{"id":53,"date":"2015-08-31T06:49:00","date_gmt":"2015-08-31T06:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nialangley.com\/blog\/every-racist-cultural-appropriating-and.html"},"modified":"2018-01-25T14:13:21","modified_gmt":"2018-01-25T19:13:21","slug":"every-racist-cultural-appropriating-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nialangley.com\/blog\/every-racist-cultural-appropriating-and\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Racist, Cultural Appropriating, and Insensitive Thing Done During the MTV VMAs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Against my better judgment, I watched the MTV VMAs last night. The event hosted some crazy outfits, weak performances, bad jokes, and shade; and some great moments like Big Sean’s acceptance speech and Tori Kelly’s incredible performance were absolute gems (Tori was actually my sole reason for watching the show). However, I was not even an hour into the show before I was astounded by the level of blatant disrespect.<\/p>\n

Seven specific things cast a cloud over the show. Here they are:<\/p>\n

1. Miley Cyrus’ Dreadlocks<\/b>
\nMiley sported blonde dreadlocks during the VMAs. I would not be surprised if mainstream media credits her with introducing a new hair trend, maybe calling it “hipster hair locks.” After crediting Miley for inventing twerking, anything is possible.<\/p>\n

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Miley’s hairdo is an example of cultural appropriation. Blacks with dreadlocks are often looked at negatively, but whites with dreadlocks are often looked at as cool. When Zendaya sported dreadlocks at the Oscars, Giuliana Rancic said it made her “feel like she smells like patchouli . . . or weed”; however I am 99.9% sure that people have said and will say that Miley’s dreadlocks made her look earthy or fashionable. I’m not saying that whites, including Miley, are not allowed to have dreadlocks.<\/strong> One of the problems articulated in cultural appropriation is mocking another culture for something then doing the same thing. Another problem is when people see two cultures doing the same thing and judge them differently. Cultural appropriation is a deep subject, one that I cannot fully explain in this particular post.<\/p>\n

She may or may not have meant any offense by it, but Miley’s hair set the tone for the show we were about to see.<\/p>\n

2. Rebel Wilson’s Mockery of Police Brutality<\/b>
\nMTV was quick to remind us that mainstream media love black culture but not black people or issues. Rebel Wilson walked out in a police uniform to present the Best Rap Video VMA. “I know a lot of people have problems with the police,” she said, “but I really hate police strippers.”<\/p>\n

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So she dresses up like a police to introduce best hip hop video? And then tries to downplay it by talking about police strippers? I’m done.<\/div>\n

\u2014 Jode-Leigh (@bottled_blonde) August 31, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n