Unspoken Racial Dynamics: The Racial Identity Formation of Black African Immigrant-Origin Youth in South Korea

• In Event: 30464 - Speculations

Abstract

This paper explores the construction of racial identity among Black African immigrant-origin youth in South Korea, a country known for its ethnic homogeneity. Focusing on the nuances of racial dynamics in East Asia, it challenges the prevalent U.S.-centric perspectives on race relations by examining how global migration reshapes racial constructs. It tackles the complex interplay between race and global migration, examining how race is constructed outside Western contexts, particularly in response to global migration patterns that shift racial hierarchies and meanings. In addition, by viewing children as active actors and agents in their households, schools, and communities, this paper uncovers aspects of the immigrant experience that often remain hidden when our focus is primarily on adults as the central figures.

Drawing from one-year ethnographic fieldwork at an after-school center (with aged 8-15, 20-30 African youth) and in-depth interviews with middle and high school students, parents, and educators and activists, this research delves into the dynamics of racial identity construction, focusing on the interactions between Black African youth, their peers, and Korean teachers. The findings underscore the unique challenges Black African youths face, such as the intersection of racial discrimination, global Blackness, precarious legal status, low economic status, and multiple family roles. Together, these factors shape their identity formation processes. Thus, this study explores the significance of understanding racial dynamics in global migration studies and the critical role of meso-level institutions in shaping everyday experiences of second-generation immigrant populations in South Korea.

Author

• Jiwon Choi, University at Albany, SUNY