Early representation of black pride and culture?
Page 152 in Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed caught my immediate attention as the contents of this conversation seemed to be parallel with current modern views on race and cultural significance to black individuals.
Nathan asks Benoit if Benoit could help him get Jes Grews as if it was a step by step process to obtaining this illness. Nathan's innocence regarding the deep meaning and cultural significance of Jes Grew spurs Benoit on a long, inspirational speech about how Jes Grews should be learned and obtained from those who have the history and capacity to hold such deep meaning in their selves.
Benoit advised, "Ask Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, your poets, your painters, your musicians, ask them how to catch it." Benoit implies that these inspirational and empowering black singers in history would be able to teach Nathan in much greater detail than Benoit ever could because they have had firsthand experience of racism towards their music, "Ask those people who be shaking their tambourines impervious of the ridicule they receive from White..." This statement reminded me of the movement black lives matter and how the experience and the racism black people deal with every day are still prevalent in modern culture.
Black culture appropriation has been a big topic, often leading to arguments between people disagreeing about the limitations to which other races have to keep in mind. The first example I could think of was black people's distinct hairstyling and the cultural importance behind cornrows and afros.
Black people who wear braids and/or afros still face a large amount of discrimination -although society has been a lot less demeaning- because of their hairstyles. They are told their hair is not fit for certain occasions and people often make assumptions just based on the hair black people wear. While these cases of discrimination still go around, other races are seen wearing these types of hair for "beauty", for the looks, and probably for the Instagram photos. Many view this as a problem, not necessarily because other people are wearing hair important to black culture, but more so because they choose to style themselves for show and for fun, while people who have no choice but to braid their hair, often face discrimination and severe limitations on the potentials they could have gotten in their future.
It's interesting to see that Benoit is mindful of the certain experiences these singers have had during their career and how they would truly know how to spread this culture and the importance behind their native music and native lands. It's important to know that people value their culture so much and while it may not seem so big to some, it may be a defining part of others' identity and history.
Nathan asks Benoit if Benoit could help him get Jes Grews as if it was a step by step process to obtaining this illness. Nathan's innocence regarding the deep meaning and cultural significance of Jes Grew spurs Benoit on a long, inspirational speech about how Jes Grews should be learned and obtained from those who have the history and capacity to hold such deep meaning in their selves.
Benoit advised, "Ask Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, your poets, your painters, your musicians, ask them how to catch it." Benoit implies that these inspirational and empowering black singers in history would be able to teach Nathan in much greater detail than Benoit ever could because they have had firsthand experience of racism towards their music, "Ask those people who be shaking their tambourines impervious of the ridicule they receive from White..." This statement reminded me of the movement black lives matter and how the experience and the racism black people deal with every day are still prevalent in modern culture.
Black culture appropriation has been a big topic, often leading to arguments between people disagreeing about the limitations to which other races have to keep in mind. The first example I could think of was black people's distinct hairstyling and the cultural importance behind cornrows and afros.
Black people who wear braids and/or afros still face a large amount of discrimination -although society has been a lot less demeaning- because of their hairstyles. They are told their hair is not fit for certain occasions and people often make assumptions just based on the hair black people wear. While these cases of discrimination still go around, other races are seen wearing these types of hair for "beauty", for the looks, and probably for the Instagram photos. Many view this as a problem, not necessarily because other people are wearing hair important to black culture, but more so because they choose to style themselves for show and for fun, while people who have no choice but to braid their hair, often face discrimination and severe limitations on the potentials they could have gotten in their future.
It's interesting to see that Benoit is mindful of the certain experiences these singers have had during their career and how they would truly know how to spread this culture and the importance behind their native music and native lands. It's important to know that people value their culture so much and while it may not seem so big to some, it may be a defining part of others' identity and history.
i think this is a really great connection to todays world. The idea of cultural appropriation, although people like to believe its only prevalent now, has been around for years. From music to beauty, "white-ifying" black culture has been a trend many people still dont understand is wrong. Its really great when authors talk about this issue because it forces readers to consider their own actions and thoughts regarding cultural appropriation, and maybe see why Kylie's cornrows arent ok.
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