I have a theory that many of these racist messages being hurled at Asian-American celebrities is actually from Chinese and Russian bot accounts looking to increase racial strife in the US. It would be fascinating if someone was able to analyze the racist messages Chloe Kim received and track down if they are real people or not:
Snowboarder Chloe Kim spoke out about racist messages she receives on social media.
Like many public figures, Chloe Kim gets a lot of bizarre direct messages on her social media accounts, but far too many of them are filled with hurtful, racist words, the Olympian revealed this week.
In an Instagram story that has since expired, the accomplished snowboarder opened up about her personal experiences with racism and admitted that she feels “really helpless and afraid at times.”
As reported by ESPN, Kim shared a screenshot Wednesday of a message she had received that read “You dumb Asian b—-. Kiss my ass.” In her post, Kim went on to explain that it’s not unusual for her to receive such hurtful comments.
You can read more at the link, but there is assuredly racist jerks on the Internet. However, it would totally be in the Chinese and Russian interest to continue to promote racial strife in America, especially the Chinese. They want to mitigate criticism of their own controversial policies by calling their critics racist. This basically is a staple of American domestic politics as well.
The bottom line is that if you don’t like being trolled then you should not be on social media. I have been called all kinds of things on this blog over the years by what I suspect are 50 Cent Army trolls, but I understand that this is the risk you take posting on the Internet.
Via a reader tip comes this BBC article that explains how many on South Korean social media are wondering what would have happened if American Winter Olympic Gold Medalist Chloe Kim was born in South Korea?:
The teenager’s name was the most searched on Naver, South Korea’s largest portal, as many swelled with pride at her performance. Kim’s parents are South Koreans who emigrated to the United States in 1982.
But some social media users in the country are keenly imagining alternative lives for the unstoppable 17-year-old Californian, asking could she have achieved gold if she’d been born in South Korea?
“If she grew up in South Korea, she would be stuck on the bus going to academies (hagwon) all day,” one Naver used commented, referring to the country’s culture of encouraging long hours of studying and suggesting she would not have had the opportunity to become an athlete.
“If you were born in my country, you would be doing extra study at this hour. Envy you, American,” another wrote. [BBC]
You can read more at the link, but if she was born in South Korea and her parents wanted her to pursue a sports career it likely would not have been in snowboarding because of the lack of facilities to train. She likely would have been a speed skater considering the emphasis put on the sport in South Korea.
Chloe Kim is America’s latest Winter Olympic star and this has caused the media to focus on the immigrant past of her father:
Chloe Kim
Seventeen-year-old Chloe Kim made headlines on Tuesday after she won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final with three incredible runs. And her devoted father has also found himself in the spotlight after his daughter’s spectacular show.
Jong Jin Kim watched from the grandstand at the base of the halfpipe with a sign that read “Go Chloe!” while shouting “American dream!” as his daughter made history.
Jong Jin Kim was an immigrant from South Korea who arrived in South Carolina in 1982 with just $800 to his name, reported CNN. His first job in America was a dishwasher at a fast-food restaurant before he graduated to cashier at a liquor store.
But had Kim’s family attempted to enter the U.S. under the administration of President Donald Trump, it is uncertain whether they would have been permitted.
During his January 31 State of the Union speech, Trump urged Congress to pass legislation that promotes “merit-based immigration,” describing it as a system that “admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society.” [Newsweek]
You can read more at the link, but clearly Mr. Kim wanted to work and contribute to society. So the crux of the issue becomes he wasn’t a skilled worker when he entered the US. While in the US he studied and became a skilled worker later.
