Fil-Am Creator Opens Up About ‘Internalized Racism’ Towards Asian Men in Dating

In the complexities of dating, the issue of internalized racism often casts a shadow, particularly on Asian women. One Filipino American content creator was brave enough to peel the layers and uncover some of the reasons for this subject.

If it’s too obvious on social media that some women are reluctant to date men from their racial roots, Darrell Rivera recently dropped a truth bomb on TikTok, gaining attention from viewers.

The dancer and choreographer from Las Vegas, Darrell Rivera (@dareal08_), fearlessly called out what he thinks is a case of internalized racism in Asian women when it comes to choosing their partners.

What is internalized racism?

Before we delve deep, let’s look closely at what is internalized racism. According to Dr. Wei-Chin Hwang, a professor of clinical psychology at Claremont McKenna College, internalized racism is when people from a certain racial group start embodying oppression and biases towards people of their own race.

@dareal08_

🙏🏽💯 #asian #dating

♬ original sound – Darrell Rivera

In addition, it’s like a tricky form of racism that splits communities and leaves everyone scratching their heads. Furthermore, Rivera isn’t holding back when he discusses about Asian men feeling burned out from Asian women bashing their own race.

He’s got a point. There’s a huge difference between having a distinction and straight-out dissing your own folks. If you’ve watched Kaila Yu’s (@kaila.yu) TikTok video where she revealed some Asian women stating that they won’t date Asian men because they look like a family.

Hollywood Representations

It’s like a real-life controversial article titled ‘Hollywood cured my prejudice against white men.’ Anyone can have their dating preferences, but let’s not drag the whole race through the mud while doing it.

Moreover, Hollywood also never failed to perpetuate these dating dynamics. It’s like a script ready for every Asian American leading lady falling in love with a white beau.

https://www.tiktok.com/@kaila.yu/video/7200793338365300014

Take, for example, the show “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” It’s all about an Asian American girl who fell head over heels with a white American boy. Not surprising that the “Asian girl and white boy love” idea has gone viral on TikTok.

Furthermore, when Rivera dropped his thoughts, the internet was blown with reactions from viewers and creators alike. For instance, @kyledimetri said, “Anyone who bashes their own race is the epitome of cringe and insecurity.”

In addition, @jaydenwicab didn’t hold back, stating, “Yep bro, I’m not an Asian guy, but I notice this too.” It’s a universal recognition of a problem that needs fixing. As @dimsum.t summed it up, “It’s so true. That’s what it boils down to.”

Dating may be a vast minefield, but internalized racism shouldn’t be like a grenade waiting for its explosion. By understanding the deep-rooted issues, we can open doors to a more harmonious and inclusive dating landscape.

For more updates on the latest news and interesting articles, stay tuned at Inquirer.net.