The New York Times/Daily 360 - Crossing Cultures: Black K-Pop Fans in America

[overflowers.livejournal.com]

Crossing Cultures: Black K-Pop Fans in America
by Nicole Fineman, Samantha Quick and Logan Jaffe

"What draws so many black fans to Korean pop music? We explore the question on a Friday night in Newark, where thousands of fans pour in to see BTS, one of the most popular Korean pop bands in the world."

SOURCE: The New York Times
(I don't know if there's supposed to be more to this or if it's just this video, it felt short.)

Comments

[lovealwaysliana.livejournal.com]

Someone got an A on their assignment!

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

I thought this was a good video. People are always like "why do black people like K-pop???" and I always think "well, why not" or "a lot of the music is similar to/taken from music that originated with black people in the U.S."

[jaelissi.livejournal.com]

At some point I just got addicted to kdrama and as it became my primary form of entertainment, I naturally drifted further and further into the music. Tho aside from BTS I'm not that into K-pop. I just like the same things I liked before the language changed to Korean. Its kind of the most annoying question I get asked, "why are you into this?" I dont know why I should have to justify it..? Especially when its coupled with the assumption that I must only be into Asian guys. Any time I even look in the direction of any random Asian guy, I must want to date him >_>

On some level its a bit insulting too, as a black woman that the fact that I'm learning Korean and Chinese is so outlandish to people. When I started learning Korean, I tried out a greeting on a friend I've known for years and the first thing out of his mouth was "wow! A black girl speaking Japanese" I said it was Korean and he's like "and she knows the difference!" I swear I wanted to punch his face in.

Sorry for the mini rant, but let's put this question to rest. It's not that weird or special for a black person to take an interest in non-white Asian culture

[pandaapple27.livejournal.com]

sometimes I feel like as black people we are really limited on what were allowed to like. Once we start liking things that society doesn't deem "black enough" it really starts to fuck with peoples minds and our 'black cards' are revoked.

I never understood having to justify it too. Like ok so i can watch a spanish soap opera and no one will say a thing but the minute I say I watch kdramas I'm suddenly weird and I'm a koreaboo who is obsessed with Asian men. like where is the logic???

Anyways my point is life is frustrating if you're a black person who doesn't act like "real" black person according to society :/

[jaelissi.livejournal.com]

It's the greatest thing in the world that you immediately turn into something else. You start out an oreo and just turn into a full blown Chinese (cause that's the only Asian out there, you know) - these are quotes from real life.

[rosiemotleymind.livejournal.com]

I got bullied for not being "black enough" and that was just for reading and being quiet. I wish black people weren't forced to fit in a box that everyone, even fellow black peeps, try to push onto us. I know I had to stop trying to be like "im not one of THOSE black girls" when I was younger because that's full of self hate and racist thinking. Black people should be able to just...live without all this shit on the side.

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

sometimes I feel like as black people we are really limited on what were allowed to like

Totally, black women especially.

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

i feel like this only applies to asian cultures, if you were learning french or something no one would be making fun of you but you're learning something that is asian.

eg- eating chinese food is ok
knowing the difference between american chinese food and real chinese food would place you in a weeaboo-esque catergory.

like its ok to like asian stuff casually but to learn about it gives off a different vibe

[jaelissi.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's because black and Asian stereotypes couldn't be farther removed from each other, that people can't wrap their minds around it. If you like Asian things so much as to actually partake, then you no longer fit into the idea of what is black. Their minds should tell them that you are human living in the same world, but stereotypes can be a powerful thing

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

MTE but I think it's because in the U.S., Asian cultures are seen as weird, like "why would anybody like that if it's not your culture". Blatant racism

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

I dont know why I should have to justify it..?

MTE... I don't ask people why they like bland food!

[jazzygyu.livejournal.com]

For some reason I didn't expect a video, I thought it was going to be an article. Its nice seeing them be interviewed. But yeah I agree that it seems short...like there should be more to it...like why is it mostly Jimin in the beginning lol. But yeah BIGHIT tweeted about this.

Anyways it took me a long time to really get into BTS in particular cuz of the anti-blackness. Like I use to be a huge bigbang fan (Specifically GD) but left the fandom cuz of anti-blackness. Since then I kinda decided I wasn't gonna get into "hiphop influenced" kpop groups cuz I found them to be really problematic. So I mostly only stuck with Infinite and more recently Seventeen. I was just a casual listener of BTS. I kept convincing myself that I just wasn't going to like them. Anyways I finally gave in and admit I like BTS lol. I really enjoyed HYYH series especially the "Forever Young" part of the series. Plus I think they've grown a lot and have learned from past mistakes so I feel okay with liking them. I remember arguing with a fan about racism in kpop and she was like "black fans being into kpop is like a women being in an abusive relationship and not leaving" And she basically saying black fans shouldn't like kpop. I dunno I remember being super annoyed with that analogy mostly cuz I am not a fan of people comparing anything to abuse...and secondly cuz it just makes it seem like its up to us to leave instead of Kpop companies educating their idols on what is and isn't acceptable. I do enjoy kpop but it has its flaws.

