Feb 25, 2023 18:00:00

What did black people who suffer from racism feel when they came to Japan?

Rooted in the shooting of

Trayvon Martin, in which an African-American high school student was shot dead by a vigilante, and the George Floyd case, in which an African-American man was murdered by a police officer, racial discrimination against blacks has been Black Lives Matter , which appeals for the elimination of discrimination, has spread worldwide. Nevertheless, there is still a deep-rooted sense of discrimination overseas, and a deep-rooted fear remains, especially in the hearts of those who have long been subject to discrimination. American public radio NPR has released a video interviewing an African-American who has lived in Japan for many years to see if he has ever been subjected to such racism in Japan.

Living While Black, In Japan | All Things Considered | NPR-YouTube


In response to the incident in which George Floyd died after being held down by police officer Derek Chauvin, the interviewee said, 'It's scary that something like this could happen to my husband and son.' But what happens in my home country,” he says.

The interviewee replied, ``I was afraid that someone would report us to the police,'' and ``I was thought of as a wonder rather than a human being,'' and recalled that he had experienced discrimination in his home country. Interviewees have a strong fear of the police, and some say they get particularly nervous when white police officers approach them.

When confronted with the police, one person says, 'I have to behave perfectly,' while another says, 'I feel helpless.' Even though you haven't done anything wrong, the police take the attitude that you've done something wrong and sometimes take a provocative attitude.

The interviewee said that he moved to Japan because he wanted to study abroad, and because he liked the language and culture, so he wanted to move and work there. There are various places of employment, such as music and entertainment, sports trainers, and restaurants.

For the interviewee, Japan is 'a place where you can feel a sense of openness that you have never experienced before.' It was refreshing to be able to do things in Japan that were not possible in the United States, to easily catch a taxi, and to be able to receive the same service as other customers when they went to the store.

One interviewee said that 'television has a big influence' on how blacks and African Americans in Japan look. He has said that he has been asked strange things and misunderstood because he is black, but there are also people who say that they have politely corrected their mistakes each time. One person argues, 'Most of the time, people understand. In Japan, ignorance is often the cause, but ignorance can be defeated.'

Regarding the sense of discrimination in Japan, one person said, 'I have never felt discriminated against because I am black. I do feel discriminated against because I am a foreigner.' I feel that people will treat me with respect.' Also, 'There are times when I gather eyes because I have never seen black people, but the only difference is that there is no hate in people's eyes when someone sees me,' a man who says and.

In response to the question 'Do you want to go back to America?'

Many people say that they were able to gain mental peace, and one said, ``In the end, freedom means being able to live in safety. It's a thing,' he said.