"I'm Culturally Japanese ..." (Black in Japan) | MFiles
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- In this episode of The Melanated Files (MFiles) we introduce Tiffany, an American citizen who was born and raised in Japan. Not only is Tiffany culturally Japanese, but her native language is also Japanese. Watch as she shares her experience living in Japan without knowing she was black and the identity crisis she faced when she moved to America for six years. Watch to hear her story.
You can find Tiffany on Instagram here: @tiffrichx
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The Melanated Files or the MFiles is a Black Experience in Japan's series that highlights black people from diverse countries across the globe. It focuses on sharing the story of the individual; who they are; what they do; what they are passionate about; and what their experience has been so far, as a black person living in a foreign land.
Melanated is a word that is regularly used in the black community. It means “full of melanin.” Files is in reference to the collection of stories of black people that will be shared in this series.
If you would like to be featured or know a black person living in Japan or another foreign land, who would like to be featured, please send us a message on our Facebook page: / theblackexjp Or tweet or DM us @theblackexjp
Visit our website: www.blackexjp.com
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Music:
Buddha by Kontekst / kontekstmusic Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported- CC BY 3.0 creativecommons... Music promoted by Audio Library • Buddha - Kontekst (No ...
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Thank you for watching!
#blackinjapan #mfiles #culturallyjapanese
Thanks for watching! Stay tuned for weekly videos on the black experience from across the globe.
I think that you would have a very interesting conversation with another RUclipsr. Her name is Maryjane Byarm. While she was not born and raised in Japan. She has lived there for many years and looks to be perhaps you age.
You are african.nippon.or.afroasian.but.you.are.african.bantu..period
man i really feel bad for this girl, america confused her so much knowing history is one thing but the whole im more black than you thats just Hate mentality its shameful
chill bro she's human the rest is up to her @@oludummo4593
Glad you are able to enjoy your life . American's are racist which is very very sad.
You're Japanese Tiffany. Just like me and all of us "Japanese nationals". The passport and the colour don't define you, if you speak fluently Japanese, understand the culture and think you're Japanese, you are Japanese. We are very proud of having you here.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I can’t wait to Japan and Korea. This world needs people like you.
This!
That's how we see it in Russia too
Well imma study some Japanese cause I need to join you bois
I honestly think Americans need to remember that not every black person around the world identifies with black American culture or the struggles that people face in America. Even black Canadians may have a different experience despite also being in North America. I'm afro-latina and I only realized all these concepts about cultural appropriation etc. because of the internet when I was like in my mid-20's. Sometimes I feel like the african-American experience is the one speaking for us all because of the media that's being exported all around the world, when in fact, black people have so many different cultures depending where we were born in the world. Even worse are the stereotypes portrayed by the media.
Facts 💯
Careful with that. Every Black American doesn't have the same experience either. If you run too far with the idea that America is the center for racial identity issues, you may be ignoring the feelings of someone right next to you. Racism didn't start in the U.S. and it certainly hasn't been cured in every country that isn't the U.S.
Thank you. Even the fact that "black" is used so carelessly when it denotes internalized colonialism...
Shantel Caynes There are Canadians who wouldn't limit racism to a solely American experience. Honestly some of y'all just have obvious self hate issues.
True. Even black Africans don't relate to so many black American struggles when we are expected to as fellow black people.
Don't get the dislikes, It's so rare to find such and interesting Interview.
Every video has dislikes no matter what. It’s either bots or racist people.
@@xeno4693 so just because she is black and someone downvotes they are automatically racist? Wonder why this type of talk ONLY comes up in black videos. Maybe ppl just didnt like the video
Saturn Argentavis I mean can you think of any other reason. This interview was amazing and really eye-opening.
Her experience is different from the Japanese half black half Japanese guy he said they told him he was not Japanese you can look him up 2 on youtube
Jealous envy and ignorance
I am a Japanese-American. She is culturally more Japanese than I am, and I am okay with that. Love to see people finding their place in life!
❤️
Your just American.
@@Wenkyplays no they are both. They said what they said. I'm Jamaican-American. Because, it refers to my ethnicity and my parent's place of origin. All my family originate there.
Saturn sweetie, you're just unitedstadian, not japanese at all, you have japanese ancestry and that's okay
Samuel bum you don’t know her/ him. And you have no right to tell someone who they are. Maybe he/she is from Japan and grew up in America. It’s okay to be both.
I could watch her talk all day. She's so naturally beautiful.
Hasn't been brainwashed by the left
Oh yes,she is 😘
Tia Bear its a joke on how radical left women are ugly
@Tia Bear Cause TRUMPTARDS DONT SELL THEMSELVES NOWADAYS!!
Tia Bear no he meant uglies steer left bc they feel victimized which is very slightly true but not by much
"I saw color, but I never saw race" wow.
Same
I wish all humans were like that.
Japanese people are very polite if there are cameras but do not be fooled by these images. They are still very racist. Much much more so than White people.
@@Cazarace i get that they are racist, but really... more than white people.... bit of a stretch there...
Japanese is not as racist as Chinese in China
It's a beautiful thing when a black person doesn't know what racism is. I love Japan! 💓
They made her feel like a foreigner cause they never accepted her as a Japanese. That's typical of a person of colors experience in Japan.
I could say the same thing, leaving Jamaica and coming to England at 14 years old, it was the first time i knew that racism exist, cause for me coming up in jamaica all i see was a next individual as myself. it is so sad really.
@@tanniquezenobia8690 is when my Spanish supervisor call police on me I experience racism 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲 Jamaica I say everyday🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲.
many people like her experience alienation and bullying though Japan still has racist stereotypes about black folks I'm glad this girl had a good experience but that's not the standard
I learn from the killing of Dr King.
"I saw color but I didn't see race"
Powerful ✊
Bc race is a construct, it's not real
@@ahalpert um race is real, and relavant but i appreciate the interveiw
@@timmusoni6960 "There is no subgroup between the immediate breeding population and the species" said Adolphe Reed. "Race is not real, it is a tool to demean people or achieve some end" said Toni Morrison. If race is real, then define it. You'll see that it has had different definitions over the last couple hundred years as defined by whoever the ruling class was at the time. A popular example, the Irish were considered a different race by Anglo-Saxons, now they are considered part of the same race in America. Germans sought to define Jews as a different race and history shows us how wrong that was and what their real cruel intent was. If race is skin color than Indians and Africans are of the same race. If it is hair texture then Indians and Europeans are the same race. But race is a fantasy, a particular technology of hierarchy and oppression. It has no basis in biology or culture or reproduction. It exists bc wealthy and powerful people, at certain points in time, have said it exists and spent a lot of energy convincing the masses for personal gain. A lot of money and power rests on the historical supposition of race. Read Orientalism by Edward Said. He explains the historical construction of the so-called "Orient" by prominent Europeans. Just as people before us believed fantasies we cannot begin to comprehend, like witchcraft, our epoch is defined by a belief in the completely fictitious concept of race. We are no more enlightened despite all our science. In fact science is often limited by the erroneous conclusion that some biological issues are somehow attributable to so-called race. The US is the only country that does not take socio-economic data into account when dealing with public health. In its stead is that ever nebulous "race." So follows the narrative that Native Americans and black Americans die earlier than white Americans because of race or culture instead of the harsh reality of their/our socio-economic situations. You can see how the concept does more harm than good. Where does one race start and the other stop? What about black Americans is inherent to all black Americans such that we could be called a different race? It is a lie to conceal the very real intermixing of various ethnic groups, both black and white and other, that actually occured here, in tragedy and otherwise. Race was solidified as a construction during Jim Crow and during the Neoliberal period to justify economic oppression and social stratification. Are North Africans and Arabs a black race or white? The mental gymnastics you have to jump through to maintain the ideology of race is unfortunately all that is real here.
@@BettyCollins88makes you think
@@timmusoni6960 Well, the way used for humans doesn't make sense. It is predicated on the idea that a few minor differences make an entire different race...(this is actually used to say that black people are a lesser life form back in the day.) But as noted in scientific american: "Racial categories are weak proxies for genetic diversity and need to be phased out".
