Dilemma: Cultural appropriation or celebration?

The longtime phenomenon of cultural appropriation presents a fine line between borrowing and stealing the cultural likeness from distinct groups of people, especially from minorities in the United States.

However, American culture is diverse and multicultural, so how do we avoid cultural appropriation?

Almost everyone is proud to say he or she has friends that were not born in the U.S. We preach unity and acceptance in this country. So, why are folks offended when the majority culture or celebrities try to assimilate or accept an ethnic culture by mimicking or celebrating their fashion or ideas?

We see cultural appropriateness when we wear certain headgears, clothing or hairstyles, such as braids and dreadlocks that did not originate in the assimilating culture.

Especially at Halloween, Americans borrow the fashion styles of other groups of people. It is usually amazing to see who or what celebrities dress-up like on this day. But also, every day we borrow each other’s styles and likeness.

Cultural appropriation is a problem because the people we are borrowing from want credit and want you to seek their permission first.

So, this is no different from plagiarism in schools. It is expected that before or when you borrow, you make it clear who should be given credit. If we do this, then cultural appropriation should be less of a factor in Hollywood or in everyday culture.