oh hi everyone I’m Megan Milan I’m a learning specialist at the University of
learning specialist at the University of
learning specialist at the University of Maryland for the Terrapins um sorry
Maryland for the Terrapins um sorry
Maryland for the Terrapins um sorry cannot be there today I just recently
cannot be there today I just recently
cannot be there today I just recently moved across the country in when the
moved across the country in when the
moved across the country in when the middle of midterms that’s really crazy
middle of midterms that’s really crazy
middle of midterms that’s really crazy I’m sad to miss this event and there’s
I’m sad to miss this event and there’s
I’m sad to miss this event and there’s some great people getting some talk to
some great people getting some talk to
some great people getting some talk to him with some very insight and hopefully
him with some very insight and hopefully
him with some very insight and hopefully there’s transcripts available of my talk
there’s transcripts available of my talk
there’s transcripts available of my talk it’s about appropriation and if you want
it’s about appropriation and if you want
it’s about appropriation and if you want one it’s not available please feel free
one it’s not available please feel free
one it’s not available please feel free to email me my email is on the website
to email me my email is on the website
to email me my email is on the website or if you have any questions or comments
or if you have any questions or comments
or if you have any questions or comments would love to talk about this stuff more
would love to talk about this stuff more
would love to talk about this stuff more um anyway I hope you enjoy thanks a few
um anyway I hope you enjoy thanks a few
um anyway I hope you enjoy thanks a few months ago i was perusing facebook and
months ago i was perusing facebook and
months ago i was perusing facebook and came across my friends status was stated
came across my friends status was stated
came across my friends status was stated appropriation is the thing move on to
appropriation is the thing move on to
appropriation is the thing move on to which an acquaintance of hers commented
which an acquaintance of hers commented
which an acquaintance of hers commented say it louder for the people in the back
say it louder for the people in the back
say it louder for the people in the back i SAT there looking at the status for
i SAT there looking at the status for
i SAT there looking at the status for about five minutes deciding whether or
about five minutes deciding whether or
about five minutes deciding whether or not to inside Facebook more it really
not to inside Facebook more it really
not to inside Facebook more it really wanted to since I a face before I didn’t
wanted to since I a face before I didn’t
wanted to since I a face before I didn’t with slight reluctant Smith’s with
with slight reluctant Smith’s with
with slight reluctant Smith’s with relief I left her facebook page and
relief I left her facebook page and
relief I left her facebook page and tried to move on however the comment
tried to move on however the comment
tried to move on however the comment haunted me and has stayed with me I was
haunted me and has stayed with me I was
haunted me and has stayed with me I was frustrated because I couldn’t come up
frustrated because I couldn’t come up
frustrated because I couldn’t come up with one sentence rebuttal and I was
with one sentence rebuttal and I was
with one sentence rebuttal and I was frustrated because I wanted people to
frustrated because I wanted people to
frustrated because I wanted people to get a question how can I sell a new
get a question how can I sell a new
get a question how can I sell a new believes in social justice isn’t a lie
believes in social justice isn’t a lie
believes in social justice isn’t a lie and advocate not easily defend such a
and advocate not easily defend such a
and advocate not easily defend such a statement hey I’m an educator inciting a
statement hey I’m an educator inciting a
statement hey I’m an educator inciting a Facebook war isn’t always healthy and my
Facebook war isn’t always healthy and my
Facebook war isn’t always healthy and my goals always thoughtful dialogue be
goals always thoughtful dialogue be
goals always thoughtful dialogue be sometimes you get it and sometimes you
sometimes you get it and sometimes you
sometimes you get it and sometimes you don’t see I don’t always have the
don’t see I don’t always have the
don’t see I don’t always have the patience to work with people on these
patience to work with people on these
patience to work with people on these ideas d this transformation comes from
ideas d this transformation comes from
ideas d this transformation comes from within an individual journey of
within an individual journey of
within an individual journey of understanding and finally II as a person
understanding and finally II as a person
understanding and finally II as a person whose translationally adopted my
whose translationally adopted my
whose translationally adopted my indigenous pneus and brown this is
indigenous pneus and brown this is
indigenous pneus and brown this is something I feel and constantly
