mocking asian accents - hiliarious or self-hating?

[kasia]

i don't know if i'd call it self-hating per se, but i have been cringing at the following situation: one of my coworkers does the mandarin accent pretty well, being a chinese (mandarin) speaker himself. he's done it in front of many of our coworkers who think it's just hilarious. none of those coworkers are asian - mostly black, latino, and white. they laugh and egg him on, and will actually encourage him to do it in various settings - including in the courtroom to make the prosecutors and court staff laugh.

somehow it's just not that funny to me. it's different when russell peters does it and the only people who find him that funny are cantonese people because he does the accent so damn well. but when your targeted audience is completely non-asian and they're laughing at you imitating the way that your parents or grandparents talk - what's so funny?

i haven't said anything about this because i don't want to hurt his feelings or make the situation uncomfortable, but isn't it bizarre that nobody else realizes that this is racist? why don't some of our black co-workers start acting out black stereotypes, etc. etc.? and what if we egged them to do it - "act black" "do your black person impression again!" hilarious?

[eos]

because we are puppets and when someone says dance, we dance. no questions asked. hell, we won't even raise a stink.


.....at least that's how THEY see us.

[Dei Wong]

i don't know if i'd call it self-hating per se, but i have been cringing at the following situation: one of my coworkers does the mandarin accent pretty well, being a chinese (mandarin) speaker himself. he's done it in front of many of our coworkers who think it's just hilarious. none of those coworkers are asian - mostly black, latino, and white. they laugh and egg him on, and will actually encourage him to do it in various settings - including in the courtroom to make the prosecutors and court staff laugh.

somehow it's just not that funny to me. it's different when russell peters does it and the only people who find him that funny are cantonese people because he does the accent so damn well. but when your targeted audience is completely non-asian and they're laughing at you imitating the way that your parents or grandparents talk - what's so funny?

i haven't said anything about this because i don't want to hurt his feelings or make the situation uncomfortable, but isn't it bizarre that nobody else realizes that this is racist? why don't some of our black co-workers start acting out black stereotypes, etc. etc.? and what if we egged them to do it - "act black" "do your black person impression again!" hilarious?

Why are black people in this conversation? If you ever watch a black comic they talk about black all the time. It is so common in mainstream entertainment that you see other race do the act black thing. Acting out and copying what they interpret acting ghetto is. Boondocks is a perfect example. Maybe that guy doesn't see anything wrong with what he is doing. Maybe he is confident that the people he is talking to know full well that it's a joke. Maybe they know he is poking fun and they know real chinese don't act like that.
My friend from Kowloon would probably drive you crazy. He makes fun of mandarin accents all the time. He make fun of them how they sound when they to speak cantonese Jet Li is a common target of his. I know many others that do it too. But I they do it just to be funny. I think they believe the ones they are doing this in front of have the common sense to know it is a joke and will not make any silly sterotypical judgements.

[Chad]

It's not funny. I've started confronting people about it when I see them doing this. It's particularly offensive because one of the stereotypes of Asian Americans is that we can't speak proper English or that our English is heavily accented blah blah blah you already know all of this. It's the Stepin Fetchit routine.

[kimpossible]

My friend from Kowloon would probably drive you crazy. He makes fun of mandarin accents all the time. He make fun of them how they sound when they to speak cantonese Jet Li is a common target of his. I know many others that do it too. But I they do it just to be funny. I think they believe the ones they are doing this in front of have the common sense to know it is a joke and will not make any silly sterotypical judgements.

With regard to example of your friend, kasie's not talking about off accents in Cantonese with a group of friends. Her example is at work with colleagues and I assume the guy is doing an accent while speaking English.

Maybe a better example, if you're going to use yourself and your friend is if around your co-workers who are (hypothetically) native Cantonese speakers, after you tried to speak some Cantonese with them they sat around and mocked how silly you sounded and butchered their language. Whatever would put you at the target of the mockery.

Just something to think about. If this happened at my workplace, I'd probably heckle him about it or at least tell him it's not the appropriate environment for it. Do it in his offtime. Just not on the clock. To which, he'd probably tell me to STFU because I'm so white but I'd let him know anyhow.

[Dei Wong]

With regard to example of your friend, kasie's not talking about off accents in Cantonese with a group of friends. Her example is at work with colleagues and I assume the guy is doing an accent while speaking English.

Maybe a better example, if you're going to use yourself and your friend is if around your co-workers who are (hypothetically) native Cantonese speakers, after you tried to speak some Cantonese with them they sat around and mocked how silly you sounded and butchered their language. Whatever would put you at the target of the mockery.

Just something to think about. If this happened at my workplace, I'd probably heckle him about it or at least tell him it's not the appropriate environment for it. Do it in his offtime. Just not on the clock. To which, he'd probably tell me to STFU because I'm so white but I'd let him know anyhow.

