Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
He wrote amea culpa about his white privilege, Iggy retreated from rap, andMiley went country.
(Marss background includes Filipino, Puerto Rican, Spanish, and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.)
But is the issue so black and white?
Can there be a cultural exchange between two minority cultures that exists without offense?
Does appropriation have any place in this debate?
And how do the rules apply to a multiracial person like Bruno Mars?
Was Latin funk appropriation?
Was the Rolling Stones Miss You a robbery?
Should Eves Whos That Girl have done more to lift up Latin music?
Was Miles DavissSketches of Spaina form of theft?
Its true that things were worse for black art 35 years ago.
But its not the fault of an artist born in 1985 that that happened.
Frank Guan:There are a lot of charges buried in the Bruno affair.
Theres resentment against the fact that hes not an original artist.
Theres resentment against the fact that white people hold nearly all of the social and economic power in America.
Theres resentment against the fact that Bruno won Grammys over black artists who are original.
I just dont see the knife in his teeth.
Not to mention those listeners who arent black or white.
In 1989, the whole hip-hop community famously boycotted because the show wouldnt air its inaugural rap award.
In 2018, they still dont show the R&B awards in broadcast.
Theyve stiffed black artists on Album of the Year forseveralyears.
Does24K Magicdeserve that honor?
Were black artists robbed because it won?
If they did, Im not sure we would be having this conversation.
Guan:Bruno isnt just a face, but a body that dances, too.
You cant really separate that aspect of him from the music itself.
If you dance well, thats all you.
Music isnt dance, but the parallels between the two are fairly obvious.
Thats not what this is.
Or whenKendrick Lamar takes from kung fu?
How do we measure the crimes, if there are any?
I dont see why our understanding of what Bruno does for better or worse cant be more fluid.
Kendrick isnt stealing from Asian musical artists, hes just taking on the trappings of an Asian subculture.
Nowthatstuff is troublesome, but its also not really worth kicking up a fuss about either.
Youve got to keep a sense of proportion.
Iggy Azaleagot whisked out of the paint.
Justin Timberlakedidnt dare to perform with a Prince hologramonce people found out.
Jenkins:I saw enough of Prince to be mad.
The discourse of appropriation has done just about all it can at this point.
Jenkins:Therearecases right now, though.
You have guys like rapper 6ix9ine popularizing blick, which is derogatory slang for dark-skinned people.
You have white rap influencers encouraging white people to say the N-word on air.
You have white vloggers who dont have all of their facts in place reviewing rap with authority.
Take the fight where it counts and leave all these talented black and brown folks be.
Like, have you seen who the president is?
What does acceptable cultural borrowing look like between people of color?
Few of the current faves have dared.
Theres no substitute for educating yourself about the entire world.
I dont know … young?
The conversation about race is flat, when the reality of identity is multidimensional.
