"Racism is defined as prejudice plus power"

Race at the American Music Awards

     I just read two snippets about artists at the AMAs and race. The first, Katy Perry Performs in Racist Geisha Costume at the AMA’s, echoes what seems to be an increasingly common refrain on certain parts of the Internet (or at least I'm getting more familiar with them!). Color Lines discusses the cultural appropriation and racism that Katy Perry displays by "dressing as a Geisha". There's some other insightful (Psychology Today) and short (Vulture) commentary that leads me to my contribution to this conversation: a sidebar on the phrase "politically correct".
     Whenever I'm talking to someone that uses the term "politically correct", I panic a little. My mind goes into overdrive as I think about how I will respond to someone with whom I likely disagree at a fundamental level. You see, I've decided that "politically correct" tends to be code for "not racist", at least for how I define racism. I would wager that my interlocutors do not share the same definition of racism, and these different understandings of race, racism, and racial experiences is, I think, central to the discussion at hand. I should note that sometimes "politically correct" also means "not homophobic", "not sexist/misogynistic", or some other type of society-level power dynamic. In fact, in conversation I tend to substitute the terms in my head and other people sound something like this:

person: "Why do they have to be so politically correct not racist? He bought that costume at the store and painted his face black to complete the look. He's obviously not saying that Black people today wear bones in their hair and grass skirts."
or
"The liberals are taking over with their political correctness not racist-ness."
or
"Sorry, I know this is not politically correct racist, but it's how I feel."
Anyway, it seems pretty certain to me that "political correct" is quite often used as a racialized code word, that is, it's used to activate and mobilize racist sentiments in a socially acceptable way.

     To turn back to the AMAs, another post from Color Lines points out another salient crop-up of an artist's explicit engagement with issues of power and race in Macklemore’s Trayvon Martin Tribute Matters — Here’s Why. In contrast to Katy Perry's (obliviously??) racist performance, Macklemore continues to endeavor to contribute a White antiracist perspective. While he does fumble topics of power and privilege at times, I find it interesting to see him try.
In other news, people of color don't have to listen to Macklemore songs or read antiracist literature to understand that society in the US is racist and actively oppresses people of color (among countless others). I think of Kanye's gripping "New Slaves" and the more recent "Love is the Answer" video from Aloe Blacc.

"no one cares about your guilt"

Title: The Difference Between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation
Author: Jarune Uwujaren
Publication: everyday feminism
Date: September 30, 2013
Link: http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/09/cultural-exchange-and-cultural-appropriation/

Commentary:
What a great discussion of cultural appropriation. Non-accusatory, refrains from taking a know-it-all, holier-than-thou position. Deftly navigates a complex analysis of an immensely complicated subject. I like also that it abounds with tips and examples for living and interacting in a multicultural world (with a history of colonialism and oppression).
I'll admit I hardly know where to start with advice like "cultural appropriation should be mutual". I guess a start to that is knowing what you have to offer in the exchange. I used to think (oh-so-naively) that history could be eschewed in favor of a "forward-thinking focus". (Don't ask what that even means). Of course, that reflects a problematic position of (extreme?) privilege--and probably willful ignorance--to not have to think about reverberations of the past in the present and to be able to ignore how *everything* you have and enjoy are mired in ongoing exploitation extending far backward in time. If nothing surely the self-examination would help me examine what I am and am made up of, not to mention a deeper understanding of culture and my situatedness in socio-history.

The ultimate solution is not, as I'm sure this author would agree, is not to stop appropriating minority and marginalized cultures, but to thoroughly decolonize them. This sort of decolonization goes beyond physical geography and into the complex social geographies and intricacies of Culture writ large. I've abstracted beyond the accessible level with which concepts were presented in this article, and really beyond my firm understanding. Nevertheless, I think respect is a solid place to start. Listening and understanding are essential tools for Anglos to break out of their obliviousness. And what a great line "no one cares about your guilt". Reflecting the blessedly-more-common sentiment of late that it's not all about the feelings of the privileged.
This helped me continue to think about (and continue to not answer "successfully" (: ) my wonderings around hula skirts and "hawaiian" shirts.

With great articles on a particular dimension of privilege/oppression, I wonder what parts can transfer to other dimensions. In what ways do straight people colonize queer folk? Obviously, many aspects don't carry over, but the appropriation of cultural signifiers and uneasy (and ultimately incomplete, unequal, and oppressive) "assimilation" of the minority seem appropriate.

If it wasn't clear already, these are first-draft thoughts. They barely spent any time in my head, hence their under-formed and unelaborated nature. They also more likely than not include oppressive assumptions (unfortunately), so as always I welcome any comments the reader has to offer.