by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Imagine that you are watching the latest video from a white pop star dressed head to toe in the style of a culture not their own. It happens all the time… Take Katy Perry for instance.
The typical assumption is that this is cultural appropriation — using culture as costume, to be cool or for profit.
So when Beyonce appeared as a Bollywood actress in Coldplay’s Hymn for the Weekend video, it seemed like a cut and dry case of appropriation.
Beyonce donned a sari and beautiful jewelry, while moving her fingers in a traditional Indian dance.
A flurry of American thinkpieces followed, and the overwhelming sentiment was that Beyonce and Coldplay were out of line for using Indian culture as a backdrop for a song about “feeling drunk and high.” On Twitter, Indian users expressed their disappointment in the video.
However the offense hasn’t been uniformly shared among Indians. While some Indian writers and bloggers echoed the sentiment of the Twitter comments, other responses ranged from indifference to pride.
From the Indian Express article Why Coldplay’s India video featuring Beyonce doesn’t seem problematic
“In a video set in India, if Chris Martin was gushing over Beyonce dancing like she was in Drunk in love, through a periscope or otherwise, well that would just be a NO. But as the Bollywood actress ‘Rani’ she fits in seamlessly. Yes, it’s not her culture, but, so? That doesn’t mean she can’t play a role in her own song. Also, in no way does she up the extravagance of our film industry, even with the golden lip color (those in doubt Google “Shweta Shetty”). Plus, Queen B on Team Bollywood should always be a yay, but that’s just the fangirl in me speaking.”
From the BBC Asia article Viewpoint: Is India’s outrage over Coldplay justified?
“Actually, given that Bollywood likes its heroines fair and lovely (and the fairer the better), Beyoncé as a Bollywood queen is unintentionally a cheeky bit of subversive casting across the colourline… If Coldplay can be accused of anything, it’s being a little too swept away by India’s sensory onslaught. Their India is trapped in a tourist-friendly time-warp of hand puppets and simple happy natives. There’s not a mobile phone in sight. But give them some credit, there’s not a snake charmer in sight either. This is more a wide-eyed valentine to India than an exercise in stereotyping.”
From The Wire India article So Coldplay’s ‘Exotifying’ India, Just as Bollywood has Done to Others for Years
“In the video for ‘Hymn for a Weekend’, Beyonce-as-Martin’s-angel is seen wearing a scarf on her head, akin to a ghoonghat or dupatta, chains on her head and face as well as henna on her hands. As a black woman of African-American and Creole descent, it’s impossible to say that she’s (mis)appropriating cultural markers that are alien to her: scarves around the body, such as netelas and diracs, facial jewellery and henna designs all feature in the ethnic costumes of various African peoples.”
From an India Today article about the clothing design in the video;
“…Beyonce Knowles looked exquisite in the video thanks to a creation by ace Indian designer duo Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.
Abu Jani told IANS, “We are beyond thrilled, pinching ourselves and wondering, is it real? Thirty years into the business and we’re behaving like star-struck kids, gobsmacked by Beyonce and pumped up with excitement. A truly wonderful moment for both of us and Team Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.”
Adding another layer of complexity is the fact that the video was directed by Ben Mor, who is of Indian descent. In a recent interview he discussed Beyonce’s appearance;
I had communicated to Beyoncé and her camp the vibe and direction we were aiming for and when I walked into her dressing room before the shoot and saw all the incredible wardrobe pieces they pulled I was floored. I knew we only needed two looks and there was enough great stuff for 20 looks! Needless to say when she emerged from the dressing room with her final selections I immediately realized we were filming something special.
He also stated that his goal was to pay homage to Delhi and Mumbai, where the video was shot;
“I sincerely hope that our love and respect for the culture and people of India comes across loud and clear in the video. And that they feel proud for inspiring some of the biggest pop stars on the planet.”
The dialogue around Beyonce’s role in Hymn for the Weekend is very similar to discussions within the African American community on the consistent cultural appropriation we experience. Black American music, dress, language and dance are constantly adapted by mainstream America for everything from corporate marketing to enhancing the cool factor of politicians and entertainers. Some feel it is a compliment while others feel that it is a slap in the face given how poorly African Americans are treated.
Ladies, what are your thoughts on all of this?
37 Responses
These kind of ornaments are worn in by women in the horn of Africa. If any thing the indians copied us East Africans.
I’m not white, but okay…?
I’m African.
You African Americans “steal” from MY culture everyday when you wear dashikis, kente cloth, or attempt to speak our languages. You guys are not African. So it’s hilarious to me that people are saying North Africans wear similar clothing to what Bey is wearing in the vid. SHE’S CREOLE! WE DON’T CLAIM HER! And we really don’t claim you either.
