CL Shares Her Story About How Black Culture Inspired Her Work As Well As The K-Pop Industry

CL has spoken up.

Many K-Pop idols and celebrities have stepped up to speak out and support the #BlackLivesMatter movement through their platforms. Previously, CL posted a message through her Instagram and shared a link to a petition.

On June 3, she posted a new message with the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #Solidarity and shared her story of how black culture inspired her life and her career.

Her story, posted in both English and Korean, explains how immersed she was in black culture throughout her childhood and how it influenced her music.

‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ was the first album my dad bought me.

Beyonce’s “DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE” was the first CD I bought for myself.

Janet Jackson taught me the power of movement of dance and expression.

Missy Elliott is why I am so obsessed with my video visuals.

Lil Kim was one of Fashion’s pioneers that taught me how to be fearless in how I tell stories through clothes…

Aaliyah is the reason why I still wear baggy pants and combat boots on stage.

During the rare moments of me being at karaoke, my friends saw me sing (but actually screaming) nonononoWAY by Whitney Houston.

It ends with no mo drama by MJB.

 

She also expresses the fact that a lot of the K-Pop industry is inspired by black culture whether or not they acknowledge it. She hopes that everyone can show support to those that have been our biggest inspirations. She emphasizes that although it may feel like we have no connection to this, we actually are all connected as a whole and that we must stand up together to fight for justice.

Some of the biggest inspirations for 2NE1 were DESTINY’s CHILD and TLC.

These are just some of the examples of the core women who have inspired me over the years.

Artists, directors, writers, dancers, designers, producers, stylists in the K-pop industry are all inspired by black culture whether they acknowledge it or not.

I would like to encourage all the K-pop fans to give back and show their love and support for all that we have received from Black artists.

I want to explain to all the K-pop fans, fellow Asians, and non-Americans who feel like they have little or no connection to what’s happening that we are all connected at the end of the day.

And don’t we, Asians living abroad, also face enough racism to the point where we are numb and sick of it?

We must stand up together as one helping them fight for justice.

It’s never too late. Let’s send them love and support by caring, elevating black voices, educating ourselves, and bringing awareness to people around you.

#blacklivesmatter [in Korean]
#blacklivesmatter
#solidarity

 

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K-Pop artists have the power and platform to speak out about these types of issues, and by using their platform as a voice for the people, they can help spread more awareness to the world about issues that are important to our society as a whole.

Black Lives Matter