BTS vs Grammys

BTS deciding not to submit for the Grammys is huge in so many ways. Not least of which, it's the only appropriate response to what is essentially a segregation play by the Grammys, which is a problematic organization to begin with. But also, if you're like me, an immigrant kid, a third culture kid, of our lives we've been told to succeed, but also to never complain. And a lot of us stuck to that script, kind of having this hyper-awareness of just exactly what was sacrificed in order for us to be here. And while that's contributed to the relative success of Asian Americans, it's kind of reeked havoc in terms of how we're perceived culturally. That whole model minority myth, the hypersexualization of Asian women, just like that hot garbage ad campaign from Equinox, and the demasculinization of Asian men. Even on an individual level, the toll that it takes on our mental health, particularly our relationship to success and self-worth. Because there's this undercurrent of, oh, we should just be grateful to be invited to this party. That's kind of the same pattern that BTS has experienced with the Grammys, where they're consistently nominated, consistently invited to perform because they want the ratings, yet they never win. To the really ever sit down at the table. And so they're handed some sort of consolation prize by the Grammys, including first Asian pop award. And instead, to pause and revel because instead of saying like, oh, yes, we're super grateful to be involved. BTS, the world's biggest, most popular and successful musical group, just said, nah, we're good. Thanks though. It's pretty obvious Grammys want us around, but they don't really want us around. We don't need you. And what all of this are BTS Army, the immigrant kid or someone else on this Venn diagram is this image, a powerful example of someone, someone Asian owning their success out loud and absolutely refusing to sit at the side table.