October 11, 2021, 7:51 am
Chef Jonathan Kung recently shared a quietly powerful video to TikTok that has gone viral, amassing 2 million views on the platform and another 1.6 million views on Twitter.
Featured Video
Hide
In the clip, Kung says he no longer believes in “gatekeeping” who can learn Chinese culture.
Advertisement
Hide
“In the context in my field of expertise, I think gatekeeping is running its course,” he says in voiceover as the video begins. Kung dons black gloves and begins cutting up—and eating—peppers. “I honestly don’t care who cooks this food anymore.”
“I used to [care],” he says. “But now, the more I learn and the better I get [at cooking], I realize that it’s not really my place to say who gets to learn this culture.”
Kung explains that he didn’t always think and feel this way on the subject.
“Make no mistake,” he says, “it took me a while to get here. There’s been a lot of pain attached to being made to feel inferior because of the type of food I used to bring to school.”
Racism and racist othering is traumatic for anyone, of course, but especially a child. It’s understandable that anyone bullied this way would feel territorial. After all, it makes sense that the cultural markers used to ostracize or demean them should not be enjoyed by the very same people who were doing the bullying.
“But that story is so tired,” Kung says. “And I realize that those issues won’t be dealt with by safeguarding my memory of food.”
Kung goes on to say that some of the “worst” gatekeepers “will criticize their own people,” including him. He describes naysayers who criticize his food as being inauthentic and “offensive” because they remember their families making a dish differently.
“To which I say, shut the f—k up, Kevin,” Kung continues, his voice still melodically smooth and even-toned. “Don’t come for me, or my food. Because your dead grandma’s dumplings were actually really doughy.” He goes on to describe other things that could be wrong with someone’s favorite memory of a dish that is authentic to them—frozen ingredients, too much chicken powder in the broth. As he speaks, Kung chops peppers, puts them in a large glass fermenting jar, and adds water.
“You’re an expert only on your memory, and not of the culture, so settle down,” he concludes. “Take a seat.”
Advertisement
Hide
The video has clearly resonated with most viewers.
The comments on both TikTok and Twitter have been overwhelmingly positive. Kung is a living example of overcoming and healing his cultural trauma—a daunting task—which some commenters find reassuring. And, for others, there’s a sense of creativity and play that come through in his words.
And, in the end, Kung even offered an olive branch to some of the Kevins.
*First Published: October 11, 2021, 7:51 am
0 Comments