But I didn’t. I asked the professor if both of us, her and me, could stand in front of the class to further explain cultural appropriation.

Once in front of everyone I asked her why she bought the shirt she had on. She responded with “because it looks cool”. I told her that I bought my shirt because I like the little mermaid, that I knew the story behind the character and that it belongs to Disney. I told her that even the brand acknowledges that the little mermaid belongs to Disney. The brand is giving credit to Disney for using something that belongs to them.

I asked her if she knew the story behind the graphics in her shirt and she said “there is none, it’s just a cool design”. The design of her shirt were 2 sugar skulls, some flowers, and a girl with a sugar skull patter on her face.

I told her that the design on that shirt came from the “Day of the Dead” that Mexicans have. That the brand never acknowledges that, and that people like her have no idea of the meaning of the symbols they’re wearing. I explained to her that the brand took a part of a culture and turn it into something profitable, something that is now mainstream, without acknowledging its people or having any respect for its meaning.

And with her same firm tone and I told her and the entire class, “THAT IS CULTURAL APPROPRIATION”. I walked back to my seat triumphant while she stood there not being able to lift her head. Best day of my college says so far.