Amandla Stenberg is a role model and example for many young women and girls on how to speak out about social issues. Stenberg might be a name you recognize right away for her role as “Rue” in The Hunger Games. Who knew she was so informed and could effectively speak for an entire community?
The Black cultural agenda has never been defined and spoken about as much or as widely until the social media revolution. Stenberg, 16, allows her voice and ideas to be shared on social media. Why did Stenberg voice her opinion? Black culture being stolen or borrowed for cool points but with no commitment to the very race that you borrow from, that is the issue addressed in Stenberg’s “Don’t Cash Crop on My Cornrows” YouTube video.
Many White celebrities borrow cornrows and twerk moves as Stenberg shares, but are not committed to learning about Black culture, just gaining cool points for profit. Stenberg calls out her young adult peers in a way that is so refreshing.
Reserving cool points for celebrities who borrow from our culture might be the next Black movement. Stenberg, cheers to you and your team for showcasing why we can’t give up on the next generation of young Black people.
Is Stenberg channeling a civil right activist like Angela Davis? Is she hoisting our pain for others to see for humanity’s sake like Oprah Winfrey? Amandla Stenberg is still a teenager, so she did not include dating Black men as Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have done, as part and parcel of cultural appropriation.
