Have white people stolen black culture/art?
Depends on what you consider “stealing the culture”. Personally, I have absolutely no problem with White folks who enjoy and participate in creating music that was pioneered by Blacks. Some of my favourite hip hop producers, rappers, R&B singers, Reggae artists and jazz artists are White, and for me, talent is the key rather than complexion. As long as you’re good at what you do, and you show the proper respect for the art itself and the community that created it, then I’ll respect your craft. However, with that said there have been many instances where White musicians have appropriated elements of Black artistic styles and commercialised it in a manner which diminishes its artistic value and maximises their profit. But it’s not the fact that they’re making money that makes it a rip off its the fact that a) they lack respect for the artform itself, b) they profit at the EXPENSE of equally talented Black artists and c) they don’t acknowledge the black artists that pioneered the genre in
