comedian

By Jeff Yang, Special to SF Gate
Thursday, February 25, 2010

The notion that Asians and Jews are two shoots from the same cultural rootstock is an old but evergreen meme.

You see it in fringe theories about the Lost Tribes of Israel -- there's an entire body of cryptoarchaeological canon that uses similarities between customs, language and naming convention to "prove" that the ancient vanished Jewish clans ended up in China, India or Japan. (Japan's 50,000-member Makuya sect, which has as its central dogma that the Japanese are descendants of a lost Jewish tribe, keep kosher, speak Hebrew and use the seven-armed menorah as their symbol.)

For American-born Chinese, it really doesn't matter how white their heart is and how much they have adopted Western values – when they deal with their "motherland," China, their yellow skin always defines them.

In an era when China is becoming such an important global force, this can be a big advantage, but there are also some downsides.

For the positives, you just have to see how US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, both ethnic Chinese born in the US, have been treated on recent trips to China.

When they were in China together in July, they were treated like rock stars. There is a lot of pride among Chinese to see two of their own at the top of the administration of the superpower.

They didn't give them a completely free pass. Chu's speech at Tsinghua University was considered too scientific and not much fun. And Locke has been described as too serious and not interested in "small talk." There is also disappointment that neither can speak much Chinese.

Examiner.com - Doctor turned comedian turned actor, Ken Jeong, who first hit the big screen playing a short-tempered doctor in “Knocked Up,” can be seen portraying an angry Asian crime boss in the new comedy “The Hangover."

Those who have seen the movie will probably agree that Jeong's character Mr. Chow is quite possibly the most blatantly over-the-top racial stereotype of an Asian man since Mickey Rooney put on "Yellow Face" makeup to play a "crazy Jap in the upstairs apartment" for the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

MANAA - Asian American Advocacy Groups, Fans Condemn Racial Bias in M. Night Shyamalans Whitewashed Casting of The Last Airbender"

Los Angeles Thousands of fans and two prominent Asian American advocacy groups are protesting Paramount Pictures' upcoming "The Last Airbender, accusing the production of racial bias in selecting white actors to portray ethnically Asian characters.

The movie-a live action adaptation of the hit animated television series "Avatar: The Last Airbender"-is part of a franchise widely advertised by Nickelodeon as set in a "fantastical Asian world" and is set for release in July of 2010.

Even though all of the series' characters were ethnically Asian or Inuit/Yupik, casting sheets for the leads indicated a preference for white actors-and ultimately, they were chosen for the top four starring roles. The part of the villainous Prince Zuko went to Jesse McCartney. After dropping out, he was replaced by "Slumdog Millionaire's" Dev Patel. Consequently, in a Eurocentric twist, actors of color have been relegated to villain, supporting, and background roles.

Comedian Margaret Cho on the last Airbender

I am never surprised when Hollywood takes a story with Asian characters and casts white people instead of Asians. This is so typical and happens with such frequency! I always thought that in order to make our presence known in entertainment, we should be writing, bringing our dreams and realities to the cinema, but now even telling our own stories isn’t even enough.

Why is it better to have white actors play the roles of Asians? I don’t understand. Because it sells more tickets? I am not white and I have had no trouble selling tickets. Maybe the powers that be should ask me what to do.  I would tell them. “The Last Airbender” is the last straw to a lot of people:

- Forwarded Message

From: Boone Adkins

Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:51:36 -0400

To: margaretcho

Racism should never become just a normal way of life
By Ray Hanania, AAJA member, Chicago Chapter
June 10, 2008

Alvin Lin posted:

I went through all of her Youtube clips, and at first I thought she was pretty funny, not bad, but then I got to her Fear Factor Asian food joke, and her parent jokes, and then this joke: 'I like guys with buff arms. Sorry Asian dudes!'.

I'm starting to give up hope on Asian female comedians that aren't Uncle Tom'ish in some way. I want to hear some Asian comedian say, 'I like girls with big boogs. Sorry Asian girls!', just so these Asian girls realize how stupid they sound saying the reverse.

Tina Kim Channel

Following article http://anbm.innovasianmedia.com/?q=node/44

Kao Xiong (St. Cloud) wroteon 07 October 2007 at 00:06
"All of you Asian men reading this:
I'm glad that so many of you have stood up for yourselves.
...but now... i'm hoping that you can help Asian women do the same."


It's been a year since I've been in this group... and I must say... that's by far the most understanding and positive thoughts I've seen from an Asian American woman...(not saying that the few women in this group are not applicable). But for you to write it all down and have an understanding from the AA male perspective and female perspective I applaud you.

I almost lost hope... when I thought that we AA men are in this by ourselves.. but this group has open up a path of unification for the AA community, to share our experience, to fight false stereotypes and inferior complex among us. I know that self-hating women often do voiced out more about their special priveleges with their white trophies... and demeans anything being Asian, but we must not forget about those who aren't directed in that way.

     
Kao Xiong (St. Cloud) replied to Lindsey's poston 07 October 2007 at 00:10