The Fallacy of Cultural Appropriation: How the Left Turned Shared Heritage into a Weapon

Once celebrated as a sign of openness and curiosity, cultural exchange has become a battlefield in today’s political culture wars. The Left’s latest crusade? Labeling everything from a hairstyle to a Halloween costume as “cultural appropriation.” According to progressive ideology, if you wear a kimono, braid your hair a certain way, or enjoy ethnic cuisine without belonging to the “right” identity group, you’re guilty of oppression. But this narrative isn’t about protecting culture—it’s about controlling it.

Progressive activists argue that borrowing from other cultures is inherently exploitative. In an opinion piece for Al Jazeera, writer Hamid Dabashi claims that cultural appropriation is “a form of theft,” especially when dominant groups take elements from marginalized communities without acknowledging their struggles (Al Jazeera, April 2016). This idea, echoed across progressive media, insists that cultural exchange reinforces harmful power dynamics. From college protests over white students wearing dreadlocks to viral social media takedowns of fashion designers using tribal prints, the outrage machine is always primed.

But here's what they don't tell you: cultures are not fragile relics to be caged behind identity walls—they are living, evolving tapestries built through centuries of blending, borrowing, and mutual admiration.

John McWhorter, a Black linguist and professor at Columbia University, has strongly pushed back against the outrage, noting that “what’s called appropriation is usually just a matter of one group admiring something from another.” He adds that “the line between appreciation and appropriation is impossible to clearly define—and the attempt to do so discourages cultural curiosity and connection” (New York Times, July 2021).

In fact, the entire history of human civilization is a testament to cultural mingling. Jazz, tacos, martial arts, blue jeans, even the English language itself—each is a product of global influence. As City Journal aptly noted, “Most reasonable people have no trouble understanding that to adopt an artifact or practice doesn’t diminish the culture from which it originates. It often celebrates it” (City Journal, March 2023).

And here’s the real hypocrisy: the outrage is selective. When college students at Columbia, Harvard, and other elite schools donned keffiyehs in “solidarity” with Hamas-affiliated protesters this past fall, the usual cultural gatekeepers were silent. As the New York Post observed, “the same people who cry foul when a non-Black celebrity wears cornrows are suddenly fine appropriating Middle Eastern symbols to champion violent extremism” (New York Post, Oct. 10, 2024).

So, what’s the difference? Intent? Context? Or just political convenience?

The Left’s obsession with cultural appropriation isn’t about justice—it’s about narrative control. It strips individuals of the right to explore, connect with, or admire cultures outside their own unless they conform to progressive rules. That’s not inclusion. That’s division.

Real unity isn’t built by drawing cultural borders. It comes from openness, shared values, and mutual respect. When we cook each other’s food, wear each other’s fashion, or play each other’s music, we’re not erasing anyone—we’re recognizing our shared humanity. That's not appropriation. It's appreciation.

Conservatives must not shy away from this conversation. We must defend the right to freely engage with global culture without fear of cancellation or false accusations. Cultural appreciation is not a crime—it’s a cornerstone of a free, vibrant, and united society.

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