The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and its affiliates, the Korean Resource Center (Los Angeles and Orange County) and the Hana Center (Chicago) are horrified by the assault of a Black woman by the Korean American male manager of Missha Beauty Supply in Charlotte, NC. NAKASEC stands with the victim and the community in North Carolina. As Korean Americans, we cannot perpetuate any violence, racism, gender inequality and hate. The managers of Missha Beauty Supply must take full responsibility for their actions and there must be justice for the victim.
Incidents like this are not isolated and are symptoms of the anti-Blackness perpetuated by the larger American society. As organizations rooted in Korean American communities, we believe it is important to engage with our community members to address anti-Blackness as well as learn about the history of the Black community’s struggle and experiences in our first languages and with cultural competency.
We strongly encourage those of us who are operating businesses in the Black community to also participate in these community discussions and meaningfully engage with the very community in which they are making a living. Furthermore, we must actively hold cross-community dialogues, so each community can have a better understanding about our issues and struggles to build solidarity. That is how we can work together to achieve social, economic and racial justice for all people of color communities.
In Solidarity, NAKASEC, KRC & Hana Center