something I feel and constantly
something I feel and constantly appropriate so today I come to you with
appropriate so today I come to you with
appropriate so today I come to you with one perspective and one answer to the
one perspective and one answer to the
one perspective and one answer to the multi-faceted question what is
multi-faceted question what is
multi-faceted question what is appropriation it isn’t simple it is
appropriation it isn’t simple it is
appropriation it isn’t simple it is complex and I believe appropriation is
complex and I believe appropriation is
complex and I believe appropriation is just one aspect of power privilege
just one aspect of power privilege
just one aspect of power privilege racism in history I don’t expect to
racism in history I don’t expect to
racism in history I don’t expect to answer all your questions in this time
answer all your questions in this time
answer all your questions in this time but just to plant seeds and the share an
but just to plant seeds and the share an
but just to plant seeds and the share an idea so how do we move past the non
idea so how do we move past the non
idea so how do we move past the non black community with locs the African
black community with locs the African
black community with locs the African statues the decorative prayer flags the
statues the decorative prayer flags the
statues the decorative prayer flags the dream catcher tattoos the headdresses at
dream catcher tattoos the headdresses at
dream catcher tattoos the headdresses at Burning Man
Burning Man
Burning Man the drug droid music that alienates a
the drug droid music that alienates a
the drug droid music that alienates a history there is a sense in our
history there is a sense in our
history there is a sense in our patriarchal dominant Americanist that we
patriarchal dominant Americanist that we
patriarchal dominant Americanist that we don’t question ownership and if we do
don’t question ownership and if we do
don’t question ownership and if we do question we’re overreacting and need to
question we’re overreacting and need to
question we’re overreacting and need to get over it today I’m questioning
get over it today I’m questioning
get over it today I’m questioning ownership I’m questioning how to find
ownership I’m questioning how to find
ownership I’m questioning how to find the balance food ownership and
the balance food ownership and
the balance food ownership and celebration back to my friend the need
celebration back to my friend the need
celebration back to my friend the need to be able to get the sugar skull tattoo
to be able to get the sugar skull tattoo
to be able to get the sugar skull tattoo and to justify wearing a t-shirt that
and to justify wearing a t-shirt that
and to justify wearing a t-shirt that has a lion wearing a headdress on what
has a lion wearing a headdress on what
has a lion wearing a headdress on what is appropriation the formal definition
is appropriation the formal definition
is appropriation the formal definition according to merriam-webster online is
according to merriam-webster online is
according to merriam-webster online is an action or instance of taking
an action or instance of taking
an action or instance of taking especially illegally or unfairly in
especially illegally or unfairly in
especially illegally or unfairly in colloquial terms stealing one’s ideas
colloquial terms stealing one’s ideas
colloquial terms stealing one’s ideas and using them as their own how does
and using them as their own how does
and using them as their own how does this play out in our culture we have
this play out in our culture we have
this play out in our culture we have American food the cheeseburger in the
American food the cheeseburger in the
American food the cheeseburger in the good old twice baked potato and on a
good old twice baked potato and on a
good old twice baked potato and on a larger scale or Society struggles with
larger scale or Society struggles with
larger scale or Society struggles with the idea of land ownership identity
the idea of land ownership identity
the idea of land ownership identity Native American African American history
Native American African American history
Native American African American history and trauma to name a few we take the
and trauma to name a few we take the
and trauma to name a few we take the cool pieces the pretty things but we
cool pieces the pretty things but we
cool pieces the pretty things but we don’t recognize the pain and the grief
don’t recognize the pain and the grief
don’t recognize the pain and the grief that the minorities are can you loosen
that the minorities are can you loosen
that the minorities are can you loosen dirt think about these examples of how
dirt think about these examples of how
dirt think about these examples of how we appropriate other cultures think
we appropriate other cultures think
we appropriate other cultures think about how generic our descriptions on
about how generic our descriptions on
about how generic our descriptions on the terms like tribal geometric or
the terms like tribal geometric or
the terms like tribal geometric or ethnic once speaking of clothing or
