This week in Shanghaiist
If we listened close enough, we could probably hear the words going through her head right at that moment: "I have an Asian friend, so it's okay." And to be quite honest, it probably is.
But because the poser is Miley Cyrus, and because Asian Americans love to get mad at things, someone somewhere had to demand an apology.
The OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) told veritable news source TMZ this:
...Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans... The inclusion of an Asian Pacific American individual in the photo does not make it acceptable.
Source: Gawker
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Are we sure they're not just mocking stoners?
Asian Americans love to get mad at things? You probably never knew an African-American community existed in America. LOL! Here in HKG, some white people get riled when they are referred to as Gwailos, even though in the context of its usage, it is by no means derogatory. If you'd lived through racism in America (which do exist), you'd understand the sensitivities of Asian Americans.
As an Asian American, I know that our community is ridiculously sensitive about certain things while continuing to be completely racist themselves.
It's certainly not special, most ethnic groups in the States are like that. Still, doesn't mean Asian Americans don't get mad over stupid stuff.
Also Gwailo basically means white demon. Not sure why you wouldn't think some white people would take offense at that, even if YOU think it's been reappropriated. And from the many very-Hong Kong Chinese people I know, every time they say it, they ARE saying it in a way that's like "Those people are the OTHER."
Look, I live in the US for 5 years (in the so called real USA, in Middle America). And I don't live in Asian enclaves like in Cal or NYC. I have experienced racism first hand, being called a ch1nk a few times, challenged in my front lawn and threatened with bodily harm just because some redneck didn't like me in Kentucky. Most of you folks live in large Asian enclaves and are the ones that do not understand the real race relations in America. There was a big story in town I when a Black Single mother found a burning cross in her yard. And the state I lived in had few Asians or Hispanics. In a neighboring town, which had a black majority, a white could be killed just driving there at night (East Saint Louis). Talking about being sensitive to racial slurring, no one beats the Jewish Americans. And out here in HKG, we don't threaten gwailos with physical violence because of the basis of their race. If you want me to give you a rundown of racial incidents in the US or Eurpean countries, it will fill a book. LMAO!
Funny. I live in Hong Kong and I have never met a white person who was as riled up about the term as BBC1 suggests. Regardless, his evaluation completely overlooks the complexity of ethnic relations in the US and the particularity of political correctness in American society. Anyways, I would say this controversy is about as enthralling as watching a fat, sweaty garbage man upend my trashcan, and would add that if this is the greatest of the problems of the OCA, then Chinese Americans truly must have it good in the US.
You obviously haven't read the SCMP and I do work around white folks. Some do get riled. Interestingly enuff, when HK was under the UK, Chinese and Indian looking people were banned from Wanchai hotspots. Yet in this age when HK is under China, HK government introduced an anti-discrimination law!
Actually I read the whole thing daily. It is part of my job. Still don't see the phenomenon you are talking about. Moreover, I know a heck of a lot of white people. I have never heard one complain in Hong Kong. I have heard complaints about the term Laowai in China, but many white people I know in Hong Kong even call themselves gweilos.
It's PC culture, everyone's sensitive nowadays.
Yep, I'd say that "gwailo" has the same innocent connotation as "you stupid honky".
I spend most of my afternoons angry, myself.
(There's legit things to be angry over, and there's silliness. I file this under silliness.)
The article takes that attitude that people who complain about Racism take themselves too seriously. Most of the commenters seem to agree also.
I guess everyone wishes they could go back to the 'good ole days' where you could grab a woman's ass in the office or have a hearty laugh at the 'darkies' or whatever. Taking photos of you and your friends doing 'slit-eyes' or 'n*****r lips', doing 'hilarious' impressions of the way Indian people speak.
Personally, I have never really done any of that, not being racist or sexist, so I don't miss it.
It must be such a drag to be told that calling someone you know by name 'Gwailoh' in front of them is perhaps a rude, ignorant and arrogant thing to do.
Well, chin up, racist assh*les, it's not all bad. You've still got people like Carol Thatcher flying the flag. And WW2 Nazi era talk about races and bloodlines and destinies is, like, totally acceptable in the mainstream here in China! Bonus for you.
Now you can all go jerk off over a Russel Peters video.
from,
annoying progressive type who probably has never held down a 'real' job.
Yeaaaah... I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that not everybody who makes a race joke is a Nazi.
That's a typical knee jerk reply from someone with limited sensitivity on the matter.
People who happily make race jokes and photograph themselves doing it are racist assh*les.
And - mainstream Chinese discourse is full of talk of national destinies and races and bloodlines.
Now which of these two points did you disagree with?
And what's with the article that basically says that Asian American's who don't like people taking 'slit-eye' photos should get over themselves?
So for all of you who think there are degrees to it, so what? It's still racist.
What's happening here is posting up a photo of a well known celebrity role model making 'slit-eyes' and writing that it's no big deal. That's balls. It's a massive deal to kids in schools with Miley Cyrus fans who are going to be mocking them and beating them.
Yeaaah... also going to say a Miley Cyrus photo is not going to lead to an increase in Asian American hate crime. I mean, if it does, go ahead and prove it to me and I'll eat my hat.
Keep up the 'comebacks' all you like. Here's a line with racism on one side and me on the other.
I'm sick of people taking examples of controversial comments or pictures that are labeled racist, and saying stuff like 'it's not so bad' ..or suggesting the complainers are uptight or should get over themselves. It's irresponsible.
