It wasn't too long ago when Dr. Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Joseph Lowery, Malcom X and many others of the black race fought for unity amonst men, women, boys, and girls of all ethnicities of the great country called the USA and for the world at large. It also wasn't so long ago when Little Rock Central high school (Little Rock, Arkansas) opened the doors to "black" students, becoming the first high school to be desegregated. It was just yesterday that America voted Barack Obama as (the first black) president of the United States. Yet no matter how far we've come as a human race, there is still much work that need to be done.
I am working in Busan, South Korea as a guest English teacher at an all boys high school. Amongst the thousands of foreigners who come to Korea to teach, start businesses, etc., the black race is about 1%. Therefore, when one of us do something good or bad in the eyes of Koreans, we stand out being that there are only so few of us in this country. Not only that, but we at times get mistakened for being the person who did some good or acted an @$$ in these streets. I've had to disassociate myself from people of my own race (and others as well) due to being embarrased of their behavior. Jamie Foxx has a song entitled "Blame It On the Alcohol." Yet I say, blame it on being ignorant. That goes without saying. Come on, a person knows when they've had a little bit too much to drink. So don't give me that "I was drunk nonsense." Especially if it's the same lame excuse week by week.
What I'm getting at is that my skin color along is a punishment. Even in South Korea. I didn't expect to come over to a land where the people who were oppressed by the Japanese and is still at odds with North Korea to look down on me because of my skin color. I'm not crying about it. However, I do have a right to voice my frustrations. I've worked so hard to get where I am today, and it wasn't that I felt I had to because of my skin color. Yet it's because I set a standard for myself. However, it's sad when things I've accomplished throughout life go without notice or is overlooked because of my skin color. It's also sad that a "black person" in this country stand out more for the dumb ish he/she does than a person of the "white" race. Now don't think that I dislike white people, because I don't. My take on the racial issue is that if we're all human, then why not treat one another as such?
In this country, Korean women are treated as second class citizen, foreigners are third, with blacks at the bottom. Stereotypically, white men are the more dominant or the one's with the wealth. However, Mr. black man is thugged out and violent. As for me, to a Korean woman, and akwardly to a Korean man, I have a "sexy body " and is ridiculously huge (....go figure), which makes them pretty much admire or be scared of me. (Blame the media for that though!!) Yet in America, I'm a little dude. LOL! I know my white brothers and sisters get looked at strange and even talked about as well; however, they are more accepted in this culture than a black man. Yet if I give them some "musical" entertainment, I'll come out on top, because that's what blacks are known for and I'd be more entertaining to see. This has been proven. There are no advertisements here with black models, athlethes, doctors, lawyers, etc. Yet there are many with white celebrities on them. There are even white barbies here. Why? Because "white is the epitome of what it is to be beautiful and successful."
So I'll conclude this article by saying...Ignorance has no ethnicity; therefore, anybody can be it's prisoner!
I am working in Busan, South Korea as a guest English teacher at an all boys high school. Amongst the thousands of foreigners who come to Korea to teach, start businesses, etc., the black race is about 1%. Therefore, when one of us do something good or bad in the eyes of Koreans, we stand out being that there are only so few of us in this country. Not only that, but we at times get mistakened for being the person who did some good or acted an @$$ in these streets. I've had to disassociate myself from people of my own race (and others as well) due to being embarrased of their behavior. Jamie Foxx has a song entitled "Blame It On the Alcohol." Yet I say, blame it on being ignorant. That goes without saying. Come on, a person knows when they've had a little bit too much to drink. So don't give me that "I was drunk nonsense." Especially if it's the same lame excuse week by week.
What I'm getting at is that my skin color along is a punishment. Even in South Korea. I didn't expect to come over to a land where the people who were oppressed by the Japanese and is still at odds with North Korea to look down on me because of my skin color. I'm not crying about it. However, I do have a right to voice my frustrations. I've worked so hard to get where I am today, and it wasn't that I felt I had to because of my skin color. Yet it's because I set a standard for myself. However, it's sad when things I've accomplished throughout life go without notice or is overlooked because of my skin color. It's also sad that a "black person" in this country stand out more for the dumb ish he/she does than a person of the "white" race. Now don't think that I dislike white people, because I don't. My take on the racial issue is that if we're all human, then why not treat one another as such?
