Cultural Appropriation

A hot area in historical fiction, heck, any fiction is cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is assuming to know what one can’t know first hand. My on-line dictionary says “appropriation” is the "action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission."   Sort of like stealing, right?

You may remember the brouhaha raised when a white woman so dramatically identified with blacks that she altered her appearance and tried to pass as black in the black community. People, including her own family, “outed” her but she continued to insist that she was black, if not genetically, then culturally and emotionally. A lot of people didn’t buy it. (Hmm. I can see a story of a reincarnated person insisting to her host body that she is someone other than who she looks to be. Hmm.)

On the Historical Novel Society’s Facebook page, we had a lively discussion discussion about cultural appropriation when a member, Marina J. Neary, posted the link to her blog on cultural appropriation. There were lots of reactions to her piece, “Microaggression in the World of Historical Fiction.” Take a look and see what you think of her points.

Many historical fiction writers (and other writers) are assailed for telling the story of someone not of their culture. Only blacks should write the stories of slavery. Only Native Americans should tell of the genocides perpetrated. Only Chinese should write about dynastic China. Only hillibillies should explain coal country. Only prostitutes should . . . Oh, got me.

While not historical fiction, I wrote an erotic romance under the pen name Angelica French. I do not know, nor have I ever been, a prostitute. Yet, Carrie’s story is so much more than being a prostitute. It is a woman’s story of resolution, redemption and recovery. And I am a woman, albeit one who never experienced the abuse that Carrie did. I had no reluctance telling this story.

Historical fiction writers are challenged for writing out-of-culture, out-of-age, or out-of-gender. Is that fair? None of us are ancient Greeks or biblical-era prophets or thanes or Chinese warlords. Does thorough research count for nothing? Must one be of the appropriate culture instead of being accused of appropriating the culture?

I would take some issue with the term “cultural appropriation” among writers. After all, we are not trying to “pass” as the black-assumption woman did. We acknowledge we are male/female, White/Latin/Asian/Native American/et cetera writing a tale we have carefully researched. There is no attempt to deceive.

Is it better to have fewer stories, but ones told only by those “permitted” to tell them? What do you think? Must we stick with “what we know”? Stick with our own identities? Or is it okay to tell the stories of others.

Do you know others who would like to join the conversation about cultural appropriation? Thanks for spreading the word. Copy/paste the messages to share.

Facebook: Cultural appropriation is a hot topic among fiction writers. Weigh in on Caroline Adams Writer’s discussion at http://bit.ly/2xkdvzj

Twitter: #Writer, are you a “cultural appropriator”? Get blowback for writing out of your culture? @Caroline_Adams9 at http://bit.ly/2xkdvzj