There is a phrase that has emerged this century – cultural appropriation. It is when a dominant culture takes elements of a marginalised culture without permission or respect. Is it harmful ? Well yes, as it reinforces stereotypes and inequality and can eradicate ancient wisdom and heritage. It can involve the use of language, clothing, music, dance and more.

I don’t remember much of an outcry when Bo Derek ran along the beach in the film ’10 ‘ with her braided locks and other things bouncing about in slow motion back in 1979.

The first I remember hearing about such a thing was in 1995 when first time Australian author Helen Demidenko won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel “The Hand That Signed The Paper”. She would turn up at book launches in Ukrainian peasant costumes and perform ethnic folk dances. She claimed the book was inspired by her relatives – except that they were ex pat Poms and her real name was Helen Darville. The anti semetic nature of the plot set in Nazi concentration camps probably didn’t help her cause much either.

But let’s get back to the 70s and a regular family entertainment show that ran on the national broadcaster, the BBC from 1957 to 1978. The Black & White Minstrel Show. Wow ! The embarrassing thing is I just thought it was a bit naff and didn’t comprehend the blatantly racist and hurtful content that is so evident today. Plus the music was crap !

I was heavily into Funk, Soul and R & B at that stage, my favourite being The Average White Band. Six lads from Glasgow and Dundee and all (originally) white. What is says on the tin I suppose but these guys were mixing with the best black soul acts in the USA. Many more were to follow. Hall & Oates, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald and David Bowie in his ‘Young Americans’ phase to name but a few.

The label Blue eyed soul was attributed to Philadelphia DJ Georgie Woods on hearing The Righteous Brothers in 1964.

Was this cultural appropriation or appreciation ?

Lets remember that in the 60s Motown creator Gordy Berry Jr invested heavily in an Artist Development department to hone the skills of it’s acts to appeal to a wider (white) audience. Think matching garish suits and slick choreography and you’ve got The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, The Stylistics. The list goes on. Some say the costumes represented servile occupations like waiters or servants that white audiences associated with black people and the dance moves akin to the afore mentioned minstrel shows.

All this changed when Marvin Gaye (denim shirts and beanie) and Stevie Wonder (braided hair and African dashiki shirt) were allowed more artistic expression.

So can a white guy sing black soul music ? Can a black guy sing country and western? Ask Charley Pride! Didn’t the Rolling Stones just take obscure black music and sell it to a mainly white audience ?

Can an Englishman wear a kilt ?

Personally, I think if it’s done out of love, appreciation and respect, anything goes.

Excuse me while I finish my tango practice, adjust my fez and fashion the dreadlocks in my beard.

(Post by John Allan of Bridgetown, Western Australia – April 2025)