Appropriation Quote by Amalia Mesa-Bains
““What you have now then is the marketing of racialized identities as tools for consumption. And certain racialized bodies and images are associated with hipness, coolness, edginess. So all kinds of youth all over the world are appropriating that style as a way of, sort of, countering authority, stating their rebelliousness, and wanting to be seen as significant.””
About This Quote
Youth worldwide adopt stylized racialized identities as a form of resistance, using fashion and culture to claim significance and challenge authority.
In simple terms: Style becomes a tool for rebellion and identity.
Key Takeaway
Cultural appropriation fuels youthful dissent.
Themes
identity
youth culture
fashion
resistance
Mood
critical
observational
Type
cultural
sociological
When to use this quote
- streetwear trends
- online subcultures
- activist fashion
Key Concepts
symbolic consumption
social signaling
Practical Applications
- design inclusive branding
- educate on cultural sensitivity
Questions to Reflect On
- When does appropriation become empowerment?
- How can brands respect the origins of such styles?
A Different Perspective
Commercializing resistance can co‑opt authentic expression, reducing its subversive power.
![“Today's youth cannot escape the shadow of racism that has been passed down organically from parents and others who cling to a distorted image of American history, one informed by, and articulated from, a worldview permeated by white privilege. [sic], these biases are so hardwired that most of us…” quote by Thomas Norman DeWolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/210/thomas-norman-dewolf-84238_american-history_today-s-youth-cannot-escape-the-shadow-o_2575906.jpg)
