by
BGLH
Amandla Sternberg, 16-year-old star of the Hunger Games took to her Tumblr and uploaded a high school history project that let the internet know black culture is not a fashion trend to be consumed by privileged appropriators.
Interestingly enough, Sternberg went through a whole other set of racial transgressions when she was cast as Rue in the blockbuster hit The Hunger Games alongside Jennifer Lawrence. Fans of The Hunger Games book series took to Twitter to vehemently hate on the casting of this talented girl of color:
Yes, this was all in 2012 and not 1952.
Watch the full video:
Now if only we can get all of our future generations on board with this.
What do you think of Amanda’s video?
41 Responses
This actress has more sense and insight than many adults twice her age.
This video is pretty ironic. She titles it “Don’t Cash Crop on my Corn Rows” whilst sporting bone straight hair. Sure, this was a cute idea to entertain; that black people created locs, and cornrows, and box braids… But, let’s be real… black people are just the washed down descendants of African and Caribbean slaves. We will never even come CLOSE to scratching the surface of what real African culture or heritage is. Over the course of 300+ years, African slaves were stripped of their culture and then oppressed. There is some self-contempt thrown in there and thus, the black is created. No culture, no identity. Most blacks, I guarantee don’t even know what tribe or group of Africans they come from.
There are many definitions of the word culture, but simply put, it is the beliefs, thoughts, arts, or customs held by a particular group of people. It’s usually a unified thing that most or all who belong to that culture can agree on. Black people don’t have that, thus, we cannot say that another group has taken a part of “our” culture and used it for themselves.
Black people are in a position to determine a culture for themselves. If the culture spoken about in Rap and Hip-Hop music is the best you can think of… just… die. It’s catchy, it’s trendy, but what does it really mean? The world won’t look back on Hip-Hop and Rap and respect its meaning. Black people are American, we’ve still got a long ways to go. We’re approaching a point now, that if we become a failure or a despicable society or group, it will be no one’s fault but our own.
Another obvious white troll coming into these spaces trying to dictate whether or not Afro Americans have their own culture. Just because their pasty people have no culture does not mean that nobody else does. You stormfront/reddit trolls are becoming painfully obvious by now and its just old. They feel threatned when they us speaking up because it takes away their power to dictate what is legitimate and what is not, which they’ve been doing for far too long now.
Lol…SHUT UP @be smarter?.
And that makes embracing our African roots less relevant or maybe even irrelevant? So we’re just invisible with No voice bc of slavery & migration? Not African enough…and certainly not white so we should let the appropriation of our Ancestors roots and culture go unchecked bc our bloodlines are a little messy? Wow! And her choice to wear straight hair contradicts or invalidates her appropriation platform? You are one tough cookie!
If you don’t know what hip hop means to black people as a culture you are not black at all. Or you are one of the sell outs. Let me educate you. In America you call it Negro spiritual, in the Caribbeans its voodoo or obeah. Our ancestors torn from their culture where storytelling and music was a natural way of life found a mechanism to cope in a harsh environment.
From negro spiritual it became rythm and blues in the states where being free was no freedom at all. Where a man poured his sorrows into music and tried not to drown and give up like society wanted. In Caribbeans we developed ska and from ska reggae and music of my Trinidadian brethrens calypso. From reggae came dancehall and from dancehall from jamaican dancehall which was the music of the ghetto youths hip hop was styled. A look at the poor conditions of the inner city youths of the great united states. If you are a black person I encourage you to learn your history not to bemoan it but to realize why something as simple as hair is important to your people. If you are a white person, take your head out of the sand realize what time really is. Today for you, tomorrow for us. My people will rise again. If not my generation then it will be my children’s generation.
Thank you for our reply. She accuses us of being people “without identity or culture” yet we have invented Jazz and Blues music. both were originated with poor blacks in the South. People without culture cannot create art. Matter fact I’m going to Jazz Fest in New Orleans tomorrow and there are people from all over the world who come. Both jazz and blues are played by musicians around the world. Blues is the foundation of Rock and Roll. Two of my cousins were married last year and during the ceremony there is a part where we do something called “jumping the broom”. You will never see this at a white people wedding because this is one of our wedding traditions that’s been going on for centuries..
Don’t waste your time Amandla……just live and enjoy life.
Here, in Ghana, I often hear people comment on the lack of culture in America- by that we mean white america which was founded by a people claiming a country that was not theirs and showing no respect for its natives. White America really does seem to lack a culture of its own, perhaps cultural appropriation is the only way for them to have a semblance of ‘culture’ and ‘identity’ since nothing is really and truly American. I focus on white america because black america does indeed have culture, culture stemming from Africa but brewed and developed in harsh, terrible times to represent a people.
