[Op-Ed] Words Matter

In this op-ed, titled “Words Matter,” OANA President Richard Khuzami draws on his lifelong experience as a musician to examine the debate over “cultural appropriation.” He argues that the term can blur the distinction between cultural exchange and genuine exploitation, discouraging the creative exchange that has shaped art and civilization for centuries. Khuzami contends that the real injustice occurs when artists and cultures are financially exploited, their work is taken without proper credit, or their contributions are denied. He calls for protecting creators from exploitation while keeping culture open to collaboration, influence, and artistic fusion.

Read the op-ed here.

Photo of OANA President Richard Khuzami at the Amnesty International Human Rights Festival, 2021