#i'm actually sick of this 'language is activism' trend

[alcego]

some of y'all need to focus less on the origin of a colloquialism because at this rate we're all going to have to use Corpo Speak 24/7 to avoid having one of you asshats going "erm actually let's not call things lame"

[sponfawn]

I would not exactly argue that Japan is obsessed with black culture... Certain subcultures in Japan absolutely are obsessed with and appropriative of black culture. But the overall pop culture in Japan is not nearly as obsessed with black culture as, for example, Korean pop culture in music and dancing (this isn't to bash Korea in favor of Japan, just a statement made in observation of trends in pop culture). However, that being said Japan is still ABSOLUTELY terribly anti-black and colorist, and often xenophobic in general, but particularly against black people. I think the concept of "inside vs outside" is a huge contributing factor to this, since its so ingrained into society that it even affects grammar when talking about the company you work for vs another company.

This largely has to do with monoethnicity, their history of isolationism, their history of imperialistic nationalism, Western globalization popularizing racist stereotypes, a cultural climate in which strongly voicing an opinion that contradicts the status quo is frowned upon, and colorism that already existed over a thousand years ago (which was largely due to classism, as common people such as farmers and laborers had much more sun exposure than noble people who spent the vast majority of their time indoors/in the shade, but is also due to oppression against the indigenous people of Okinawa and the Ainu who are also indigenous). And this isn't to say that Japanese people are somehow excused for being anti-black and colorist. On the contrary, I'm sick and tired of Japan's social stagnancy. Compared to America even, on social issues, Japan is painfully behind ( in race, LGBTQ+, homelessness, gender, body image, sexual harassment, etc). It's very slow going and difficult to make real social progress in Japan because of its unique history and culture. Again, this doesn't excuse oppressive systems and behavior, but it puts it into clearer, more accurate cultural perspective, which I think is very important when trying to change any culture. If you don't understand a culture, you can't make effective strategies for changing it or its people's minds. If you go about it using the wrong strategy, you're more likely to have your position rejected, ridiculed, and brushed off, if not actively pushed back against in retaliation. I'm haafu myself, and tho i have privilege in being half white rather than half black/latine/indigenous/etc, until rather recently being haafu at all was "undesirable". Now it's become "trendy" - if you're part white, that is 🙄

(There's actually a Ghibli movie that incorporates some of the themes of the "inside-outside" issues in Japan (moreso in the Japanese language English subs than the English dub). The main character is a haafu girl who has asthma and gets panic attacks because even tho she was born and raised in Japan (as were her mom and grandmother), and is like 3/4 Japanese, she still feels like and is seen as an "outsider".)

Being ‘hafu’ in Japan: Mixed-race people face ridicule, rejection

Hafu account for a small portion of Japan’s population. According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, approximately 36,000 children with a non-Japanese parent are born every year in the country, accounting for about 3 percent of births.