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Given that there were so few Black people nominated for this year’s Golden Globes, I had no intention of watching. In fact, until I saw red carpet images, I didn’t know that they took place yesterday. But these days, you don’t have to watch an award show to be a part of the conversation.
And this morning, comedic actress and rapper Awkwafina, sparked some discussion. Awkwafina, who is American with Chinese and South Korean ancestry, became the first Asian actress to win a Golden Globe in any lead actress category for her role in the film The Farewell.
While the thought of an Asian American being honored in this way was something quite a few people celebrated, there were plenty of folks who took issue with the fact that it seemed Awkwafina spent a majority of her career lampooning Black women with her accent, in her attire and general demeanor in many of the roles which she attached herself.
In fact, her name alone, a play on the water brand Aquafina, many interpret as a way people criticize Black women’s names for being “made up,” “nonsensical” “misspelled” “extravagant” and “ghetto.” Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, chose the name for herself when she was 16. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she shared why she chose it.
“I wanted something–at that point I never thought that people would actually call me “Awkwafina, I just thought it would make me and my other friend, who at that time was my branding manager at age 16, you know, we would giggle.”
She told Kimmell that she also considered calling herself Dassani with two S’s.
In addition to her name, for years people have wondered about Awkwafina’s blaccent. In addition to using it during her rap career, it was placed on full display in her role in the hit film Crazy, Rich Asians.
For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, Awkwafina’s character, who her grandmother said is essentially her playing herself, she recites lines like this: “But you can’t swerve,” Peik Lin interjects, throwing up her left index finger. “You gon’ roll up to that weddin’ and be like ‘bawk bawk, bitch.’”
When asked about the blaccent, Awkwafina shared that she grew up in a multicultural environment in the New York City borough of Queens. Still, she acknowledged that it’s a conversation she’s willing to have. And in her latest role, she hasn’t relied on these stereotypes. But in the series based on her upbringing, there are no Black people.
And Black folk took notice. After her win, they shared their grievances about the fact that Awkwafina used Black culture, Black lexicon and style to secure a spot in Hollywood, only to shed it when it no longer served her.
See what these people had to say on the following pages.
Remember when @awkwafina was black? 😂 Mannn ppl love to use black culture to rise and then drop it when they get a seat at the table pic.twitter.com/e5TgkuQboZ
— 🌹🦺🟢 Mr. TRosebot ❼ (@MrTROseBot) January 6, 2020
Reminder that Awkwafina is a cultural appropriator. She was fine appropriating Black culture until she got successful – and the more successful she gets, the whiter she sounds.#GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/6L1Iu3VRQe
— PROBLEMATIC JEWESS (@fangirlsmash) January 6, 2020
AWKWAFINA – the womxn who rose to fame over cosplaying Black womxn – won an award in a year where no Black people won anything and were barely nominated????#GoldenGlobes
— taylor DA REALIST crumpton (@taylorcrumpton) January 6, 2020
ok here's something i've been thinking about. awkwafina mentioned that she had a blaccent because that's just how people around her growing up spoke. but she now has a show coming out about a fictionalized version of her growing up and… none of the characters are black. pic.twitter.com/MamFjhjiXQ
— se asian oakland enby / i'm tired ya'll (@WellsLucasSanto) January 5, 2020
Awkwafina, Gina Rodriguez, and Scarlett Johansson should make a movie about the struggles of being a black woman in America
— Just Christian (@Caroberts24) January 6, 2020
You know, Awkwafina being the first Asian woman to win a golden globe for best actress feels apt because the Asian community is anti-black and also loves ignoring our anti-blackness, so really she's the perfect person to represent us 🙄
— Adiba Jaigirdar (@adiba_j) January 6, 2020
i get that since AAPIs are so poorly represented in mainstream u.s. media, we're reluctant to critique community members. but criticism isn't a negation; it's a much-needed conversation. (see: feelings on awkwafina and pretty much every time we co-opt u.s. black culture.)
— what a joke (@chrsm) January 6, 2020
Someone tweeted, "Did anyone Black win a Golden Globe?" and someone else responded, "Awkwafina," and I just
— Terese Mason Pierre (@teresempierre) January 6, 2020
I really don't have the energy tonight to explain point by point how and why Awkwafina's donning of blackness has been violent against Black women.
But go ahead and be proud she got that first by stepping on the necks of other marginalized women.
— Melissa Blue (@mel_thegreat) January 6, 2020
Awkwafina dropped all that niggas shit when she got around them white folks I see pic.twitter.com/8PxxZeYomq
— Black Ginger Foutley (@some_girlll) January 6, 2020