It is no secret how America today came to be. A nation built on the backs of an oppressed people, robbed of their land, resources, and freedom, America has done its fair share of mischief in the past (Tsosie). The question that lingers on is, how much has America truly progressed as a nation in their discrediting ways? With America continuously growing as one of the most diverse nations in the world, it is not uncommon for many cultures to be shared amongst our vast population who have come to love each other past our skin pigmentations. The problem lies when shared cultures become more so appropriated than appreciated by each other. This is not to be confused with cultural exchange, with such a diverse population America is bound to intertwine (Rogers). This is often seen when African-American culture and elements of their background are thrown into Pop Culture as a trend that many strive to impersonate and flaunt without accepting or even acknowledging the troubles that come with the culture (Nittle). However, this is not a culture specific problem. And it is more important to address the issue than point fingers at one race. Time and time again, this country continues to blatantly ignore an issue that stands at the forefront of the racial divide. An issue that not only should be addressed, but proper action must be taken to prevents its reoccurrence. An issue so widespread it has become a social norm and prominent symbol of the deep issues underlying in society. Cultural Appropriation remains a problem here and little have chosen to advocate for its awareness. Industries of fashion and music choose to keep these issues under wraps for the sake of keeping pop culture funded and relevant, while many cultures continue to cringe as their once sacred and personal items are treated as a new fad. The cultural meanings, when implemented into a lifestyle that were not designed for them, begin to fade along with the memories. 

For many years prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans lived totally separated, not at the request of minorities, but at the demand of the dominant race. Which was and is still understood to be Caucasian, or white people. The lifestyles of white people were largely broadcasted on every corner of America and being that minorities were viewed as beneath them and racist tensions were still very high, they rarely ever acknowledged them in the media. As the years progressed, many minority races, specifically blacks, realized they did not want to continue listening to music they could not relate to and voices who spoke in spite of them. With the invention of the radio gaining immense popularity around this time, many minorities refrained from its use and turned to their own means of music and entertainment. This is what inevitably sparked The Harlem Renaissance, a movement by and for black artists to express themselves during hard times musically. Rhythm and blues became a household favorite for most black families in the north and south and with this new wide range of exposure, came attention from white artists as well. 

Elvis Pressley, who is widely known as the King of Rock committed his fair share of cultural appropriation (Yo). As a teenager, Pressley rejected the modern folk music and instead opted for soul music, rhythm and blues, and many other genres sung by African-Americans such as Goree Carter and Jackie Brenston. Many Americans do not know that these artists began the rock genre which is largely seen as a white genre today. Carter released RockAWhile (1949) and shortly after Rocket 88 was released by Brenston (1951). These were the first rock songs America had ever heard yet, sadly many today know "rock" as a genre sung by white men who are now middle-aged. Some of these artists include John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles. While they were great performers who will forever be legends in the eyes of all Americans, it is unfair that this was yet another black creation that was white washed and no one cared to speak out against. Before Carter and Brenston were truly given a chance by America, Pressley and his agent wiped the genre from them without giving them the slightest credit. Many passionate music listeners have urged for Pressley's famous title as "The King of Rock" to be lifted due to his appropriation of a sound that originated in the great minds of black artists. This argument was further supported when Sun's Records founder, who signed Pressley, was quoted saying "If I could find a white man who had the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars," (Yo). He later retracted this statement explaining he really was trying to prove that racism was not in the studio, no producers were turning young black talent away, the racism out there; woven into American society (Yo). The problem with this is that white people can take the same thing that countless black people have that is significant to their culture, and make it theirs just like that (Abdul-Jabbar). With dominance in the marketplace as well, they can sell these items and make more off of them than a minority would (Abdul-Jabbar).Whether or not this is what he truly meant, cultural appropriation remains apparent and this would only be the beginning of the long list of discredited black artists. Whether or not ignorance be of them or their audience, neither justifies robbing someone of their sound, not even Elvis. If anything, Pressley could have introduced the world to these artists and repainted the American vision of what black people were actually capable of.

This incident was only the beginning and managed to give rise to many similar to it. Cultural appropriation is mainly seen today in pop culture. Much of the industry is based upon black culture from the dances, to the songs, to the comedy, to the hairstyles; America in 2016 thrives on black people. Many people have celebrated this and have coined it as an achievement but it is all but that. The industry has taken African-American lifestyles, made them a trend, and have begun profiting off of what black people do, say, and even think. The problem that has arose just as quickly as the fame has, is that America loves the culture but as whole do not love black people. In turn the easiest way to have black culture without the negatives of said culture, is to paint the image you want on the people you want. At least in the pop culture industry, the lifestyles of black people are praised when they are portrayed on a white version of what was. 

