Will it ever be PC for a "White" person to celebrate the African heritage?

Question

I have been called a bigot because I truly enjoy so much of the art, music, and culture of Africa. I have been looked at with suspicion when I wear African clothes or have African art in my house. I was told by an American Black woman that there is often resentment when whites adopt any aspect of their culture. Why? Why? Why?

Answer 1

I don't think there's anything wrong with you celebrating the African heritage. I think that it's taken as rude or a joke when someone outside of the race/heritage does something. I mean like pale "white" person adopting the Hindu culture. It's going to come off as mocking. I think whoever said that to you probably felt like you were mocking them. I'd ignore it. Only someone who can get to know you and see that you truly enjoy the culture it's self and not "poking fun" at it can really understand. I think the resentment just comes from what's happened in the past and it's still in the heart of many people.

Answer 2

I'll tell you. Not all, but some black people feel that when we were bought over here (whether or not our own people sold us) against our will everything was stripped from us by whites. So we started making something out of nothing. Seems that when we do, first white people complain about it, then make fun of it, then they copy it. Bo Derek in the movie 10 is an example with her braids. Eminem is another example. White people always say they hate rap and then when Eminem and Kid Rock comes out, now its really great stuff. they are thinking "If we are so inferior and so wrong as people, why do you copy us so much?" That's where its coming from. A lot of black people feel that on some level all white people think us inferior, so we get offended when we see you adopting a style that we claim as our own.

Now, I do not personally feel this way, I am just explaining why the people in your world probably feel resentment. Its the price white people have to pay for enslaving other humans all those years ago, as you see it may have been a century ago, but it's consequences are very far reaching. Its why our country is the way it is today. Its unfortunate, but so was slavery and the continued racism of today. What a mess, huh?

Answer 3

I'm a white African and I love Africa. I am entitled to celebrate it and I do, as far as I please.
If an American woman can celebrate both cultures, so can you. Tough if she feels resentment.
If we all started feeling a little less resentment about imagined slights, the world would be a better place.
The American woman wasn't born in Africa, she is American. I, ont he otherhand, although I am white, am an African. Through and through.

Answer 4

Well I think it's because, White people are all of more recent European descent. But I don't think that anyone can stop someone from celebrating, but at the same time if your not of African heritage it's kind of strange to celebrate what you aren't. Some White are African though and those whose parents or grandparents are from there can embrace there culture or heritage.

Answer 5

I think that is absurd! Why would you be called a bigot for actually taking the time to celebrate African culture? I think your openness is beautiful and more people should be open like you. The sad thing is that you probably know more about African culture than the average black person (myself included). We should take time to know more about it too!

Answer 6

My husband is vietnamese/caucasian and I embrace his vietnamese heritage as well as his german heritage and he embraces my african heritage. I think it is great that you find African culture interesting. There are still so many things I don't even know about my own culture. I could probably learn a lot from you about that. Go figure, huh? It's a beautiful thing. Any black person that thinks you're somehow mocking them is just a moron.

Answer 7

That time period is only saying that our ancestors got here from Africa, no longer unavoidably the individuals alive immediately that are said as that. I do hate the note Black(like crayon colour) regardless of the actuality that, I propose technically, we are brown, and that i have not seen someone who became extremely Black, I only imagine it is a darker colour of brown. i wager i ought to work out the position you're coming from regardless of the actuality that, yet only somewhat. besides, its been occurring for this lengthy, why replace it only to complicate issues. The solutions you get will be in accordance to individuality, that signifies that some people like it, and others do not. i do not recognize what to assert about the entire count number number, I propose see you later because it isn't racial, then i'm cool with it.

Answer 8

Because it's not your culture. Many blacks might have wanted in the past to be full members of Euro-American culture, but they did not have the choice. When you come along picking and choosing bits and pieces of whatever culture you please, it looks like yet another instance of white privilege.

That being said, it's a free country (at present) and no one can legally force you not to wear a dashiki if you want to. But they can legally give you dirty looks, make sarcastic remarks, and shun you because--once again--this is a free country.

Answer 9

Heritage is to be enjoyed by all as long as that heritage hasn't been stolen from the group who originated it.

Whoever called you a bigot because you enjoy a culture that is not your own by birth needs to look up the meaning of the word.

Answer 10

Considering all life came out of Africa, we are all Africans. Why should you discriminate against me just because my people left Africa a long time ago. We are all part of the human race and are basically one giant extended family.