Steve Aoki: Ashamed of Asian identity as a kid

DJ and musician Steve Aoki looks back on his childhood in Newport Beach, California and standing out as one of the few minorities in his school and neighborhood. Aoki recalls how racism fueled his first physical fight and how things started to improve in high school, once he found music and a crew of fellow outcasts.
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Episode debuted nationwide in 2021.
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[@nba_fan7214]

"We don't fit in anywhere, so we'll fit in together". That's a nice sentiment

[@hnguyen5o8]

I was born in 85', he spitting straight facts on how all Asians felt and had to go through

[@MvnuelMorales]

Real

[@subliminallyinc]

@@MvnuelMorales realest real

[@asuas3115]

Everyone talks about black racism but honestly growing up I saw asians get picked on 100 times more than any ethnicity & racism against a black kid I might've only seen once & it wasnt even clear racism it was questionable

[@25mL]

As an Asian American growing up in the US, I empathize with Steve so much... I never really felt like I fit in and felt less about myself.

[@RayNagin504]

Try being black.

[@25mL]

@@RayNagin504 I get it. We’ve all been disenfranchised. Doesn’t mean only blacks own the struggle 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@ljvue]

@@RayNagin504 , you are totally detached from reality. Ever heard whites and blacks tell you to go back to China? Makes you feel like an alien.

[@9188tennisgirl]

@@RayNagin504 I felt this way as a white blonde girl..... I was the minority in my elementary school :(

[@2011sliverdude]

@@RayNagin504 I rather be black than asian tbh with you especially in the USA .

[@i_Gotcha_]

As a Filipino kid growing up as well, being raised in an American society I too, felt this way to a certain extent wished I was white or maybe a different race at certain times in my life. But learned to love that this was what made me different and embraced everything about that.

[@atomicgirltv9313]

I love him as an artist before and always felt such powerful energy from his presence. NOW I just fell in love with the real person behind this beautiful energy and wow. Much love- thank you for sharing some of your life with us like this!💜

[@LifeOfKirstie]

Wow! Never thought I would relate so much to someone. LOVE this interview series and LOVE Steve Aoki even that much more!

[@TheRiceguy78]

US society in general is an exclusive society by its nature, always had been which reinforces his experience as an Asian American. I grew up in LA in the 80s in the hood and my experience was quite parallel to his experience in OC. Two different worlds but strikingly similar.

[@Repomidnight]

I’m an Australian and I acknowledge we have a lot of problems. However overall I do think our nation is more accepting of different cultures.

[@erikflores7739]

I understand especially growing up in Newport Beach.

[@lola.cruz916]

I totally understand his perspective about the food thing. My grandmother felt the same way growing up in the 1940s, bringing Mexican food to school for lunch, because my great grandmother refused to pack simple American foods. All my grandma wanted was a sandwich like the other kids, but my great grandma would pack her burritos or other traditional foods

[@emilegriffith1473]

Lol now all the kids would beg her to share

[@megshimatsu8615]

Nothing wrong with that! American lunches are boring.

[@goyam2981]

Immigrants in most countries have had to go through this phase--being looked down by the locals for the food and language struggles and mannerisms. It takes time and patience and sticking to why you moved there in the first place.

[@CJ-gp9yh]

Growing up Asian I had the exact same experiences as a kid

[@RayNagin504]

Stop with the lies

[@willc5023]

yessir

[@2011sliverdude]

blame china. china makes other asians look bad that where all the negative stereotypes came from

[@chrisj1455]

This is really sad 😢 I grew up in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. I was in high school in early 2000s and by that time, my school was quite diverse (plenty of Asian/hispanic students). As an Asian American, I didn’t feel out of place. Steve is about 10 years older than me so when he was growing up, I guess America was not as diverse

[@detailsmove]

Aoki keepin it real

[@SM-fm4eb]

Growing up in Houston during the 80’s being Asian… know what he meant…

[@jaky411]

Same. I felt the exact feelings about being southasian american and having my southasian immigrant parents raising me in a way that i felt not only conflicted with the american culture but also with my own identity as a person. when it came to bringing my own cultural food to school i never felt ashamed/embarassed about what others thought about it but definitely the more sheltered aspects of being brainwashed to think talking to the opposite sex was bad as well as spending time with friends rather than with your own parents all the time was wrong and seen as being disrespectful especially if you were a girl growing up. i knew i was different growing up and the feelings of being other came more from the internalized shame/guilt i felt if i did not do thing things and lived my life as a young adult person through their image. i felt very conflicted between the two opposing cultures that i was socially exposed to and always struggling to connect the two in the way that i saw that fit with me as an individual for sure...

