Respecting Our Influences: A Responsibility Beyond Citing

What is the best way to respect our influences? Is citing them enough? When the voices of others inspire our words and thoughts—ideas we claim as our own—how do we truly honor them?

Let’s talk about culture. From the outside, culture can be seen as an amalgamation of lived experiences, values, beliefs, and traditions shared by a people. Whether tied to a country, race, or creed, these collective stories are deeply personal. They’re the foundation of most behavior and art. Over time, culture is extended through practice, evolving as it adapts. With that understanding, it should feel instinctual to protect it. But what does protection actually mean?

Art—whether visual, musical, or performative—has always been shaped by outside influences. It’s a natural part of creation, born from the stimuli of the world around us. In its purest form, inspiration connects us to the essence of nature and the humanity of others. For me, there’s a sense of pride in seeing how people respect the art forms and cultures that inspire them. This is where my heart truly lies: in the preservation and protection of culture.

When people create, they often claim to do so out of love for their influences. Their work becomes an interpretation or even an explanation of their experiences with that culture. However, it’s become increasingly common for these influences to be consumed, diluted, and, over time, erased. This over-consumption damages the very connections it claims to celebrate. At its worst, it’s exploitation; at its best, it’s negligent. For decades, cultural over-consumption has led to misrepresentation, often leaving originators unseen and unheard.

As a Black creator, I’ve seen this happen time and time again with Black culture. Our influence can be found in every corner of the world. Yet, while our contributions are embraced, our presence often isn’t afforded the same grace. It’s discouraging to create in a time when plagiarism and cultural erasure feel rampant, especially in the digital age. The rise of artificial intelligence has only intensified this problem, with talented artists’ works stolen and distorted on a large scale, often in plain sight. Cornerstones like Hip Hop are stripped of their history and often misrepresented as something they’re not.

We must protect the people these stories represent and honor the history behind the art. Beyond celebrating culture, we must make space for the humanity of the people who live it. I believe anyone engaging with a culture outside their own has an unspoken responsibility to protect and advocate for it. This is more than acknowledgment—it’s about respect. The same way you’d take your shoes off before entering someone’s home, respect the spaces you step into. Protect what you take part in.