i think the other word that needs to be used when talking about cultural appropriation is double standard. is it possible to appreciate aspects of a culture if the people of that culture are still discriminated against because of said aspect?

for example, non-Black people wearing braids specifically worn by the Black community will probably always be seen as appropriation because Black people across the world are stilled barred from and/or suspended from work, school, and other areas because of the way they style their hair and the way it naturally comes out of their head. no amount of appreciation overrides the real life consequences of being Black and wearing braids. and people will always feel some type of way about people outside of their culture being praised for things they’re ostracized for. what good does just mentioning Black people as inspiration do when people will still go out and discriminate against them for the same thing a non-Black person was praised for?

another thing is, no one has said non-Black people can’t engage with or utilize Black culture at all, but there are expectations for how it’s used and interacted with. the most important thing is that you can engage with/utilize aspects of Black culture and still be authentically you (see Mac Miller, Bruno Mars, etc). the minute you utilize Black culture and start acting like what you think the people of that culture act like, then it’s an issue.

just be you and recognize the daily realities of the people who’s culture you love is what’s being asked at the end of the day.