I’m unbothered lol.
It’s not even appropriation. Women in the horn of Africa wear the same garb and henna.
Contrary to popular belief, Indians do not own this look. -_-
I say most of these “critics” need for something actually offensive to enter their orbit. If Beyonce was doing this in an offensive manner (maybe eating a burger while dancing). I assumed when I first saw this story, that it was a PR thing to get people to watch the video. In India, there are people being slaughtered while the law turns a blind eye, their crime is having an atheist blog. There are women getting paid very very little to be a surrogate for Americans. Things like that, mistreatment of other human beings that is so vile and disgusting being ignored while they whine because Beyonce be wearing a sari. I’m sorry, but India and more baffling non-Indians having a week long discussion about how they were “offended” by a music video is the really offensive part of this. People are talking like its a white girl in black face, sorry this is stupid. (I’m not saying Leila’s blog reporting it being stupid, just the outrage) and this is coming from an Italian American Girl who has seen plenty of people stereotype Italian culture. Why are we so needing to be outraged so much these days? The phrase cultural appropriation is retarded, grow up people.
I vote cultural appropriation, as far as the video goes. Not so much because of Beyonce, but because of the entire thing when put together. Though if they wanted to use a culture as a background and collaborate with rihanna and beyonce, they chould have used something aligning with the cultures of those two individuals.
After Beyonce’s L’oreal commercial issue, you could pick one with your eyes closed for her. Still a terrible idea, sure, but still probably a better one than making it seem like poor children living in a slum in India just like to dance around in funny colors for White people.
While we’re at it on this topic, though, has anyone talked about the HRBlock commercials out now? youtube.com/watch?v=QMvKBilCckw / youtube.com/watch?v=eiPuuSoTnIw … can’t help but think they should have thought about those a little longer before coming to the conclusion that that was a good idea.
OMG that is not cultural appropriation that is so obviously attempting to lure African Americans to HR Block in such an ignorant and offensive way. Beyonce wasnt doing this. THIS would be hysterical if it were a comedy bit, but the fact that it’s their commercials. My mouth dropped open when i checked this out. There is one good thing that black culture should know from this. When companies start showing their direct focus on a certain group, that means that group has some power, just need to find out how to use that power. I need to show this to everyone. This is so wrong. OMG (im shocked but I cant stop laughing omg)
Are you saying the Coldplay video isn’t cultural appropriation or the commercials I linked to? If the latter, yeah, I just thought they were inappropriate. I honestly can’t believe they were allowed to release that with a straight face. >,<
The first people of India were black so therefore this is BLACK CULTURE. Indo-Europeans aka East Indians are the johnny come latelys that stole ALL of our Black Indian families culture. ?
Rubbish.
THANK YOU!!!! Black people started all these cultures (Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Native American, etc.)…melanated people were on the earth first and are the backbone of all those cultures. So, cultural appropriation can only be applied to Caucasians who are the Johnny come latelys on earth and have no ancient culture, so they take (and often claim) all others and since they run the word right now, they make money off of it. Beyonce in a sari was not CA.
So if Taylor swift, Katy perry, Gwen Stefani, and others, TASTEFULLY dawned African or black American culture in a manner like Beyonce wearing Indian culture, everyone (that is black/brown) would be okay with it and applaud these women? So if these women called their mini buns Bantu Knots, would you be less angry about it?
We can all say, oh is OK because African tribes are very similar. But the fact is she’s not emulating those tribes. She’s emulating old world India. We can all say, oh its ok because an Indian guy shot the film and blended the palest black woman into his demographic. But a black men cultivated people like Iggy Azalea and Justin Bieber , and God only knows the amount of black people behind the rest of the Caucasian stars’ approriation, and we certainly aren’t going to own up to our own responsibility in the matter. No one is saying, oh its ok because black people are behind this image. No one’s going crazy over Asians wearing braided hair and ornately designed cornrows.
We either need to jump off the double standard band wagon, or at least stop denying it’s existence. Is it ok for everyone else except for whites? Beyonce appropriated 17th century European culture, but that’s ok because she’s black?
I disagree I think it’s a beautiful ode. I’m a black woman incorporates Indian saris, bindis, shalwar , etc into my wardrobe. But I also have an Indian grandmother, I look nothing Indian, I personally feel people are over sensitive when we are in a society that is so diverse, why can’t we enjoy and embrace other cultures as long as long as we pay homage or give respects to its origin. Indians can’t talk in a famous Shah Rukh khan movie they stereo typed a poor black mammy type figure in his movie, nothing was said about it, I found the old black lady in a shack theme very appalling . But this video was Directed by an Indian man in India with Indian designers.