[@lucashood9890]

Those south Asian parents can have fangs

[@darryl.c7972]

I'm American living in Asia, [Thailand] I have never once felt any racism towards me here at all,, ever! Why when Asians or other people of culture come to America, there not treated very well?? When Americans come over here, the Thais are so welcoming and respectful to us Americans...I don't get it?? so happy I live here.

[@Danny-fs1hk]

This is painful for me to watch but this is a very good interview.

[@jerryellis4518]

Bless you man

[@Jay-407]

Really wish you’d interview skrillex. Just seems like the perfect setting for him. He’s a legend in the dance music scene

[@inparadise]

God, this had to be said for every Asian growing up in a Western country.

[@showstopper8]

i remember a similar thing that happened to me in 1st grade, and the white boy told me stop following me. made me realize i was an outcast.

[@normanbates1133]

as an asian i feel the same but it's all good now i'm almost 30

[@asuas3115]

Everyone talks about black racism but honestly growing up I saw asians get picked on 100 times more than any ethnicity & racism against a black people I might've only seen once & it wasnt even clear racism it was questionable

[@stanaoki330]

Steve when I was in High School I experience racial discrimanation. In my art class, when the teach stepped for a while a whole gang of guys and I think gals to started throwing globs of clay at me. I just took it like Jesus took hatred of him being crucified on the cross for not hating anyone. Then the teacher showed up and they all rushed back to their seats. One guy who I thought was my friend-a white guy said, "Mr Langford is you SAVIOR! I wanted to punch him out, but he was my friend. Then when I went to college a college of mostly white people, some guys surrounded me in the men's dorm and jumped me. Before I knew what was going on they grabbed me about 5 guys and muscled me into a another guy's room and shaved my mustache off-but only one side of my face. I ran to my room and shaved the rest of my mustache off and was crying and crying. They were so mean! Later when we went to breaksfast another white friend of mine saw me and said, "Stan I would have kept that one side of your mustache on for SPITE! Like dudes LOOK What you did to me!!

[@2011sliverdude]

you have to black or white in the USA just look at Hollywood. preferably white and depending where you live like Arizona Mexican is okay. Just like Florida being cuban is okay. everything else you are an outsider

[@RS-ti7bz]

Facts

[@Loverofass]

America is super black and white. I agree.

[@joyandpeacefullaughter5307]

I think this discrimination is worse for asian men than women.

[@challenger516]

That's true

[@ChowFunFoods]

yup yup

[@Jeremiah-wl9dm]

True. The women are fetishized.

[@bostongirlsandy]

I like Asian guys.

[@SoCalBrian]

3:47 that is true until this day

[@kingkong6729]

He is definitely having the last laugh

[@arsenioseslpodcast3143]

Says who? You? Bullshit. He hasn't been healed yet. You think money stops all this Asian hate, white boy? Think again

[@kingkong6729]

@@arsenioseslpodcast3143 im actually chinese, and trust me, money is gonna help the healing lol

[@trex1448]

It's better in LA and NYC

[@ironmenace]

Gettin harassed by Mexicans / black and white At least you became successful

[@liag5300]

aw he was cute. also sad to see this video, he still processing the trauma of being an asian kid in Newport beach. weirdly enough him wanting to fit in made him feel want to become famous. to me he talks and looks like a socal dude. just have a weird sense of style. i mean i’m asian but i wouldn’t wear shorts for the interview lol

[@joblow-g5u]

Graham Norton fill in the blanks

[@showstopper8]

omg....my mom also made me apologize for beating up a kid smh

[@kmm2442]

Such an interesting guy. I feel like his adult life is a big fu to the repression of his youth. Bit like me :/

[@royperez8965]

He speaks English very well.

[@maggiesun5011]

He is American what do you think 😅

[@joseromero81]

The 80s were brutal

[@choo1030]

Now we Asians got K-Pop BTS Parasite Squid Game. Wats up Wats good?

[@zxarenagaming]

:(

[@RayNagin504]

If you thought it was tough being Asian try being black.

[@paxetbonum1213]

That's have a big sense Haha

[@nba_fan7214]

You can empathize with both black and Asian kids you know. They're different experiences - it's not a competition

[@taralewis8460]

Racism is RACISM period Ms karen !!

[@BM-ci9zl]

It's not a pissing contest u narcissit

[@ETS186]

Try being a non gender conforming gay black muslim from Planet Namek