Alright before I go offline. Here's a bit about culture in my country. We hardly have culture appropriation here. What we do have, is alot of culture appreciation. But the thing is, what we call culture appreciation is what yall would call culture appropiation.

Bear with me.

When Guyana gained independence, we were a land of 6 different races. Our national motto itself is "One people, One Nation, One Destiny".

That being said, we don't see culture as a race or religion thing. We stick to our motto. We are one people.

The six races by the way are the Amerindians [natives], Europeans, Africans, Portuguese, Chinese and East Indians.

In these times, we have alot of mixed people as well. And also alot of Venezuelans and Cubans have migrated here in recent times.

And by that, I mean we celebrate each other's culture. This includes holidays and events. Now the reason I'm talking about this is to address the whole attire situation. All races in Guyana wear each other's clothing and it is acceptable by all.

Or let me say most, since I can't speak for "all" right. But I do mean it when I say that culture appropiation does not exist in Guyana. We were taught to celebrate each other's culture from very long ago so you would see wearing clothing unrelated to their culture alot.

Let me give examples.

When it's Emancipation Day [emd of slavery], people [any race] who go out to celebrate, they would dress in African attire. Maybe not completely, but it's a sign of respect to the culture in Guyana. National holidays means no school or work so +

the day before, Guyanese [all races] would dress in their attires for work or school, if admins allow, as a sign of appreciation [if they want to] and it is not considered wrong here.

This is the same for holidays like Diwali and Phagwah which is Hindu holidays. People would +

dress in traditional attire [again, Guyanese of all races] and it is NOT wrong. In fact, Hindus encourage and even lend their traditional wears to their friends [of any race] who doesn't own one to wear. Just so they don't have to buy cause it is pretty expensive.

Same goes for+

Hindu weddings. Everyone would dress [again, if they wanted to] in whatever wear they want and it is not considered wrong.

We also have a thing called culture day which is usually held in the same of of another national holiday, Republic Day [when we gained republican status].

Where schools and workplaces choose a day in the week for everyone to dress in traditional wear as a form of culture celebration [usually the day before Republic Day]

On this day, you go to school/work in traditional attire and it doesn't matter if it's your own culture.

So you'll see Africans wearing things like sarees or tunics. Amerindians would dress in dashikis or shalwars. Chinese would wear Kurtas or native attire. Basically any race would wear any clothing from any culture and it's considered a celebration.

Also, people would hardly wear European styled clothing cause that's what we wear everyday. So basically, you'd see more Amerindian, African, Chinese, Portuguese and Indian attires.

Now, the reason I decided to speak up about all this is not to make a justification. It is to show people that DIFFERENT PEOPLE/COUNTRIES have DIFFERENT BELIEFS.

People in Guyana wouldn't consider alot of things appropiation because right from the start of our independence +

we have 'tried' our best to live as one. And ONE thing that keeps us together is the celebration of each other's culture. Now racism exists here obviously, but I must say that it is NOT the same as most places. Our generation [mils and z] have moved past it. Most of us.

It's the older generations that keep racism alive and that is what breaks us apart mostly. Like I said, we have ALOT of mixed people here. So we believe someday, once our generation takes over, things will get better. Maybe just a little or alot, but it will.

Back on topic with this CA thing. The most important bit. While we see what you call culture appropiation as culture appreciation, PLEASE NOTE THAT IT ONLY APPLIES TO GUYANESE IN GUYANA. NOT out of Guyana or online. We do this on our land, amongst OUR people.

Now, me telling yall all these things is not to 'educate you'. It's to show you why some people have a hard time speaking about some things, because of their own culture they were raised on.

Now let me put myself as the example. I have personally NEVER worn traditional clothing.

Simply because I don't want to. It's not my thing to dress up. BUT I KNOW it is a wrong thing to do outside of Guyana. And even though I know it is something that is fine in Guyana [FOR GUYANESE! Don't come here and join us in this] We know it is wrong elsewhere. So we speak up.

I speak up. I know different races dressing in others traditional clothing is wrong outside of Guyana so I do not shut down my brothers and sisters and people who use their voice to say something is offensive. What alot of you call performative activism is simply support.

Performative is not giving a shit but doing it so you don't get backlash. Support is LISTENING AND HELPING TO SPREAD THE WORD OF PEOPLE WHOSE VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD.

So please, if I'm ever quiet about something you think I ought to speak up about, PLEASE EDUCATE ME.

Because chances are, I might not know what it means to YOU specifically. For instance, a thread was made by a muslim regarding a mosque being used as an aesthetic. I DID NOT know about alot of the things I learnt in that thread. And once I read it, I supported it

Because 1. As a non-muslim, it is only my right to get educated on the matter and nothing else.
2. It is my right to choose whether to support it or not AFTER being educated.

How do you know if someone is anti? If they don't listen to the people who are affected.

I chose to support that thread because it educated me. About the durag thread, in Guyana, durags are worn by any and everyone [WHO IS A GUYANESE] but like I said, that applies to this country alone. And if my black oomfs say it is offensive, then even though it is something that+

is fine here, it doesn't mean I will try to impose those things on them. NO! If someone says something is wrong or offensive to their culture, then it is and it is NOT your place to speak over them. Which is why, I also spoke up about the matter. My friends and even +

felt offended, so it was MY duty as a decent human being, to help them spread their word. To support THEM. Because their voice matter. If it's THEIR culture, you DON'T get to speak over them.

I'm getting tired of typing so ket me end by saying that I support BLM, LGBTQ, MUSLIMS and every other voice out there that is being oppressed by hatred. I will stand by MY people as an ally, even if it doesn't concern my personal life because that's what a decent human should do

Even if things don't directly affect me, if it affects others then it is my concern also. It is my concern to help be a voice for them. And I will stand by that. Always.

I did not proof read before sending these tweets so excuse the many typos there might be.

Also, I'm sure you might have questions. PLEASE ASK. I will answer them to the best of my abilities.

Oh by the way, these traditional clothing are just generally worn when there's an event. So like holidays, traditional weddings and such. Also most weddings in Guyana take two forms, first is the traditional, like hindu ceremonies or queh queh ceremonies. Then the European style

So alot of people would get married in their traditional wears then have reception in euro styled wedding dressed and suits. Which is cool. Cause most ppl [any race] attends the ceremony in the traditonal wear of what kind of wedding it is [that is, if it's like a queh queh or+

indian wedding or so] and then for the reception, they change into their party clothes. Heh. ALSO, just recently, one of our leaders, yes an actual government leader, showed up court in native wear and they didn't want to allow him in. But after reviewing the 'racism chart'

he was allowed in. He was a presidential candidate in the recent elections [which had ALOT OF MAJOR issues these past months] but yeah he showed up to court celebrating culture and they couldn't refuse his entry even after all they tried cause it shows the +

living up to colonisation rules and he wasn't having it.

Anyway idk what is this thread anymore, just wanted to show yall this badass though. Shuman is a legend and alot of people have shown regret not voting for him after learning more about him.