culture vultures
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Auntie Unfiltered: Can White Women Be Aunties, Too?
This week on Auntie Unfiltered, I go into the mailbag and answer a question from a white woman who wants to know whether white women can be “aunties” as well. The short answer? Sure. If you are an actual aunt to nieces and nephews and your nieces and nephews actually call you “Auntie”-whatever, then you…
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Is It Fine When It's a Fave? Adele's Bantu Knots Reveal the Subjectivity of the Appropriation vs. Appreciation Debate
Adele is a multi-Grammy award-winning singer whose soulful song stylings have made her a fairly universal fave (we still think that the 2017 Best Album of the Year Grammy belonged to Lemonade, though—and seemingly, so did she. She’s a Beyoncé stan, too!). She also seems to be an affable, humble and entirely relatable superstar, rising…
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Meet Katy Perry, the Latest White Musician Found Guilty of Stealing From a Black Artist
America has a long history of stealing from black folks. Nearest Green was never credited or compensated for his role in establishing Jack Daniel’s iconic brand; Michael Bolton pillaged a whole ass song from the Isley Brothers; and there are living, breathing human beings who wholeheartedly believe that the Kardashians invented whatever the hell “boxer…
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A Year After Trademarking the Word ‘Kimono,’ Backlash Convinces Kim Kardashian to Do the Right Thing
Well, wonders never cease…and it only took a year for you to grow some damned common sense, Kim. In May 2018, TMZ reported that Kim Kardashian West had filed papers to trademark a new line of shapewear and intimates under the questionable name “Kimono Intimates.” Yes, we obviously get that Kim considered “Kimono” a cutesy…
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You Do the Math: Can You Spot the 7 Layers of Appropriation in Ariana Grande’s ‘7 Rings’?
Let’s play a game! If you read The Glow Up regularly, you know we regularly call out appropriation when and where we see it—even when it’s (unfortunately) our own folks. That said, you’d be amazed at how much we leave on the table simply because there’s too much to possibly cover. But every so often,…
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What's Columbusing, You Say? We've Got You Covered
Every time we hear the name Christopher Columbus, we can’t help but wonder: “What will be stolen next.” The term “columbusing” has been around for a minute. “Columbusing” is when a person—often a white person, let’s be real—or a set of people believes that they discovered something that isn’t new. The term is a close…
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Twitter’s Jack Dorsey Doesn’t Know What #OnHere Means
A funny thing happens when white people attempt to co-opt black slang while simultaneously misinterpreting what the slang they are trying to co-opt actually means. They usually end up looking silly, and even when actual black ass people come through and try to point out where they went wrong, they willfully—and often times ignorantly—defend their…
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Kim Kardashian Announced the Name of Her Upcoming Lingerie Line (and We Don’t Kare)
We know, we know; we were supposed to start screaming “Cultural appropriation!” from the rooftops upon hearing that Kim Kardashian’s latest venture, a lingerie line (Savage, much?), will be called—get this—“Kimono Intimates.” [Chuckle break.] OK, we’re back. Yeah, that’s … wack, on so many levels. But none of them seem to be levels worth mustering…
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Looks Like Another Kardashian Clan Member Culture-Vultured a Black Designer
When it comes to ripping off blackness, the Kardashians should trademark their ability to siphon talent and artistry from others, especially when it comes to fashion. Last week, Khloé Kardashian was accused of buying, and then duplicating, the designs of designer Destiney Bleu. Bleu’s bedazzled designs have been seen on everyone from Beyoncé to Jamie…