LogFAQs > #879303182

http://www.japantimes.co.jp./user.php?user=2017/02/19/our-lives/african-american-idol-aminyan-difference-double-edged-sword/

Her name is Amina du Jean, a Detroit-native:




Some interesting excerpts:

"I think that the term 'cultural appropriation' is overused and takes away from real appropriation," Amina says. "I'm a naturally feminine person so me acting feminine or cutesy isn't appropriation, in my opinion, but rather who I am. I think ironically, those who think a black woman cannot be naturally feminine-behaving are racist and limiting themselves. Personally, nonblack people having cornrows or dreads don't look aesthetically good to me, but as long as they aren't claiming them for their own, I won't throw up my hands about it.

"Half of Detroit public schools are defunct and Flint, Michigan’s water is poisoned with lead," she continues. "I'd rather concern myself with that than a nonissue such as appropriation. While I don't approve of people taking on a Japanese name when they’re not Japanese or wearing a geisha costume, I personally don't understand how someone can appropriate pop culture. Most aspects of pop culture are directly taken from other aspects of traditional culture. It's an amalgamation. I don’t think the word 'appropriate' would be correct here by its definition’s sake. Even if so, to me it’s a nonissue.”

She would eventually join a J-Idol group called Chick Girls whose concept was "Hollywood style," fashioned less on AKB48 and more on Girls Generation. I watched some of the group's YouTube videos and they looked like they got along really well, so I asked her how that was going. For the most part it’s been working out really well for her, she told me, but there was one incident.

"The leader of the group hated me for some reason and tried to turn everyone in the group against me," Amina says. "But I figured I'm new, so I would try to gaman, you know -- to persevere. But it got ridiculous, so I told the management that I didn't want to cause any problems but that girl is talking about me, and saying stuff like "Oh, I didn't know you could speak Japanese" -- just being rude, you know? And apparently they'd gotten complaints from other members of the group, so that girl got put out. Other than that it’s been pretty good."

"Sometimes I think it would be easier if I were white," she adds. "Because I've seen it before: A white girl who can't speak any Japanese will get a bigger part than I could get. In America that white girl wouldn't be considered beautiful, but because in Japan white is automatically pretty or exotic, they'll get the part. So I kinda have some -- how should I say, um -- resentment towards that. However, at the same time, if I weren't black, I wouldn't be as special. Nobody would mind, nobody would care. I do'’t want it to be a niche, but that’s what draws people in. Then I can inspire them with my personality and perseverance, and I think that's for the better."

Pretty cool.
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