How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation in Food

(narrator) Cultural appropriation
has been a hot topic

for the past couple of years,

but a lot of the dialog about it
has been overly simplistic.

In reality,
it is a complicated concept

that can leave many feeling
unsure of how to engage

in cultural exchange
without perpetuating racism.

So, what is cultural appropriation?

It's when a person
from a dominant culture--

in the United States,
that's white people--

uses elements
of a marginalized culture

in a way that perpetuates harmful
and oppressive power dynamics.

A lot of people think
that this is a silly issue

because it's "just clothes"
or it's "just food."

If only it were just clothes
or food.

Sadly,
history makes that impossible.

Here's why people care.

Historically,
when white-dominated nations

colonized other places,

they weren't satisfied
with claiming land or resources.

A key part of colonization

was the annihilation
of native cultures.

Colonizers forced indigenous peoples
to assimilate

to European cultural values
and practices.

However, at the same time
they exoticized the flavors,

sounds, and aesthetics
of the people they colonized

so that they could continue
to enjoy those aesthetics

while simultaneously asserting
their inferiority

to European aesthetics.

This history is not over.

All too often in today's world,
people of color

and indigenous people
are marginalized

for taking part
in their own cultural practices.

The same practices that,
when white people use them,

are valorized as a new discovery,

as worldly and sophisticated,

or as unusual and exotic.

For example,
black natural hairstyles

are frequently banned
from schools and workplaces

as "unprofessional,"
"distracting," and even "dangerous."

But bantu knots, afros,
dreads, and box braids

have all been used recently
in high fashion

as "trendy hairstyles"
for elite white people.

But don't worry,
we're not here to tell you

that you should only eat hot dogs
for the rest of your life.

It's a good thing to explore

and enjoy foods
from marginalized cultures,

you just have to be conscious
of how you do it.

Here are four tips
for avoiding cultural appropriation

and being a more anti-oppressive
food lover.

Number 1: don't exoticize,
fetishize, or other.

Making a big deal
of how weird a food is

is just one way to make it clear

that American and European foods
are normal,

while other foods are not.

On the flip side,
bragging about how many exotic

or unusual dishes you've tried

shows that you think "ethnic" foods

are tourist attractions
rather than serious cultural material.

It's okay to be honest

that you are not used to
or dislike a certain food or flavor,

but theatrics are unnecessary
and patronizing.

Number 2: don't expect nonwhite food
to be cheap.

So-called "ethnic" food
is often expected to be cheap,

and chefs of color who ask
for a higher price

are characterized
as charging too much

for the kind of food
they're making.

If you're willing
to pay $20 for an entree

at a French restaurant,

but won't go to a Thai restaurant
unless entrees are under $10,

you're reinforcing the idea
that people of color and immigrants

should do labor cheaply

and be grateful
for whatever scraps they get.

Number 3: patronize businesses

that are owned by people
whose culture is being sold.

One of the more insidious forms
of cultural appropriation

is when people
sell a marginalized culture

that is not their own.

They're able to profit,
while the people whose culture

is being sold are maligned
for eating and making the same things.

To avoid this, go to restaurants
that are owned by people

who come from the ethnic
or racial group

whose culture is being sold.

Number 4: act in solidarity

with people of color
and indigenous people.

If you love someone's food,

you should also care
about their humanity.

Learn more about the history
of colonialism and racism.

Educate yourself about food justice

and racial justice,
and get involved.

Donate to racial justice organizations
and movements.

Volunteer in a respectful

and appropriate way
with a community garden.

Go to local racial justice
organization meetings

and call your representatives
about policies

that affect communities of color.

The takeaway is this food
is really important to people.

It is intimately linked
to race, ethnicity,

culture, identity, and pride.

These issues are complicated

and you might mess up,
but nobody's perfect.

What's important is understanding
that food is a political issue,

and also making a commitment
to decolonize our love of food.

The script and research
for this video

was done
by the wonderful Claire Hiyama.

Also, if you liked the video,

consider showing your support
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Or you can throw me a few bucks
on Patreon

and I'd be super grateful.

And I will see you next time.