Rue From The Hunger Games Is Not Here For Cultural Appropriation
ICYMI: 16-year-old Amandla Stenberg says what we need to hear.
April 17, 2015
Amandla Stenberg, the teenager known for her portrayal of Katniss' doomed compatriot Rue in The Hunger Games, expertly breaks down the difference between cultural exchange and cultural appropriation. She calls out the most egregious examples of the past 10 years, with a focus on the current zeitgeist: the Iggy Azalea/Macklemore/Katy Perry era. "Braids and cornrows are not merely stylistic," she says confidently. "What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we love black culture?" The video—which is deservingly going viral—offers a clear, concise explanation that we didn't know we needed.
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