Adjective. Colonization hasn’t only served to profit colonizing populations in the past; the legacy of colonization is continued in modern practices of exploitation and appropriation (see ‘Exploitation’ for more details). Today, indigenous cultures that were once otherized from mainstream narratives are used by the dominators of said narratives for financial gain; for example, the Native American spiritual customs that Europeans once tried to eradicate are now being appropriated by Europeans in media, culture, and design. 

Examples

“The indigenous weavings are more than just beautiful works of art; they are the carriers of the history and stories of Guatemala’s indigenous peoples.”

Abbott, Jeff. “Indigenous Weavers in Guatemala Mobilize to Defend Their Craft and Cultural Rights.” Toward Freedom. Last modified December 8, 2016. https://towardfreedom.org/story/archives/americas/indigenous-weavers-in-guatemala-mobilize-to-defend-their-craft-and-cultural-rights/.

“Despite its £69.99 price tag, the sarong-style garment [lungi] tends to retail on market stalls for a mere couple of pounds throughout Sri Lanka, India and Nepal.”

Fowler, Danielle. “Zara Comes Under Fire for Cultural Appropriation.” Harper’s Bazaar. Last modified February 4, 2018. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/a16564157/zara-criticised-cultural-appropriation/.

“…Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection….was described as “primitive, tribal, spiritual yet regal” in the company’s Twitter account. The company later claimed that they only wanted to show the beauty of Africa, yet almost all the designs were made by white people and worn by white models. Despite all of this, the company still sells all of their designs at high costs around the globe.”

Nara, Elba. “How Cultural Appropriation Profits from the History of the Oppressed.” Affinity Magazine, March 26, 2017. http://affinitymagazine.us/2017/03/26/how-cultural-appropriation-profits-from-the-history-of-the-oppressed/.