What is Cultural Appropriation?
We define cultural appropriation as the inappropriate use of any practice, dress, magic, customs, etc. of a marginalized culture by members of a more privileged culture. Examples of this may include White people wearing locs or non-Indigenous people referring to their own cleansing rituals as smudging. Our group does not promote or condone cultural appropriation.
You may see the terms open and closed practice used. Open practices or cultures are those which anyone may participate in, regardless of initiation or background. Runic magic, Hellenic polytheism, and Christian traditions are examples of open practices. Closed practices should only be used by members of their cultures of origin, who are often historically or currently oppressed for taking part in them. Geles, smudging, and Ifá are examples of closed practices. Some traditions are considered semi-closed or initiatory. These are open to people who are welcomed in by current members, as through conversion, initiation, or adoption.
There are some areas where members of a marginalized culture do not agree on whether a practice is open or closed, and in those cases the modmins will refrain from taking a stance until a general decision is reached. If you have concerns, feel free to ask.
“…inappropriate use of any practice, dress, magic, customs, etc. of a marginalized culture by members of a more privileged culture.”