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A Nigerian woman teaching in Japan tearfully recounted how one of her students called her a racial slur. TikTok user @gamezu3, who graduated from a Japanese university, shared the incident in a video uploaded to her account on Friday. In the video, she expressed her distress over the situation, saying, "On this day, my student called me a monkey and the N-word." She added that she is tired of life abroad.
The TikTok user’s post, which includes a hashtag calling for “Fix Africa,” has been viewed over 580,000 times. The hashtag seems to imply a call for unity and strength within the African community globally, encouraging resilience and change in the face of adversity.
The video sparked a wave of comments from netizens, many of whom expressed their outrage and support for the teacher. One commenter wrote, "No one should have to endure this kind of treatment. Stay strong, sis." Another user added, "As a fellow teacher abroad, I feel your pain. It's so important to stand up to racism wherever it happens."
Standing up to racism is not new to Japan. In 2020, thousands of activists marched in Tokyo at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement amid the COVID-19 pandemic to fight against racism towards the Black community in Japan.
"Racism is there, and sometimes it can be subtle. It can be confusing whether what you are facing is racism or it’s just people being ignorant," said Bongekile Motsa, a Swati student at a Japanese college, during a panel at the “Kokujin Experiences” event in Tokyo in February 2021. Her statement resonates with many who have faced similar challenges, emphasizing the nuanced and often ambiguous nature of racial discrimination in Japan.
The comments on the teacher's video also reflect a broader concern about the experiences of Black people in Japan. One user commented, "It's heartbreaking to see this. Japan needs to address these issues seriously." Another noted, "Education is key. Both students and adults need to learn about diversity and respect."
Despite the support, some comments also revealed the persistent ignorance and prejudice that still exist. A few netizens downplayed the incident, suggesting that the student might not have understood the gravity of the words used.
Source: https://nextshark.com
