Heres Every Single Reason Why People Think Awkwafinas Blaccent “Apology” Missed The Mark

The response online has been widespread, and there’s some confusion about whether Lum has apologized for and taken ownership of her actions or not. So, to make it clear, let’s go line by line:

Before even diving in, it’s hard not to recognize when Lum decided to release the statement. After years of criticism, she dropped her statement at the beginning of Black History Month, shifting the focus away from a celebration about Black people and their contributions to the US, and instead toward…herself.

At the top of her statement, Lum acknowledged that the Black community, “is a group that is disproportionately affected by institutionalized policies and law enforcement policies – all the while having historically and routinely seen their culture stolen, exploited and appropriated by the *dominant* culture for monetary gain without acknowledgement nor respect for where those roots come from, the pioneers of its beginnings and the artists that perfected and mastered the craft.”

Later on, she says, “As a non-Black POC, I stand by the fact that I will always listen and work tirelessly to understand the history and context of AAVE.” However, the Black community has pressed Lum for years about her mimicry, showing that she does not, in fact, always listen.

Nearly half a year ago, she dodged questioning about the Blaccent during a press run for Shang-Chi, and claimed to be open to the conversation, but has been silent on the matter since – which has lead people online to speculate that the controversy has began influencing her career and money, ultimately leading to this statement.

Lum partially attributes her speech to her environment and the children she grew up with… in her hometown of Stony Brook, NY, whose population statistics are as follows: 86.83% white, 9.41% Asian, and 2.25% Black.

The other issue with the “identity” Lum says she “carved” for herself centers around the definition of identity, itself. A person’s identity is who they are – through and through. However, Lum’s Blaccent largely appeared at the beginning of her career, helping popularize her, and continued in roles that skyrocketed to the mainstream. Recently, at the height of her career, Lum has seemingly switched the Blaccent off for interviews and award show speeches. It shouldn’t need to be said, but identities aren’t something you take off like old-fashioned pants.

Finally, Lum said, “I think as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them – what’s correct and where they don’t belong.” And while it is important to find one’s own path, trying out Blackness and seeing how it feels, then throwing it to the side when it’s time to be “professional” does not need to be a part of that.

Ultimately, the post reads as an explanation for her actions, and not an apology for how she’s hurt people, nor an acknowledgement of how she could be wrong.