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Household name Kim Kardashian is the ultimate businesswoman in every sense of the word. She has her audience in a chokehold and is sure to profit off them with her businesses, sponsorships, and even TV show. If we took out the ethics or lack of, that becoming a billionaire in this society requires, I would offer her a round of applause. However, that’s not what I’m here to talk about. Today, we are talking about how black women are one of Kim’s main consumers despite her controversial past regarding black women and cultural appropriation. This apparent loyalty leaves me wondering: why?
Kim Kardashian And Cultural Appropriation
Unless you have been living under a rock, I’m sure you’re aware of the Kardashians’ long history of appropriation. From excessively dark tans, cornrows, Fulani braids, the list goes on. The reason why this is an issue isn’t because of the material itself. It’s the motive behind it. In my opinion, it all seems to be profit. If Kim were to play up an ethnic appearance because she loved it so much, although she would receive some side-eye, it would be less offensive. The problem lies when it is so clearly done to appeal to a black audience and an audience that appreciates black culture but not black people. When Zendaya wore locks to the Oscars, Rancic, the then-E! News anchor and Fashion Police host said Zendaya’s hair looked like “she smells like patchouli oil and weed.” This is a prime example of a black woman wearing their own culture and being condemned for it. However, when people like Kim and her sister Kylie wear similar styles, they are called praised by fans, said to have created a new trend, and some of their followers even told black people to “Calm down” and that it isn’t a “Big deal.” The lips, the body, and the hair, if it’s on a black woman, it’s undesirable. However, for the white woman, it’s the beauty standard. That is the problem.
Not only that, but Kim made the costume that much more obvious when she dropped the black act seemingly after she profited from it enough and society started to value other things. She and her sisters are now tanning much lighter, are much skinnier, and are slowly finding their way back to their Caucasian (and Armenian) roots. Which again would be fine, but the blatantly obvious use and then disposal of black culture is alarming.
Your Money Is Power
Despite all this, I open Tiktok and see tons of black women doing Skims hauls, bragging about how Kim is taking all their money, etc. Now, obviously, you are free to spend your money however you want, but it is interesting how the very women who are affected by cultural appropriation are so willing to look past it for some pink cotton shorts. We speak through our hard-earned money and who we give it to. That is the only language the ultra-rich seem to understand. Taylor Swift fans will band together to boycott an artist like John Mayer, a man they don’t know, for allegedly hurting Taylor Swift, a woman they do not know. Their loyalty, albeit alarming, speaks volumes. Black women, supporting Kim to such a high degree sets a precedent that we will accept just about anything. I want better for us and want to challenge our community to really pay attention to who we give our hard-earned money. So, maybe next time you want to get on the Skims site consider getting your loungewear from a black-owned brand, thus helping to further the career of someone in the community. We are more powerful than you think.
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