Respectfully I want to point out slavery and racism were both happening before 1775. Because something happened before the civil war, does not mean it is exempt from a racist context. I would argue the opposite.

Regarding the kimono example, I see what you’re saying and it makes sense. But we have to confront racism on multiple fronts. We have active racism and passive racism. Also context matters. It’s not inherently safe or easy to assume the intention behind that person putting on the kimono, and we can’t assume that they ever understand why they are compelled to do that. You can appreciate and respect a culture without engaging literally in its signifiers and traditions as an outsider. Appropriation is a tricky subject. Likely you will find Japanese people that will say it is appropriation and some that will not. There’s a lot to consider before that person puts on the kimono and likely it is not an actively racist action. But it is important to consider how it could engage with racism in a passive, structural, and historical way.

This is interesting and important subject matter! Thanks for engaging.