Actress, singer, and dancer Zendaya has certainly grounded herself with her fan base, and now, she continues to use her platform to bring light to important issues of political and cultural significance.
Mere months ago, she herself fell prey to matters of sociocultural ignorance following comments made by Fashion Police co-host Giuliana Rancic regarding the dreads she chose to wear for the Oscars. Regardless of whether claims that the comments had been edited out of context were true, Zendaya proved herself a thoughtful spokesperson for matters of cultural ignorance — particularly as they pertain to identity.
This week, Zendaya built on that ongoing discussion in an interview with Nylon, discussing the importance of thoughtfulness in all matters of appropriation:
“You can go about it as cultural appreciation or cultural appropriation. You have to be very careful. Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them. In order to appreciate something, you have to know about it and understand. You don’t just wear something just to wear it—you have to understand the history behind it.”
Wise words, indeed. Zendaya wrapped up the interview by adding, “I just think with the Internet and the resources we have, you should do a little research.”
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Zendaya has spoken out multiple times on inappropriate or ignorant appropriations of culture — particularly as they pertain to identity.
"In order to appreciate something, you have to know about it and understand," she said in her interview with Nylon.
Zendaya faced ridicule for wearing locs on the Oscars red carpet in February, 2015.
Comments were made that pandered to racial stereotypes while managing to insult the very reason Zendaya chose to were her hair this way to begin with.
Zendaya responded on Twitter with a thoughtful response about "ignorant slurs" and "pure disrespect."
"There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful," she wrote.
Zendaya schooled the world with her interview in Nylon about cultural appreciation vs. appropriation.
"Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them," she said.
If you want to help spread Zendaya's important message about cultural respect, please SHARE this article with your friends!
