One creative work that really stands out to me when thinking about cultural expression and sociocultural impact is Lil Baby's song"The Bigger Picture." This track was released in 2020 during the height of the protests following the murder of George Floyd, and it became a raw, emotional anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. What makes this work especially powerful is that it doesn't try to sugarcoat anythingit speaks directly to the anger, exhaustion, fear, and sadness that so many Black Americans were (and still are) feeling.

I wouldn't say this song is an example of cultural appropriationin fact, it's the opposite. It's a Black artist speaking to and for his community. It's also important to point out that when music like this comes from someone with real lived experiencesomeone who has seen police brutality, systemic racism, and poverty firsthandit carries weight that can't be replicated by someone outside that community. This is the kind of work that could easily be misused or misunderstood if it were taken on by someone not deeply connected to the experience. That's why cultural appropriation is such a serious issueit turns real pain into performance.

Lil Baby used his platform to reflect not only on the George Floyd tragedy, but on the everyday reality of being Black in America. He raps about wanting to see change but being stuck in a system designed against him. He talks about being judged for trying to speak out and how confusing it is to grow up in a world where you're taught to fear the police instead of trust them. These are sociocultural factors that have impacted generations of Black peoplepolice violence, mass incarceration, poverty, and a lack of mental health support. All of this can wear on a person, emotionally and spiritually, and it shows up in art like this.

This song also reflects how identity is shaped by resistance. For Lil Baby, growing up Black in America means learning how to survive, how to speak up, and how to use music not just to entertain, but to educate and uplift. His identity as a Black man who rose from struggle is inseparable from the message of the song. That kind of expression helps others, like myself, feel seen and heard in a world that too often tries to silence us.

As a young African American, hearing "The Bigger Picture" for the first time felt like someone had finally put into words what so many of us were holding in. It wasn't just about the protestsit was about the pain behind them, the history behind them. That's what makes this song more than music. It's a moment, a message, and a mirror.

Respond to this discussion post answering the following questions

1. Respond to a peer who chose a different creative work than you did. How do the sociocultural factors your peer pointed out in their creative work compare to the factors you pointed out in yours?
2. Did you know there was controversy about the creative work your peer chose? Do you feel there was cultural appropriation involved?
   1. If so, how did the sociocultural factors your peer pointed out contribute to the controversy?
   2. If not, explain why you don't think the creative work is appropriation.

The creative work that I chose is the movie "Mulan"

paragraph format