Different bone structure, melanin etc. don't make a different race. That's like saying a bulldog and a German shepherd is not of the dog race, cause of the differences. There is simply the human race and variation within that kind.
Wow that says so much ."I feel more free in Japan than America."
I even feel more free here in the UK than the US where I grew up.
It's not because of the white people
@@julliusblackwell6239 no but it's part of it.
It has to do with authority. I wonder if this lady has ever been arrested before. I heard the criminal justice system is worse in Japan. And that's saying something when comparing to America
it's because Japan has no history of oppressing black people, that's always going to weigh on Americans
As an adult I feel more safe in Asia. My kids are safe. I never have to worry about my daughter, my son or my husband leaving the house and coming back safely.
I worked for the Japanese Government for 8 years and by far I faced less discrimination than I ever did working for American companies. I had a very difficult time trying to transition to American corporate culture. I ended up leaving and working for myself. I couldn't adjust.
so based on your name and comment, i can assume you're back in Japan?
No I'm in the states.
Do you speak Japanese fluently? That is great you worked for the government. Why did you leave?
Oh word you can work in their government even as a foreigner that’s great! I was always worried that I couldn’t
I agree white corporate America has added stress in my life. Thankfully I work for an international company.
I gave birth to my daughter in Japan and she was raised there for a few years. When she tells her American friends that she is from Japan, they look lost.
Is she half Japanese? or did she grew up there? My brother was born in Italy, but he doesn't have Italian ancestry...although for his birth year he does qualify for citizenship if he performs community service for a certain amount of time. But if he says he's from Italy....we would just laugh. Does Japan offer the same as Italy for claiming citizenship? I lived in Japan and loved it, but I'm Latina and just enjoyed my life there....minus all the earthquakes
😂😂😂😂
they look lost because they are lost, they don't get it
cause se is not from japan
demonking I mean if that’s true, then how do you explain what is and isn’t American?
Ethnically, 90% of the population isn’t American nationality-wise, but either European, African, Islander, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. (Some Arabic people there too) we only have a small amount of people who are ethnically American.
And That’s why I particularly disagree there. We’ve had people of different races and ethnicities represent us.
Nationality and citizenship are the same thing. What you are talking about is Race/Ethnicity. In America, if you are born in our country, you are of our nationality, meaning you are a citizen of the land. It may be a perspective thing, but it comes to show how that works even in other countries where they took in different races through colonization, slavery, etc.
And the fact America won’t accept this girl as a US citizen means that she either is a Japanese citizen or she has no home to go to.
My dear you are Japanese, don't get drawn into the racial divide of the West.
She's Japanese, but the way that she speaks and her mannerisms are very Black American, not Black-Japanese.
Or the racial divide of Japan either. Very vain people who want to try to say who is Japanese.
The former Miss Japan, who is 1/2 Black has experienced many racial issues and many in her country did not want her to represent them, because they felt like she wasn't Japanese enough. Also, many Koreans experience prejudice there.
Also, how can skin color not matter in a place that is obsessed w/ pale skin and bleaching?
@ she defines herself no one else. If you're born in a country you're a native of the country. But some countries legally build institutional racism in to their policy.
Her experience in Japan is really positive. You can tell how much she loves the country. I am glad she is back in Japan and I hope her experience stay positive.
I was told the way Japanese people see it, if you are raised and know how act and follow Japanese social rules, you are Japanese, no matter the color . You will be treated with the same respect as everyone else. However, if you move to Japan, even if you look Japanese but have not been raised by American parents for example, and thus you do not know how to follow their social rules, they will avoid you like the pest and will not consider you to be Japanese at all. So for the Japanese, it is not about how you look, it is the socialization , manners and language that matter to them.
She is a disgrace to enter black race
@@williamsbaffour6746 hater
@@Chalize evridy black we get a lost cheald and that's great concern for aware enter black race
PokeMe don’t even respond they comment negative stuff under every commenter this person is just bitter and jealous of this girl
Her speech pattern is very Japanese even when speaking in english. Shes beautiful , bright and seems very down to earth.
i thought the same thing but shewed away the thought. I thought it was a odd thing to say.
I agree however her speech pattern makes it hard to follow her at times.
Miss Mena lets hear you speak
Her speech pattern is normal. Shes trying to tell a concise and articulate story like any other young adult.
tetsuya uezato bro it wasn’t an insult get your insecure ass out of here
@@tetsuyauezato5536 I speak very well, thank you. You need a hug? Seem a little uptight there buddy. Nothing I said was an insult lol. I've studied colloquial dialects, speech as well as music (to which there are similarities), and just pointed out that her speaking rhythm is still in line with her native tongue (Japanese) even when speaking English. Yes she was also concise in her explanation but that's not what I was pointing out, now was it...
"I saw color but i didn't see race" that's deep
color defines your race, she was just not informed
@@algonzalez6853 MMmm... I wouldn't say that. I think the word you're looking for is ethnicity. the concept of race divides based solely on skin color, based on which skin color is the best (which is dumb) but Ethnicity connotes shared cultural traits and shared group history. You can have tons of ethnic groups in one country (think tribes) Not every tribe shares the same culture and experiences. Try to define someone solely on their skin color is unfair and doesn't make any sense, because skin color is a physical characteristic only. It's similar to saying someone with a tan is better than a pale person, and no one would be able to give a comprehensive answer of why that is.
@@HeyYouLaLa125 she will never actually be japanese, period.
@Cant_Touch_This blah blah
yes, skin deep. race goes beyond skin tone
Wow! I love this girl!! She said "in Japan we see color not race" why is that so hard for americans to understand???
You are beautiful and I love your story ♡ thank you for sharing.
It's shoved in our faces constantly by institutions that benefit from the division
This country (USA) was FOUNDED on a race hierarchy.
Americans will NEVER "understand" that.
Because this is America the land of lies 🤣🤣🤣
I don’t fully agree with that , i lived in Japan for three years and it’s sad but that was the first place I encountered racism 🥴
@@tamekahiggins6460 its sad that racism is everywhere. And you are right. I mean just looking at how Asians make sure they don't tan to keep their skin as close to white as possible, is the the perfect example of racism there. I cant imagine how the possibly are with those of darker complexion. But, to my comment, I really like that she was treated as one of their own, without judgment. Or the how she said that they didn't associate her complexion with race. That is something I pray we can engrave in the hearts of the future generations, bc i have little faith for the previous one (not everyone of course).
Tiffany I really think we as Black people need to stop allowing people to put "Black" in a box. Of course you're Black, that does not change no matter what country or language you speak. If you were in Russia, Greece, or Japan (as you are) your Blackness is not decreased. You don't need to answer certain questions, or have the same experiences as other Blacks, to be Black. You are Black and it doesn't matter if you can relate or not to other Black people. This never comes up with Whites. They can come from America, France, Germany, London, South Africa etc... at the end of the day they are white. I understand Blackness has been made complicated by racism, but we need to reject that! Again you are Black and it doesn't mean we need to have the same experiences, speak the same langauge or eat the same food. Black people are diverse!
Exactly
Thanks!
Thank you! Very well said! ❤
People don't understand the differences between black and African american. All African Americans are black, but not all black people are African American
@@samueljackson5232 true, some of us don't see the term "African American" as being exclusive to being black and American. I see it as a term that applies to the collective of immigrants born in a country in Africa, living in America. I don't refer to myself as African American, I use the term Black- American. After having my ancestors build this country and be here for hundreds of years, I'm not gonna let anyone detach me from my county of birth. I don't see anyone calling white Americans "Caucus- Americans" lol.
As a japanese,i'm so glad to hear her opinion.
Go for it, as a japanese citizen with us😉
ばかーんいやーん 👍 wonderful
Yeah, some of us would like Jpnse citizenship. Start with haafu and Nikkei who live and work in Japan and who love Japan. :)
@OneAboveAll that isn't reality at all
@OneAboveAll There's still racism. Don't be naive.
