Dramas being racist

Includes: Black stereotypes and cultural appropriation, black-facing/black-fishing, oversexualization of Black people, colourism, tokenism, whitewashing, Uncle Tomfoolery

The best friend character is one of the worst cases I've come across recently. 

Fake tan/black-facing: yes, South Koreans can have a darker complexion, but he obviously wears make-up way too dark for his skin

dirty dreads: if you don't know why this is problematic, I can't help you.

Bob Marley get up: if it was only this, I would mind less, in combination with the rest, it's just too much. There is a whole stereotype for Rastafarians alone. 

Someone said "maybe he is black" → then why didn't they cast a black guy for that role? Why does it have to be the black character/black-facing character that is the most unattractive and most disgusting one in the whole drama? Also, later they brought in a Nigerian man in the same dress up (they obviously have no problems finding Black people to cast - who would've thought?)... now people think they were just simply enjoying their love for Rastafarian culture, now they think since a Black dude approves of the best friend there's no racism to be detected. It's like when non-black people say their Black friend allowed them to say the n-word. Whew Chile. 

You don't see the problem?

The most infuriating thing about this is that a lot of people in the comments just choose to be ignorant and gaslighting. They say it's comedy, but as a Black woman I cannot laugh.

Also includes: sexual assault (it's not an issue in the drama, the assaulted person doesn't really seem to mind, but in reality it would be completely wrong) and domestic violence (they think it's funny because a woman is beating her husband, because surely men could not ever be victims of domestic violence).

Second lead disguises with full on black-face and cheap afro wig.  

Colourism: Because the FL lead has a darker complexion, or rather because she had a natural tan, she was considered unattractive. Only when she became white and fair, they would call her pretty.

ML is ambushed by two American guys, of course one of them is black, because what says street gang violence more than a Black man.

Colourism: The same old "she has to disguise herself as someone else". Since she is pretty, she'll get ugly now. Since she's pretty because her skin is fair and light, she'll have to have a darkened face now, combine it with some freckles and unkempt curly hair and done! She is unrecognizably ugly now, the perfect homeless person!

Someone said "it's because it's historical, and it was like that back then" is just so ignorant to the colourism problem the majority of East-Asian countries still face today. There is also no excuse for a fantasy show produced in modern times to still hold onto that toxic and racist beauty standard. 

Since the disguise in itself was shitty, they could've just made her face dirty instead of giving her a different skin colour, maybe even give her some weird moles all over the face. There was even a pretty obvious plot hole with her blackface, so if they had just had put dirt on her face, she could've just put some on again after falling into the water.  Instead, I should believe that her blackface wasn't washed away but the moment some guy touches her chin it rubs off. OK, I guess, go off.

Colourism: Same thing. FL was "ugly" with a darker complexion, suddenly pretty when she became fair.

Colourism: They did not call her pretty when she had a darker complexion.

The only one that seemingly didn't care was the SML, that's why this is one of my strongest SLS ever.

colourism: mention of female lead being dark and therefore ugly as a child. despite the obvious issue here, her childhood versions didn't even had a simple tan, the only reason she was ugly was for the hideous bole haircut they gave her. 

Colourism is so strong, that it should be considered black-face. 

Again, the female lead has to disguise herself as someone ugly, and how to do it? Of course, you'll have to paint your whole body several tones darker - because what else could be uglier than a dark body?

FM disguises herself, she already had a panda head on, but that wasn't funny enough. If we really wanna try to make the audience laugh, why not let her wear blackface? The scene was so banal, so unnecessary (as always though), so quick, that I almost missed it. 

This one was true mockery though, with some other dramas people could've at least argued "no, the character likes the culture", "no, they are just naturally 'tan'!", but with this scene?!  You really can't tell me nothing. 

https://mydramalist.com/discussions/cute-programmer/65761-blackface

In this drama, Africa only exists in the context of viruses: Ebola and malaria are the only things associated with the whole continent.

You wanna volunteer as a doctor without borders and do good? Might as well sign your death sentence. 

It just goes with the common propaganda to promote this misconception of Africa, so that people keep believing a whole continent with 54 countries is just a big desert where breathing in the wrong direction is going to kill you. Fits perfectly into the fact that the anti-Black racism is alive and well in China.

Colourism: 

Kiarra793:  Xiaoxi's mother was racist towards Wu Bosong because of his darker skin complexion

[T]he fact that they use Africa portraying it as a very impoverished helpless continent that is in need of 'external saviours'. Africa is diverse, vibrant and has its own strengths and capabilities. But what pisses me off more is Yae's reaction as if Kento saved an entire continent. I just wish for a more balanced and respectful portrayal of Africa in dramas rather than perpetuate stereotypes of helplessness. I don't like them constantly using Africa as a 'place' where they can save the poor, search for food and water, for agricultural support and other bullshit like that.

In ep 13 we find out that out hero once defended himself against a cannibal tribe in Africa, because of course he did.