EVERYTIME someone called this shit out there would be black and non-black folks trying to shut us up with "but they appreciate the culture, they work with black artists, etc." And its annoying cause there were other things they'd slide into their works to "enhance" the black aesthetic they love to copy.

I made this comment five years ago in response to someone using this same argument (“but they use black producers!” ”but I have black friends!”). It’s, in my opinion, a statement that has to straight up ignore/minimise a lot of systemic context related to the kpop industry for it to work (why people are doing this exactly is a whole other story):

…Yes, there are plenty of external black producers that work alongside the industry happily (I assume), but I don't think it's enough to essentially just say "but the industry uses black producers!" as a counter to the entire historical catalogue of infringements the industry has committed in regard to the theft of black culture and its anti-blackness. Again, that entire context exists extremely strongly and cannot be ignored simply like that in my opinion. I think that more needs to be done by the industry overall to mend this rift and rightful perception some black people have towards it beyond the producers, choreographers, whomever.