Stay #woke

#culturalappropriation has gone no where. You'd think that living in #America we are #blessed with so many freedoms, exposure to different #cultures and have #respect and understanding for the different attributes of those cultures. But not everyone is even near being #woke yet.
Right here in my hometown, deemed to be the most diverse in its state, we see this lack of #woke.

My neighborhood hosts annual ice cream socials, and this year, there was the addition of a "crazy hat" contest to the normal kiddie activities (like pumpkin and cookie decorating). In this contest, two local police officers were the judges who determined which kid had the most extravagant and different hat.

Basically only like 3 kids participated, with two kids wearing animal character winter hats and one with a large Native American headdress. I was appalled. This non-Native American kid was flaunting around this sacred Native American symbol as a "crazy" hat. To top it off, we have typical helicopter mom behind-the-scenes boasting to the other parents "oh he's definitely going to win."

This instance reiterates the necessity for greater education and awareness on these issues regarding cultural appropriation. In Sherman Alexi's words, "That's how assimilation can work." It can be applied in this sense to selective usage, or having an almost tunnel vision. If something from another culture can bring personal benefit or entertainment, no matter what its meaning is, it's not right to mindlessly do so. Just selectively using what is needed and dumping the leftovers is beyond unjust, yet it unfortunately happens everyday.

It's going to take small scale community efforts, to make change. The policemen gave the prize to the kids with animal hats; their decision making a huge statement.

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The quote is from "Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Woodstock," a short story by Sherman Alexi, an author with Native American roots.