Week 9 Discussion

The trailer to “Coming to you, Minu” reminds us of the important role that music plays in fights for migrant justice. Why do you think this is the case? How can we connect this question to the first reading you did in this course by Goffe, who also talked about the relationship between Chinese shopkeepers in Jamaica and music?

Personally speaking, music is the language and tool immigrants like Minu can use to speak up for themselves and inform their stories through music. Minu used music to express his favour over Korea and encourage himself in the condition as an illegal immigrant. Music also builds up a bond between Minu and his Korean friends; their love for music has exceeded the boundary between the two countries, and Minu’s friendship with his bandmates remains even Minu is deported by the Korean government.

To connect Minu’s experience with Chinese shopkeepers in Jamaica, music plays in the two conditions play a controversial role. On the one side, music connects the foreigners (Chinese and Minu) with the local people (local Jamaicans and Koreans), but on the other side, it also leads to questions about racial capitalism. When Minu is trying to become a Korean, he has got himself involved in racial capitalism.