By: Zoe Holbrook (’26), Staff Writer
Imagine you are having a good conversation with a close friend. The conversation is going really well, but suddenly a random person barges in and derails the whole thing. You would probably feel a certain type of way, right? That is exactly how it feels when non-Black people invade predominantly Black places. At a predominately white institution, finding a community as a Black student is already hard enough because of the institution’s lack of consideration for those not in the majority. We usually have to fight to create our own spaces, which shouldn’t be the case. The problem worsens when non-Black people find Black safe spaces. Many non-Black people use us as a trendy accessory that they can take off when it isn’t profitable or comedic anymore. They might also use us to excuse their own racism with the common colloquialism, “I’m not racist, I have Black friends.” This problem isn’t just a UNC problem or a national problem, it’s also a global problem.
Black people, regardless of ethnicity, are often only viewed as entertainment by many, which plays a massive role in the appropriation of our culture by non-Black people. Regardless of whether it’s intentional, Black people should be able to exist without there being a mockery of who we are and what we do. It becomes very problematic when people go just a little too far and overstep their boundaries. Some examples of this are when people make jokes that are just shy of racism or when people are one microaggression away from ruffling feathers.
When white people speak in a stereotypically Black way, over-exaggerate Black mannerisms, and appropriate African American Vernacular English, it is very frustrating because it is often a caricature of what they think Black people are. That is often paired with the idea that Black people can only be one way, which is also dangerous. When Black people are put into a monolithic lens, it creates problems such as believing every positive or negative action of a Black individual reflects upon the entire community. This line of thinking puts Black people under a microscope and subjects us to much scrutiny.
This is very visible online as well. On platforms like TikTok, we can see how Black talent, culture, and expertise are often taken advantage of and exploited by non-Black people. Behind every Charlie D’amelio and Addison Rae is a creative Black mind who will probably never get as much credit for working twice as hard. As explained by Taylor Lorenz for The New York Times, “To be robbed of credit on TikTok is to be robbed of real opportunities. In 2020, virality means income: Creators of popular dances, like the Backpack Kid or Shiggy, often amass large online followings and become influencers themselves. That, in turn, opens the door to brand deals, media opportunities and, most important for Jalaiah, introductions to those in the professional dance and choreography community.”
That isn’t to say that non-Black people cannot learn and function in predominantly Black spaces. Some examples of positive culture exchanges are attending art exhibitions featuring Black artists or actively practicing allyship for Black activism. The Black community is a very welcoming and endearing place, but non-Black people often take advantage of the kindness provided.
Additionally, an example of this is when Black people themselves make non-Black people too comfortable in Black spaces. When people let their white friends act any kind of way with them, these same friends often think it’s completely fine to act that way around other Black people. This is connected to how Black people aren’t a monolith because while some Black people might not mind their non-Black friends saying the N-word, others do. It isn’t fair to those who don’t believe it’s okay because it causes those Black people to become uncomfortable. I cannot speak for everyone when I say this, but that rubs me the wrong way. As someone who thinks only Black people should be able to say the N-word, I shouldn’t have to hear a white person say it ten times in a row because their Black friend gave them a “pass”. I feel this is problematic because it allows them to reclaim a word that was never used against them in the first place.
This is all to say, there is no problem with non-Black people enjoying Black cultures, but there are firm boundaries that should be respected. Black culture is a beautiful thing and deserves attention, but certain lines just cannot be crossed. Our culture should not have to be commodified by outside groups to be widely accepted or understood. We are a highly diverse group with a lot to offer, and I hate that we are often put into categories and boxes by those who don’t fully appreciate our culture. Non-Black people have to understand that they are only spectators, not active players, in Black culture.
Works Cited
Lorenz, Taylor. “The Original Renegade.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/style/the-original-renegade.html.
Image from:
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