Tradition v tradition

 Tradition vs Tradition :

I am going to briefly talk about something that really grinds my gears. Something that has already been discussed and better analyzed than what I am going to offer. This stems from a very intense conversation I had that other day regarding the difference some people make between traditional western garbs and traditional garbs from people of color. (especially from Africa and Latin America and some countries of Asia.)

The disrespect is astounding. Most of the time we are expected to consider that traditional western garbs are, well, traditional and to be respected. Of course, it has to be. Those garbs are colorful, complex to make and each of them has a special meaning for those who wear them. They could be a symbol of resistance or worn to celebrate a special holiday or maybe to perform a special ritual. It is widely accepted and integrated that those costumes shall be regarded as what they are, a piece of culture and celebrated as such. Of course! I encourage this! Be proud of your culture, show off during special holidays or historic piece periods. By all means, there's no reason to laugh at it and insult the culture or the people wearing those costumes. There is no reason to consider those garbs for « dress-up games », or something « exotic » to wear because you fetishize the people who wear them (Of course, some of these western costumes have been sexualized and it's equally disgusting. I am thinking about the costume some german women would wear during beer festival). There is no reason not to take as respectfully and seriously the traditional garbs of non-western countries. There is no reason for people who still wear them on their daily routine to feel ashamed because they wear it and yet, they are still made to feel ashamed of it.

Yes, it's a consequence of colonialism when they laugh at an African garb (or fabric) worn proudly in bright daylight in a western city. Yes, it's a consequence of colonialism when they dress up with native American garb (headpieces included) for Halloween or freaking Coachella. It's disgraceful and humiliating and unfortunately way too widespread as a practice. In my very humble opinion, this shows pretty much how they think of other cultures. Something that doesn't matter, that could be used for a game, for dress-up, or sexual roleplays (sigh, think about all those 'sexy natives Halloween garbs eh ?' I perceive it extremely badly because it's another way to express (whether conscious or not) dominance over said culture. As if it wasn't enough to kill those people and enslave them, or keep on spreading negative stereotypes, you also have to make fun of them by wearing washed-up inaccurate clothes for the kicks of it.  Yes, it's a consequence of colonialism when the very people whose traditional garbs are mocked, follow the same path and keep looking down at those who wear those clothes as if they were savages. (this is internalized racism. It works fantastic, just like internalized misogyny!)  who cannot be respected because they are still dressed in « pre-colonial » clothes? 

It's a tired « culture » of appropriation, salvaging, and reducing to nothingness (or a joke) an entirely different culture that needs to stop. We need to work towards making it less difficult for people to wear their traditional garbs (be it for their own holidays, ceremonies, or everyday routine). I really hope that we could stop normalizing this disgusting behavior or at least be a lot more vocal in our fight against it. I am especially concerned about those of us, people of color, who keep throwing shade at those who do proudly wear their traditional costumes without having second thoughts about it. I understand where it comes from but that doesn't make it less infuriating when an asinine comment comes from someone from that culture. It's heartbreaking to say the very least. I for one, am always advocating for western cultures to show/learn how to respect to what feels foreign to them, especially African and brown culture (brown being an umbrella term here, referencing to non-white (read western European/American WASPs) culture/heavily melanized people. ) but also and most importantly for non-western/white people who suffer from internalized racism to maybe someday, embrace this part of themselves they'd rather not. 

Traditional garbs are all interesting, beautiful, and fascinating. They shouldn't be subject to mockery or systemic racist behaviors. They shouldn't be looked upon as if they were a joke or proof of how 'savage' those brown and black cultures can be. If we can respect traditions from Bretagne and marvel at how beautiful and authentic those costumes are during their celebrations, I believe we could return the favor to any Latino ceremonial garbs, any African one, any southeast Asian one and so and so. 

That was my two cents about this little thing that really grinds my gears !