I like anime
Her smile is sooo infectious. Her intellect is amazing. Her beauty is admirable. That’s it I’m moving to Japan. I’m from the islands and never came across racism til I visit the States.
which country?
Welcome home! Tanzania is your nice home
Good choice. You will be treated as a second class citizen unless your father makes them.lots of money.
From the Caribbean, we only dealt with light skinned and black. We accepted everybody. There was NO prejudice.
@@caribbeangirl7876 according to which island, there is prejudice in Trinidad
Black is not a nationality. By default, she’s Japanese.
Her race is black and her nationality is Japanese. She’s a black Japanese beautiful young woman
Japanese is a nationality and race???
@@tiannabobo1170 Japanese isnt a race, its an ethnicity and nationality tho. But from observing Japanese people it seems like if you are culturally and nationally Japanese then your ethnicity doesn't matter at that point, they consider you Japanese
No her nationality is not Japanese. She never received a Japanese passport
@@tiannabobo1170 The race for Japanese is Asian
She’s giving me some serious Kelly Rowland vibes (circa early Destiny’s Child days)
Yes I'm seeing it too, especially when I paused video ar 7:44!
Yes!
agirlcanmack I do see it!! Wow!!
Definitely Kelly's little sister that she hasn't met 😂
Because they got to pretend.
Her parents did not spend their time editorializing her skin to her as a child so she's full of Self esteem and self worth🦁
I have confidence both as my own personable identity and as a black person. Black people are unique. Our skin is unique and our hair is unique. My culture is a work of art and it's beautiful so I gladly identify as both. Her parents are actually not in the right for not teaching her about her culture. She has two cultures and shouldn't just be exposed to one.
@@Locopueblo I beg to differ. She was born and spent her childhood in a environment where she did not have to experience anything related to being "black". I believe it is hard to understand a culture if you can't related to it. Being taught about a culture is not the same as living in that culture.
i guess there wasn't a need to as she was not threatened in Japan!
@@Locopueblo Culture is food, dance, music and ethics. Not stereotypes.
Green Orchid: I was born in the US and I had no concept of race or my skin color until a White girl in my kindergarten class pointed it out. In fact, she refused to play with me because I was black. I don't think you really know what you are talking about.
A very bright girl that talks and thinks with depth, and most importantly no superficial statements...
Miao De Kat This is part of Japanese education. They actually WANT their people tombe thoughtful.
She has a priceless set of teeth. I wish we had heard or read the questions
I noticed the same
I thought that the entire vid...must've been those Ibaraki vegetables🥬🍆🍅🤣👌
I was definitely thinking this same thing. Without the questions to put things into context, it made it seem like she rambled on and on and on for nearly an hour.
Exactly! Even if they had them as captions on the screen as she answered it would have made more sense...
Further proof that being “Black” in the states is as American as Apple Pie. American Black is rooted in struggle and had to struggle to become individuals. Now imagine being Black but in the safest place ever. You truly saw color and was interested and did not see race and was uncomfortable. Thats a different kind of freedom as a Black person. I’m glad she got some perspective though. For me, travel is my break from my comfort zone. I hope to see Japan 🇯🇵 one day.
You are fooled by these propaganda videos. Japanese don't even like White people being in Japan and never recognizes them as part of their nation. So imagine a Black person. You are not going to integrate well. It's great to visit and travel there, but living is another thing, just warning you.
@@Cazarace I hope to SEE Japan. Not live. Even if I do want to live, I will at least see if it's possible none the less. I am very aware of how the Japanese view non-Japanese people. Everyone's story is different I know there are things she is not telling us but from what I hear, she has embraced that fact and made the most out of her reality.
@jeff c excuse me, do you by chance watch serpentza videos?
@jeff c jeff c Lol I like all parts actually. I introduced my Mother to him as well and she surprisingly enjoys his content. I have to say though my favorite thing is how he lays out little facts here and then so subtly that I could've never imagined is the normal way of living...For example did you know in china you won't find cold water? That's so crazy lol but anyways I'm surprised to know that you've heard of him haha that word you used to (gaijin) foreigner seemed familiar that's why I asked , I heard him use it.
@jeff c have a good day!
I love that she feels safe in Japan and not discriminated against.
Terrenie Walton i love that too
Yet, I hear different. Btw.
Kushite FromRome China you mean? If you’re black in Japan and speak the language you should be fine
No thank you. I really wouldn't want yo ecperience anything there. After I heard what a friend of mine experienced, had got merried and leaved there for a couple of years. He now hates them, because of rasicm.
French Chicken Same for some other Asian countries.
Her perspective and life are quite interesting to see someone who didn't grow up knowing what the western ideas of what a black person is, and not being affected by the stereotypes and expected norms of being black are is quite refreshing.
Ikr. I envy her mindset. I used to think like her as well until I moved to Europe and someone called me the N word in high school =.='''. I couldn't imagine living in America. Race issues are always a hot topic...
@PokeMe : I live in London England , I travel to USA sometimes and England race issue are there but they are subtle compare to USA. I agree with you
True. Is really rare that people are racist to my face in UK. That's was the only incident I could recall.
PokeMe That’s a relief to here.
Her perspective is normal. In Ethiopia that’s how most people are raised.
I’m a 36 year old Black American woman & it made me sad for myself that she has the feeling of safety & internal confidence that I’m struggling to find. When she said she felt like she had to get out of the states or she’d be stuck there, I felt that. I’m so glad she left for herself.
You can leave too. America is the worst place for us. So many places will embrace you and your humanity.
Your teacher was really cool to take the time to find a match for your skin color so that you felt included. ♥♥♥
Well if color/race is not really an issue there, and it was simply a class assignment (striving for accuracy) why would the teacher not try to find the right color?
I think you guys are reading too much noble thoughts into a simple school assignment.
LQL why take this comment so seriously its a good thing the teacher made it a point to do that 🤦🏾♀️
They shouldn't call the fucking crayon "skin color" in the first place, actually.
IM WEAK
@@Tapiokapuddin says:
"They shouldn't call the fucking crayon "skin color" in the first place, actually."
==
Why not, if it works for over 90% of people.?
What people don't understand is that you can't fit blackness in a box. It's really cool that she is sharing her experiences because we all have different experiences. It is frustrating that people feel you aren't black unless you act or behave in a certain way. I'm really glad that she is confident in herself and is finding her identity.
i'm black but behave more like citizen of entire universe. you only talk race because you certainly do not know anything about life on earth, universe and fundamentals that govern universe. one thing i do know for certain is that your skin color isn't gonna stop you from aging and dying at certain stage.
I feel like the concept is that African American culture does not equate African decendants. People tend to assume that African American culture is something all people with African decent relate to, which is just not true. There is clearly an American next to this because it needs to be more clear to that effect. Usually people take the cliche pop knowledge of African American culture and equate it to all who are African decent which is a side effect of pop culture itself.
@Noble Wolf yes the African in African American only specifies where our ancestors came from not who we are. Two different things. Also African Americans know African American culture which is not the same as American Culture. You have White American Culture, Asian American Culture, Indian American Culture and many more each is different in their own right. People who are not americans just see it all as American Culture because we share similarities in our cultures and live in the same country which is ignorant but they do it. Just the same as some ignorant people will group all african countries and their cultures into one which is also ignorant but all people generalize and its not only americans. This is the world we live in, there is so much diversity and the easiest way to get across without having to go into every single detail is to generalize.
Thank you!
@Noble Wolf i'm an african who grew up in africa-why should an african american know african culture when they were not raised in africa??they are aware that their ancestors are from africa obviously.That does not make any more or less black.
She called America a dark time & she made it through living here. Damn man 😂 I gotta get out of here!! 😂😂😂😂 I’m thinking about moving to Japan 🤦🏾♀️😂
Japan is BEAUTIFUL! I miss it so much 😩
Don’t believe the hype. Every country has its issues.
My Friend moved to japan last year and hates it there.
