Pop culture has recently become dominated by cultural appropriation, defined as “the adoption of elements of one culture by members of a different cultural group, especially if the adoption is of an oppressed people’s cultural elements by members of the dominant culture” (Yasmim). Critics call out celebrities from Kylie Jenner to Madonna for perpetuating the phenomenon, maintaining that appropriation encourages racist tendencies. Can a culture be stolen? When does cultural appreciation become cultural appropriation? Is cultural appropriation another form of racism?

Write a five paragraph essay that effectively defends, qualifies, or refutes this statement:

“To appropriate one’s culture is not to embrace it, but to mimic it. It’s making a fashion of someone else’s heritage and religion.”