Anyway, dear black Americans, you’re welcome back any time.
Thanks Marie! Perfectly summed up!
Thinking about it American Caucasians truly have no original culture, i mean the Irish etc… are cuckoo with their fairies, the Scottish their Druids and so so but most Caucasian american are immigrants descendants of racist white people some the scum of the earth who were not wanted in their home country or left because they were over zealous religious zealots. Its a no wonder their descendants are the way are. Really they ought to be pitied. Their ancestors were thieves and plunderers and whilst they ‘claim’ hierachy as race history tells the truth; without the Kemites their would be no Pythagoras theorem or no Greek time of enligtenment. All these ancient philosophers had black teachers. They need us. I just wish that my black brothers and sisters out their would bring Africa back to what it was. I read our history, our true history and think how my ancient ancestors must be rolling in their graves or in the afterlife shaking their head and wondering what happened to my people.
This is literally the dumbest thing i’ve ever seen and I am seriously getting so sick and tired of black AMERICANS!
1. First of all, it’s been said many times on this site, but you guys don’t seem to be getting the message. Please stop talking like you speak for the entire black race. A lot, in fact probably the majority, of black people around the world do not share these same silly and hateful views.
2. Just because you are black, does not mean you get a pass to a) say negative things about other races and b) steal from other cultures and think no one would notice
3. I’ll give you an example of how YOU GUYS appropriate other cultures too. So my friends and I were having a discussion about the whole kylie jenner/loc situation and she made an excellent point. She said ‘I’ve seen pictures of black people in America during all stages of history and I find it funny how locs didnt become popular until the 60’s/70’s”. In other words, prior to this dreadlocs just werent a thing, not just for black people, but the whole of America. Then the 60’s came in and so did the hippy movement. And thats when you got Americans (black and white) being all peace and love, and smoking weed, and locing their hair. And you know what else bacame popular at that time? Reggae music. And it just so happens that the biggest reggae artist in the world at that time was a black rastafarian from Jamaica. Now we all know that rastas grow their locs long for religiuos reasons, and thats fine, its part of who they are. But what my question is to you black americans is, how exactly is this YOUR thing??? Are you Jamaican? Are you a rastafarian?? Isnt the only reason why black people (like the entire western world) started wearing locs was because it was fashionable at the time?
Black people did not invent dreadlocs!! It’s just a thing that people do. Just like how everyone braids their hair – helloooo FRENCH BRAIDS??? And even if they did (although I’m not that interested to even find out) I can bet they weren’t black american so its STILL NOT YOUR CULTURE!!! Did you know that theres a religion in India that requires their members to grow locs?? Are they appropriating “your” culture too Amandla? Seriously, you guys need to get over yourselves. You don’t see us crying about it when you were dashikis or change your names to try and sound more African. Cause trust me, if Africans and Carribeans started calling out black americans on their culture appropriation you’d have no culture left.
SHUT UP temi….lol……..EVERYBODY REPEAT……SHUT UP temi!!!!!
Are you really trying to “educate” us when you the same person we had to inform that white people that call Europe the Fatherland after your tirade about black Amercans had no right calling Africa the Motherland.Europe Fatherland is COMMON KNOWLEDGE. And the same person who claimed that white Americans don’t celebrate European heritage and we had to tell you about St. Patick’s Day and all the clubs and festivals they have here. I have never heard anyone say black people invented braids. They invented cornrows which is a type of braiding. Who doesn’t know this except apparently you? . So you mentioning French braids is moot point. And mentioning black Americans not wearing locs before the 60s. That’s so dumb. you repeating anything out of Kylie Jenner’s mouth like she is some enlightened person says a lot. We were living under damn Jim Crow, duh? freaking white people trying to lynch us is not a time to try to stand out. We had to assimilate with white people as much as possible to feed our families because few professions were open to us. “Funny” how you and Kylie missed all the pictures of MLK and all the marches that took place in the 60s. Maybe I will start caring about you being sick of black Americans when you start caring that I’m sick of how you keep talking about things that you clearly have no freaking idea what you’re talking about. I don’t trust a word you say.
Listen Missy black any where in the world is black. I am happy to share my black Jamaican culture with my fellow black sisters and brothers in the US… You know why? We are all coming from Africa cross the atlantic Trade route in rat infested ships… Chained like animals. Our ancestors all either chopped cane or picked cotton. As a race we endured atrocities not fit for animals much less humans. Where ever we are as a race we claim the same heritage. One strike against a black man anywhere in the world is a strike against all black people across the world.
