Episode 03: Which is it? Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation

Ever ordered a chai tea latte or purchased a jacket marketed as a kimono? When it comes to mobilizing for an anti-racist economy, it is important to first address the ways in which we reinforce systems of oppression in our every day life. During this episode, we explore at what point cultural appreciation becomes appropriation. I had the opportunity to host this conversation earlier this month in collaboration with Chicago Fair Trade, NYC Fair Trade Coalition and Iowa City Fair Trade Coalition. I am excited to bring it to you now through this special episode featuring webinar highlights.Interested in attending a future webinar? Keep an eye on Art of Citizenry!My favorite part of hosting these conversations is of course the discussion. So, if you are interested, tune in till the end for the webinar Q&A led by Zachary Rochester as an added bonus.Before we dive in, I want to welcome everyone to the conversation -- from the social entrepreneurs out there to fair trade advocates, thank you for taking the time to have these important conversations.Navigating Cultural Appropriation in Social ImpactIn the social impact world may it be fair trade home goods or sustainable fashion, cultural appropriation often furthers the very hegemonies brands, organizations, and consumers are seeking to address. This episode explores ways in which we appropriate cultures and communities and what we can do to address the problematic impact of appropriation, especially in the fair trade and social impact space. We focus the conversation on language, symbols and fashion through the lens of power and profit.Resources about Cultural AppropriationInterested in reading some of the resources I reference during the episode? Check out these links:[Reference Slides] Which is it? Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation by Manpreet Kalra[Resource Page] Crafting Inclusive Narratives by Manpreet Kalra[Book] So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo[Article] How 'Namaste' Flew Away from Us by Kumari Devarajan[Article] An Open Letter to White Makers & Designer Who are Inspired by the Kimono and Japanese Culture by Emi Ito[Book] Who Owns Culture?: Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law by Susan  ScafidiThank YouThis podcast is dedicated to creating a safe space to discuss and challenge topics surrounding how we each navigate our personal advantages and disadvantages. I want to thank Katherine Bissell Cordova and Andrea Dennis from Chicago Fair Trade along with Zachary Rochester from Iowa City Fair Trade Coalition for moderating.I also want to thank everyone who attended the live webinar and the many of you who continue to support my work, I appreciate you and your dedication to keep learning. Finally, thank you for listening! Please subscribe, download, and leave a review for Art of Citizenry Podcast — I appreciate your love and support on this exciting journey! Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow me and share your thoughts with me on Instagram @manpreetkalra. For more, you can find the full show notes of every episode at https://www.artofcitizenry.com/episodes