JEFFREY yeah I hated japan so much (I lived in Osaka), it’s not what it’s made out to be.
edit: And yes I’m aware that everyone has a different experience but please be aware that japan isn’t some amusement park, fantasyland that some of y’all make it out to be.
😂😂😂
shiiiiiit im going to japan to live at the U.A academy with midoriya and bakuguo
when I started watching this video, I was like 42 minutes are too long ugh, but I just finished watching the whole thing!! Her experience was very fascinating and I did enjoy listening to her sharing her story!! She is wonderful!
I didn't notice it was 42 mins till I read your comment
I agree with her. I was born and raised in the islands and we are all our nationality.. not black or white or red or whatever. I only learned of “race” when I moved to America. I never saw myself as “black” before nor thought of my friends as white, yellow, etc.. They were human first and then either French, Haitian, Saint Martinois, Jamaican and so forth.. Never saw them as JUST a color!
I didn't really realize I was black either sis! Like technically I knew it but didn't fully get it until I moved to North America.
Is when my Spanish supervisor call the police on me I experience it.🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲 Jamaican everyone day.
Rhode Travels This is so true. In the Caribbean we don’t see colour. We are all one, our nationality.
Exactlyyyyyy. When we’re here, all of a sudden we aren’t REALLY “ black “ I was teased when I had a strong accent and it’s even worse now that I “ lost” it. I still speak Patois though.
I have never been so stressed, disgusted, and victimized before. It’s honestly crazy. I cried so much when I learned about the history and that a lot of those things still happen. I know that there was still slavery in Jamaica, but the racism is wild here. I didn’t know that racism or colorism was a thing at all.
Rhode Travels how can you not see yourself as a black women!
😂 seriously this is insane 😂
The bit where she talked about they didn't speak on her brothers race when they saw a lost child... made me realize that just how obsessed with race american culture is. Immediately thought about cop profiles when that's the first thing you hear, and other casual situation where people ask you if youre mixed because you speak well or whatever... Damn... this was very eye opening...
Right? That part was very revealing to me.
Why would they speak on his race? It's Japan. It wouldn't be hard to find a Black child in a sea of Asian people.
@@ct5951 You're missing the forest for the trees here bruv.
@kayemen415 Are you sure any other western country would have immediately said it was a black child? I am Norwegian and I cannot say I've ever heard anyone being referred to by color in public in that way. Perhaps one of the best proofs of that is that I wouldn't really know what word to use for "black" in Norwegian, because I never really hear anybody say it.
We refer to people by nationality. We may say Somali, Eritrean, Pakistani or Iraqi. We don't really talk about skin very much. We may say somebody is dark, but that is quite generic. It could mean a Pakistani, Iraqi or Somali person.
If there is some crime, the police may refer to somebody speaking poorly Norwegian our sounding foreign. In some cases they may take it one step up and say the person looked middle eastern. The don't write skin color.
@@ct5951 please READ AGAIN!...Smh or please be quiet!
I absolutely love living in Japan. I agree with Tiffany when she says she felt more like a foreigner than being "black".
Yeah, like feeling like an outsider is a great thing..
That's a testament to Japanese society's aversion towards non-Japanese.
You are what we call a want to be want to be anything but who you really are.. another negative illusion
Aamil Azim I’m not sure if your referring to Tiffany, Ryker or myself?🤔
I wanna move there so bad is it easy to get residence ?
How does it feel to be black is that some kind of feeling.
My proudest accomplishment “surviving America” ✊🏽😣 that’s deep. I love this young lady! I’m headed to Japan myself and she managed to soothe some of my anxiety. Thank you Tiffany!
wow, what a great kid, parents should be proud.
Totally.
Shon Gee I completely agree. I am happy to have experienced different cultures and to travel to other countries. Where do you live now?
She is a disgrace to enter black race
Shon Gee you've gone places lol. I've never felt so strange until i came here to america from living in Belgium for 9yrs. Even when i left Africa to Europe life was just transition because i had to learn french and sharpen my english as a young African child but that was it. They knew me as african and those french folks calling my native name was so funny but thats it. Color was never imposed on me or on other foriegners and we never were segregated. I also visited England twice because of family there and Paris just once then here i now live in America. My son will be leaving to Africa next month with me for the second time. My friend in Antwerp is inviting me next year but i let her know my 14 year old son will be there with me so she better deal with it lol. Reason why is because i want to instill it in his mind. Its unfortunate his dad is just like your family. He doesnt think he needs to travel out of Houston(only Louisiana) and i cant risk my son growing with that sort of mentality. Its my responsibility to make sur my son does not stigmatize himself. So my dear some people are just stock mentally but aslong as they are not in a blackgang war zone then you cant waste too much time trying to get them to see life. As for you fly and live life to the fullest. If you have kids sacrifice extra money and take them with you. I know Its expensive but as a father dont leave them behind so when they get older they'll have a mind just like yours. 💓
It's interesting how as soon as she came to the states she was labeled. While before she was just her
Lucy Towey older generations worldwide usually are. in a more connected and enlightened world newer generations are less prejudice
ps:typo
Believe me, she was labeled in Japan. She was just never confronted about it.
浅野弥助
それは日本では差別に気づかない程度の差別しか無いって事だよ。
アメリカでは身の危険を感じるって彼女も言ってるでしょ
@@kesuya exactly. I'm pretty sure many people in Japan labeled her as black stereotypes and never asked her abt it bc they just assumed it
Third culture kids. Very common, identity crisis for them. Deep stuff, she saw colour but not race. She noticed how shallow America was. Great video
How is it shallow?
@@condorb7756 It's superficial
@@rickyturner. I mean to a degree. But America is a huge country with millions of people boiling it down to shallow/superficial feels wrong.
@@condorb7756 being pedantic to negate a point feels wrong
@@c.powell8472 To each their own. It's not even like i fully refute the point i even agree to it to an extent. But cant make everyone happy there's always that one guy.
she’s a black, japanese woman. just as anyone can be a black latina. a black american. a black european. having a different ethnicity doesn’t affect your nationality. or race. ethnically she’s japanese. racially she’ll always be black. the world isn’t that small... and finally.... *black does not mean african-american*
Exactly!! "Black" isn't even our original name of our race. I am Aborigine. The original man. I am Indigenous to the planet, not just a continent.
Yup
👏👏👏
People are making a lot of assumptions about this young woman. If she had been raised in germany she would have been culturally german and would have no obligation to know the deep history of black americans. She has sufficiently taken on the weight of her roots, but don't think of her as less just because she accepted the culture of the place where she was raised. She was fortunate because japan will see most black people as foreigner before they will look at them as black. this can be good and bad, but ultimately she gets to grow away from the drama of western society. She's a part of a new future for us all. Our identity of "blackness" must evolve. Honor our past, make a new future.
Absolutely.
This obligation is due to her parents. She learned about America and the way black identity functions in that country because her parents are from that country and because she lived there. If her parents were from Germany then their place and experiences in German society would be relevant.
@@stepahead5944 I would argue that she learned those lessons in proper time. Even if they had explained it to her in elementary school, how could they properly convey context? She had to learn those things first hand as a teenager/young adult to have the ability to give it the depth of thought it requires.
@@rui5421 I was specifically addressing your assumption that her (american) blackness being irrelevant of she had been raised in Germany as its irrelevant where is had grown up provided that her parents were black American and at some point would have had her living in the states.
As your more recent comment. You're right that eventually she would have learned, by why wait? Timing matters. WHO teaches you/aids you in learning about your identity matters, and i'm not only talking about racial identity. The reality is this world is that it doesn't only matter how you identify yourself, everyone else you interact with identifies you too. Maybe she could have grown up completely oblivious to her black identity. But the moment she switches contexts everything is going to hit at full force. I would rather have my children be self aware than ignorant. Ready to decide who they are and what they stand for so that when they encounter preexisting beliefs about who they are and aren't they're equipped to negotiate their identity on their own. They can dismantle the stereotypes and prejudices that come their way with ease. People can teach you to hate yourself, people can teach you to love yourself. Why wait, when you can practice agency now? Why wait until your finally in a foreign context without the tools to properly understand yourself and dissect the "identities" being expected of you? Proactive is always better than reactive in this case.