Its this way you show your ignorance. Its easy for Caucasians to turn the other cheeks whilst terrible things are happening. I am not surprised though look what your race did to the Native Americans… Stole their lands then place them on reservations. You people are only sorry that the black race isn’t so easily erased. That even though you have stolen our culture, raped and degrade our women whilst still coveting our strong black brothers… Still we rise!
I am a South African living in South Africa and I’d like to say that black Americans do have their own culture . Like hip-hop culture. That’s all American. It did not orginate in Africa and we Africans also have hip -hop ( with our own flair )but that’s because we took that from African Americans . Like African Americans are really influential on Africans from the continent . I don’t think they have any idea how much influence they have on us. Secondly to refer to your last paragraph: the reason why black Americans can stake a claim to African and Carribean culture and call it their own is because they are African . We come from the place . We are the same . It’s just that they are living elsewhere .
Temi is a white troll. I’m sure you’ve noticed an influx of them coming into these spaces where they previously hadn’t spewing this type of ignorance. They’re realizing for the first time that their status quo is threatened and feel the need to resort to things like this. We need to get better at realizing what this is and treating it accordingly.
Jamaicans…arent they still part of African culture??.Dreads & raggae music existed way BEFORE it became “popular in the US. YOU are ignorant enough to suggest the 60’s is somehow the birthplace of such styles? That it became mainstream/ popular during that time and “everyone did it” so it belongs to Jamaicans only and non jamaican blacks are copying too? We blacks SHARE a culture. The slave ships stopped in many ports and our culture came with it. It took many shaoes & forms but its ROOTS cant be changed. Its African roots!
The fact that it took til the 60s for most whites to COPY dreads and embrace raggae doesnt mean it didn’t exist or that it wasnt an embraced & culturally significant practice. JBC YOUR PEOPLE were LATE to the party doesn’t mean you get to stamp a timeline on when it became “a thing”. You’re pissed bc too many culturally significant things that have been appropriated as trends trace back to African roots. And WE are saying that’s NOT ok. Yeah..I’m speaking for all black ppl who give a sh*t about their roots and culture!* sarcasm
Oh and jbc your “friends” found some dusty ole archived pics in the 60’s of white folks with dreads..that proves your point? No, that’s called poor research. You’d have to research outside of the US as well to show just how normal dreads/braids where for non-Jamaican BLACKS across the world. Don’t try to rewrite history to soothe your bruised ego. I know it sucks having very little of your own cultural to claim!
Do you homework if your going to try to school black ppl on their own roots & culture!
Damn!!! you represent the very root of the problem.Your arrogance & sense of entitlement is astounding!!!
Temi, why are you on a website that can be frequented by blacks from everywhere but clearly based out of the US complaining about American views? The writers are Americans so the views will be American-centric. What did you expect? You made some okay points but this is a silly argument to be having on this site. If you don’t like this site’s focus on the US, find one from your country. Second thing is wearing natural hair during the 60s was movement not a fashion statement. There was this thing called the civil rights movement. You’re out of touch with US history on an American site… Three, Jamaican blacks aren’t natives either. Jamaica was colonized and slaves were taken there. They’re no more African than Americans.
Now that that’s out the way. I don’t have a problem the whole Kylie Jenner loc thing. She starts wearing fake locs after she started dating, Tyga or something? All that shows me is their relationship is based on stereotypes not love.
Go educate yourself better than your ‘friends’ and try the comment again, please. ‘You black people’. I’m sick of this shit. You’ll never know what it feels like to be in our shoes. It’s easy to point and make criticisms when you’ve never had to be black. I bet you wouldn’t make half of a day with the way you think. Try walking through the ghetto to school. See how far you get. ‘Black people steal culture’. Please educate your ignorant mind.
Actually temi, dreadlocks originated in Africa and people were wearing them long before your slave-trading, people-stealing ancestors came to Africa. Secondly, your ancestors were the ones to supposedly create the english name for “dreadlocks”, i.e. when we finally reached whatever slave colony we were taken to, when we were taken off the ship, there were some people who had previously had locs, and people who lived in such filthy conditions on the ship that their hair naturally matted and loc-ed up and your ancestors called them “dreadlocks” because they would dread having their hair look like ours did. So throughout the time we were slaves, we had our locs chopped off by racist, degrading masters so we could lose that part of our culture in addition to other parts, so A LOT (not all) of us stopped locking our hair purposely throughout history to look a “white” as possible since white was and still somewhat is seen as “right” and it was literally beat into us that we were ugly and anything that made us stand out from white people as blacks was ugly. Then of coursein the 60’s and 70’s, we started to reclaim all of our culture with the influence of our Jamaican brothers and sisters which is why it “looks like” dreads became a thing in America only at that time, when in fact, they had been popular with our people centuries before, before we had it taken away from us. And regarding your “Amandla” thing, does it make more sense for a style to be created by a people whose hair naturally locs in certain conditions and locs easily, or a people who have to rip and knot their hair themselves to be able to get it to even resemble locs? Just look at the logic behind your statements. And you do realize that Indian culture isn’t completely “pure” too because they were colonized and run by your ancestors for almost 100 years also. So please know your FACTS and not speculations before you try to come for us, because if anybody knows our history, we do.
