Mexico and its culture have been the subject of much appropriation in recent years, with aspects of its music, food, art, and fashion regularly appearing in different iterations all around the world. While admiration and appreciation for Mexican culture is no doubt one of the major motivations behind cultural appropriation, this phenomenon can be problematic as it can often be seen as a form of disrespect or theft. The overwhelming popularity that some aspects of Mexican culture now enjoy worldwide may not contribute to genuine respect for Mexican people and Mexico itself, which is why raising awareness about cultural appropriation is essential for preventing it.
The appropriation of Culture is not a new phenomenon in the Western countries, but why does the Western media always showcase those doing the appropriation of culture rather than those that are Indigenous? Case in point: At PBS, a government funded public tv station routinely showcases a white person cooking Mexican food every day even on Sunday, and never a Dark Skinned Mexican.
case in point: Treasures of the Mexican Table – “Pati Jinich” has been featured on PBS & although she was born in Mexico, she is not Indigenous or even mestizo. yet, through her connections, she even became the resident chef of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C. This would be akin to a white person born in America becoming an ambassador of black Soul food.