In this country, Korean women are treated as second class citizen, foreigners are third, with blacks at the bottom. Stereotypically, white men are the more dominant or the one's with the wealth. However, Mr. black man is thugged out and violent. As for me, to a Korean woman, and akwardly to a Korean man, I have a "sexy body " and is ridiculously huge (....go figure), which makes them pretty much admire or be scared of me. (Blame the media for that though!!) Yet in America, I'm a little dude. LOL! I know my white brothers and sisters get looked at strange and even talked about as well; however, they are more accepted in this culture than a black man. Yet if I give them some "musical" entertainment, I'll come out on top, because that's what blacks are known for and I'd be more entertaining to see. This has been proven. There are no advertisements here with black models, athlethes, doctors, lawyers, etc. Yet there are many with white celebrities on them. There are even white barbies here. Why? Because "white is the epitome of what it is to be beautiful and successful."
So I'll conclude this article by saying...Ignorance has no ethnicity; therefore, anybody can be it's prisoner!
Every country I have gone to it seems that lighter skinned people have a leg up on those with darker skin. In thailand there is a whole section of whitening creams in the grocery store. I understand once you apply it the side effect is that you lose all ability to dance and find your self with an insatiable desire to listen to old Buck Owens records.
ReplyDeleteThis is deep bro. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Its inspiring when you said you "set a standard for yourself" and I also can appreciate your stance, "if we are all human why not treat each other as such"
ReplyDeleteThats wassup. Stay encouraged bro. I know you will.
I completely understand what it is to be black or third class citizen as I was in the United States. It's uplifting that you have a higher sight and character to endure the oppressive and discriminitive nature of korean society. It's true, every country I've been, every job I've taken, every person I met has a discriminitive nature based on stereotypical ignorant beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThis stems from generations upon generations of disconnectivity to sacred truths. That being said, you've set a high standard for yourself and I admire that brother!
Cheers,
Gene Lee
founder, Universal Astraltheology
http://groups.to/astral.evolution
I wouldn't care what too many Korean people think of you ... they eat dogs and are insecure in the face of masculine men.
ReplyDelete- your hadan brother
Ok so tomorrow makes week three for me here in Busan. I must say I have not experienced any negative things since I’ve been here. I had another black teacher “prep” me for a few of her experiences. In the back of my mind I just knew I had it coming. Fat, black with a gap, cmon, I knew I was gone get it! Everyone old, young, (Korean that is) has been EXTREMELY helpful from the moment I stepped off the plane.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got off the plane in Busan I had so much stuff, I mean I was struggling! A Korean lady about 45, 50 CARRIED MY BAG FOR ME! She didn’t speak a lick of English she simply said, “HEAVY” and carried it off the plane for me, smiled, and handed it to me.
On the train people ALWAYS use their “Konglish” and ask me where I’m from, why, I’m here, and how long have I been here. It’s like I’m a celebrity, EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK TO ME. Middle age married Korean men LOVE ME! It’s crazy! They always want to be my “friend”.
Another example is at the baseball game I went to. I was walking to the restroom and this older Korean guy grabbed my hand and asked where I was from. If you know me I’m loud, and I was like America! I tell you, it was like I had a fan club! People was like yeah, America! After the game a few people ASKED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ME, gave me high fives and stuff. Bars, oh I don’t’ even need to buy drinks. I get free drinks!
My last and final example is with my cell phone. I remember a guy at Sfunz who spoke English. I was so frustrated with trying to get my phone so I walked around saw him, told him my dilemma AND HE WALKED WITH ME TO TWO DIFFERENT CELL PHONE COMPANIES, TRANSLATED FOR ME IN BOTH STORES, AND SAT WITH ME AND TRANSLATED MY CONTRACT!!!! He went as far as taking notes for me!!! I tried to pay him $20,00 won because I appreciated him so much and he was like no, no! He took a hour plus of his time to help me find a cell phone!
Like I said, it’s only been three weeks, but this makes me really interested to see if and when things change.
Ms. Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteIt's called the HONEYMOON stage. Like after you first get married, you and your honey enjoy special times together and is so in love. Yet after a while, he began to notice "you" and you notice "him" and then the two of you start clashing.
Yes, you will have good times here, and there will be a lot of helpful people (Korean and foreigners alike). Consequently, things won't always be that easy or easy at all. Everybody went through their honeymoon phase. Some people's phase last more than others; however, it will come to an end then you will be like WHOA, are you serious?
Middle age Korean men don't love you. They want you because you're fresh meat, i.e. an experience. And they'll blow up your phone, ask you to go on dates with them, and if they could do this or that for you. BUT THEY ARE MARRIED!
Yes Koreans will help you with some things; however, if it's a guy, it may not always be in good will.
I hope you to do have a great journey here. However, keep a holistic view about everything. Usually expats whom are so gunhoe about Korea diss everybody that says something negative about it (yet not to be direspectful in many cases). However when they began to see and experience things that are not so pleasing, they are the one's that cry harder and want an early escape.
Just live, learn, and make the best of your journey here.