What is ‘blaccent’, and why is Awkwafina being criticised for it?

The actor, who is also a person-of-colour, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award — the ‘National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’ — in the US which is given to people with “outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature”.

pic.twitter.com/pxSLXZD2J0

— nora (@awkwafina) February 5, 2022

She took to Twitter to share a lengthy statement on the matter: “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, what is deemed appropriate or backwards toward the progress of ANY and EVERY marginalised group.

“But I must emphasise: To mock, belittle, or to be unkind in any way possible at the expense of others is: Simply. Not. My Nature. It never has, and it never was.”

The Crazy Rich Asians star also attempted to explain her use of ‘blaccent’ and AAVE, writing, “My immigrant background allowed me to carve an American identity off the movies and TV shows I watched, the children I went to public school with, and my undying love and respect for hip hop. I think, as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them.”

Speaking on the issue, author and activist Mikki Kendall told CNN, “‘Blaccent’ is a term describing the fake accent racists and cultural appropriators use when they mimic Black people. Black people have accents, but we don’t all have the same one and yet somehow those two groups always use the same accent when they imitate Black people.”

All these words and not one apology.

Awkwafina could have just said: “You were right. I did use a blaccent to make a name for myself and that was wrong. I wholeheartedly apologize, and I’ll do better from now on.” https://t.co/3CDsw962B7

— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 5, 2022

Slamming Awkwafina’s apology attempt on Twitter, African-American author Britni Danielle also shared her mind, writing, “Awkwafina could have just said: “You were right. I did use a blaccent to make a name for myself and that was wrong. I wholeheartedly apologize, and I’ll do better from now on.”

Here’s how some other people reacted:

I mean it doesn’t sound like an apology? An explanation, but not an apology.

— ArcherAndTiger (@ArcherAndTiger) February 5, 2022

Girl, not on the 4th day of Black History Month pleasssssee

— YOU NEED TO LEAVE 🥴 (@SecretDivva) February 5, 2022

The fact that she sounds completely different than before tells us that it wasn’t a “mistake” or “accident.” She purposely sounded like that to make a name for herself.

— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 5, 2022

Still processing this. It has been a **long** time coming.

Sharing with The Black & Asian Alliance Network to gather some talking points, but my initial response is “why did it take so long to say this, especially when you knew the conversation on you existed.” You even

— Jonah Sahn (@jonahsahn) February 5, 2022

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