The general consensus was that racism in Japan is not as blatant as it is in America.
Jasmine says: But it’s really hard to explain this to my family. They got angry and said, “Racism exists!” And try to fight me with it.
Arcel, who has spent most of his life in Japan, said it’s easier to forget about race. But his Los Angeles-based twin brother doesn’t really have that option.
“I have been here for almost 16 years,” he said. “So I was excluded from the Black experience in America. Initially, I never thought about it. Now I have to really work to stay connected.”
He later added, “We don’t experience the same vitriol and color doesn’t really matter.”
Arcel pointed out that not all black people have the privilege of leaving their country, nor can they leave a country that limits their view of the world.
“We must have empathy [for them],” He said.
One prompt asked participants about products that lightened their skin. Thankfully, most said they didn’t feel too much pressure to use them.
“I asked my mother why I married a black man,” Lime said in Japanese. I love.”
Unfortunately, during a trip to Nigeria, Lyme said he saw many people bleaching their skin.
Stephen got to the heart of the matter.
“We have to be honest here,” he said. “Most Japanese people are scared of us at first.” He adds that the fear starts early when his parents separate their children in front of black people.
Being gay, Stephen managed to make a name for himself as a dance teacher and entertainer. These tend to be more liberal spaces, where being LGBT+ and color doesn’t carry as much weight.
“A lot of Japanese don’t have a good image of Africa,” Chipa said. “Before, I used to be very emotional. Now, I feel a sense of responsibility to break down the ethno stereotype. I want Japanese people to want to know more about the good things about Africa,” he said. .