I feel that it’s fair to be empathetic to those that feel like their culture is being commercialized. As a black women when it happens to us it’s very frustrating to have the other side try and play it down when we are genuinely sharing our feelings and concerns.
On the flip side, the fact that the wardrobe was selected and properly attired by someone in that culture AND that the video was directed by a South Asian man also speaks volumes. Our culture is usually portrayed with heavy stereotypes because we don’t own who’s telling the story most of the time.
I think it’s a good time for open dialog and being open to hearing out those that feel wronged and to maybe find solution for cultural exchanges that make both sides feel respected.
I think the main issue with cultural appropriation occurs when a person takes up another culture without giving reference and appreciation to the origins of that culture eg:
“Wow, your bantu-knots look awesome!”
“Thanks but they’re called mini-buns.”
“These African fabrics look so beautiful!”
“Um,….. they’re called tribal prints.”
“Is that a dashiki I see?”
“No, it’s the newest trend. It’s called a Flowy dress shirt.”
The video did pay homage to India and a part of its culture. I’m not sure if it’s cultural appropriation but it kinda seems like cultural appropriation in that it’s more for profit and looks rather than to embrace the culture. It’s a bit better and more subtle than full culture-jacking though.
If want a break, the by all means please break free from a website directed towards black women. It seems that every time white folks get upset about ANYTHING, the first thing you do is head to the nearest black website and display your utter insecurities and blatant ignorance. Go listen to some Iggy Azalea to make yourself feel better!
Hilarious that you assumed I was white ???
One other thing I’ve noticed is that for generations people the world over have adopted Western fashion style as well as African American fashions for generations. This includes India.
After watching the video in its entirety, there are more levels to this than just one. The video itself is fascinating and beautiful. It mainly displays Indians doing all sorts of things and parts of their culture. I did notice a dance scene with some children on the street doing African American Hip-Hop dance moves, which do not bother me one bit. An Indian director produced this video, and appears to be tastefully executed. I do not see any disrespect of the Indian culture or African American culture. I am so used to the incorporation of immigrant cultures in the United States and American culture incorporated into cultures around the world that it just doesn’t phase me. In terms of my own heritage I have a very multi-ethnic background. I identify as African American with a strong Caribbean culture, and part of my heritage includes a variety of European ethnicities as well as Indian heritage of my maternal side of the family.
Is is cultural appropriation? Definitely.
Am I bothered by it? Nope, not at all.
Is it due to my own racial bias? Definitely and that’s where the problem lies.
I would love to dress in a sari, have henna tattoos, and wear the beautifully intricate jewelry….but if I saw a white woman with dreads, Bantu knots, a dashiki, and a fulani ring I would be perturbed.
There are are certain tribes/groups from Africa that uses henna tattoos though :/ as part of their culture. You can gooogle it
Lots of people in Africa dress like this, it’s their culture/tradition. There are so many tribes, traditions, cultures, countries in Africa. Many Indian people have African ancestry and many Africans have Indian ancestry. It’s been that way for thousands and thousands of years. African people were not stagnate, they moved, migrated, intermarried, etc. Just because someone might not look like the stereotype that most countries put up as the “quintessential face” of their country, doesn’t mean that person doesn’t have that ancestry in their background. Contrary to the way most “black” people lean, the “Oh, I’m just black” (no such thing), crowd, is false. If you have 1% of x, 2% of y, 3 % of z in your background, why not explore it? I’m not saying Beyoncé is Indian, we don’t really know all of her genetic makeup, but I am saying that there are Africans who have the same style of dress. Everyone who claims that “blacks” are primarily “West African” and should be in dashikis is full of it. Plus, West Africans and East Africans are not stagnate. For some reason, folks think Africans only stayed in one part of Africa. That place is really old and to think everyone is 100% one thing is insane!!!
So other races can be mad about people dressing up as their culture but when a black person says it we’re being racist.Hypocrites that’s the underline tone I’m getting.I think Beyonce was tasteful about it and looked very beautiful.
Are there Indians calling us racist? To us it’s tasteful and I’m sure to the people appropriating OUR culture think they’re being tasteful and just admiring us too. But we don’t see it that way, and I think it’s safe to say that the Indian people offended didn’t see it that way either. I think we could be the ones to lead others on a higher moral ground by not being like “them” but rather actually being empathetic and hearing out the side that feels wronged.
How on Earth is this appropriation when the context of Coldplay and Bey interacting with the culture was in India and submerged in the culture itself? I saw actual Indian people expressing themselves. Giving the people a space to express themselves and claim their own beauty is not appropriation. Haters need to leave Bey alone.
