I didn't even know hoop earings are a no-go now

that's just insane
Hoop earings aren't only part of African culture either
Tbh, I've never understood cultural appropriation as well. I feel like people waste time arguing over cultures than actually discovering different cultures. The world is so diverse and there are so many different countries and cultures out there, yet people are aguing over someone wearing braids.
I agree that braids are a huge part of African culture and many people today are being ostracised for wearing these braids to work whereas it's seen as a 'fashion statement' for others. I think that is a problem. But I don't think that's cultural appropriation. I though cultural appropriation meant taking a part of someone else's culture as your own. People aren't claiming that that they invented braids at all.
I feel like the meaning is so skewed that people don't even understand what it means anymore. I don't fully understand myself but people are using it as a means to target people and I think that is very wrong.