feature: azealia banks talks cultural appropriation in new interview

As we already know, Azealia Banks is not one to shy away from putting forward an opinion. However instead of her usual twitter tirades, the Harlemite – who recently released her long awaited debut album, has used her candidness to discuss that one subject we’ve all thought about: the appropriation of black culture – and in particular – the appropriation of black women. Banks states in a new interview with Pitchfork, “The whole trend of white girls appropriating black culture was so corny—it was more corny than it was offensive. Trust me, I’m not offended: All the things I’m trying to run away from in my black American experience are all the things that they’re celebrating. So if they fuckin’ want them, have them.” Hmmm. I wonder who she’s referring to?

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

To that statement, Banks adds: “If they want to be considered oversexualized and ignorant every time they open their fucking mouth, then fucking take it. But more than that, the art is not good. These songs are not good. It’s like, ‘Oh my God, you’re doing this black woman impression, is that what the fuck you think of me, bitch? I need to meet the black woman that you’re imitating because I’ve never met any black woman who acts that bizarre.’ It’s crazy that this becomes mainstream culture. All of America is celebrating shit like that. It’s so weird.“

Full interview here.