Whew! If you’ve been scrolling on TikTok this week, you’ve probably seen the non-stop debate among Asian folks about white folks shopping at Asian grocery stores. Now, truly, this drama was only between white TikTok creators and Asian TikTok creators, but somehow, Black folks have found themselves roped in too, and we’re about to clear up why.
Suggested Reading
The Video That Started It All
In September, TikTok creator @say_qis, whose name is Madeline, made a video stating that she side-eyes white people she sees in an Asian grocery store.
In the post, she told a funny story about giving the side-eye to a white girl she saw in a grocery store. She realized the girl was also glancing back at her. As the two moved down the aisle and got closer to each other, they realized that they were both mixed Asian and white, and they were feeling defensive over their Asian culture.
To end the video, Madeline encouraged white folks to keep going to Asian stores, but she added that they should be respectful when inside the grocery stores.
“White people, keep going to Asian grocery stores. Keep supporting small businesses. But I do hate it when white people come, and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve seen this on TikTok!’ And their kids are running around amok, making a disaster for people buying their weekly groceries. I do hate that.”
However, what should have been a fun story time then became a debate about who can shop at Asian grocery stores, and folks online had a lot to say in response.
Defending White Folks
One creator, @thekoreanvegan, called Madeline’s video hideous, tone-deaf and disgusting. She continued, saying that during a time when folks are struggling to buy groceries, Madeline shouldn’t be gatekeeping Asian supermarkets and “deprive 42 million people” who would be struggling to buy food due to SNAP benefits being cut in October.
It’s important to note that Madeline’s video was uploaded in September and, as we reported, SNAP benefits were cut in November, due to the government shutdown. Therefore, the original video would have had nothing to do with SNAP.
Asian Folks Roll Their Eyes
After the video had been blown way out of proportion on TikTok, more Asian content creators got online to say that White folks don’t need to be defended by them.
“Are we really going to pretend that White people haven’t been side-eyeing us this entire time?” Asked creator @selfloaves. “People are acting like they’re getting followed around in the store and someone called the cops on them. Kind of like what Black people have had to experience.”
@Selfloaves then brought up the issue of gentrification and noted that Asian creations, such as boba and mahjong, have been gentrified and caused prices to shoot up. Therefore, it is reasonable for an Asian person to be defensive about their space and culture.
In the comments, Black users agreed with the creator and added that they understood what Madeline meant in the original video because Black folks are no stranger to having their culture gentrified.
“Welcome to the black experience. I HATE IT,” wrote one user.
“Don’t let these comments gaslight you. As a black person, I am baffled why this isn’t the default response. Tf. I thought that as black and poc, there was a shared thing that we know. Right,” added another.
TikTok Creator Aplogizes For Defending White Folks
One content creator, @Soogia1, made a response video saying she lingers around H Mart to help out White folks who might not know what to buy. The original video has since been deleted after Black and Asian folks clowned her for it, but Soogia has taken the jokes as a learning opportunity.
“I have to be able to laugh at myself too, and man, you guys are good… To be honest, if it wasn’t happening to me, I’d be enjoying it just like you guys. So, I’m going to try and just ride this wave out.”
In the comments, Black users addmitted to watching the drama unfold from the sidelines.
“I’ve been quietly watching & being in y’all’s business. They’ve been BBQing you, girl,” wrote one user.
“As a Black person all up in Asian business, I get why people feel protective of their spaces… I actually agree with that. But I also really appreciate how you’re showing up, listening, and learning through all of this. That kind of growth is meaningful. Sending encouragement,” added another.
Black Folks Add Their Two Cents
Creator @chief_malo noted that Black folks understood exactly what Madeline meant in the original video.
“As a Black man in America, I completely understood what she was saying. Because growing up, all you heard were negative stereotypes from White people about the Asian culture, the Black culture… But then you turn around and see them indulge in that stereotype, so yeah, I completely understand what she’s talking about.”
He then added that people twisted Madeline’s words up, making what she said sound worse than what it was.
“Y’all changed the lady’s words up, acting like she was trying to say White people should be excluded… Y’all are telling me that we should not exclude White people, the literal creators of exclusion. Did we forget that they created segregation?”
Folks in the comments of the video couldn’t help but agree with what @chief_malo said.
“Black community consistently having the only correct takes on this – a Filipina,” added another with laughing emojis.
Black and Asian Folks Come Together
All this heated debate eventually came to a wholesome ending, for Black folks at least.
Now on TikTok, Asian content creators make videos stating that they are happy to include Black people in the conversation and find common ground on some of the struggles Black and Asian folk alike have to go through.
“Black people staying in Asian business… I like it! Because, regardless of your position on this whole H Mart gate, at least you guys are caring. At the end of the day, this whole H Mart scandal is about whether or not Asians should be welcoming to White people, and if assimilation, or getting goodwill from White people, is the goal,” creator Eric Saymore spoke. “You know who has been staying, giving us that goodwill though… The Black community… So thank you for having our backs, Black community. May we return the favor.”
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.