ethnic once speaking of clothing or
ethnic once speaking of clothing or jewelry instead we should be thinking
jewelry instead we should be thinking
jewelry instead we should be thinking I’ll take sue and dinnae think about
I’ll take sue and dinnae think about
I’ll take sue and dinnae think about symbolism and living the thoughts and
symbolism and living the thoughts and
symbolism and living the thoughts and connections behind the objects in lieu
connections behind the objects in lieu
connections behind the objects in lieu of exotic and unique people
of exotic and unique people
of exotic and unique people unceremoniously where the bindi and
unceremoniously where the bindi and
unceremoniously where the bindi and twerk without recognizing what cultures
twerk without recognizing what cultures
twerk without recognizing what cultures they come from and why the communities
they come from and why the communities
they come from and why the communities developed them it may be the larger
developed them it may be the larger
developed them it may be the larger issue here is the role art place in our
issue here is the role art place in our
issue here is the role art place in our society and the idea that we can share
society and the idea that we can share
society and the idea that we can share everything but by sharing everything we
everything but by sharing everything we
everything but by sharing everything we don’t take the time to honor and give
don’t take the time to honor and give
don’t take the time to honor and give respect to where language and religions
respect to where language and religions
respect to where language and religions objects and designs are created we tend
objects and designs are created we tend
objects and designs are created we tend to think once we visited the community
to think once we visited the community
to think once we visited the community or they’ve shared a piece of their
or they’ve shared a piece of their
or they’ve shared a piece of their culture with us it then is our own we
culture with us it then is our own we
culture with us it then is our own we tend to think that once we’ve read it or
tend to think that once we’ve read it or
tend to think that once we’ve read it or it is being sold in the store that we
it is being sold in the store that we
it is being sold in the store that we can use it companies like forever 21
can use it companies like forever 21
can use it companies like forever 21 Pottery Barn take these names and
Pottery Barn take these names and
Pottery Barn take these names and designs and ideas and make commodities
designs and ideas and make commodities
designs and ideas and make commodities to look different or exotic it goes from
to look different or exotic it goes from
to look different or exotic it goes from having meaning and symbolism to mass
having meaning and symbolism to mass
having meaning and symbolism to mass production and nothingness now that you
production and nothingness now that you
production and nothingness now that you have the images of prayer flags some
have the images of prayer flags some
have the images of prayer flags some brands the rapper Eminem rolling around
brands the rapper Eminem rolling around
brands the rapper Eminem rolling around your head as you move over the idea of
your head as you move over the idea of
your head as you move over the idea of appropriation let me go back to e as a
appropriation let me go back to e as a
appropriation let me go back to e as a person who’s trans
person who’s trans
person who’s trans actually adopted my indigenous and brown
actually adopted my indigenous and brown
actually adopted my indigenous and brown this is something I feel I’m constantly
this is something I feel I’m constantly
this is something I feel I’m constantly appropriating my family is very Italian
appropriating my family is very Italian
appropriating my family is very Italian and very white and I grew up in a very
and very white and I grew up in a very
and very white and I grew up in a very white community I’m not those things my
white community I’m not those things my
white community I’m not those things my mom was always good at normalizing my
mom was always good at normalizing my
mom was always good at normalizing my adoption by saying things like I love my
adoption by saying things like I love my
adoption by saying things like I love my doggy baby girl she never wanted my
doggy baby girl she never wanted my
doggy baby girl she never wanted my adoption to be a surprise or something
adoption to be a surprise or something
adoption to be a surprise or something people could make fun of but she also
people could make fun of but she also
people could make fun of but she also knew that raising a brown baby in a
knew that raising a brown baby in a
knew that raising a brown baby in a white family was nothing that could be
white family was nothing that could be
white family was nothing that could be hidden nor should it be how do you
hidden nor should it be how do you
hidden nor should it be how do you celebrate your child’s heritage and
celebrate your child’s heritage and
celebrate your child’s heritage and identity without marriage rising in I
identity without marriage rising in I
