Could BTS video Permission to Dance Be Xenophobic Retaliation?
BTS’s usual media presence speaks out against general relevant issues, but their latest song, Permission to Dance, may have been personal. Even though BTS music is upbeat, extras appear happy, and the talented BTS stars rock the dance moves, 90% of the video is costumed in western wear while the lyrics echo: we don’t need permission to dance. The Billboard K-pop correspondent Tamara Herman stated, “The whole company’s philosophy is to make music that matter[s].” Although it hasn’t been expressly stated anywhere, the message seems clear—enough is enough!
Just Walk the Walk
According to teen vogue, even though the K-pop group has exceeded Bieber’s six-year streak of Top Social Artist, the social media they receive is littered with xenophobic comments. You’d think after the dozen fatalities that forced Black Lives Matter into Center stage media 2020, or the multiple cities plunged into rioting chaos, that the xenophobia in this country would vanish. Wake up people! It’s time for change. This multi-cultural country needs to step it up and walk the walk.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart.” Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images
We Need to Be Sick of Racism, Not sick With Racism.
America has been sick with racism from the beginning. We cannot pretend this is a new issue. However, from January 20th, 2017 to January 20th 2020, our nation’s leader, and guiding example, publicly vomited xenophobia continually. Trump constantly called the world-wide pandemic the “China virus.” America, aren’t you sick of all this? Let’s stand up and speak for ourselves—no matter how uncomfortable it makes others.
“When you deliberately feign ignorance of something you don’t understand, simply because you…won’t take steps to familiarize yourself, you’re perpetuating a problem,”
Aamina Khan
We can no longer sit on the side lines. America, there is a need to walk a mile in each other’s shoes. Those who sit at the top in life, it is time to open eyes and see the marginalized at the bottom of the hill. Even though you may or may not have climbed to the top—lend a hand. Open your ears and hear the ugly slurs, as if they are directed at you. It’s time to soften our hearts and feel what each other feels—all people everywhere.
“No matter who you are, where you are from, your skin color, gender identity, just speak for yourself,” Kim Namjoon.
Kim Namjoon/ Bollywoodlife.com
We must think for ourselves. We as a nation have witnessed what mob mentality can do, and the scars are still fresh on Capitol Hill. It’s time for compassion. We’re all just people, and following the crowd will no longer work. Let us embrace K-Pop’s message and in the words of BTS, let us all be “a piece of peace.”
