TikToker Victoria Alexander–a.k.a. TikToker @victoriaalxndr, an equity and justice Ph.D. student–had a viral response after being asked to give a cultural appropriation keynote before a hip-hop goat yoga session led by a White woman.
In the caption for the video posted on September 7, Alexander wrote:
“Wanna learn about cultural appropriation and then go to hip-hop goat yoga aka DO some cultural appropriation??”
At the beginning of the clip, the creator noted:
"This is what I mean when people do not have intentionality behind their 'diversity and equity work'."
During a call with the organization that asked her to give the keynote, Alexander asked them what they had planned before and after her slot if she were to agree to participate.
She recalled:
“They say ‘right after you, is yoga and we’re really excited about it."
"That’s a yellow flag. That’s a pause, I’ll tell you why.”
The organization told her there would be a “hip-hop goat yoga” session following her keynote.
When Alexander asked who was leading the class, they shared with her a photo of a White instructor with a goat on her back.
Alexander didn't have an immediate verbal response, but her expression apparently was very revealing.
Sensing she was not pleased, the organization asked if something was wrong, to which the TikToker responded with her thoughts.
“Yeah, a couple of things are just a little bit wrong. First of all, yoga is a Hindu practice and hip-hop is a Black cultural art form so I’m not so much loving that they’re being conflated and then instructed by an American White woman.”
When the organization said they already booked the yoga instructor and still insisted Alexander take part in the keynote, she peace'd out.
“Unfortunately my values do not align with the goals and values of this program," she said.
"Thank you so much for thinking of me. And with that, I bid you good day.”
TikTokers responded accordingly with their thoughts.
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
@victoriaalxndr/TikTok
Oof.
Awkward.
@kileywrestling/Bluesky