Nearly 70 years later cultural appropriation in the music industry remains a trying issue but has branched into other industries as well (Sandine). The fashion industry has been called out many times recently for their use of appropriating minority swagger and either renaming it, or presenting it as a "brand new" fashion statement. In a 2015 issue of Elle magazine, one article pictured song writer Jhene Aiko wearing a dashiki and a caption stating "Behold the Newest It-item" (Sandine). Whether it is realized by the American eye or not, this is a true form of cultural appropriation. Jhene Aiko is of black and Asian descent, yet wears a West-African men's garment which is sacred to their people and calls it fashion. Similarly, many credit the Kardashians for a number of fads that were appropriated from African-American culture, such as the cornrow braids that were created by Africans to keep the course texture of their hair into a neat low maintenance hairstyle. These hairstyles were passed down for many generations and have remained a common hairstyle for young black children and some adults who have hair that is difficult to tame. Many women have been fired for wearing cornrows and have been labeled as ghetto or unprofessional by their employers for the style, so seeing it being claimed as started by white people who have no history or relation to the negative connotation and backlash it received is insulting (Rosemary). This avoidance of the "dark side" of appropriation is often what is most insulting. Many white hip-hop or rap artists have been called out recently for their decision to not speak against police brutality and the law enforcement targeting young black men, yet they choose to join a community that was set in place and founded by young black men. Rap music has always been for and about the black community. Ever since its creation in the 60s it had been a cry and voice for the young black men all across America. It gave them a voice, a face, and a place in society. The rap community is very accepting of all kinds of people, if you had a similar struggle or can relate, you are accepted. However, if you choose to only let your voice be heard in the community, that is a problem. For new artists such as Iggy Azalea to come on the scene and expect to get away with stealing the audience but not caring for the community, is a shame. She was slammed for claiming she came from a troubled childhood and ghetto past, when that was all but the truth. She grew up in a wealthy neighborhood off the East Coast of Austrailia, once famous she ignored the struggles of African-Americans claiming that world issues had no place to be spoken about by performing artists. This statement clearly makes no sense, if you have millions of people listening to you, you should be the first to speak again injustice. The issue is this: a white rapper male or female can choose when they want to talk and act black, yet they feel nothing in the pressing issues faced by the culture in which they are appropriating. Iggy Azalea and similar artists of course feel no remorse or need to let their voice be heard in these trying to times, because her people's lives are not being taken, in other words she has nothing to lose. She has not experienced inequality. She is not a victim of systemic racism. As long as being black in America continues to be seen as a problem, white rappers seeking the rewards of African-American appropriation will always be problematic.

 For cultural appropriation to not offend it must become cultural appreciation. Americans should learn to acknowledge the history behind what they are appropriating instead of treating it as a fad. It should be noted this occurrence is more profound in the young adults of America opposed to the older generation (30+). This is largely due to the fact that pop culture is targeted at the youth of America because they are so easily manipulated and tricked into seeing everything not for what it is, but for what it could be. Meaning that a style or idea can be shift onto a completely different platform that where it was originated and the youth of today would not question it.

Now, the question is not whether cultural appropriation exists because its existence can be seen in all aspects of American society. But now, when does offending an entire race become an issue people take seriously. 

Color-blindness has been a recent trend among the youth of today. To act as if you are color-blind in every situation to prevent hurting someone's feelings. This idea was sparked in the 90s when children summer camps were color blind themed (Strong). A controversial decisions which led to many of the over-the-top child organizations promoting acceptance today (Strong). Organizations now such as YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, and Camp Fire USA who once mocked Native American heritage as part of their organization rituals, are now finding new ways to display rituals that do not offend an oppressed people (Strong). With terms like acceptance and equality becoming universal themes and political correctness becoming an everyday issue, more youth organizations are focusing on teaching children to unify and accept diversity (Strong). Contrary to what Morgan Freeman once said, the answer to acceptance is not pretending to be oblivious to those who are different from us. The more reasonable approach is to educate and accept. In society, many people of dominant races have chosen color-blindness as a way of easing their way into black culture (Rodriquez 646). Pretending they are of the culture and when they are called out on their bluff, they simply say that we are all equal. It is true, Americans are all equal in the eyes of the law. But truly, in this society no two races are seen as equals. It is important to see and adhere to everything as it is, rather than ignoring and overlooking a problem hoping it will fade away. 

However, this argument always tends to receive tremendous backlash from those who are not of minority culture, one journalist argues "In America we have a social contract and that does not include my obligation to protect your feelings (Young). Though this quote is rather blunt and opposes the argument of this paper, the author has a genuine point. It is not the responsibility of others to protect anyone's feelings. America is a great nation that offers that freedom. However, if you chose to live your life purposely offending others and opting to not take into into consideration how your actions may be offending someone, then that says more about you as a person than it does about the severity of cultural appropriation. With that said, the solution to cultural appropriation is not an easy one. It is one that will take the cooperation of many races to accomplish. Instead of taking the color out of an issue, let's bring in the awareness of the color and then support that awareness with appreciation. No one is asking for people to go around and apologize and thank minorities for their contributions to society, but before you appropriate what is sacred to someone, whether you agree and understand or not, it would not hurt to take a step back and realize that you may be offending them and that you could show a little remorse and appreciation.

