So if you've been following Universal Confusion, you know that everyday we pick a different song to be featured as our Song Of The Day. Each member of our Collective picks a selection of songs to be chosen from for the month, and those songs get featured daily.
Today's Song Of The Day is White Privilege II by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Feat. Jamila Woods.
Since the title of this song so obviously proclaims what the theme is about; we decided to generate a discussion on this widely talked about topic of White Privilege and Cultural Appropriation.
Cultural Appropriation can be defined as the adoption or use of elements from one culture by members of a different culture. And celebrities in society have constantly been faced with this topic for decades. Macklemore being one of those examples. As a result of the dialogue and commentary that he has received on these subjects and his place in the industry, this song was released on their second album This Unruly Mess I've Made earlier this year. But this isn't the first time Macklemore has spoken out about his place in the industry. He's had multiple interviews and has even expressed his opinions via social media.
But even beyond Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, this topic can continue to be explored. Recently, there have been numerous conversations about the recent Boxer Braid Trend seen in the media.
In an interview with PopSugar, artist Zendaya was asked about her experimentation with her hair and opinion on the Boxer Braid trend. PopSugar asked,
"Braids are a buzz term right now, especially when it comes to cultural appropriation. What do you consider to be cultural appropriation, and where do you think we should draw the line?"
She responded to the question stating,
"Well, first of all, braids are not new. Black women have been wearing braids for a very long time, and that's another part of the frustration. We've been using that as a protective style, as a hairstyle. That's been in our culture and our community for a very long time. So it's not this new, fresh, fun thing. Another problem is it became new and fresh and fun, because it was on someone else other than a black woman. You know what I mean? So that is the frustration. That's where the culture appropriation element comes into play."
Full Interview can be read Here
So after listening to the song, and with all of the various discussions and questions being raised; we want to hear from you! How do you feel about Cultural Appropriation? What does Cultural Appropriation mean to you? Is it a real thing? Does it go beyond just black culture? Is this even a relevant topic in today's society? Let's generate a healthy and productive discussion on this topic and explore what it truly means. Comment below and share your thoughts.