Understanding Cultural Blackness
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What some South Asian males in the diaspora refer to as "Cultural Blackness" is how they incorporate elements of Black cultures, such as language, style, and behaviour, into their own identities. It is primarily about questioning the white norms that Black people frequently encounter in Western nations, rather than necessarily being a part of Black groups. In order to establish a place for themselves in the racial hierarchy, Thangaraj emphasizes how these components are appropriated without having a thorough understanding of Black people or their experiences (Thangaraj, 1–7). But this isn't an easy relationship. Although South Asians may take inspiration from Black culture, they tend to avoid Black neighbourhoods. According to Thangaraj, this distance shows a tension in which South Asians may employ "Cultural Blackness" to fight against their own marginalization while choosing to keep a distance from Blackness in order to avoid confronting the racial injustices that Black communities experience (Thangaraj, 8–12). All things considered, the concept of "Cultural Blackness" demonstrates that identification is complicated, particularly when it is impacted by several racial and cultural factors. South Asians who embrace aspects of Black culture are also separating themselves from it, which reflects the challenges of figuring out one's position in a racially divided society. This dynamic affects not only the construction of masculinity but also the ways in which various oppressed groups negotiate their social roles (Thangaraj, 12–18).