@@stepahead5944 I would say waiting is not about putting off the inevitable but rather its about comprehension. If you explain race when she has no concept of it in Japan, then she can only understand the words, but not the full gravity of the situation. You wouldn't explain sexual preferences to a 3 year old, because if its not in their world view and experience, then all it does is drop a complex subject on an underdeveloped mind. Teenage years are where we really start to develop or self-identities and I think that was the best time to try and get her to understand it. I honestly don't think it would have hit while living in Japan though. Life is just that different here.
This is what black females are when we are brought up in safety and not STEREOTYPES. Thanks for this story. Well done sis, keep it up.
Exactly, environment is much more important than skin color, but ignorant, brain dead people don't know the difference.
So you can't do this in Africa? You have to leech of some other majority for you to develop? Thanks for proving a point...
Exactly, she is so Adorable.
Plz shift, come here in Tanzania. This is safe home
@TheEnd, you're an idiot. Get a clue.
i didn’t think about my skin color or identity until i came to america. This is very true.
I hadn't thought about the way I spoke until an American came to my country and commented on it like there was something wrong. Like, Americans need to learn to mind their business tbh
Only if a black person is delusional💆
Neither did I until I came to America.
Same and I'm from Jamaica.
when you live in a white controlled world, they make sure to remind YOU,
that you are different and in a negative way.
She's so pretty, cute and smart. Daughter goals.
How beautiful a world without stereotypes.
There are. They just aren't the same as in America.
@unidee617 Oh I know! I just mean in the world she lives in. It's an expression.
As a Japanese man raised in a very sheltered (white wash) environment I can relate to this interview in so many different ways.
Hi there! Would you mind to share your experience?
Same I would like to hear you bro
Yes me too. 😊
She's so well-spoken & seems well-rounded.
That has nothing to do with what she's talking about all I here is black people hiding who they are in another race
She is well spoken. Very uncommon for a darkskin female.
@@tedtalk882 You're obviously trying to troll.
@@slushymatis No troll here. Lol. It's just refreshing to see a darkskin female who speaks like she has sense and not wearing a lace front wig for a change.
She speaks well and she's not crying and whining about being dark skinned. Dark skinned american women are all about their self-proclaimed victim status. Now that's refreshing!
My cousin was born in Jamaica and he look straight up like Jackie Chan but with a Jamaican accent lol
That is awesome!!
🤣😂🤣
There are a lot of Jamaicans who look like that hun. There is just not a large concentration of them who migrate. Hence why it is so rare to you.
We have people from all over Asia in Jamaica. They are Jamaican.
Lois Morgan Facts! It’s not strange for us 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
Beautiful young Lady, hair and All. Don't change anything. Black is Beautiful!
The Japanese get it more than we do. They didn't factor in his skin color, because it's irrelevant. Keep that attitude. Don't adopt the one we have over here. You are who you are. You are your personality, your culture, and your character. Please please please don't let skin color limit your identity.
CORY INJAPAN the Japanese didn’t enslave black people or build their economy on the backs of those slaves. They also didn’t need to enforce supremacy on another group.
Chant Bagby learn your history. The Japanese today are relatively benevolent but were extremely brutal and ruthless oppressors in the past and definitely enforced their supremacy on other people.
@@treeman_mj that was the past. they were like the germans before. but most of them are dead nowadays
I had to watch this video a few times because I'm mesmerized by this young lady's beauty. She's a breath of fresh air..So articulate and her smile is very welcoming.
Andrea Johnson . Yes she's amazing!
What is it with people being so amazed by a black person being "so articulate"?
Have to agree with tea.... Its cool how genuine her expressions and how you can see how she is herself. Yet its weird, that you kind of single out that her speech is articulated...kinda sound like what tea is saying.
@@brandonbrown6918Sometimes when a person is not articulate, it can be very difficult to comprehend what they are actually saying. It was singled out based on her life experinces in Japan and the United States, not her skin color. I'm a Jamaican female who watched the video without stereotypes.
She's Kelly's sister maybe
I hope this girl starts a RUclips channel! I would love to see vlogs of her life in Japan
You are a bright young lady and very articulate and mature for your age. You have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. You were born and raised in Japan, so it would be natural for you to feel at home in Japan and you seem so much happier there. The reason you were never asked about your culture is because the Japanese people have accepted you as one of their own and you know very well it would be very rude for anyone to ask a stranger a very personal question in that culture. You also stated that Japanese people are too busy minding their own businesses. Your perception of yourself is more Japanese than American and you are well accepted there. You don't have to justify to anyone what makes you happy, just follow your heart!
True...
Hmm i wouldnt say that they accepted her as theyr own (a lot of asians woldnt tell you ,if they dont) , most biracial half asian people are not even accepted as one of them (depending on where the asian parent is from) so someone whos zero one of them ethnically , it wont be the case either. I know only very few half asians who are accepted (even though they speak the language fluently, were born in that certain country in asia etc etc). None of the actual ethnic half japanese people i know were ever seen as japanese in japan.
i know several black race women ( not mixed at all ) who were born and raised in Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong and none of them was REALLY seen as one the people ( in those countries, depending on each person ,where they were born and raised in ) , the people will accept you (as a human being) but i wouldnt say they really accept you as ,lets say in this case a japanese citizen (culturally).
If they like you , they simply wont talk about it , cause they dont think about it as much as people do in the US and they dont really care. Doesnt mean they see you as one of theyr people though.
Maybe they do in her case, but me as a biracial half asian ( who knows MANY other half asians , and people who were born and raised in a country where they are not from ethnically ) , i only know VERY FEW people out of so many who are actually accepted in that kind of way.
I agree!
It seems to me she just identifies culturally more with Japanese culture. I agree with Dade she just seems happier there (I’m very American and extremely pro-black but I’m not blind, I think she’s going to marry Japanese and stay in Japan 🇯🇵).
@@mxd-1990asn damn.
She is soooo real. So often we forget that culture we observe is made of people. She has found her way, navigating the strange waters of race and culture. I think her parents must have worked so had to provide her a stable childhood and a balanced identity and should be so proud.
I didn't understand what she said because of my english but I like watching how she talk with smile and happiness.
Hahahha u speak english ,also she speak with very good diction and not specific accent ,perfect interview to improve your skills
She's a black Japanese woman! PeriodT
Perfect!
I Agree!
Cool
I moved to the states when I was 14 from Jamaica had no idea the racism and discrimination was so strong here. Every day I miss my country where u are judged mostly for your personality than your race and there aren't only black Jamaicans we are a very diverse people and have all walks of life I had no idea some of my friends were "white" or "Asian" they were just them. When I say culture shock I mean....
I love Jamaica. I'm full-blooded Puerto Rican, but we share so much culture and history. I'm European, African, & Taino (Arawak) Native American. I spent 3 weeks in Jamaica in January and I absolutely love it. I stayed in St James, Montego Bay but rented a car most of the time. I went to Rebel Salute. Did a lot of things. Saw half of the island. I've never been to Puerto Rico. But for sure, I saw home.
Kandecia Tomlinson first let me say Tomlinson is my uncle last name but anywho I feel your pain. I cam from JA when I was 8 and culture shock I really was. Didn't understand this black/white thing and to be honest I've been in American now 30+ years and still don't.
I'm Mexican American born and raised in the states and I have never faced any racism or discrimination 😂
Black americans dont want to be judged by their skin color, but still have concepts of black community, not being black enough, my people mentality... If you pigeon hole yourself, people will judge you on which hole you put yourself in. Do what morgan freeman says, if u want to stop racism, stop talking about it.
Astral Traveler Arawak nation!!! I started checking “two or more races” when I fill out forms that have race/ethnicity questions. Claiming the African and Taino. ✅
I love her story! I lived in Japan as a child and loved it, it really changed me and my brothers. I'd love to go back!
