While it's great to be interested in a culture outside of your own, there's a fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation.
In the MTV News web series "Decoded," which discusses issues related to race and culture, host Franchesca Ramsey expertly debunks seven myths about cultural appropriation. From "people of color being accused of appropriating dominant culture" to "all forms of art borrowing from other sources," she sets the record straight on how to celebrate another culture's traditions and heritage.
"If you really appreciate something, you should respect instead of assuming you can use it however you want," Ramsey said.
She goes on to explain that when marginalized groups express their cultural traditions or styles they are stigmatized, but when a person from a dominant group does it then they get celebrated.
Even though imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, when it comes to appropriation it's never "just hair" or "just dancing," because it has a larger cultural significance for those minority groups.
"Marginalized people can't stop you from doing your thing even if they wanted to, but if you think you have the right to use any cultural tradition just cause, that's when you get into oppressive territory. If you genuinely don't care if someone is hurt by your appropriation that's just crappy," said Ramsey.
Check out the video above.
Also on HuffPost:
