‘Stand the F**k Up’
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The author interviews Tony "K Nine" Bentajado
Bentajado doesn’t hold back on his social media posts when it comes to this issue. A captivating cover photo on his Facebook account shows Bentajado with a diverse group holding signs that read, “Stop Asian Hate,” “I am not the virus,” ”Hate is a Virus,” “We Stand United.”
Verbal and physical assaults against Asian Americans have dramatically increased since the pandemic started. Many in the U.S., including political leaders in the highest office, blame Asian Americans for the outbreak and spread of the coronavirus. Studies show that the “careless rhetoric” has been linked to the seemingly race-based attacks.
Bentajado has a Filipino father and an English-Spanish mother. Growing up, he experienced racism not just from non-Asians, but even from members of his own family.
“Some family members would call me ‘chink,’” recalls Bentajado. He attributes the use of the derogatory term as “just ignorance.”
But the increased assaults have gone beyond verbal rhetoric. Bentajado is calling on Asian Americans first and foremost to speak up. It’s a major challenge, he acknowledges, given the community’s cultural penchant for passiveness.
“We can no longer be quiet about this,” argues Bentajado. “At some point, we need to take action. If we Asians can’t stand up for ourselves, we can’t expect others to stand up for us.”
By “others,” Bentajado says he is also calling out “those who benefit from Asian cultures” to publicly show their support of the #StopAsianHate movement.
In a recent video on his social media platforms, he posted: “A question to Asians and non- Asians, to rappers, DJs, directors, writers who want to use Asian men and women in your videos, use our images and culture to benefit from it: where the f**k is your support of the #StopAsianHate movement?
Bentajado with Asian-American protestors (Source: Instagram)
“This extends to those who date and marry Asian women and men. I've ALWAYS called out my Asian people to stand up first before anyone else does, and I have and will support my Non-Asian people and their movement to fight against racism and hate, but I definitely see more hypocrisy than I see support right now. Where is YOUR support??!!”
Bentajado says a major part of the problem is the stereotypes of Asians, especially of Asian men, perpetuated by the entertainment industry that contribute to the violence against Asians.
“Asian men are portrayed as docile, nerdy or weak,” explains Bentajado. “We all see the stereotypes in films, music videos, etc. We’re not like that. Me and my boys, we don’t relate to that.”
To change the narrative, he is working on a short film that more closely depicts his own life and those he grew up with.
“If it’s changed in entertainment, people might have different perceptions of Asian men. Like, oh shoot, maybe I don’t want to f**k with that Asian dude, because he might come out swinging, he might whoop my ass. Not to glorify negativity and violence but just to let them know, hey we don’t f**k around, man,” said Bentajado. “
““I’m not saying you have to be aggressive,” he explained. “But be assertive. Stand the F**k Up.””
Bentajado was born and raised in a predominantly Black neighborhood in North Las Vegas, known as the most dangerous city in Nevada. His biological father was a member of Satanas, a Filipino American street gang in Southern California, founded in 1972. It is believed to be the oldest Filipino American street gang in Los Angeles. Other family members were affiliated with gangs in North Las Vegas. Bentajado himself “ran with a clique” composed of ethnically diverse members, including Cuban, Afghan, Chinese, Black, white, Mexican, and Filipino.
It is this experience and his affiliation with the Black and other diverse groups that help fuel his activism for his own community.
“I've grown up as one of the only non-Black kids, IN the Black community as a kid off Cobb Street, and was treated no different from the other kids. It was love then and in my heart it is 100 percent love now,” he said. “I want our city to stand up and unite as one, and to lead by example for the rest of the country to see, that the Asian, Black, and other communities have nothing but love for each other. Let’s learn from each other. Let’s support each other.”
As for the “K Nine” moniker?
“I kinda came up with it,” explained Bentajado. “We were in the studio years ago one night and we were writing a song, and it just kinda came to me, my aggression on the track, the way I sound, and even kind of my personality coincides with it. I also became a Kuya (big brother) to my little brother around the age of eight years old.”
Bentajado says he hopes to inspire people in the right way, a positive way, with his activism.
“I’m not saying you have to be aggressive,” he explained. “But be assertive. Stand the F**k Up.”
Follow K Nine on social media:
- K Nine
"About My Grind" Ft. Booskee: Download Here
"Let Me Take You Away" Ft. Brentt: Download Here
Youtube: KNine702
Instagram: KNine702
NOTE: On the day of this writing, Sunday, March 28, K Nine participated in a rally, “Las Vegas Cruise for Asian Hate Awareness,” at Silverado Ranch Park. Participants drove from the park to the famous Las Vegas Strip. The event flyer warned attendee drivers, “No Burn Outs. No Revving. No Stupid S**t.”
Corin Ramos started her journalism career as a reporter for Philippine News. She was also the first managing editor for Filipinas Magazine in San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Southern California. Corin graduated from UC Berkeley, and currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
