“Cultural Appropriation”
Fridays for Future invites a singer because of her hairstyle – that’s the background
According to a decision by Fridays for Future, the musician Ronja Maltzahn is not allowed to perform in Hanover on Friday as planned. The activists justified the rejection with the singer’s hairstyle: she wears dreadlocks.
© Zuzanna Badziong / DPA
Everyone should be welcome in the fight against climate change. But not at Fridays for Future Hannover: the organization invited a singer because she wears dreadlocks.
The news came at short notice, and it came as a surprise: Ronja Maltzahn actually wanted to appear at the climate demonstration in Hanover on Friday. But on Wednesday, organizer Fridays for Future canceled the singer.
The reason: “Having a white person with dreadlocks on our stage” is not justifiable with the “anti-colonialist and anti-racist narrative”. This is “a form of cultural appropriation,” says the letter of invitation that Maltzahn shared on her Instagram account. Because dreadlocks were used “in the times of slavery by white people as a sign of oppression”. Therefore, according to the statement by FFF Hannover, white people should not wear dreadlocks “because they are adopting a part of another culture without experiencing the systematic oppression behind it”.
At the heart of the problem is the notion of “cultural appropriation”. The topic has long been discussed in the English-speaking world as “cultural appropriation”. At its core, the debate is about the question: Are cultures assigned to specific ethnic groups and peoples – or are they free and open to everyone?
“Cultural Appropriation” or Appreciation?
Behind this is a conflict that shines through again and again under the term identity politics: right-wing extremists have long advocated a cultural “principle of purity”. But left-wing identity-political thinking also takes the view that not every culture is open to everyone. In contrast, the liberal model advocates just the opposite: a radical mix of people, styles and cultures.
These debates have been held repeatedly in recent years. She was sparked by questions like: Can white people play the blues? Can I still hear Eminem? And can I eat at a Mexican restaurant, even if he’s actually European? And do I have to burn my Rolling Stones albums now?
In order to dissolve the rigid fronts, efforts have been made for some time to differentiate more conceptually. For this purpose, the distinction between “cultural appropriation” and “cultural appretiation” is introduced – i.e. the difference between appropriation and appreciation.
Ronja Maltzahn advocates diversity and tolerance
Accordingly, one would have to question the motive of the “appropriator”: Is he reflecting on his own culture? Does he consider the context of the borrowed culture? And does he give something back? All questions that are suitable for softening rigid boundaries and starting a discussion process.
In any case, Ronja Maltzahn, who musically can be assigned to the world pop genre, prefers it colorful and cosmopolitan. She cheerfully mixes different styles and cultures. She performs with 15 musicians from different nations, the ensemble sings in seven languages, as she explained in a video published on Instagram. The attitude of the 28-year-old is clear: she stands for cultural diversity and tolerance. And thus for the opposite of what Fridays for Future accuses her of.
Source used: Instagram, Greenheart.org