Anyways back to BTS I am totally okay with anyone doing "black music" as long as they do it without appropriation and I think BTS has sort of found a sound that works for them while still staying true to what has inspired them since the beginning. Like a lot of people want to put BTS in that category that once they got popular they dropped the hiphop persona. But I think they still very much like hiphop and R&B music. With that being said I shouldn't have read the comments. Lots of pressed fans mad about what the women in the video said.

[baekpedaling.livejournal.com]

re: video beginning mostly being Jimin. The whole video is filmed in 360 so you can actually move the video and see the other members.

[rosiemotleymind.livejournal.com]

I agree with you whole-heartedly. When I got into them it was when they were still pulling that "hip hop look" and I was like 👀 I'm not here for it. But they've totally grown and evolved with their sound. That's what made me stay. I may love them but I love myself more so if they really weren't worth my time I would have cut them off. Also oh my goodness at that analogy??

[overflowers.livejournal.com]

Also think it's short especially because I read a tweet from the people featured in the thumbnail, they had a great comment (in here (https://twitter.com/jintherapper/status/846768168597147648)), but it didn't make the cut.
Like a previous commenter said, you can move the video around or view the video on mobile then spin your phone around to see everything. Alternatively, here's (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc2wrV5m5yg) a flattened version that shows everything at once.

[callherblondie.livejournal.com]

I think black people and Asian people go together like peanut butter and jelly. We've all faced so much strife, hardship, and racism and continue to. Being able to bond through music and being influenced by each other's music should only be one facet of supporting each other. POC need to stick together and I really hope that Asians can stop with their racism against black people and their misplaced fear (lbr it's the white people we need to be worrying about).

[ocean-pig.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything. #asian

[supersunshiner.livejournal.com]

honestly


rise up against the white devil !!!!

[donaldjdrumpf.livejournal.com]

hdu!

[bob-dabuilda.livejournal.com]

technically you're not white. You're orange.

[callherblondie.livejournal.com]

*fist pump*

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

i think there is mistrust on both sides

some asians think black ppl are lazy and thats why theyre poor, this is usually from foreign born, first gen asians who don't really know american history or asians whose only access to black ppl is american media

i think some black ppl believe in the model minority and that we asians are handed opportunities because we're 'well behaved'

but what do you know, who is at the centre making these stereotypies... hmmmm

[rosiemotleymind.livejournal.com]

Like we allllll know who the real villains are...

[callherblondie.livejournal.com]

Ummmm hmmmm, we sure do!

[overflowers.livejournal.com]

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

LMAO

[callherblondie.livejournal.com]

some asians think black ppl are lazy and thats why theyre poor, this is usually from foreign born, first gen asians who don't really know american history or asians whose only access to black ppl is american media
You're right and it's so upsetting to me because black ppl were brought to America against their will as slaves and ever since then they've been set up to fail and the level of disadvantage and discrimination they face is mind-boggling. Like at a level that's hard to even begin to comprehend if someone is not black.

IMO I think it's long past due for Asians to be a little less well-behaved, I don't actually think it's gotten Asians that far in the grand scheme of things.

but what do you know, who is at the centre making these stereotypies... hmmmm
Who indeed? I don't think any of us needs more than one guess to get the answer to that one right lol.

[rosiemotleymind.livejournal.com]

Yeah I love seeing POC solidarity. Who else has our backs besides each other?

[callherblondie.livejournal.com]

Exactly. The "divide and conquer" thing white people have done to POC throughout history has worked all too well, it's high time for POC to get together and stop that shit. We need to stop fighting with and discriminating against each other (lbr it's exactly what white people want us to do)

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Me, too.

Whenever people say POC solidarity is a myth I feel sad because I don't want to discount their experiences but I always think "it doesn't have to be a myth."

[heyitsrocky91.livejournal.com]

It makes me sad too. It's not a myth. Somehow all the infighting makes it seem like a myth but we have to stand back and realize where a lot of the things we're even fighting for even came from in the first place. How did Asian Americans become the "model minority" and have their voices drowned out when they spoke up? How did black Americans become "lazy and uneducated" in society's eyes (even though black women are the most educated group in the US)? During the Civil Rights Movement, black and Asian groups came together. Honestly, that's the /only/ way we will defeat white supremacy in the US. We can't wait for white people to learn. Check each others anti-blackness or anti-Asian sentiments and ban together. Sorry this turned into a rant lol but I have so many feelings on this (I wrote a paper on black Americans and Asian Americans during the Civil Right's Movement back in undergrad lol).

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

I agree! Don't worry about ranting, it's important lol

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

this was very interesting and well done and such an important topic to explore. it's important for kpop to realize that, especially now that they're becoming more and more a global phenomenon, they should recognize and respect the places and people they get their inspiration from and the diverse group of fans that support them, instead of just drawing upon them for the money and recognition and making fun of them at the same time.

[mjspice.livejournal.com]

Oo interesting!

[bob-dabuilda.livejournal.com]

I remember in hs some 2 white dudes gave me some shit for listening to kpop (including my then bf) while Asian girls were surprised, but didn't care. In fact we fangirled together. None of us were Korean so nobody understood the language. Yet since they were Asian nobody thought it was weird.

Anyways kpop is full of hot people in flashy outfits performing catchy music while doing cool dance moves. That's why it's popular. The end.