Education

High School Student’s Chinese Dress Sparks ‘Cultural Appropriation’ Outrage

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A high school student who posted her Chinese-inspired dress on Twitter sparked a vigorous debate over “cultural appropriation.”

Utah student Keziah Daum’s prom dress photo received a substantial amount of attention, with critics claiming she committed “cultural appropriation” by wearing a Chinese dress while not Chinese.

PROM pic.twitter.com/gsJ0LtsCmP

— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 22, 2018

” My culture is NOT your goddamn prom dress,” Twitter user Jeremy Lam responded.

My culture is NOT your goddamn prom dress. https://t.co/vhkNOPevKD

— Jeremy Lam (@jere_bare) April 27, 2018

“Was the theme of prom casual racism?” another user asked.

Over 150,000 users liked Lam’s post calling Daum out, but some called out what they saw as hypocrisy on the user’s part, including one post in which Lam used “n***a,” and another referencing “white English-speaking demons.”

We love a closet racist pic.twitter.com/KqIzsBBMQA

— jake severe (@JacobSevere) April 29, 2018

“I don’t understand everyone’s need or desire to cause so much hate,” Daum wrote Saturday. “I’m simply showing my love for a beautiful culture and there is nothing wrong with that. Keep talking shit. I don’t care. I have much respect for the Chinese culture.”

“I believe that the dress is beautiful and that I’ve done nothing wrong by wearing it,” Daum told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “There are more people telling me that I did nothing wrong more than those saying I have done something wrong. I would definitely wear the dress again. I believe it is beautiful and I can wear it if I desire.”

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