“Blackness is not a costume to try on for size when searching for your own identity.”
This weekend, actor and comedian Nora Lum, popularly known as Awkwafina, released a statement addressing her continuing appropriation of African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
Matt Winkelmeyer / WireImage,
Lum originally reached the spotlight through viral rap videos and, in more recent history, many point to her roles in major motion pictures like Crazy Rich Asians and Oceans 8 as examples of her using a “Blaccent,” or a dialect of English used within the Black community.
The response online has been widespread, and there’s some confusion about whether Lum has apologized for and taken ownership of her actions or not. So, to make it clear, let’s go line by line:
Twitter: @awkwafina / Via Twitter: @awkwafina
Before even diving in, it’s hard not to recognize when Lum decided to release the statement. After years of criticism, she dropped her statement at the beginning of Black History Month, shifting the focus away from a celebration about Black people and their contributions to the US, and instead toward…herself.
why won’t she leave us alone it’s literally black history month https://t.co/yWCirkwGwM
Twitter: @yonoella / Via Twitter: @yonoella
The timing also coincides with Lum’s NAACP Image Award nomination, which has caused quite a stir.
At the top of her statement, Lum acknowledged that the Black community, “is a group that is disproportionately affected by institutionalized policies and law enforcement policies – all the while having historically and routinely seen their culture stolen, exploited and appropriated by the *dominant* culture for monetary gain without acknowledgement nor respect for where those roots come from, the pioneers of its beginnings and the artists that perfected and mastered the craft.”
LOL. Okay.
Note her early emphasis on “*dominant* culture” to offset her responsibility of appropriation, exploitation, and minstrelsy of Black culture.
All of these words and no accountability. You see no apology because Nora is not sorry. https://t.co/fX3uXtVDJC
Twitter: @theNiaLangley / Via Twitter: @theNiaLangley
To be clear, cultural appropriation can be performed by anyone belonging to a different culture or identity – not just by the dominant culture, as Lum proposed (thereby incorrectly suggesting that because she is a minority, she cannot appropriate another culture).
Later on, she says, “As a non-Black POC, I stand by the fact that I will always listen and work tirelessly to understand the history and context of AAVE.” However, the Black community has pressed Lum for years about her mimicry, showing that she does not, in fact, always listen.
The audacity to drop this during Black History Month & not even manage a single hint of remorse for that minstrel show bit she did for years?
Twitter: @karnythia / Via Twitter: @karnythia
Nearly half a year ago, she dodged questioning about the Blaccent during a press run for Shang-Chi, and claimed to be open to the conversation, but has been silent on the matter since – which has lead people online to speculate that the controversy has began influencing her career and money, ultimately leading to this statement.
Twitter: @itszaeok / Via Twitter: @itszaeok
Lum’s last slide in the four-part statement is the most convoluted. The line most picked apart online says, “My immigrant background allowed me to carve an American identity off the movies and TV shows I watched, the children I went to school with, and my undying love and respect for Hip Hop.”
Lum partially attributes her speech to her environment and the children she grew up with… in her hometown of Stony Brook, NY, whose population statistics are as follows: 86.83% white, 9.41% Asian, and 2.25% Black.
The thing I hate with awkwafina is ppl act like she grew up in the projects or something. She’s from a upper middle class neighborhood and Queens has a strong Asian community
Twitter: @sanriocraze / Via Twitter: @sanriocraze
The other issue with the “identity” Lum says she “carved” for herself centers around the definition of identity, itself. A person’s identity is who they are – through and through. However, Lum’s Blaccent largely appeared at the beginning of her career, helping popularize her, and continued in roles that skyrocketed to the mainstream. Recently, at the height of her career, Lum has seemingly switched the Blaccent off for interviews and award show speeches. It shouldn’t need to be said, but identities aren’t something you take off like old-fashioned pants.
@ShannaChristmas Awkwafina doesn’t even talk like that if we’re going to be really real. Which is why she dropped it after she blew up on mainstream media and only busts it out every once in a while to remind us that she’s an entire minstrel show 🙃
Twitter: @tsunderebunhime / Via Twitter: @tsunderebunhime
Finally, Lum said, “I think as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them – what’s correct and where they don’t belong.” And while it is important to find one’s own path, trying out Blackness and seeing how it feels, then throwing it to the side when it’s time to be “professional” does not need to be a part of that.
a whole lot of words and yet not once were the words “i’m sorry” or “i apologize” uttered. blackness is not a costume to try on for size when searching for your own identity only to then cast aside once it’s made you a career and millions to go alongside it. https://t.co/yaKs1OOpZD
Twitter: @jhaunay / Via Twitter: @jhaunay
Ultimately, the post reads as an explanation for her actions, and not an apology for how she’s hurt people, nor an acknowledgement of how she could be wrong.
All these words and not one apology.
Awkwafina could have just said: “You were right. I did use a blaccent to make a name for myself and that was wrong. I wholeheartedly apologize, and I’ll do better from now on.” https://t.co/3CDsw962B7
Twitter: @britnidwrites / Via Twitter: @britnidwrites
Lum has left Twitter since sharing this post, and I guess we’ll see what happens next.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalisitza/awkwafina-blaccent-statement-reactions