Young sis really touched me! What a smart, well spoken, thoughtful young lady. It makes me happy for her and yet sad to see how living in American dims the light of so many black girls.
I was born/raised in Japan, too. A lot of culture shock for me when I permanently moved the states when I was 17.
You should go back
Smh
The more I read and hear about Japan, the more I respect the culture.
While Japan has a lot of things that are good, they also still have a LOT to work on. The culture is still very patriarchal. There is too much emphasis on the group to the detriment of the individual. They are very paper bound. They love single-use and overly packaged products. It is still a very hierarchical society.
Ruben Colon the way my jaw dropped
@Ruben Colon 100% It was a reply specifically to the sentiment that Japan is the most advanced culture/society on earth. It is so much safer there in general. But. There is always the but. Japan still has issues with violence, we just don't really hear about it, because it can often be hushed up. Just recently a homeless man was murdered by a bunch of university students and alums. After weeks of being harassed and attacked by them. Out of 10 or so only 2 ended up charged. Why did they do it? Because he asked them to stop torturing cats. So, there is a lot of good, but nowhere near being the most advanced.
@@adorabell4253 I don't see the point of you stating these things because obviously there will be a bad side because that's not utopia everyone has issues but compared to the rest it's the best
@@adorabell4253 Agreed, the rest of the world looking into Japan still forgets that they also carried out their own version of the holocaust unto the rest of the countries in Asia during World War 2. Millions of Civilian men, women, and children (babies even) were brutally tortured, raped, and massacred by the Japanese military in ways that even German Nazi residents in Nanking, China could not stomach. Many Japanese World War 2 "heroes" are still worshiped at Yasukuni shrine today. Even though Japan has apologized for their crimes during WW2 (only in more recent years, 2003) their government actions and history books fail to acknowledge their past to the extent that the holocaust is acknowledged in Germany. Some Japanese civilians/descendants have been made aware of this fact and are deeply apologetic for it, their government just hasn't made the same efforts to make amends with their past.
I love this human. Wise beyond her years. Thank you for sharing.
I like her too
HybridKoy She's a beautiful human being
HybridKoy I love this human. That's a first. How do you know that she's human? She might be an extraterrestrial.
Hearing this really drives home just how much America is focused on race. Also, speaking as a black person from the UK, I've always disliked how Americans try to define blackness in a global sense on their terms. Knowing about Tupac and watching certain movies or behaving, talking or looking a certain kind of way are not indicators of blackness and this sort of thinking really needs to go as it's unhelpful and regressive.
In other news, this lady is lovely; and I use the word lady deliberately, because that is what she is.
Couldn't agree more
@glwalcott I would like to say that America really paints black people in a horrible light. As a black Canadian. The media really has a way of writing a narratives for black people when it comes to Americans.
I agree. I remember visiting New Mexico here & being the only black person in most settings. The people there didn’t seem to care what I looked like. In America, if you are black, there aren’t many places that won’t make you aware of your difference in appearance.
@@michellehubbard8865 The knowledge of racial difference in the U.S. is made and enforced at birth. However, I hope that as the years march on, the U.S. will become more post-racial with the goal of judging people only by "the content of their character".
I kind of agree but at the same time black culture is very controlled through music films news media I think it’s hard for black peoples raised in white countries and not born on the continent of Africa to actually have an identity that isn’t consistently manipulated so people don’t know who they truly are outside of their own skin tone.
She is precious. What strikes me as interesting is that she is courteous the way Japanese people are....underscoring her belief that she is from Japanese culture.
What? So to be courteous is a trait exclusive to Japan? She acts like many African Americans. Remember her parents are American so don’t do that.
@@tiannabobo1170 I've taught many Japanese students in ESL so I like to think I have some exposure to it. Her courtesy reminded me of the courtesy my students demonstrated. That's why I included the sentence "the way Japanese people are." That certainly doesn't mean she isn't courteous despite that and I do think Americans can be courteous for sure. I can't know for sure why she's courteous but does it really matter why? It's nice that she feels at home in that culture. Good for her. And not for nothing, but I wish people would wait on the defensiveness until they get more information or clarification. It makes for a nicer interaction.
Be careful, many Japanese people are racist ... In the 90s, they used to kill their Black kids born from their African lovers .... Some Chinese and Korean people have a very hard time in Japan. One of my class mate’s graduating address at uni in China, was about that racism she faced. Because she was half Japanese and half-Chinese. Which the Chinese, despite the hundred-thousands deaths and tortures of the Chinese by the Japanese soldiers in the 30s (Cf. Nankin/南京)， did not reject her for. Wake up. This young girl’s experience is “her” experience. Her fond heart attracks her alike. When you have a serene, harmonious and peaceful mind, our Creator goes ahead and prepares a perfect path for you. This is sth I often observed in life. Some have the same upbringing, same family, are even brothers and sisters and have totally different life experiences. While some people said they were experiencing racism in China, I was happily living with local people. We were 9, I was the only non-Chinese.
@@user-uu5jf3jo3oIt's uncanny you commented. I was telling my husband how blacks feel at home in Japan, that the Japanese seems accepting and he said, they THINK that but they're fooling themselves. Japanese have a history of racism towards blacks. I was like, what? Then I researched it and even Japanese people say there is a lot of racism still. Perhaps the youtuber has been sheltered from it to some degree, or maybe she has found a way to ignore it. I like what you say about the serene, harmonious, peaceful mind. Perhaps she has manifested her own sense of calm and acceptance by thinking in a positive, loving way. I like that.
@@princesscake70 Thank you for your comment! Yes, it is very difficult to know what is in a Japanese person’s mind. They are very pressurized in their society and respect so many codes, that you could say that in Japan:,« true » is just a shade of « false ». Spontaneity can be seen as a failure, or as gross. And yes, I think that just as me, she attracted people who are like her. As being born in Japan, I think that she can recognize hypocrisy when she meets it. As for China, after witnessing love affairs between Black people and Chinese people, and the pride of the Chinese elderly for their mixed kids, I know that racism is not deeply rooted in them. Although of course, some Chinese people can be very racist. But none showed me that side of China. But I also saw rude and violent behavior from Russian and African people (some Africans being my friends) towards the locals, that the Chinese see as racist and even mirrors the dark times of European colonialism, when they were looked down upon and treated as inferior. I just conclude that you have good and bad everywhere. The same scene experienced by me ended up being a happy experience and by a my African friends, just racism. All that because they copy-pasted their cultural references and lack of self-confidence on the Chinese, instead of just saying: « I do not understand, can you explain, please? ». One thing in China, they love having a foreign friend. Arab, Mixed, Black, Indian, White, all make them happy. So, in the streets, people often come to take a picture with you. No do not have a feeling of rejection as a Black person in China, unless it shows on your face that you hate or do not trust Chinese people. Personally, I often had complete strangers, of all age or sex telling me: I love you! They were happy to use the little English they new. But some guys were not that innocent. Chinese men cheat a lot. Wish you well, cheers!
It's nice to be able to speak two languages this fluent.
fluently
I'm Japanese living in the US for 10 years. I am "colored person" here. I'm grad to hear you are comfortable living in Japan and I would say you are Japanese.
She is a disgrace to enter black race
I believe she respects African American culture but she didn't realize there still is racism in the US until she lived in America. But I also think even her parents are African American, as long as she was born and raised in Japan for most of the time, she is technically Japanese, at the same time, she has both Japanese and African American culture and mind.
@@williamsbaffour6746 how exactly?
Williams Baffour what?
@@bobsanders1774 this one thing s/n define her, at all or alone.
you feel this way bcuz of your EXPERIENCES in life has taught you to.
There is no definition of of how to be black. Stereotypes were pushed on her when she went to America. She is black but culturally Japanese.
@mizzmolly I'm told every day I go to work by my black coworkers that I'm not black. Two of the worst offenders are the same exact color as me.
