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Old 08-24-2021, 06:06 AM   #6 (permalink)
bob_32_116
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I don't think it's that simple.

In Australia Midnight Oil, a band of Anglo-Australians, have recorded many songs about Australia's poor treatment of its indigenous black inhabitants. Is that cultural appropriation? Of course many aboriginal musicians such as Archie Roach sing those kind of songs as well, but the fact is that Midnight Oil have done a great deal to keep these issues in the public consciousness - in particular the consciousness of white Australians who might otherwise not hear many of these kinds of songs.

MO are not pretending they are black. They are saying "We are white, we have black and white people here, and we have these problems that need addressing."

In general I don't agree with the premise that you have to be black African to sing traditional black-African songs, that you have to be Irish to sing Irish folk songs, etc. I think it should all be fair game, as long as it's done respectfully.
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