Let me preface this by saying that I think the whole “cultural appropriation” butthurt-ness that people show when someone “steals” their culture (eye roll) is stupid.
Now, having said that, this is a clear cut case of cultural appropriation. Period. IDGAF if Indians are divided on the issue; its cultural appropriation. You African American blacks are so quick to get butthurt when someone “steals” your culture (booty-popping and slang words are culture now? Okay…) but when one of your own is caught red-handed doing the same horrible thing you constantly whine about, you guys want to make excuses for that person. Give me a break…
Hmm…black woman dons Indian garb in a video shot in India, featuring Indian people, paying homage to Indian culture, and directed by a south Asian director. Sure it could be cultural appropriation, but it’s pretty damn respectful.
In comparison, you have white artists dressed like they just left a TLC costume party, twerking and nay-nay-ing and doing all these dances created/introduced by black people, yet we don’t see a skin tone darker than cream in the video. Or you’ll have a magazine run a feature on a style called bantu knots, worn by women of color for CENTURIES, and will call it “twisted mini-buns” and credit their invention to Marc Jacobs.
See the difference? In one, you’re not taking aspects of a culture and pretending like you came up with it. Give credit where credit is due, damn. But I know the thing yall white people hate the most is crediting non-white people with their accomplishments…
BYE, FELICIA.You mad because nobody has anything creative to steal from you and your culture besides the act of “Trolling?”
Contrary to popular belief, Indians do not own this look. -_- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=871058693008663&set=a.117854191662454.20392.100003136211187&type=3&theater
Well if they wanna use race as an issue with Beyonce being depicted in the Indian culture because of her race clearly they don’t know their own culture. They are Afro-Indians who are born, raise and living in India for over hundreds of years who also practices Hindusim, so no it could never be that this was culture appropriation . But of course just like countries such as Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, etc fail to acknowledge the African descendants existence in these countries. Why you ask? It’s because of their skin colour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Asian_(African_Asian)
Is is cultural appropriation? Definitely.
Am I bothered by it? Nope, not at all.
Is it due to my own racial bias? Definitely and that’s where the problem lies.
I would love to dress in a sari, have henna tattoos, and wear the beautifully intricate jewelry….but if I saw a white woman with dreads, bantu knots, a dashiki, and a fulani ring I would be perturbed.
Beyonce hasn’t done anything wrong legally, of course—but I’m not a big fan of Luciferian models anyway. It is still cultural appropriation of the more subtle kind. Leave it to Hollywood to create Afro-American clones who are either clearly in opposition to the culture they originate from, or can’t stop disrespecting it. Just look at Tyler Perry and his Uncle Tomfoolery and anti-woman crap. This dude has made a fortune insulting and mocking Black women—he is disgusting—but the white folks love their Negro! And why wouldn’t they? After all, they *created* the fool. And Beyonce celebrates everything *but* Afro-American or African culture. Common sense tells you not to celebrate and also thoughtfully *disagree* with any backward or harmful features of one’s culture; regardless of origin—but these mostly sold-out Hollywood Blacks have rarely shown Black culture in all it’s complexities in a positive light. And the portrayal of empowered Black women? Forget it. These Black Hollywood types handle a lot of money, but most don’t have the level of consciousness or self-respect necessary to open their own studio that is truly independent of external control and is a respecter of it’s own people.
If no one on the shoot (director, producer, stylists, the grip, caterers, whoever) spoke up about it, we can’t solely fault Beyonce/Coldplay. We can always say that the artists should do their research, but it’s up to the creative people around them to hold them accountable (same way the Native Americans did to Adam Sandler). That said, I don’t know enough about Indian culture that this should be considered appropriation and I did not watch the video so I don’t know if it featured any other native Indians properly. She does look pretty tho, lol
There are varied opinions among Indians about this just as there are varied opinions among black people about Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Kylie Jenner. But the black people who aren’t offended don’t make the headlines about Iggy Azalea. The articles simply say the person is guilty. So it’s a bit insulting to say there’s question of whether it’s cultural appropriation because some Indians don’t think so. I think there’s question because it’s Beyonce and she’s black and people don’t wanna admit that we could be guilty of it too.
Is is cultural appropriation? Definitely.
Am I bothered by it? Nope, not at all.
Is it due to my own racial bias? Definitely and that’s where the problem lies.
I would love to dress in a sari, have henna tattoos, and wear the beautifully intricate jewelry….but if I saw a white woman with dreads, bantu knots, a dashiki, and a fulani ring I would be perturbed.