Appropriation vs. Appreciation: Hip Hop in the Fitness Industry
We have a lot of conversations with each other about the fitness industry, but the whole point of Fit with Finesse is creating a space where we can have conversations with you. This week we ran across a post that sparked a quick conversation and wanted to dive a bit deeper into it.
One of our favorite fitness professionals to follow on Instagram, Ashley Mitchell, asked her followers if hip-hop-themed fitness classes were cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation. There are plenty of fitness studios, brands, and franchises that have built their business around hip-hop culture – from the music to marketing materials and more. However, these studios often lack diversity – period. Where does the line between appreciation stop and appropriation begin?
As trainers, we play hip-hop music often. It's what we grew up listening to, and it's what makes us feel most in our groove. Also, hip-hop music as a genre is based on a beat or cadence that is deemed as a fit for fitness classes to keep clients' energy elevated. We've also both visited studios where we felt largely uncomfortable, whether it was from not feeling welcomed in a space or hearing offensive language blaring over a loudspeaker. Let's rewind just a bit…
Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation
It's important to start this conversation by defining the difference between the two. Cultural appropriation is when people of a more dominant group adopt customs, practices, or ideals of a less dominant group without appropriately acknowledging the originators. That last part, in the bold typeface…yeah, it's kind of important. We will come back to that.
Cultural appreciation is when there is a genuine interest in learning another culture. Appreciation is shown when a more dominant group seeks to understand and honor the beliefs and traditions of a less dominant group,
So, what’s the problem with the fitness industry?
The problem is, many diverse communities walk into fitness studios and are left feeling uncomfortable and under-represented. Since we are talking hip-hop and speaking as Black women, we’re going to use our background as an example. Note from here on out, “Black” could be replaced with any minority group and the questions still hold the same validity. Truth is, many fitness studios have built their culture on the backs of the hip-hop community.
Ashley’s post hits the nail on the head with a few questions that left us singing her praises in our chat. However, we also had to ask ourselves if we would be stepping on some toes with this post. Here’s some hard questions that need answers:
How many Black people are on staff at your studio? Is there just one Black trainer or one Black greeter? Or is the team made up persons from diverse backgrounds?
Does the studio have ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives for its staff? Or does the studio just check boxes when it comes to recognition? Posting a quote for Martin Luther King Day or reposting the bio of your Hispanic staff during Hispanic Heritage Month is not enough.
How does your studio amplify the voices of Black communities? Have they established partnerships that benefit minority business owners in the local community? Does the studio donate a portion of their earnings back to Black organizations or in support of diverse programs?
Is your music censored? And frankly, do you need so many hip-hop themed classes or could hip-hop be a couple of songs on a larger playlist of multiple genres?
How many Black clients are in the room? Are they regulars? Are they included in the overall culture of the studio?
At its best, fitness studios provide a fun space where people come to sweat it out and have a reprieve from the woes of the world. Music is a large part of that effort, and hip hop is one of the most influential and beloved types out there. The issue is less about studios playing the music but that they've built entire businesses off the back of a culture with little to no efforts towards inclusion or dismissing the concerns of those who are in the space (hello microaggression!). We urged our fellow fitness colleagues to take a step back and truly evaluate if they uplift the voice and presence of a community in their studios or do they just like the music?
Let us know your thoughts below or continue the conversation on our IG @_fitwithfinesse