Cultural appropriation might be a really hot topic these days, but I'm convinced that some folks either don't understand it or don't give AF. Take Kylie Jenner, for instance. The 19-year-old has become somewhat of a pop culture obsession and it all started with her full lips (that she's admitted are a result of lip injections), her newly curvaceous figure, and her love for urban street wear and black hairstyles. Despite being called out for cultural appropriation several times before, she is now being praised for "making camo swimsuits happen." I can't.
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Apparently there are folks out there claiming that Kylie was the one to start the camo swimsuit trend.
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/PerezHilton/status/872518618667298816
But there are even more folks out there proving that she didn't. In fact, Twitter user @chuuzus pointed out how the members of Destiny Child wore camo bikinis 16 years ago in their "Survivor" video.
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/chuuzus/status/872528879214317568
There's a reason why this kind of stuff pisses people off and it's because it's far from the first time Kylie gets credited for trends that were actually started by either black people or minority groups. Seriously, this cultural appropriation conversation is getting seriously out of hand.
Kylie appropriates black culture like it's her own and yet never expresses any real interest in real black issues. Honestly, when have you EVER heard her talk or even tweet anything regarding Black Lives Matter? Yup, that's what I thought.
Last year she had the nerve to say that she "started wigs." Oh yes, she went there all right. "I started wigs, and now everyone is wearing wigs," she told Marie Claire. Kim [Kardashian] just used my wig guy last night… I just do whatever I want to do, and people will follow."
Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/BS4iqxRBgpn/
I'm going to start off by pointing out how drowned in privilege that last sentence was. "I just do whatever I want to do, and people will follow." Honestly, who does this chick think she is to make such a bold statement like that surrounding a trend SHE DID NOT START?
Secondly, wigs have been around since effin forever. Egyptian women AND men were wearing them back in ancient times. British men wore them during the 18th century and black women have been wearing wigs for decades. But Kylie "started wigs," right? Okay. Kylie, you keep telling yourself that.
The chick has rocked everything from cornrows, dreadlocks, and even came out with a fashion line called "THICK" and at no point has EVER credited POC for any of it. Sorry, but it's hard for me to believe that this girl (and her sisters who also love culturally appropriating) can be this daft. I'm really starting to think she just doesn't give AF.
Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/5AWcLYHGty/
Embedded content: https://www.instagram.com/p/yxxntqHGo5/
I don't care if Kylie has influenced young people to wear cornrows, dreads, wigs, camo swimsuits or get lip injections. She did not start any of these trends. I repeat she did not start any of these trends and we need to keep calling her out on it until it finally sinks in that what she's doing will never be okay.
Image via thekylieshop/Instagram
