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.
Look, I totally think some Asian Americans are too sensitive and don’t have a sense of humor about things they should have a sense of humor about. But if a whole segment of the community is genuinely upset about something and want to take action against it, fuck you for calling that into question. And don’t talk about how these other Asian Americans don’t speak for you and then go on to bring up your own Asian American-ness to make your point. And by the way, Hoppes, Yao Ming is Asian not Asian American, and yeah, there is a difference.
It’s a dumb question to ask in the first place. I know it was just a means to have the discussion in a jock-friendly zone, but it’s time for ESPN and other people to grow up. BTW, it isn’t just the Asian-Americans. Some White people are always wondering if X group is being “too sensitive.” It is a legitimate question if you are wondering, “why am I losing my carte blanche to say what I want? I mean, I’m White, amirite brahs?” So for me it is funny to hear some Black people start asking a similar question, “Are we being too sensitive?” I know so many of my fellow hued friends heard some frat boy say something stupid and also heard (soon after they were called on it) “Come on, man, you’re too sensitive.” We don’t have to make a space safe for stupid people to say stupid things.
Hoppes would get the point if after this panel discussion, the other three dudes asked him for recommendation for a great nail salon.
Common sense not so common? I like how one of the hosts of that show says it’s not their fault for being racially insensitive because no one told them blah blah blah is offensive.
I can only imagine the kind of shit-storm that he’d raise if B&Js came out with a D-Wade inspired flavor called “Miami Heat Wave” that used watermelon and fried chicken as mix-ins.
Here’s an idea, why didn’t B&Js contact Lin to ask for his input on the flavor?
Hoppes is the token Asian being trotted out to cover ESPN’s ass, of course.
Lynn is a douchebag!
I was put off by this guy’s article- but a few points to nitpick with this critique-
1. Jay caspian kang- another Asian American who writes for espn, has written excellent pieces for the website. He also is being paraded out as a sign of muticultural Corp. That Disney is. (something kang also comments on) so hoppes’ article, featured less prominentlybis not a ‘token’ view per se.
2. Sucking on white dicks? It’s this type of masculine posturing from as-am men that I find a bit unnerving about linsanity- his success should not be about as am dicksize in relation to black men’s dicksize. There is a lot to unpack here, about our (asam men) traumas- I think it’s unfair for Jeremy Lin to bear this cross.
3. Yao Ming is not Asian American, and yes there is a difference. But I wonder how a ‘yet or un’ assimilated immigrant might read this. I am Asian American. That makes me an Asian as well.
But generally yes- that hoppes guy’s article was wack.
By this guy I meant hoppes- not the article above..
Asian Americans are only included when they benefit the dominant white viewpoint. And then all the white folks pat themselves on the back for being so post-racial.
Wow, this Hoppes guy… Where has he been his whole life, really? He said he knows what it was like but he does not truly seem to have any understanding of the situation with race relations at all. I agree that sometimes people can be overly-sensitive, but we still need to be cautious with what we say, and we need to reflect on and respect the perspectives of others; try to gain some understanding of where they are coming from. Let the enlightenment in people.
The only thing this proves is that Asian Americans aren’t offended enough, because these types of comments are apparently acceptable.
Asians are too sensitive because we never had lube when the haolewood propaganda machine sodomized our humanity time and time again.
You idiots!
“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.”
So, how is Hoppe’s situation any different than a Film Director who wants to make a movie called “Chink” about an Asian psycho killer? Even after a bunch of Asias (commentating on this blog) and Hollywood execs called it out for being racist?
Who is this guy? Like many guys I read espn religiously and I have NEVER heard of him. Seems a little token asian guy for me. I am usually the guy that says “hey, chill out, they didnt mean anything bad about it” but its also fair to understand why people are offended. You dont have to be racist to say something that offends others. Maybe it doesnt offend you but if you dont understand why saying “chink in the armor” when referring to an Asian (specifically a Chinese person) would be offensive to many people, then you have no business being in the public eye. You are also a dumbass.
The Media/News always has the minority who will speak against his/her race, Whites love that. They usually say things like oh but this Hispanic(Black, Asian, or whatever) even admitted it, they like to say that. Anyway, Asians have Michelle Malkin that other Asian guy up there in the picture. We, have Herman “Coon” Cain, and the guy with the bad hair line, soon they will have Hispanics who will speak against their race. But that’s why Whites brag about Asians and how well a lot do in school it’s for their own racism(like someone said I think) for their own personal gain.
Abagond(a Black Man) talks about this:
abagond.wordpress.com/2011/01/20/how-can-it-be-racist-if-asians-do-better/
abagond.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/the-model-minority-stereotype/
Anyway also it’s so sad how a lot of us colored people are against each other. Some Black people hate Asians, and some Asians hate Blacks it’s so sad because at the end of the day we are all in the same goddamn boat. We all deal with racism, all of us we’re all trying to fight for the same thing and that is equality. Whites are the majority and (we) Blacks, Asians, Middle Easterners, and Hispanics, Latinos are the minorities, we are in the same race in America. I hope soon all of us minorities join together against racism/discrimination how the Media portrays us and how Hollywood portrays all of us we all need each other to fight this problem.
Oh and Philip you seem to be on a roll. I’m loving all the posts you’ve done so far.
It’s guys like him that are the reason there will continue to be racism against asians. The asian-american community has bent over backwards and forwards so many times just to claim they’re not offended that it’s so easy to throw racist remarks their way. Even in Family Guy, the minority most picked on are asians. There is at least one anti-asian joke thrown in for no reason in every episode. While Family Guy and other shows like it will do what they can to not seem racist against blacks, they’ll blatantly take a dump on asians. Sorry, but this “asian”(?) doesn’t speak for asian-americans, just like how David Duke shouldn’t be seen as speaking for all white people. Or does he?