Learning to Live; Growing to Thrive

By Jasmine Mitchell ‘21, JFOU Fellow 2021-2023

During my time at Oberlin, I always explored unique research topics centered around Blackness Abroad. My fascination with this topic led me to study the historical and present dynamics between the African Diaspora and Japan and explore these dynamics firsthand in Japan. After almost two years of living in Japan, I recall all the feelings I’ve endured: romanticization, frustration, appreciation, confusion, and assimilation. While admittedly, the word “assimilation” has a negative connotation, it was a necessary evil I thought I had to develop, given the close relationship between language and culture with Japanese. Similarly to “Code-Switching,” where individuals alternate between 2 languages depending on specific social settings/contexts, I found temporary comfort in assimilation as a coping mechanism as a Black woman in Japan.. This, however, got exhausting.

It wasn’t until I agreed to join the Director and Faculty-in-Residence of Afrikan Heritage House (A-House), Candice Raynor, on the A-House Winter Term Trip to Japan that I thought more critically about the intersection of safe spaces and tourism in a foreign country. By code-switching, I found protection both in myself and my connection to the Black community. Still, I had to ask myself how this assimilationist ruse was costing my sense of self due to this psychic drain in inauthentic performance. Thus far, the network and community I had forged in Japan had not yet required me to blur the lines of authenticity in self and performance to cope as a minority, so this winter term trip was not only an opportunity to explore Japan but also explore within myself what it would take to truly thrive as a Black woman in Japan.

We began our trip in Okinawa, where I presented my research to students about research on the historical and present relationship between Black people and Okinawans, military personnel and Japanese communities, Afro-Asian Solidarity movements, and my personal experience living in Japan. We also embarked on a tour that helped us understand the differences between Japanese and Okinawan cultures, ate delicious seafood and udon noodles, watched traditional dances, and traveled to centuries-old shrines and temples. After our time in Okinawa, we traveled to Hiroshima and Kyoto, leaders in Diversity and Inclusion efforts in Japan and activists who spearheaded the Black Lives Matter movement protests in their respective cities in 2020 and continue this work through NGOs, academic literature, appearances on Japanese TV, and community building events and activities. I was fascinated by the networks of Black activists that we had access to during this time and who shared many of my same interests and future goals.

While my intellectual hunger was satisfied by our excellent speakers and tour guides, I also was able to eat delicious food in each city we traveled to. The best was a  famous ramen shop in Kyoto called “Menbaka Fire Ramen.” I had the most delicious ramen that was literally set on fire in front of me right before I ate it. It was an incredible experience and a bucket-list item that I've wanted to cross off my list since I moved to Japan.

Finally, we ended our trip to Tokyo, where we visited cultural and historical sites, went karaoke, ate some delicious yakiniku, and attended a fantastic event at the Legacy Foundation. The Legacy Foundation Japan is an organization that works for the betterment of African Americans and those of African descent in Japan. During the event, we heard from Executive Director Latonya Whitaker, who discussed the community-building events they hold at their organization, such as reports on local and global news associated with the Black experience, hosting educational and inspirational events and networking opportunities for individuals and businesses, and fostering cultural connections through food at their restaurant "Soul Food House." Many students noted this event as their favorite because of how closely it resembled the mission of A-House and felt even more empowered to be changemakers in whatever career path they chose.

Surrounded by people eating delicious fried chicken, playing bones (dominoes), laughing, and having intellectual debates, I was reminded of how at home I felt in that space. Having served as a tour guide for a group of curious, intelligent young Black students and using my language skills to help explain aspects of Japanese culture in a way they could understand reinforced the importance of how I can navigate life in Japan authentically, all while exploring Japan and learning about Japanese culture. Many students noted that in past study abroad experiences, given that the groups are primarily non-Black, they are consumed with the need to code-switch so much that they aren’t able to explore these experiences authentically in their Blackness as they would like. I, too, share and live this experience in Japan. However, the A-House Black Abroad winter term completely shifted my perspective.

If we fail to account for authenticity, if our interactions are pure performance, we can miss out on connections, insights, and opportunities because we are too focused on the superficial role. Living abroad has pushed me to grow interpersonally in ways I would never have imagined, and I hope to be a part of future opportunities to help other Black and Brown students explore Japan as well.