicole Cardoza
Respect the Roots of Black Hair
A silhouette of person with an afro against a white background.

Respect the Roots of Black Hair

Cultural appropriation of Black hairstyles is harmful, considering how Black people continue to experience hair discrimination.

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1080 688 Team ARD
The Commercialization of Cinco de Mayo
A person in a red and yellow floral dress dancing while a mariachi band plays in the background.

The Commercialization of Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is meant to be a day of solidarity and respecting Mexican and Latine culture, but the Americanization of the holiday has obscured its true historical significance.

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1920 1279 Nicole Cardoza
Halloween Is Not An Excuse To Be Racist
Two people are wearing costume masks at a party.

Halloween Is Not An Excuse To Be Racist

Halloween cultural appropriation is not limited to racial and ethnic groups; any marginalized community or subculture can be appropriated. And a holiday is not an excuse to perpetuate these stereotypes.

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2400 1600 Sydney Cobb
AAVE Appropriation and the Erasure of Blackness

AAVE Appropriation and the Erasure of Blackness

Despite AAVE being popularized in pop culture, Black people are still ridiculed in workplaces, classrooms, and other parts of society for using it.

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1331 906 Nicole Cardoza

Avoid spiritual bypassing.

​Spiritual bypassing is to sidestep dealing with pain, strong feelings, trauma, etc. It can be helpful when we are not ready to confront difficult emotions in our lives. However, it is commonly used to avoid acknowledging privilege because doing so is inherently messy, painful, and requires continued awareness.

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150 150 Team ARD
Preserving Palo Santo and White Sage for Posterity
A bundle of sage burns on a dish.

Preserving Palo Santo and White Sage for Posterity

The mainstream overconsumption of Palo Santo and white sage has made it impossible for Native communities to practice sacred traditions.

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1920 1280 Team ARD
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