The act of claiming an identity can be transformational. It can provide healing and empowerment. It can weld solidarity within a community. And, perhaps most importantly, it can diminish power from an oppressor, a dominant group.

~ Simon Tam

Simon Tam Community Dominant Identity Oppression Power Privilege Race Racism Reappropriation Reclaiming Social Justice

The idea of reappropriation isn’t a new one. The process of turning negative words, symbols, or ideas into positive parts of our own identity – was used for social justice movements long before hipsters thought that being ironic was cool. Whether it is repurposing a racial epithet or taking on a stereotype for sociopolitical empowerment, it’s an important process that has been around for thousands of years and continues to change society today.

~ Simon S. Tam

Simon S. Tam Identity Irony Race Racism Reappropriation Social Justice Stereotypes Transformation

I don't like the way our community throws the word around like it's water, because it's a derogatory term. A lot of times people come up to me and say, What's up my nigger? I'll respond, Nah, wait a minute. What? Oh, oh, what's up my brother? Sometimes you have to check people, because if it gets loose with us then white people will start to use it. I know a bunch of white people that started to get lax so I had to check them. Some black people were afraid to check them because they thought it was cool. You can never turn that word around and make it cool Nigger is just derogatory, it's wrong, and it's a fucked up term. It's not a word of love, Yo, what's up my nigger? Fuck that. You can't turn the word puss around. Go around and say, What's up pussy to a brother. He'll try to kill you. What's up dickhead? You can't turn that around, so you can't turn nigger around as hard as you try.

~ Chuck D

Chuck D 1991 2006 Derogation Epithets Nigga Nigger Public Enemy Racism Reappropriation Reclaiming

Racism doesn't have to fit our stereotypes for what it is in order for it to hurt - but it also means that tools for dismantling the system don't have it fit our stereotype either.

~ Simon S. Tam

Simon S. Tam Race Racism Reappropriation Social Justice

I believe that reappropriation can be a powerful tool for creating social change. Sometimes, things like irony, satire, or humor are more effective in getting at difficult truths or concepts like white privilege, orientalism, and the exoticization of culture.

~ Simon S. Tam

Simon S. Tam Asian Asian American Orientalism Race Racial Justice Reappropriation Social Change Social Justice The Slants