Alternative Quote by Gabrielle Zevin
““The alternative to appropriation is a world in which artists only reference their own cultures." "That's an oversimplification of the issue." "The alternative to appropriation is a world where white European people make art about white European people with only white European references in it. Swap African or Asian or Latin or whatever culture you want for European. A world where everyone is blind and deaf to any culture or experience that is not their own. I hate that world don't you? I'm terrified of that world and I don't want to live in a that world, and as a mixed race person, I literally don't exist in it. My dad, who I barely knew, was Jewish. My mom was an American-born Korean. I was raised by Korean immigrant grandparents in Korea Town Los Angeles and as any mixed race person will tell you-- to be half of two things is to be whole of nothing.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing cultural appropriation, 2023
The speaker argues that limiting artists to only reference their own cultures creates a homogenized, oppressive world, especially painful for mixed‑race individuals.
In simple terms: Restricting art to one culture silences diverse identities.
Key Takeaway
Support inclusive, cross‑cultural artistic expression.
Themes
identity
art
culture
inclusion
race
expression
Mood
reflective
urgent
Type
social
philosophical
When to use this quote
- artistic collaborations
- education curricula
- media representation
- community dialogues
Key Concepts
cultural appropriation
intersectionality
Questions to Reflect On
- What boundaries protect cultures without stifling art?
- How can mixed‑heritage voices be amplified?
A Different Perspective
Balancing respect for cultures with creative freedom is complex.
![“...Sabina [was] onto something about mehendi not being tantamount to temporary tattoo, and how it's been appropriated by Western capitalist culture. But the mehendi originated in Africa, and so India appropriated it from a people of color as well, according to Upma, and thus we shouldn't wear…” quote by Tanuja Desai Hidier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c50/tanuja-desai-hidier-39721_cultural-appropriati_sabina-was-onto-something-about-mehendi_127795.jpg)