I just want to say, french braids aren’t actually french. They’re just called like that in America cause it sounds fancy
Another smart, beautiful and well-spoken young lady. It’s refreshing to let society know that we are not all ‘loud-mouth’ ‘nappy-headed’ ‘ghetto’ or my favorite ‘black bohemian freaks’…
I liked her as an actress before this but know I liker her even more.
Nicely said ! In the books she was black! Also Kylie Jenner should take notes from her . Thirdly, did she relax her hair ? In the hunger games she was natural or was that a wig ?
Are you being serious?
why not? it could just be straightened or relaxed, how would we know. ‘Lola Aikins’ was just asking a question.. 🙂
her hair is naturally curly and she straightens it sometimes, i know bc i follow he on instagram. TBH i always thought rue was black in the book, so they should chill.
I really enjoyed the book although I don’t usually go for those types of novels.
Well articulated young lady!!!!
Smart girl. Watch how much HATE she gets from of course people that are not African American. She makes a good point everyone wants to twerk and sport certain braided styles and such, but want to hate on the people that it came from. The think I picked up fro m the hunger games was that Rues area were all black people and what were they in charge of? Also when the people held up their fingers why did they only show the old black guy getting shot in the head all the others that were shot the camera looked away and you heard the gun shot, so we all knew what happened. So what if they changed rue from a white girl to a black girl clearly she read well or they realized that black people weren’t represented in the story. I haven’t read the books, so I don’t know I’m just putting some thoughts out there.
I appreciate her bravery and boldness to put that out there like that. And that little girl is so not ugly. Those are some hateful kids.
The worst part about it was that Rue was WRITTEN as a girl with dark skin and brown hair. Dark skin means different things to different people I guess. The book made her seem rather sweet and innocent…seems some people couldn’t fathom associating those qualities with a little black girl.
What’s worse is that Rue was actually a black girl in the books. Or at least a very dark skinned girl. So the group of racist fans didn’t even read the book properly!
Rue was described to have “dark skin” along with Thresh, but people conveniently skip over that and picture every character as white. It’s their fault for not having any reading comprehension skills.
Thank you!I never read the books before I saw the movies but everything I was hearing from white people ranting about her character was that she was white with blue eyes… where did they get that if it’s literally in the book that she had dark skin?
No problem 🙂 And it’s funny that white people have no problem when originally black or poc characters are made white when they were so angry that a character they imagined was white was played by a black girl. Honestly I don’t understand where they came up with the blue eyes thing because her eyes were described as brown too lol
I don’t understand how they could have aimed their aggression at her though, when she was so young and adorable. Oh well.
I don’t think she’s being smart at all. She’s just saying things that she thinks makes sense to her with nothing to support it. Black culture and African culture are two entirely different entities, yet she’s arguing them to be the same. And then, she speaks on police brutality against black people, or any persons of color, but fails to speak on black on black crime.
Hmm…mentions “black on black crime” and claims Black Americans have no culture all in one thread. Hello, Stormfront troll.
Did we view the same video? She doesn’t mention anything about the African diaspora. She refers throughout the entire video to Black Americans aka African Americans and their culture. Moreover, what does Black on Black crime have to do with the killings of Blacks by the hands of the police? Be smarter I suggest you do just that; Be smarter!
I thought it was a great way for others who appropriate black culture know where it actually comes from , how it affects us more than it affects them, and that it is wrong. Black men and women actually lose their jobs or are told to either cut our dreads or take our braids out, or be fired, but when white people wear dreads or braids it suddenly acceptable ? How come people don’t understand that a black persons beauty is not for white consumption ? Get your own culture !
And I find it funny that people were outraged because the character was black, but were so calm when white actors were hired for black , and other minority roles. For example white people with “tans” were picked for Egyptian roles and biblical roles in movies and TV, but we all know Egyptians and people of that times were/are black. Since white people are so concerned with sticking to the truth, where was the outrage when this happened ? Oh.
Lol! Because it’s HIS-STORY..not history!