This is so cringe.. | The insanity of Cultural Appropriation

Original by @MentisWave : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhkloltBAkg

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Hey everyone, it's Leaflit! Today I'm reacting to MentisWave's video “The Unbelievable Insanity of Cultural Appropriation”, where he highlights a recent uproar around VTuber Banana Juju wearing dreadlocks—despite being white and blonde. Apparently, some critics pounced, calling her racist for donning a hairstyle deeply rooted in cultures she doesn’t belong to.

I call major BS on this kind of policing. Having dreadlocks doesn’t equate to stealing culture—especially when there’s no offensive mockery or monetization involved. MentisWave makes solid points: if we aggressively label harmless self-expression as “cultural theft,” we’re heading down a slippery slope. Let’s celebrate cultural exchange—not weaponize it.

This scenario echoes a 2016 incident at San Francisco State, where a Black student confronted a white peer wearing dreadlocks—claiming it was "her culture"—and prompting a heated campus-wide debate.

Meanwhile, Reddit conversations show diverse opinions:

“Cultural appropriation is ridiculous anyway. Wear what you like…”
Reddit

The main issue isn’t the hairstyle—it’s intent and context, not policing personal expression.

Academic analysis reminds us that dreads exist across numerous cultures—Vikings, Egyptians, Celts—and not solely tied to Black cultural practices.

Protecting freedom – No one should be bullied online for adorning a hairstyle they genuinely like.

Nuance matters – Cultural appropriation = disrespectful exploitation, not sharing or appreciation.

Awareness over alarm – We can respect heritage without banning creativity or expression.

Fighting cancel culture – Stand with creators like Banana Juju and critics like MentisWave who push back on reactionary outrage.

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#gaming #vtuber #reaction