Desi C.: "Can S.h.i.t.e ever be called chocolate!"
It's a matter perspective. Experiment: Unwrap a "Baby Ruth®" candy bar, toss it into your local public swimming pool and observe how people react ;)

Academics, musicians and audiences can't tell the difference until they have a backstory (truth or fiction.) Their individual perspectives on race, nationality, politics, economics, etc. outside of the music then decide the issue for them (accurately or not.)

"The Wreck of the Sloop John B" is a vaudville pop tune masquerading as authentic Bahamian folk; masquerading as American pop-folk.

"Colby;" "Choucoune;" "Don't Ever Love Me" and "Yellow Bird" are four nearly identical Pan-American songs individual listeners will pigeonhole very differently according to their nonmusical attributes.