There actually is a definition of how to be black, it's called actually being black. When she moved to the states she became black whether she liked it or not. When a person with African decent takes on American identity by growingg up in America at any part in their adolescent years, they become African American, thus becoming black. If you are African decent and never step foot in America during your developmental process you will most likely not take on the American identity. There is a distinct culture and mannerism of African American or black culture that is different from other African decendant races. And I elite what she is describing where her new friends were saying she needed to know all that stuff to be black was part of the African American culture. Tupac, fried chicken, yo mama's foot in it etc. African American culture is actually what binds us all together and is probably the only time us black people know how to act right since we do have so many conflicting views but usually not on African American "Black" culture. Since she spent a large part of her life in Japan she has not taken on that American nationality and is therefore not black, She just a brown skin girl. I say this because black is a word commonly used to describe Americans from African decent as we know other countries usually just consider the nationality so they don't really use it that often to identify people.
Flaffy Cheez 🙄
@@flaffycheez6899 ...you so dumb. She's African American, because she's African American. We call ourselves black for historical and cultural reasons that you'd be aware of if you did a quick google. Whatever you just wrote, is bullshit.
Yes!!! That’s was my experience when I went to the States. Stereotypes were pushed on me too. It’s crazy out there.
Japanese culture is something i’ve always admired. Clean cities, clean streets, peaceful, respectful citizens.
The background, your shirt/blouse, the ambient sound, your voice, ..., all in harmony.
I agree. While living in Japan for 5 years I wasn’t referred to as “Black” either, I was just another “Foreigner.” Defining what it meant to be “African-American” was difficult.
Daylady1028 why does the African part of it even remains? You’re just American at this point with African ancestry
@@whatever5922 Because it's an integral part of our culture and history. We're not just American, we're African American as well with an entirely different culture, history, and even a language.
@@wekselbaum but thats the exact thing why USA is so racially divided... racial issues are far worse here than Japan in my experience and I thought it was the other way around since 99% of japan are Asian. But i feel waay safer in japan, got treated better, and no one really pays attention to race compared to USA, all i am is simply a foreigner to them
@@wekselbaum what part of Africa you from?
@@wekselbaum I'm responding hoping for a direct, respectful dialogue. I'm American, my family descends from Europe. One branch came here in 1631, most came after the Industrial Revolution to work in the mills. Every now and then I become aware of a way we prepare food or phrase we use probably came from Europe. However I am 100% American with no ties to Europe. Why do many black people (generalizing) seem to embrace a "different" identity? You're every bit as American as me. You have no ties to Africa. If you and I sat down for a meal we would share far more familiarities then if we were to sit down with someone from Europe or Africa. Why do we accept discussions along race lines when the issue is an economic one( referring to social issues)?
We all need to talk, even if we don't like the discussion. Let people speak even if we don't like what they have to say. We shouldn't be living in separate worlds.
I feel smarter and more culturally aware after watching this interview, with such an amazing young woman. 42:04 minutes of my time well spent.
she gives a positive vibe about Japan-but then you realise she'll be never accepted as a japanese because of her parents
@@burlhorse61 she said she doesn't want to be a japanese tho
Racquel Le'Andra me too! This video allow me to see a different perspective of being a person with a different skin tone. American culture is so biased.
@@robinbutler4515 I'm the same as her, grew up in Norway, part african, my views are quite simmilar to hers with the identity part and all that.
never been to america, I do keep an eye ofc.
Wicked Minish knowing they’re people like you and her, that are true to who they really are makes this world a better place! 😀❤️
I agree with her totally, I've traveled all over the world and now I live in central Europe and I never feel discomfort until I get to America.
she was born and raised in japan but shes very fluent in english wow 👍
ayra delosantos speaks better english than me and im from new york lol
Her Japanese is obviously very good, no foreign accent.
She said she spoke English with her parents and I'm sure her experience in american high schools probably helped a lot
Some of you don’t understand what being bilingual means and it shows
@@AwkwarredTurtle I mean, I didn't want to be mean, but you said it so.. yeah...
I connect with her so much. Moving from a Latino country I never thought of myself as black in the sense that African Americans do. So growing up I felt kinda removed from what was going on, like the police brutality and everything. And you really have to consciously remember that those are your people even if culturally you’re very different...it’s definitely a journey
And truth be told this may not make sense but as a black woman from America to a certain degree don't understand "culture black people" as in people who are actually from Africa who came to America. Cuz I've had Nigerian friends and culturally I don't understand anything.
Colonialism, racism and slavery makes us one but we are very diverse.
nana spoken like the fake Latino you are! Africans can never be Hispanic, or Latin! It’s insulting to the real ones! Go be African, stop claiming a race and culture that came from Europe, and go be African!
Jose Seijo your comments are ignorant and stupid.
@@joseseijo4746 As an "African" which is a continent and not a form of identity but any who. Most Africans don't even consider diasporans Africans. I legitimately don't understand identifying with a culture you are so far removed from, you would literally not even be able to necessarily thrive in the society. We have our own languages, customs, food, etc. We are also different. West Africa and East Africa have different cultures. For instance, I find many black Americans are obviously far more similar to their white American counterparts than they are to Africans. Skin color is not a determinant for culture.
This is top tier bilingual. Tiffany sounds native in both languages
That's cause she is :)
Bayo106 she is.. lol
@@LeSweetpea you can't be 'Native' in two languages. She is *fluent* in both but Japanese is her native
When she speaks Japanese she looks happier ❤️ I've been trying to learn Japanese 🙋 my family would discourage me wanting to learn other languages and thought I shouldn't want to like anywhere else or shouldn't want to move or visit anywhere else but now I'm on my own and finally able to try (: I love how fluent Tiffany is in both languages I hope to be like that one day
Keep studying, I know you can become fluent !
Keep studying! DO what you love don't listen to those negative influences. I'm 30 years old and started studying Japanese just a couple weeks ago! I moved to the US from Italy 5 years ago, learned English in months, my family was very supportive emotionally but even if it was the other way around no one would have stopped me! Keep doing what you're doing!
@Void Kim You’ll be fine. There are narrow-minded idiots in all countries, but they are outnumbered by good-hearted people. The biggest danger, in my opinion, is how Hollywood has traditionally depicted blacks/African Americans (actually all people of color). It’s changed for the better recently, but decades of that garbage has tainted how people have been introduced to people of color. But no worries, most people over here are going to treat you as an individual and not a stereotype. If you’re cool to them, they’re more than happy to be cool with you.
At the age you were though, your sense of yourself was already established. I'm glad that you were older before such an identity crisis happened. I think you will be ok. You are STRONG. God bless you ...
marian smith 👍
She's Black and beautiful!!! And didn't change who she is for nobody( despite her cultural in Japan). She has a bright future going for her. Through out this interview she speaks was profound intelligent and know who she is racially. Bless her parents for raising a profound young lady!!!!
I gave you 50 likes 🇯🇲👏🏿🇯🇲👏🏿👏🏿🇯🇲👏🏿👍🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲👍🏿🇯🇲
That’s my best FRIEND TIFFANY!!!
I visited Japan in a few years ago but my skin color was no issue and neither was I a curiosity. In fact, I felt welcomed the way I am.
Tiffany is a proof that racism is a learned condition. I also grew up in another culture different from my ethnicity but never experienced being different except for positive attention I’ve got. I still feel that base is strongly there though traveling and living in many other countries I realized that racism does exist more or less by societies who makes it an issue...
Tiffany is luckily that she has a base of knowing that Racism is not an obvious thing as she experienced growing up without presence of it. This, she will carry as her strength and security (security and peace has to come from within)
That is why we need to protect our children so that they will have a good start in their lives and can grow up being safe and secure in their own skin and in person.
Tiffany you are a cosmopolitan being and you have the choice to always choose the best of two worlds, always choose the best one for you and stick with it. Lucky girl 💕
This is your best video so far. I just love how positive she was. And I loved her perspective.
She saw color, but never saw race. That’s deep. She’s such a profound, mature, and positive young lady. I’m happy she’s in Japan and is happy and feels safe because the black experience in America is rough and infuriating and depressing. Keep sharing you light.