identity without marriage rising in I knew very early on that I was different
knew very early on that I was different
knew very early on that I was different it was really hard to hide dark skin and
it was really hard to hide dark skin and
it was really hard to hide dark skin and a white family my grandma would say I
a white family my grandma would say I
a white family my grandma would say I tried to stay 10 when you were younger
tried to stay 10 when you were younger
tried to stay 10 when you were younger so that you could feel like you fit into
so that you could feel like you fit into
so that you could feel like you fit into the family while the sentiment was love
the family while the sentiment was love
the family while the sentiment was love there was a lot of awareness in what she
there was a lot of awareness in what she
there was a lot of awareness in what she was saying my mom would take me two
was saying my mom would take me two
was saying my mom would take me two different malls to walk around and see
different malls to walk around and see
different malls to walk around and see the diversity around me when I was a
the diversity around me when I was a
the diversity around me when I was a toddler I once dated mom everyone around
toddler I once dated mom everyone around
toddler I once dated mom everyone around here looks like me and not like you it
here looks like me and not like you it
here looks like me and not like you it was obvious to me and being so young I
was obvious to me and being so young I
was obvious to me and being so young I never saw a problem at one point she
never saw a problem at one point she
never saw a problem at one point she also took me to a Native American Museum
also took me to a Native American Museum
also took me to a Native American Museum I stated I finally feel like I fit in
I stated I finally feel like I fit in
I stated I finally feel like I fit in growing up in a white family I know what
growing up in a white family I know what
growing up in a white family I know what it means to be of power and privilege to
it means to be of power and privilege to
it means to be of power and privilege to be able to do anything but while my
be able to do anything but while my
be able to do anything but while my family’s said I could do what I want I
family’s said I could do what I want I
family’s said I could do what I want I have the constant reminder of my
have the constant reminder of my
have the constant reminder of my community telling me hey Megan you’re
community telling me hey Megan you’re
community telling me hey Megan you’re one of us Brown isn’t a thing in my
one of us Brown isn’t a thing in my
one of us Brown isn’t a thing in my society around me saying hey Megan
society around me saying hey Megan
society around me saying hey Megan remember you are brown how do you
remember you are brown how do you
remember you are brown how do you balance the concert reminded of your
balance the concert reminded of your
balance the concert reminded of your skin color with the concert reminder
skin color with the concert reminder
skin color with the concert reminder that you should forget it and somehow it
that you should forget it and somehow it
that you should forget it and somehow it doesn’t matter what my looks alone
doesn’t matter what my looks alone
doesn’t matter what my looks alone people told me to learn Spanish I
people told me to learn Spanish I
people told me to learn Spanish I learned Arabic instead with my looks
learned Arabic instead with my looks
learned Arabic instead with my looks alone they assumed I was raised by a
alone they assumed I was raised by a
alone they assumed I was raised by a single parent with my looks alone they
single parent with my looks alone they
single parent with my looks alone they told me I spoke English well my adoption
told me I spoke English well my adoption
told me I spoke English well my adoption history is typical I have a birth mother
history is typical I have a birth mother
history is typical I have a birth mother who found she couldn’t take care of me
who found she couldn’t take care of me
who found she couldn’t take care of me so she decided to give me up for
so she decided to give me up for
so she decided to give me up for adoption instead of raising me in her
adoption instead of raising me in her
adoption instead of raising me in her third world but by doing so I don’t get
third world but by doing so I don’t get
third world but by doing so I don’t get the honor of the privilege of moving in
the honor of the privilege of moving in
the honor of the privilege of moving in my indigenous pneus I don’t get to
my indigenous pneus I don’t get to
my indigenous pneus I don’t get to breathe the music or traditions of my
breathe the music or traditions of my
breathe the music or traditions of my heritage I have been searching for a
heritage I have been searching for a
heritage I have been searching for a place to belong I sit in between two
place to belong I sit in between two
place to belong I sit in between two worlds the world of the privilege in the
worlds the world of the privilege in the
worlds the world of the privilege in the world of the oppressed
world of the oppressed
