By | Sydney Stevenson
Chunky hoops, tooth gems, acrylic nails, and streetwear. We have Black people to thank for many of the popular trends and styles we wear today. Although Black people have been instrumental in shaping nearly every aspect of our culture—from fashion to food to music to slang—they are often overshadowed in favor of their white counterparts. It happens like clockwork: Black people create a trend that gains popularity within their community, then a white person brings it to a mainstream audience, and the original Black creators are forgotten. It’s time to recognize that Black people are not only the trendsetters but the trend itself.
Black people’s influence on U.S. culture dates back to their first arrival on U.S. soil. From the scraps and rations given to them by their oppressors, enslaved people created soul food. Initially, soul food was looked down upon by white Southerners. But once white Americans deemed it "good," it was suddenly no longer something to hold in contempt. This set a harmful precedent—not only for the theft of Black culture but for erasing Black people from the story of their own creations.
Fast forward to the 20th century: Josephine Baker was instrumental in popularizing the flapper style, an aesthetic that defined the 1920s. In the '60s and '70s, the Black Panther Movement, with figures like Angela Davis and Afeni Shakur, popularized all-black outfits, leather, and afros. In the 1970s family sitcom The Brady Bunch, a white character was seen sporting an afro—a style that had previously been ridiculed by the public until white people started wearing it. The '80s and '90s brought the rise of hip-hop as we know it, which also gave birth to streetwear, with tracksuits, baggy pants and tops, and sneakers. Hip-hop was embraced by younger white audiences who quickly appropriated Black slang, fashion, and culture. Iconic figures in this era included Aaliyah, Tupac, and Snoop Dogg.
Britannica defines cultural appropriation as "members of a majority group adopting cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way." But it’s more than just adaptation; it’s theft for monetary and social gain. In 2018, Kim Kardashian wore cornrows, a traditional African hairstyle, to the MTV Movie Awards, crediting the look to Bo Derek, a white actress who wore cornrows in the 1979 film 10. Not only did Kardashian wear a style deeply rooted in Black culture and history, but she credited the look to another white woman. This wasn’t the first time Kardashian—and many other white celebrities—co-opted aspects of African-American culture, repackaging them for mass consumption. Recently, on TikTok, white creators “discovered” the practice of slicking down baby hairs with gel, calling it "sticky bangs." Meanwhile, Black women have been using gel to style their baby hair for over a century.
This theft of culture feels especially egregious given that African-Americans have been punished and humiliated for the same things white Americans are praised for. In 2019, a 16-year-old wrestler in New Jersey was forced to cut off his locs to participate in a match. Black men and women are still criticized for wearing their natural hair at work, with many forced to conform to Eurocentric standards to secure employment. Yet white celebrities, like Kim Kardashian, can wear the very styles for which Black people are denied jobs and opportunities.
Black people’s influence on American culture is immeasurable. Their contributions to food, music, fashion, and more have shaped nearly every aspect of our daily lives, yet their work often goes unrecognized and unappreciated. It’s time to not only acknowledge these contributions but also to understand the history and pain behind them. We must give credit where credit is due, and Black Americans are deserving of many flowers.
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