Branham High School is planning on having a school dance with a Jamaican theme. This theme promotes cultural appropriation and is an insult to an entire oppressed culture. A country is not a dance theme. Our goal is not to get the dance canceled, but simply to get the theme changed to something less offensive
Updates
April 13, 2016
im still having conversations with people at school about why this theme is such a bad look. everyone i talk to keeps saying the same thing about how we can definitely find a better way to celebrate without crossing that line.
April 13, 2016
im honestly amazed at how many people see why this theme needs to change. it feels like we finally have enough momentum to show the school that we care about doing the right thing.
14 Comments
I really hope that the school considers changing the theme, its not right to use someone's country and culture as a costume.
If you're trying hard to not appropriate Jamaican culture, at least change the name! this is about to be so many high schoolers making fun of Jamaican culture, wearing dreads, doing fake accents, etc. not cool.
This also stigmatizes the mentally ill. An ethnicity group is not a theme. Why not Bahamas or the Tropics?
This is the same as having an "asian" night or an "indian" night, or any other culture. This may seem small, but it encourages and teaches high-schoolers that it's okay to appropriate and tease another culture, which is not. Get it together.
My daughter is a graduating senior who has learned many things in her 4 years at Branham, including the ability to recognize the inappropriate use of a cultural slur in the name of "fun." Please hear your conscientious students', parents', and community members' concerns and select a neutral name for this event that does not further marginalize an already oppressed group.
insulting, this is an unecessary theme
live and learn
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Branham High School is planning on having a school dance with a Jamaican theme. This theme promotes cultural appropriation and is an insult to an entire oppressed culture. A country is not a dance theme. Our goal is not to get the dance canceled, but simply to get the theme changed to something less offensive
Updates
April 13, 2016
im still having conversations with people at school about why this theme is such a bad look. everyone i talk to keeps saying the same thing about how we can definitely find a better way to celebrate without crossing that line.
April 13, 2016
im honestly amazed at how many people see why this theme needs to change. it feels like we finally have enough momentum to show the school that we care about doing the right thing.
14 Comments
Are you guys serious? How does anyone think this is a good idea. Just pick a normal theme like space or like 80s night instead of mocking an entire country.
I really hope that the school considers changing the theme, its not right to use someone's country and culture as a costume.
If you're trying hard to not appropriate Jamaican culture, at least change the name! this is about to be so many high schoolers making fun of Jamaican culture, wearing dreads, doing fake accents, etc. not cool.
This also stigmatizes the mentally ill. An ethnicity group is not a theme. Why not Bahamas or the Tropics?
This is the same as having an "asian" night or an "indian" night, or any other culture. This may seem small, but it encourages and teaches high-schoolers that it's okay to appropriate and tease another culture, which is not. Get it together.
My daughter is a graduating senior who has learned many things in her 4 years at Branham, including the ability to recognize the inappropriate use of a cultural slur in the name of "fun." Please hear your conscientious students', parents', and community members' concerns and select a neutral name for this event that does not further marginalize an already oppressed group.
insulting, this is an unecessary theme
live and learn
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Are you guys serious? How does anyone think this is a good idea. Just pick a normal theme like space or like 80s night instead of mocking an entire country.