This post is based on a comment I got in one of my videos asking me, and I quote,
"How people feel about you at auditions? I mean did someone stares at you in a different way (or laugh etc.) because your not Asian or any racism thing happen?" - neltasticvids
I did a video answering the question here
and I thought it would be a good idea to make a blog post about it as well!
The commenter is basically asking, do I experience racism or discrimination, as a Black/African American girl, at K-pop auditions?
The short answer to this question is.....(drum roll)...............No!
BUT I know you guys want the long answer lol xD
So for the long answer, I'm not going to lie when I first started auditioning for Korean entertainment companies I did experience some awkwardness and feeling like I was out of place like I didn't belong there; kind of like semi impostor syndrome. But those feelings of not belonging and not "fitting in" were products of my own insecurities and lack of confidence in myself no one else EVER made me feel that way.
If anything, everyone has ALWAYS been kind, respectful and welcoming towards me. No one ever really stares at me and when they do it's not mean or unwelcoming stares. Because I live in Korea now and I'm usually the ONLY NON-ASIAN in the WHOLE room of course I will get some stares [from the Korean applicants] but it's never unfriendly or rude.. When they [the Korean applicants] stare at me it's out of admiration or genuine interest! They think it's cool that I'm auditioning for the same things they are.
They even go so far as helping me fill out my application form and showing me where to go, etc....
I have a cute experience to share ^_^
Every time I have gone to a JYP audition some random cute Korean guy is ALWAYS trying to help me! I'm SO SERIOUS!!! I don't know what it is but EVERY TIME I went to a JYP audition [here in Korea] there was always a Korean guy, who was also auditioning for JYP, that would help me. BTW these guys were REALLY good looking! All of the people that audition are all REALLY GOOD LOOKING so....it made my heart flutter all these good looking guys paying attention to me I felt special lol xD hahaha
Also the staff is REALLY nice and welcoming! They NEVER made me feel like I didn't belong there; they treated me with just as much respect and kindness like they did with the other Korean applicants. I was never made to feel out of place at ANY audition I've gone to. They assisted me to the best of their abilities and made me feel comfortable being there which leads me to the main point of this post.
Being a Non-Asian K-pop fan is hard ENOUGH as it is but being an Aspiring Non-Asian K-pop Idol is seen as you asking to get laughed at, mocked and publicly shamed. For YEARS and until this day I still get comments of people saying that I shouldn't audition [to become a K-pop idol] because Koreans are RACIST and they will be racist towards you so I shouldn't even try and that I would have a better chance in my own country as a singer blah blah blah yeah....okay -.-
Well I'm here to tell you that those opinions are exactly what they are....OPINIONS! they are completely FALSE! and therefore, they don't matter! ^_^
And you can take my word for it! As a Black/African American girl who goes to K-pop auditions and has been for the past decade! I can surely say that these people don't know what they are talking about because I have NEVER experienced ANY RACISM or DISCRIMINATION at ANY of the K-pop auditions I went to! And I have been to K-pop auditions in the USA, China and South Korea!
And like I said...I'm a Black/African American girl with an Afro! okay...I look NOTHING like the average Korean applicant. I don't have pale skin, I don't have long straight hair, I am not 43kgs! But despite ALL of that I still go to the auditions and I NEVER have any problems!
Basically what I'm trying to say is don't let someone else's opinion dictate how you should live your life. Because if you do that you're giving that person power to rule over you and persuade you and to make you believe that you aren't good enough when in all actual reality what you have right now IS good enough! You just need to take the first steps! Start where you are! Use what you have! and be consistent! and I promise everything will fall in place.
So...if you I want to audition for a Korean entertainment company my advice to you is to DO IT! JUST DO IT! What's a fail without a try? 2019 is year of DOING NOT SECOND-GUESSING!!! and no more of letting others opinions rule us anymore!
