cultural appropriation
Non-Black minorities need to stop using the N-word
February 27, 2025By: Kamal Nagi, SFU Student Black contributions have helped shape much of contemporary pop culture. Instead of recognition, however, non-Black influencers continuously take credit for its introduction to the mainstream. True appreciation is not just consuming Black culture, but addressing anti-Black racism in everyday life, including the exploitation of Black culture. One example of cultural aspects being stolen and exploited is the casual use of the N-word by non-Black individuals, particularly within some South Asian and Latinx communities. Appropriation ignores the history of anti-Black oppression and the efforts of Black communities to reclaim their identities. African American Vernacular English (AAVE)…
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The phenomenon of fashion trends
May 30, 2024By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer “We’re all born naked, and the rest is drag” — RuPaul What are fashion trends? From cultural appropriation to fast fashion, the phenomenon of fashion trends has always been widely disputed. The funny thing about…
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Musicians need to stop using Asian culture to add flair
March 13, 2019Written by: Encina Roh, SFU Student With her recent single, 7 Rings, Ariana Grande has recently joined Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and many others when it comes to employing Asian aesthetics in their music. The use of chopsticks, cheongsams, and…
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Yoga belongs to India, so hands off
January 25, 2016[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t the University of Ottawa last November, a yoga class was cancelled due to concerns that it was culturally appropriated from India — a culture that “experienced oppression, cultural genocide and diasporas due to colonialism and western supremacy.” At first,…
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