If you're in the Washington DC area, API Resistance invites you to Cornrows, Bindis, Kimonos: The Impact of Cultural Appropriation on Communities of Color, a panel discussion focused on the connection between cultural appropriation and state violence. The event, organized as part of the Black Lives Matter Week of Action, is happening Wednesday, September 9 at St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church.
Here are some more details:
Cornrows, Bindis, Kimonos: The Impact of Cultural Appropriation on Communities of Color
Wednesday, September 9
6:30pm
St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church
1525 Newton St NW
Washington, DC 20010
** This is an intentional People of Color-only space
** Suggested donation $10, but no one turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds from the event will go to Black Lives Matter.
** Cosponsored by the Muslim American Women's Policy Forum, Leftwing DC, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) DC and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA).
** There will be refreshments.
Speakers:
- Gabrielle Jackson, MSW, LGSW, mental health clinician, licensed social worker, community activist. Black Immigration Network (BIN). Twitter: @soulfulblakness
- Emem Obot, Blackout DC. Twitter: @femme_meme
- Jessica Cendana, APALA DC. Twitter: @jesscend
- Jess Solomon, Cultural Worker @jesssolomon
Khadija Mehter, Organizer, Muslim American Women's Policy Forum (MAWPF)
- Aruna Jain, API Resistance. (Moderator)
Katy Perry's "geisha-inspired" performance, Lena Dunham's cornrows, Iggy Azalea's whole career.. these are just some examples of cultural appropriation. But appropriation is not just limited to celebrities. It manifests in our day to day lives, from the westernized yoga classes in Dupont and the numerous Marvin Gaye themed establishments on U Street, to the headdress that your non-Native friend wore to Coachella last year.
As part of the Black Lives Matter Week of Action, API Resistance has organized a panel event focused on the connection between cultural appropriation and state violence. In particular, we will discuss how cultural appropriation is tied to violence against black communities and communities of color. We anticipate a participatory event in which both audience and panel can engage these connections on both a personal and macro level.
Please read for context regarding the Week of Action: At the link below is an analysis of the 5 Pillars of White Supremacy in DC that the #BlackLivesMatter SpokeCouncil Week of Action is confronting. API Resistance chose "Cultural Appropriation" as the pillar to educate about and tackle through this event.
http://wellexaminedlife.com/2015/09/01/the-5-pillars-of-white-supremacy-in-dc/
Context regarding Cultural Appropriation: A great 4 minute video by Amandla Stenberg titled "Don't Cash Crop On My Cornrows," in which she breaks down cultural appropriation and brings up the question: "What would America be like if we loved Black people as much as we loved Black culture?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1KJRRSB_XA
For further information about the event, refer to the Facebook event.