Awkwafina

[Anonymous]

Have you seen her latest attempt to gloss over her (in my opinion) racist persona? I remember when I first heard of her years ago I was baffled how she was receiving so much positive press when it was immediately clear she used a moniker that was a mocking play on names found in parts of the AA community. It was a common trope in the late 90s to mock these names. I know she is trying to use the fact she is a minority as well to cover for it And trying to spin it as honoring the hip-hop communitybut I saw it plain as what it was day one. I’ve watched her rise in shock in light of all of this.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was a play on the water bottle brand "aquafina".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a play on the water bottle brand "aquafina".

This. Never occurred to me that it was somehow a slam on AAs. It doesn’t follow a particularly distinctive AA naming style (like LaXXX or XXXXinsha or second syllable apostrophes). It also doesn’t follow the 1980s inspired tradition of synthesized African-style names like Shaniqua.

So what about Awkwafina says AA to you? That it’s an invented name? That it’s a brand name? Neither of those are distinctively AA traits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a play on the water bottle brand "aquafina".

This. Never occurred to me that it was somehow a slam on AAs. It doesn’t follow a particularly distinctive AA naming style (like LaXXX or XXXXinsha or second syllable apostrophes). It also doesn’t follow the 1980s inspired tradition of synthesized African-style names like Shaniqua.

So what about Awkwafina says AA to you? That it’s an invented name? That it’s a brand name? Neither of those are distinctively AA traits.

Personally I think when your using aave and putting on an urban persona for your comedy while calling yourself awkwafina, it’s gone beyond just a play on a water brand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a play on the water bottle brand "aquafina".

This. Never occurred to me that it was somehow a slam on AAs. It doesn’t follow a particularly distinctive AA naming style (like LaXXX or XXXXinsha or second syllable apostrophes). It also doesn’t follow the 1980s inspired tradition of synthesized African-style names like Shaniqua.

So what about Awkwafina says AA to you? That it’s an invented name? That it’s a brand name? Neither of those are distinctively AA traits.

Personally I think when your using aave and putting on an urban persona for your comedy while calling yourself awkwafina, it’s gone beyond just a play on a water brand

she grew up in Queens, how more urban can she be?

[Anonymous]

She is who she is. If you grow talking like that how could it possibly be racist or appropriating.

[Anonymous]

What exactly did she do that warrants the accusation of racism OP? Here's the origin of her name (which apparently came from the water and originally used the same spelling): https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a30390061/awkwafina-stage-name-nora-lum/

How exactly is that racist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen her latest attempt to gloss over her (in my opinion) racist persona? I remember when I first heard of her years ago I was baffled how she was receiving so much positive press when it was immediately clear she used a moniker that was a mocking play on names found in parts of the AA community. It was a common trope in the late 90s to mock these names. I know she is trying to use the fact she is a minority as well to cover for it And trying to spin it as honoring the hip-hop communitybut I saw it plain as what it was day one. I’ve watched her rise in shock in light of all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was a play on the water bottle brand "aquafina".

This. Never occurred to me that it was somehow a slam on AAs. It doesn’t follow a particularly distinctive AA naming style (like LaXXX or XXXXinsha or second syllable apostrophes). It also doesn’t follow the 1980s inspired tradition of synthesized African-style names like Shaniqua.

So what about Awkwafina says AA to you? That it’s an invented name? That it’s a brand name? Neither of those are distinctively AA traits.

Personally I think when your using aave and putting on an urban persona for your comedy while calling yourself awkwafina, it’s gone beyond just a play on a water brand

She’s from NYC and went to LaGuardia HS. That’s quite urban. Awkwafina really doesn’t have anything to do with African American names. Perhaps your niggling hints about “urban personas” and such say more about your assumptions and stereotypes than they do about her.

Funny. Well, not funny, but odd. This is the second thread I’ve read today where someone who doesn’t openly identify as either Black or Asian seems to be trying to stir up trouble between African Americans and Asians. What a twisted hobby.

[Anonymous]

She has been accused of cultural appropriation. I’m not saying I agree (or not), just pointing out that OP didn’t invent this criticism.

[Anonymous]

Can you explain the name play better?

[Anonymous]

Meh. I'm AA and don't have a problem with her name, but she's definitely used AAVE to make herself famous; that's the reason for her non-apology on Twitter today.

[Anonymous]

OP, I could not disagree more. I'm from near where she's from in Queens, and like a PP said, that's just who she is. This is another example of absurd woke BS.

[Anonymous]

She’s a hypocrite. She uses AAVE and speaks in a “blaccent” but refuses to speak in an “Asian accent” because it mocks Asians but what does she think she’s doing to Black people? I’ve always thought she was cringe.

[Anonymous]

The name Awkwafina has nothing to do with African Americans... huh? It's very clearly a play on "Aquafina".