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Why is it Always the Asian American Saying We Shouldn’t be Offended at Racist Slights Against Asian Americans?

  • February 29, 2012 3:43 pm

Over at ESPN.com, a group of commentators including ESPN senior writer Lynn Hoppes, who is Asian American, discussed the topic of Jeremy Lin the other day and asked if we, as a society, are being too sensitive about the topic of LINsanity and race–i.e. ESPN’s own “chink in the armor” faux pas (check out the video of the discussion below after the jump).

Once again, it is the one Asian (Hoppes) who goes out of his way to make the point that Asian Americans shouldn’t be offended, we’re being too sensitive, we should be happy sucking on white dick, yadda yadda bullshit while the non-Asians are the ones calling out the racist shit for what it is.  Read more...

Kristi Yamaguchi: Making Asian American Sports History 20 Years Before, Well, You Know Who

  • February 21, 2012 9:55 pm

Twenty years ago today on February 21, 1992, Kristi Yamaguchi became the first Asian American to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the ladies singles category. Her performance brought her worldwide celebrity and an immense sense of pride within the Asian American community. Not unlike another Asian American athlete experiencing his own fair share of worldwide celebrity and Asian American pride at the moment.

But sadly some things haven’t changed much in 20 years. China may represent the growing “yellow peril” these days, but back in 1992, it was Japan in the role of the threatening Asian superpower. And Yamaguchi wasn’t immune from the ensuing racist backlash against Japan.

In the aftermath of her Olympic victory, there was much talk of how her Japanese heritage would prevent her from winning commercial endorsements and if you thought some of the media’s reporting on Jeremy Lin has bordered on racism (“chink in the armor” anyone?), on the heels of her victory, the media criticized Yamaguchi for everything from not being able to speak Japanese to fellow Japanese figure skater Midori Ito (conveniently ignoring that Yamaguchi was an American, born in California) and taking the victory away from a “real” American (that would be fellow skater Tonya Harding).  Read more...

Ch in k Th in k

  • February 20, 2012 11:08 am

OK, given the recent JLin/ESPN firestorm and the clinically insane tweets of Jenny Hyun, perhaps a bit of levity and humor is in order.

Normally I’d find something like this beyond offensive.  And it is.  Perhaps why I’m not up in arms is because FINALLY we have a bad-ass, kick-ass, Asian American male throwing down in the NBA in which to place opposite what was once the dominant stereotype of Asian American dudes.  End result?  Clash of past ideals with a F’in cool image of the asian american male of our future (which has always been present but benched by the media).

my mind works like this too. when I'm changing diapers, that is...

Thank you Chinese guy and Indian guy of Studio64Comedy for making this and Offending with such panache.  Hope neither of you gets ESPN’d.

The Jeremy Lin Effect Affects…

(link via Leonard Wu.  Thanks)
 Read more...

Thirteen Ways To Tell If Someone Is Chinese

  • November 3, 2009 4:37 pm

Continuing my trend of offending every Asian ethnic group, today I turn to the Chinese. Here are thirteen ways you can tell if that groovy Asian dude or chick is from China.

china.11. When a non-Chinese person sees a majestic bird flying through the air, he will think to himself, “I wish I could soar like that majestic bird.” When a Chinese person sees the same bird, he will think to himself, “I wonder how that bird will taste with oyster sauce and bok choy?”

2. They will claim that everything was invented and/or stolen from the Chinese. Examples: “Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb. He stole it from the Chinese.” or “Ronald McDonald didn’t invent the Happy Meal. He stole it from the Chinese.”  Read more...