Hey, Sam Sanders here.

Thank you so much for listening.

This episode, K-pop.

So while mindlessly scrolling a few weeks ago, as I often do, I began to notice something.

A lot of videos talking about the same thing.

Asking if or complaining about how K-pop appropriates black culture.

The reason why it's so hard for people to accept that K-pop has its roots in black American culture is that they look down on black Americans.

K-pop is not some isolated culture phenomenon. It's black music and black culture.

Systemized through a Korean entertainment industry machine. If black black music and black culture, systemized through a Korean

entertainment industry machine. If black people are calling you out for cultural appropriation,

it's because you're not talented enough. We actually don't have a problem with a little bit of

cultural appropriation if it's done correctly. I am old enough to know that most pop music that any of us

enjoy here in the Western world, any of it could

be accused of appropriating black culture.

But I wondered, why am I seeing so many of these videos now?

I mean, I get it.

K-pop is bigger than ever.

Golden, a very K-pop song from a very K-pop movie called K-pop Demon Hunters.

It could win an Oscar in a few weeks.

For the record, I love that song and that movie.

But I also know a little bit about the origins of K-pop.

The creators of the genre have said themselves,

...