Sam Abell Quotes

The concept of cultural appropriation is nothing less than an intellectual fence: Keep out.

Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them.

Wherever you go, respect the local culture or you will suffer.

Cultural appropriation is a big problem, but the thing is, I didn't invent my life. I really lived in Africa.

But here’s the thing: Appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated, but is deemed as high fashion, cool, or funny when the privileged take it for themselves. Appropriation occurs when the appropriator is not aware of the deep significance of the culture that they are partaking in.

Africa doesn't leap on you immediately; it seeps slowly, and it's incredibly important to be respectful and humble there.

If you decide to move to another country and to live within its laws you don't express your disregard for the essence of the culture. It's a form of aggression.

No one is helped when cultural critics use their voices irresponsibly.

I say the same thing that I've said for decades now, which is: don't go over to Japan trying to change it, thinking that you know better. Go there trying to understand.

Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures.

I don't think anyone could write about another culture and get it 100 percent accurate.

We have to allow ourselves the freedom to make mistakes, including cultural mistakes, in our first drafts. I believe it's okay to get cultural details wrong in your first draft. It's okay if stereotypes emerge. It just means that your experience is limited, that you're human.

I write for the people I grew up with. I took extreme pains for my book to not be a native informant. Not: 'This is Dominican food. This is a Spanish word.' I trust my readers, even non-Spanish ones.

I'd like to state that Spike Lee is not saying that African American culture is just for black people alone to enjoy and cherish. Culture is for everybody.

When you travel the world, you have to watch and you have to listen. We're not going to come in to Ireland without an understanding that there's a history that's very sensitive.

We are yet to have a conscience at all about the exploitation of human cultures.

I can get along great with the Hispanics. In fact, I sure would like to meet them, even the politicians, maybe in the back room or whatever, have a couple of beers and try to explain. But they need to understand that I enforce the laws. I want to listen to them and hear their problems. I want them to tell me what their problems are.

I try to study the background of the country I am in and what were my hits there, so I can at least give them some of what they want. It's like a wedding - give them something old, something new, something borrowed and definitely something blue!

Believing in each culture's right to be understood by the other party without any form of falseness or distortion is paramount.

We have no right to thrust our advanced views on our less advanced countrymen.

… technologies that convene different cultures do not always help them interact peaceably.

Other people's traditions look charming and decorative and exotic. They're nice places to visit on holiday, but you wouldn't want to live with one.

No matter how certain I am about some culture or some group of people, my opinions are only as accurate as the amount of time I've spent with them.

I don't think that people understand enough about each other's cultures any more.

What I want to tell people is that you can mix the culture a little bit and it's not always appropriation.