I wrote about this on my other blog but after Zipporah Gene and Jouelzy the famous Youtuber and founder of The Smart Brown Girl brand, had a debate on BBC News I felt the need to write about the subject in more depth. Zipporah's original statement in her article titled "Black Americans Please Stop Appropriating African Culture " which went viral, stated that African Americans should not wear African clothes and depicted a picture of people at Afro-Punk as the main source of this cultural appropriation. She stated that the mixing of kinte cloth and Fulani nose piercings as ignoring it's true significance. She further stated that African American's have no knowledge about our own African culture and disrespect the religious and cultural significance by wearing it just for fashion. With statements like these it was no wonder African Americans took offense to this article. African Americans on Twitter bombarded Zipporah's Twitter page giving her a piece of their mind. While some African's agreed with her stance others did not. This debate on social media caught the eye of Jouelzy and inspired her to voice her opinions on her blog and her Youtube channel. Jouelzy stated that Zipporah had little knowledge of America because many people at New York Afro-Punk were of African and Afro-Caribbean descent.
This situation obviously was not finished because they recently did an interview on Focus On Africa to further discuss the issue. Zipporah, chose to clear the air by saying her article wasn't demanding that African Americans should stop wearing African clothes because she is not in authority to do so. She went on to say that she feels that people see Africa as a country and wear these clothes as a form of respect but in doing so are acting out of ignorance. Jouelzy, stated that there were not many African American's wearing these clothes and many who wear this attire are in fact Africans. Zipporah, said that "If you want to be African it's more than a 75 dollar to 200 dollar festival". She went on to say that Black American culture heavily influences the entire world and even in Bangkok African fashion has become fashionable. In rebuttal, Jouelzy said it depends on if a black celebrity wears African clothes as to whether or not the rest of the world wants to wear it. Jouelzy, said that Nigerian Americans are very popular all over the world and their culture would naturally be noted. The interview was cut short after the interviwer introduced the idea that her article created an African vs. African American atmosphere and Jouelzy stated that Zipporah's article did leave her with this feeling but after Zipporah commented on her Youtube she understood her perspective. I personally loved that the two of them were engaging and debating in a very sophisticated manner. But I still feel that Zipporah was missing the point. Her statement about us wanting to be African entails more than going to a festival showed how she thinks of African Americans. We are of African descent period, it's not up for debate our ancestors left West Africa speaking the same languages as her and other West Africans. We are not Chinese or White or Mexican trying to wearing African clothes and jewelry, we are people of African lineage representing the many places of West Africa. Black Americans come from Africa we still demonstrate some African traditions such as hair braiding, call and response singing and dancing with our hips. I think if she stopped thinking of us as a different entity that has nothing to do with her than she wouldn't care if it influenced other race's to wear this attire. And whether she likes it or not African designers are making African fashion very popular, they are cutting traditional fabrics and creating modernized, peplum dresses, jump suits, tub skirts, suits and blazers and they are catching the eye of everyone including some Afro-Colombians. I do understand her concern about Black Americans not understanding the cultural significance but she seemed to stereotype all Black Americans as being ignorant of Africa which is not true. Most African Americans that take on these Afro-centric looks are very informed about the diversity of Africa and about the importance of their attire. Africans and African Americans need to rid ourselves of this divisive mindset. Like Malcolm said "I am an African living in America". Black Americans are still left with this feeling of we don't belong in America . Our presence is either seen as a threat or a source for entertainment. In lieu of our social economic state as a whole many of us are left searching for how things were before and this leads us back to our history in Africa and what really happened opposed to the blatant omission of history we are presented with in high school. This leads us to having pride which some do not want us to have. Therefore, it disappoints me Zipporah is fighting this reawakening of the black experience and the search of the missing links. She doesn't realize we all need to decolonize our minds and work together and stop fighting amongst each other.
Jasmine Malone
10/15/2015 08:29:43 am
Great!! Observation. 10/17/2015 05:31:46 am
Lovely article.. I must say there is an African saying.. "Every village as its idiot" and Zipporah just exhibited that she is the one. I am am an African and a designer, I believe in this idea that when you look at Africa from space you don't see any boundaries.. We need to embrace that truth that Africa is indeed a country and stop grouping ourselves under colonial political guidelines. This is the only Way Africa will be able reclaim its place in history.
Kiara
11/2/2015 09:10:28 am
Why do you say Africa is a country? I do realize it was colonized and do believe black people of the Diaspora need to stop fighting. Also, Zipporah didn't realize how she was interfering with the profits of African Designers
bai
12/23/2015 11:09:05 pm
Good article. when those of us, newly arrived from Afrika connect with our brothers and sisters in the diaspora and realize that we are one people a new level our our struggle begins. Even a ignorant statement creates the space for a knowledgeable discussion. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorMy name is Kiara and writing is the way I express myself. Archives
March 2017
Categories
All
|