i'm mixed race and arab american.
there've been studies that indicate that children of immigrants identify
as
american insofar as we are accepted in the u.s., as minorities insofar
as we experience prejudice. last night i was trying to explain to my
white
mother (oh the joys of being mixed race!) why i don't like the idea
of local
white lesbians planning a fundraiser with blond bellydancers, a 1001
arabian nights theme, and no arab involvement. she commented that talking
about cultural appropriation indicates a certain lack of generosity;
that most
arabs she has known are generous with the culture. i'm putting these
two
things together; i notice a certain grouchiness about appropriation
among a
number of arab americans my age. i think it has everything to do with
the
discrimination we face.
if i didn't face daily discrimination, it might not be a big deal
that i'm arab
american, and i probably wouldn't care about who bellydances and when.
if i didn't have the sneaking feeling that the last time somebody tried
to kill
me it had to do with the fact that he knew i was arab and had heard
me
criticizing the gulf war, i might feel differently about blond bellydancers.
but
i do face discrimination; every time i've been bashed i've wondered
what
part of it had to do with my race, what part my gender and my sexual
orientation; and cultural appropriation is a big deal for me. it's bad
enough
that i hear constantly how savage and barbaric arab men are, how passive
weak and oppressed arab women are. to have the same people who hold
these stereotypes use the image of the harem to raise a couple of bucks
for
a non-arab cause adds insult to injury. racist caricature on top of
murderous racist discrimination. why on earth would i mind?
certainly you have the right to bellydance; and i have the right to
call you a
racist asshole. if you are truly trying to express appreciation for
the culture,
then do some pro-iraqui, pro-palestinian, pro-arab activism too. work
to
save the lives of some of the people whose culture you so respect. do
a
bellydancing fundraiser to raise medicines for the folks who are dying
in
iraq; you won't hear me complaining about cultural appropriation for
that
one. hell, for that one, i don't care if you dress up like sinbad.