Miley thinks it's OK to make 'slit-eyes' then f*ck her, her sh*tty show, her mediocre music and her creepy Victorian child porn pictures.
If you want to come out in defense of people doing stuff like that - that's your choice.
She's 17 years old! What were you doing when you were 17? Cultivating rainbows and hyphenating last names?
Here's a rhombus with racism on the anterior vertex and a unicorn in the middle. You know where I stand.
Moreover, in response to Andy Best, I don't think anyone here is coming to her defense. As T said, this is a prime example of bad taste and not necessarily an act of racism. So I repeat what I said earlier. If the OCA really must waste its time by going after a lukewarm act of bad taste by some drunk teens at a party, then Chinese must have it pretty good in the US. This is not a denial that racism exists against Chinese in the US. It is just a way of saying that some battles more worth fighting than others.
Haha, ok, I was being snarky. But that's because you're throwing out completely over-the-top worse case scenarios like they're absolutely going to happen, and really, that deserves some mockery.
Here's my more sincere thoughts on this: Racism has more to do with the acceptance of other cultures and colors than any kind of stupid, off-color joke. And while, who knows, Miley Cyrus could in fact be a closet racist and this could be her way of subtly undermining everybody's respect of them, more likely this was just a bunch of friends' idea of making fun of a difference that nobody in that group cares about anyway.
That, and the likelihood that this was meant to be a Facebook photo that somehow got leaked (God, everything of hers gets leaked somehow, doesn't it?) and thus not an actual public statement, makes this such a non-issue that I feel like I have to poke fun at your self-righteous, and surprisingly intolerant (considering what we're talking about), viewpoint of the intricacies of race relations.
When the Spanish men basketball team made the chinky eyes ad just before the Olympics, it was no big deal with the Mainland Chinese. But it turned off Chinese Americans big time, because of the taunts they got as kids.
It's Russell with two Ls.
And there's degrees of things, you know. There's poor taste and there's hate crimes. If you get your hackles up everytime someone does something in poor taste, you're going to spend a lot of time with your hackles up.
As someone who has actually grown up as a minority overseas (and has actually been the minority in question being mocked) this sort of stuff only given power when people let it insult them.
Shit like this doesn't bother me. Equating it to Nazi era talk about races is giving it way too much attention.
Yeah, who cares! Take a pic doing 'honky-eye!'
Oh, the humanity!!!
Please remember folks, this girl is only famous because her daddy made a gazillion dollars singing "Achy Breaky Heart". (Gratuitous redneck slam... )
I love how each time a post like this appears, Andy Best will jump out of the woodwork denouncing all the "rude, arrogant and ignorant" racism he sees in everyone around him, and then go to great lengths defensively assuring everyone that no he is not a racist, there is not one slither of a chance. Does anyone think, like I do, that he is *MOCK HORROR* a closet racist? This guy needs help coming to terms with the racist that is hidden so deep down within him.
Can I get an "Amen"?!
I don't think it's all mock horror about this kind of thing- if it's OK for Miley to do the slant-eyed thing, is it OK for her to go to a fancy dress party in Blackface?
If it's OK for her to go dressed up to a private party like that, can she wear a full Fu Manchu moustache onstage and do a "Me so solly!" bit in the style of Krusty the Clown?
Now I'm not saying that these things wouldn't make her 10 times more entertaining but...
Vladivostok
I'm not in the woodwork, I'm here. I always post under my real name too. It's fine to hold opposite viewpoints and thank you Elaine for responding to the comments at all.
It's simple. If your (anyone reading this) kids had been on the end of racist taunts or abuse, or you yourself received a racially motivated beating on the streets, how would you feel if a public figure repeated similar actions openly - and writers went out of their way to play it down and comment that people who complain about it need to get over themselves?
This isn't even Shanghai related. It's the like the whole point of the article is to say "racism? get over it? it's PC gone mad." Like shock-jocks or conservative politicians.
Andy, I hope you're not suggesting you or your kids have been on the receiving end of racist taunts, 'cuz that would be the greatest joke eva. You do NOT know racism more intimately than some of the Asian Americans that have responded on this thread. Period.
Also: all I'm saying is you remind me of those politicians and clergymen in the US spreading homophobia and anti-gay hatred only to fall in the biggest gay sex scandals of our time.
Nobody here is denying that racism is bad and evil. So stop preaching to the choir and stop trying to show us how anti-racist or politically enlightened you are. We don't fucking care.
Oh, I just checked back and saw the latest from you, Vladivostok.
As long as you are doing your usual sh*t-talking with an anonymous nick name, then you needn't bother. Why not use your real name or link your site or facebook or whatever? If you think your views and posts here are normal, then what's the problem with that?
@ BBC
You say you live in kentucky?? You should have asked around because everyone would have told you not to move there. White people in Kentucky only like white people who were born and raised in Kentucky.
Also, knowing your political views, how often have you started running your mouth about the glorious PRC motherland, Taiwan, Tibet, etc? Have you been asking white people in Kentucky if they are racist? Southerners can be very narrow in their views but also polite.
We all know you on this board and I'll make a small wager that you brought some of this on yourself. Plus, Americans are learning what a bad, dirty country China is.
Chinese call us round-eyes, fair trade.
really ? people do that every fucking day& just because she's famous she gets sued. so damn stupid. i'm like 1/4 asian& i take no offense to this at all. that chick who sued is way too sensitive.