Funk: the appropriation of yet another black art form
In this way, it excludes and makes blacks from the favela (slum) invisible making this process increasingly ingenious and that happens behind the scenes, in an undercover racist fashion of appraisal. Sometimes we black people are deceived by this, as such ownership has many faces. To darken this a little I’ll make use of a brief example: we can think of the arrival of Elvis Presley in American music. Ignoring the whole question of the artist and his talent, we don’t need to give much effort to realize that there is a whole market logic behind the emergence of this icon. The way he danced, the way he sang, was a style completely influenced by black culture and black artists, artists that obviously caused great fervor at the time such as Little Richard and Chubby Checker, among others.
Whites uncomfortable with the talent that blacks had and the effect that it caused on the youth of that time they decided to create an icon of their own that could drown out all this fervor that black music caused. It worked well, so today they call Elvis the king of rock-and-roll ignoring all the black history that existed before him and this is, undoubtedly, appropriation of culture followed by the dissemination of a whitened history.
But let’s talk a little about what’s happening now, specifically in the Brazilian music scene. The greatest example of appropriation of culture can be observed in some funk parties that happen inside the favelas (slums) today directed only toward the white elite with tickets costing R$150 (US$68) or more (2). The funk that was seen by the media as a culture that’s worth nothing, now attracts the middle class in large numbers to the point of stepping out of their comfortable and well located homes to invade the periferia (poor, outskirt communities). On the other hand, we also see some renowned artists like Seu Jorge, who recently played a show at a party called VIP, where the elites gathered to watch the Brazil and Mexico World Cup game. The tickets cost up to R$1,000 (US$450) and the only black in place was the artist. Another case is the artist Crioulo, who did a show just for Globo TV artists where the value of the tickets verged on R$200 (US$90).
Hence the question arises: are blacks only in fashion when they become a product? The rapper Criolo doesn’t represent national rap in the favela and it’s rare that people know his work. But his discourse, songs, and entire repertoire are constructed upon everyday life in the favela and empowerment of black people. The same thing happens with Seu Jorge. Why can’t the black favelado (favela resident) watch their shows and why does that message not reach this particular group? Why is the music that they produce become consumption only for the white middle class?
Much of this white middle class that invades the favela and makes appearances at concerts of black artists thinks blacks are very nice to hang out with, “have black friends”, but only when that black serves some purpose, when he is “useful”. When they think they can make use of the art that a black produces, when this black is a piece of entertainment and also when they can enjoy their hard work – the oldest way of exploitation – because after all, doormen, drivers and maids are always on standby to help with anything that is needed.
The issue is that listening to Criolo, Seu Jorge, wearing dreads, a turban, going to a funk dance in the favela, all of these things don’t make anyone less racist and we need to open our eyes to it. We are submerged in this whole process. Our role as black men and women is to try our best to respect our root culture, spread the love to our race, include ourselves and create afro-centered spaces, join forces and embrace each other. This is the only weapon, this is the only way to fight this system that tries to crush us every day.
We need above all to realize that racism is still ingrained within those movements that say “o preto está na moda” (the black is in style). Just because the white middle class like what blacks produce does not mean it likes to hang out with blacks in their everyday spaces, that it doesn’t practice racism every day with its porter, with its maid. A timely question is this: why is the black not in fashion when it comes to the extermination of black youth? Why is it not fashionable when our unemployment, inmate, homeless and underemployed statistics are higher? Because of this, the appropriation of culture is not beautiful, it doesn’t please me, it’s not a compliment, it’s a racist process that unfortunately we still don’t realize fully. However we need to, we need to talk much more about this.
Source: Blogueiras Negras, Black Women of Brazil, Sandoval-Sanchez, Alberto. Jose, Can You See: Latinos On And Off Broadway. University of Wisconsin Press, 1999.
Notes
1. A style of samba originating in Rio de Janeiro in late 70s/early 80s based in the traditions of samba circles held in backyard parties.
2. As the Revista Donna website points out, “in Rio de Janeiro, the cheapest ticket to a baile funk (funk dance) in the notorious Rocinha Favela costs R$150 (US$68) – those who live in the community couldn’t afford to buy them. Promoted and patronized by Rio’s elite, the Bailed a Favorita attracts bigwigs and celebrities from around the country. Some come to the city by jet, rub elbows the whole night in the favela at the entrance of the hill and only return home the next day.
This isn't isolated to America either.
http://blackwomenofbrazil.co/2014/0...k-art-forms-to-suffer-cultural-appropriation/