MULTINATIONAL PATRIOT: Korean Diaspora Flags by Onjena Yo

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WE ARE KOREA MULTINATIONAL PATRIOT FLAG COLLECTIVE

The more we learn, the more we realize how much we don't know... 

I was informed by family members that the Republic of Korea (South Korea) is no bigger than the state of Ohio with a population of 50 million (Having grown up in Ohio, I knew first hand how small this was). It wasn't that long ago that Korea could barely feed their citizens just after the Korean War of the 1950's. Now, they are the 13th largest economy in the world. And their cultural output... K-Pop, Korean dramas, movies (um, Joon-ho Bong, yes, please)... I am just at the beginning of my binge...  

A recent conversation with a new friend prompted me to research the Korean diaspora. According to Wikipedia, there are over 7 million Koreans, give or take, living abroad. Here are the Top 10: 

  1. China (2.54 Million)

  2. United States (2.09 Million)

  3. Japan (893,000)

  4. Canada (206,000)

  5. Russia (176,000)

  6. Uzbekistan (174,000)

  7. Australia (157,000)

  8. Kazakhstan (105,000)

  9. Philippines (88,000)

  10. Vietnam (86,000)

50,000 Koreans were living in Mexico and Brazil. The United Kingdom was 13th (45,000) which surprised me. And Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the Top 10? Who knew?

I had to look up "Korean Diaspora Africa" to find the numbers for African countries: 

  1. South Africa (4,000)

  2. Libya (< 1000)

  3. Nigeria (< 800)

  4. Kenya (< 800)

  5. Egypt (< 700)

It seems I may know more about North Korea than South because of the news... I have much to learn and thanks to organizations such as the Orange County Korean American Cultural Exchange (OCKACE), I've already begun the process with some new friends. 

We designed our Korean-American flag many years ago and, based on direct feedback, it appears to have resonated with Koreans in the United States. It's been a long time coming, but we've now expanded our designs to reflect the Korean diaspora for the other 5 million Koreans living outside the U.S. & Korea.

Always lovely to hear from you. Connect with us at @MultiPATRIOT. 

Thanks for reading. 

~ Onjena Yo

#MultinationalPatriot #HonorBoth #OurPatriotism #OurGateways

Additional designs available. Tweet us at @MultiPATRIOT or send us a note here.

WWW.SHOP.KOREA.MULTINATIONALPATRIOT.COM

 
 
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ZOE SALDANA ON RACE: When you say that race is a social construct does that imply that it is insignificant?

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Zoe Saldana on race:

 
“I literally run away from people that use words like ethnic. It’s preposterous! To me there is no such thing as people of color cause in reality people aren’t white. Paper is white. People are pink, it’s a bit ridiculous when I have to explain to a human being, that is an adult like I am, that looks intelligent but for some reason I have to question his intelligence and explain to him as if he was a two year old, my composition in order for him to say, ‘Oh I guess I can chill with you, I can work with you.’

I will not underestimate a human being and I will not allow another human being to underestimate me. I feel like as a race, that’s a minute problem against the problems we face just as women versus men, in a world that’s more geared and designed to cater towards the male species.”
— Zoe Saldana
 

So being referred to as "Black" is an underestimation of what she is or has become... and then, problems "we" face as "women versus men"...
"... minute problem..."

Didn't she grow up in Queens?

What happened to this sister over there?

When you say that race is a social construct does that imply that it is insignificant?
Language can be described as a social construct. 
To say that there is no such thing as a black race is actually inaccurate. The terminology of "Black Race" is a description that means that you can be readily defined as having indigenous African roots. While the biology, the genetic classification can be debated, one's family lineage is significant... as significant as being able to see yourself in the face of your children. 
After the construction of race as a term to separate Blacks from the rest of society (that is why the other classifications take on different meaning) the descriptions of those that fell under that classification, in an attempt at invalidation, were ridiculous. The cultural practices that have been built based on those attempts ( ie: the biblical curse of Ham, Darwinish classification of Blacks as a lessor evolved species) were just psychological tools of war... and as such, as successful as they were, can never be called ridiculous.
Centuries later that classification "Black Race" is still being distorted and used as a war identifier.
The classification, meaning the defining and separating.. and the subsequent treatment of those that fell under that category, created a culture in response. Culture being another social construct that has existed at the foundation of civilizations for tens of thousands of known historical years.
Therefore Black culture becomes as significant as any "religion"... and therefore lies the danger. 
That is what those are on both sides are frightened of and align themselves against. They are afraid of being persecuted by, or for being part of a "religion". 
Historically powerful... and dangerous.

Saying race is nonsense becomes just one more tool to dilute that power and invalidate a people, in the same way the Australian aborigines were driven toward extinction.
It is not just how the world sees us and treats us but is as real as any identification of "family"...
... Which I admit can sometimes be ridiculous.

~ grey