Join us on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 4:15 pm EST to discuss our featured article: A Conversation of Celebration and Appropriation written by Panoramas Intern, Ashley Brown. To read the article please visit: https://www.panoramas.pitt.edu
Spiritual practices and brujería are gaining popularity on various social media platforms. From TikTok videos showing pick-a-card-readings, to Instagram reels explaining spells that anyone can do on their own, African diasporic religions have drawn widespread attention. But with widespread attention, misinformation can easily be spread. Evidently, because these spiritual practices have caught the attention of pop culture, appropriation is occurring all across platforms such as Tumblr, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. It is imperative that we actively combat the erasure and commodification of these spiritual practices.
Ashley Brown is a junior double majoring in English Writing and Spanish, minoring in Africana Studies and Creative Writing, and is pursuing certificates in both Latin American Studies and Sustainability. As an Afro-Honduran, her background influences much of her writing as she centralizes her work around the African diaspora within the Americas and the disparities faced by marginalized populations. In addition, she is the current President of the Latinx Student Association. She uses her position to educate the members of the organization, celebrate diversity both inside and outside of the university, and foster conversations that are vital to the growth and unity of the community. She will continue to use her platforms for advocacy and to shine a light on many of the systematic and societal obstacles faced by BIPOC.
Registration required: tinyurl.com/a3b191