world of the oppressed I want the sugar skull tattoo I want to
I want the sugar skull tattoo I want to
I want the sugar skull tattoo I want to wear the poncho I want to embrace my
wear the poncho I want to embrace my
wear the poncho I want to embrace my indigenous I want to sit with my native
indigenous I want to sit with my native
indigenous I want to sit with my native ancestors to breed what they teach but
ancestors to breed what they teach but
ancestors to breed what they teach but my education I am upbringing says no
my education I am upbringing says no
my education I am upbringing says no Megan you aren’t one of them because you
Megan you aren’t one of them because you
Megan you aren’t one of them because you weren’t raised in your culture of
weren’t raised in your culture of
weren’t raised in your culture of heritage I constantly battle wanting to
heritage I constantly battle wanting to
heritage I constantly battle wanting to embrace my heritage but I feel like an
embrace my heritage but I feel like an
embrace my heritage but I feel like an imposter but I don’t look like an
imposter but I don’t look like an
imposter but I don’t look like an imposter but I talk like an imposter my
imposter but I talk like an imposter my
imposter but I talk like an imposter my education throws the under a bus because
education throws the under a bus because
education throws the under a bus because remember I speak English too well I
remember I speak English too well I
remember I speak English too well I respect to the space and now I can’t be
respect to the space and now I can’t be
respect to the space and now I can’t be part of it I know that sometimes I need
part of it I know that sometimes I need
part of it I know that sometimes I need to just be an observer not a toner
to just be an observer not a toner
to just be an observer not a toner American this is a melting pot of
American this is a melting pot of
American this is a melting pot of cultures and ideas and in that those
cultures and ideas and in that those
cultures and ideas and in that those with the power and privilege live in
with the power and privilege live in
with the power and privilege live in their culture and community without
their culture and community without
their culture and community without rubber band what stands out are those
rubber band what stands out are those
rubber band what stands out are those who are other those other become the hot
who are other those other become the hot
who are other those other become the hot commodity those others are the newest
commodity those others are the newest
commodity those others are the newest trend my answer to the question what is
trend my answer to the question what is
trend my answer to the question what is appropriation is appreciation back to my
appropriation is appreciation back to my
appropriation is appreciation back to my definitions appreciation is defined as
definitions appreciation is defined as
definitions appreciation is defined as an ability to understand the worth
an ability to understand the worth
an ability to understand the worth quality and importance of something a
quality and importance of something a
quality and importance of something a full awareness or understanding of
full awareness or understanding of
full awareness or understanding of something when I look at those prayer
something when I look at those prayer
something when I look at those prayer flags you hang on your porch when I look
flags you hang on your porch when I look
flags you hang on your porch when I look at that geisha halloween costume you
at that geisha halloween costume you
at that geisha halloween costume you wear a halloween party when I hear you
wear a halloween party when I hear you
wear a halloween party when I hear you wrapping a jay-z song I question did you
wrapping a jay-z song I question did you
wrapping a jay-z song I question did you understand me I question if you
understand me I question if you
understand me I question if you understand the importance I question if
understand the importance I question if
understand the importance I question if you have the years of reflection that
you have the years of reflection that
you have the years of reflection that those cookies live every day I question
those cookies live every day I question
those cookies live every day I question if you understand the pain they feel
if you understand the pain they feel
if you understand the pain they feel when their culture and customs are being
when their culture and customs are being
when their culture and customs are being distorted in this represented I think
distorted in this represented I think
distorted in this represented I think how can they when I can’t respect the
how can they when I can’t respect the
how can they when I can’t respect the space and no you can’t be a part of it
space and no you can’t be a part of it
space and no you can’t be a part of it be an observer not an old owner
be an observer not an old owner
be an observer not an old owner celebrate through appreciation thank you
celebrate through appreciation thank you
celebrate through appreciation thank you [Music]
”
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