Dang the change in food and air broke her hair off??? Listening to her story opened my eyes to a lot of things
Sermoiety Yes. Harsh chemicals in the air, food and water
Sermoiety: yes that is so possible. From clean air in suburban Japan to poluted air in America.
America is like being in prison. You must choose sides. Either you are black, white, Hispanic or Asian. Difficult place to survive as a human!
It's all the GMOs and growth hormones in the food.
I had similar issues moving from Midwest USA to Arizona.
I really enjoyed this interview. It really opened my eyes more to the Japanese culture. Tiffany spoke so clearly and to the point with ease about her experiences in America and Japan. I wish her all the best as she goes through experiencing even more cultures.
As a half mexican half italian, that part of the USA that everybody needed to fit in a definition, it frustrated me a lot too! I'm me, why I can't be both italian and mexican?
Why do you have to be either of those things and not just American. I'm British and I hate on forks that you have to put race- british. It shouldn't matter the colour of your skin or families ethnic history. Your nationality is where you're born, nothing else.
Race and nationality are not the same thing, you can't choose your race.
I couldn't care less so long as you bring the tacos AND the pasta! 😍
zak rowe Yes man. Fucking hell. It’s so simple to us Europeans (another Brit here) Americans always trying to be from somewhere else. Yes it’s boring. But you’re American. Not Italian. How many times do you hear Americans call themselves Italian?
@@charlesthomson1992 THANK YOU. I had a discussion with my collegue just a couple days ago regarding this fact! He keeps saying he's Native American, Irish, Mexican, just because he had ancestors who were from those countries. He was born and raised in California, doesn't speak any language other than english, doesn't have a direct connection to those countries but keeps saying he's from bla bla bla. JESUS, you're just not! xD It's weird! I was born and raised in Italy from Italian parents and grandparents and I can say I'm 100% from Italy, if my grandparents were from America I wouldn't say I am American. WHY they can't understand??? This same situation happens every time with many people.
What a great perspective authentically told by a smart and insightful person. Well worth hearing!
Wow. I don't know how I stumbled onto this video, but I'm glad. This is so eye opening.
I laughed so loud the part she saw her ”cousins” in the Ginza😂😂 pure and cute story😚
不破雷蔵 👍
"Being black in America is knowing these things, having these things..." It's interesting because when I was growing up, I watched Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and for the longest time, I never understood why Will kept saying he was more black than Carlton because all I noticed was that Carlton was darker skinned than him, so it seemed weird that Will would claim greater "blackness". I didn't realize until I was older there was this cultural component of being black he was referencing.
It's sort of funny how "blackness" she mentioned sort of excludes "Africanness" because the cultural things she mentions like Tupac are American, and I've had friends from Nigeria or have parents from Eritrea, and them being able to make Jollof rice and injera didn't really count towards them "being black" in America in the sense she mentioned and some of them really struggled to assimilate to "black culture" in America.
Granted, she had American parents, so that may be a bit different from her perspective, but it's gotta be weird to come from Africa and be questioned on your blackness because you don't know enough American cultural references.
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!
Yeah that "blackness" is honestly "African Americaness." In American black and African American are used interchangeably even though they aren't the same thing.
This is so so true. African Americans sort of monopolise blackness. But then again, I think the social/cultural concept of 'blackness' exists in relation to racial relations. In Africa (black African countries, that is) there's no need to define oneself as black because that's really what everyone around is. We identify along tribal/religious lines rather than racial lines.
The African American perspective tends to be a very limited view of the world though, because there are all these expectations they have of other black people, without realising that these 'prerequisites' are peculiar to America and American culture and don't represent the state of all black people around the world.
Agreed. Also - I LOVE Jollof rice!!!!
@@ify8584 When I was a kid, I was always told that I'm a white girl and I don't act black. When Americans say "I'm blacker than you" or "you don't act black" they are not speaking or referencing the whole world. They just mean you don't have any American black culture in you. It's just American slang that blacks use in America. For instance if I pick up a fork to eat a slice a pizza, a black American would say " Girl, pick that up with your hand and stop acting so white", and laugh .....
The way this beautiful young woman described the fixation the US has on race and her perspective on that was very interesting to hear! The way she described the cultural differences was just fascinating. This young woman would be well suited for working at one of the US embassy’s locations in Japan. Thanks for a great video!
Why is every person has to be "beautiful"? I mean she is such a good person, i don't see why we have to use Appearance nice labels to describe everyone, if im ugly I know that I am Ugly and no one needs to call me pretty or beautiful, just stay on what I am interested in. Don't be fake, or too nice to say the truth, very annoying
GMV TV have you never heard the saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Meaning that every single person interprets what they see as beautiful or ugly, based on THEIR views, thoughts, and beliefs. It is in MY opinion that this lady IS beautiful! Why does that bother you so much? Why do you care who I see as beautiful? I am on a public forum and I quickly typed out my opinion, to which you obviously found an issue with. You may not agree with MY opinion, and that is completely fine. Just don’t think that because you disagree with MY OPINION, that makes me wrong! Thanks, now have yourself a wonderful day.
She would not be. She has no knowledge of American history or culture. She's good not representing a country she doesn't claim.
@@GMVTV Socialization. If she were unattractive I imagine the comments would be veeeery different.
@@Iaaronsp I am annoyed, not offended. Fake stuffs annoy me.
I loved this video! At 56, I feel like I missed so much not traveling abroad. I will definitely take a trip to Japan!
Tiffany, you are very articulate and beautiful. You made me feel comfortable about Japan just explaining your experience. When you said, "I like to visit the states but, I don't want to live there", was deep.
Your explanation about buying the groceries made so much sense. How cool to know the person you were purchasing your food from.
This has been an eye opener for me. It also made me subscribe to hear more stories from around the globe. Thank you for sharing!
native english and japanese speaker......I can see a bright future in you!😎
AP Wong 👍🇯🇵
Awesome parents to raise you in Japan! The world is your oyster, you are very lucky!!
Thank you for sharing this its amazing never forget that what's happening to black people in America could one day happen in Japan as long as you are African you are the only black girls tallin the world that you are Japanese can t even Manson your African origin what a donp gel I ever se you are disgrace to enter black race
Fascinating. She's a very lovely, well-rounded, well-cultured young lady.
About 14 minutes in. Very very interesting interview. Wow!! It has given me a perspective no other video on this channel so far has.
I'm mind blown.
Very insightful and interesting interview. She's very pretty. Loved it!
And very intelligent too
Travel always opens the mind and learning a language allows one to see through another's eyes. Loved this interview.
I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to not be seen as my race first, not to live my life as an “other”. It must feel so good.
Oh sorry to hear. Come to Africa. You are just human here.
You will experience that in anywhere in Africa right away.
I was once Black in Japan. I spent 9 years of my childhood in Tokyo. I was fluent in the Japanese language. My younger brother was born in Japan and held dual citizenship. I started modeling while there at the age of twelve. From Japan my family moved to Utah where I finished my schooling. I’m 61 years old now and still have an issue of having to fit into a box. I know exactly how you feel. Yes, you are black, however, you are also cultured. You are blessed you have this experience. I never thought of race either while living in Japan or Utah. Now that I live in Texas I see the segregation. I’m told that I don’t act “black”. Everyone wants to put you in a box. My advice to you is be aware, but don’t make everything about race. You are truly blessed.
Truth is.... you are what you are and not what you “act like”.
Black peoples are cultured period. You don’t have to grow up in Japan to be “cultured.”
Wow, even the Japanese understand that you are who your father is! Nationality comes from the father!
The linguistic culture aspect of translation is fascinating. Many people learn that part of it very late. Bad translators translate words; good translators translate meaning. You’re really fortunate to have had the chance to become a real native speaker of both languages, and have the culture and context of each! If you decide to be a translator, you’ll be a good one!
Exactly!
Translate the meaning, not words.
Though to be successful in this you need to be familiar with the linguistic aspects of both languages.
She is a happy, lovely, and beautiful girl. With a level of innocence that would only get damage here. She is better off there.
Bibi Love Exactly