I see your point. Yep people make fun of my cantonse all the time:redface:. But maybe the guy who is doing this doesn't feels that he's not giving off a bad impression. I think he feels the people he is doing this infront of can look at this as a joke and nothing more. I honesty think he feels he can trust these people not the make silly judgements or associate real people with his jokes. I don't think he is do this to make fun of his fellow asians. But I think if he is offending others he should stop or go into his office to do it.

[deez nuts]

I see your point. Yep people make fun of my cantonse all the time:redface:. But maybe the guy who is doing this doesn't feels that he's not giving off a bad impression. I think he feels the people he is doing this infront of can look at this as a joke and nothing more. I honesty think he feels he can trust these people not the make silly judgements or associate real people with his jokes. I don't think he is do this to make fun of his fellow asians. But I think if he is offending others he should stop or go into his office to do it.

what the hell are you talking about?

[Dei Wong]

what the hell are you talking about?

what do you mean?

[hkRT]

I wouldn't find it funny either. Speaking english with an accent can be innocently funny but racism is not innocent and it unfortunately exists. Do they need to see for themselves how people speaking with like a funny asian accent in reality get pushed around, stepped all over and treated like shit in this very funny racist world? Oh well, even if they do see it with their own eyes, they are not the ones experiencing it first hand, so just play on because it's just so so funny! :mad: Unless people are living in a bubble, they should know better. That guy in particular should know better.

Just the other day, a chinese Canadian here was talking with her friends about how she likes Abercrombie & Fitch clothes and American Eagles. Aren't they casual wear, kinda expensive... blah blah. Then a white girl said she heard about a lawsuit in the US against Abercrombie. (Yeah, I know it is all old news and most of you know about it already). But the chinese Canadian didn't know nothing about it and the mention of the lawsuit was like a blurb, uh what? Nobody gave a damn. Then they just merrily went on talking about clothes, kids, more clothes and then shifted to talking about a messed up young mother and abused kid who tragically died. Yeah they really care.

I can't help noticing that many many chinese Canadians in the area where I live do not consider themselves chinese, even if they are aware that they are physically asian, they have zero capacity to understand the experiences of fellow asians who unlike them do get discriminated and mistreated a lot. If they care to look around and see how much racism hurts, I bet they will just shrug it off like what is racism, it's just some mishap, it's not their concern, the world is all good, everybody is equal, everybody is so free, it's a wonderful world. I don't know if it's the area I live in that's this bad or people here being generally ignorant. Probably both. It's disappointing.

[eos]

send 'em down to chicago. i'll leave them in some particular neighborhoods here for a few hours and it'll open their eyes. they won't be wearing that abercrummy and bitch shit anymore.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I kinda agree with Dei Wong in some respects. Everyone always likes to talk about how African-Americans have their shit together and that the Asian American community has a lot to learn from the black equal rights movement and so on. And perhaps this is true to a certain extent. But at the same time I see black people perpetuating stereotypes about themselves all the time, from the comedy scene to mainstream pop culture. Of course, there are many who do not, but I think the thing to remember here is that the dominant culture will only accept and filter in those that reinforce dominant norms and beliefs (in this case, beliefs about minority groups). Much like how asian people may grow up encouraged to fulfill their own stereotypes (e.g. the dragon lady or the successful yet quiet and passive engineer/doctor), black people in turn grow up idolizing ironically the media icons and imagery which serves to keep them down in the first place. Whether this type of behavior is right or wrong may be a matter of personal perspective, but it is in no way exclusive to Asian people.

[Irezumi Kiss]

i haven't said anything about this because i don't want to hurt his feelings or make the situation uncomfortable, but isn't it bizarre that nobody else realizes that this is racist? why don't some of our black co-workers start acting out black stereotypes, etc. etc.? and what if we egged them to do it - "act black" "do your black person impression again!" hilarious?
Pull him over to the side the next time and say something. It most likely means less to him than it does to you, but you'd be in the right in setting him straight about how it makes you feel. And maybe you can make him see something he doesn't see. Or if he truly doesn't give a shit about it because it's nothing to him — which is his own right to feel so if so — and he tells you as such, then at least you know where you both stand and you can make a decision on the importance of his camaraderie from there on.

Maybe it's a bit entertaining to others not of that race who haven't had to live a life being around that since jump street, but to YOU, you get tired of seeing the same tired-assed schtick. So you gotta deal with this somehow, in a way that puts your soul back at ease...or keep suffering being around it, cringing each time you hear it cuz a little piece of your soul dies when it happens. Kinda like hearing some lightbulbs say "nigga" thirty times a minute out loud on the subway because it's supposed to be "cool" but actually they're too lazy to say someone's goddamn name.

[Dei Wong]

I think that guy is just playing around why would he purposely say things to bash his asian culture. Why would he want asians to be seen in a negative light. Which would in turn having him being looked upon in an appealing way. Who would do such a self sabotaging or self hating act. Maybe you should talk to him like Irezumi Kiss said. Both of you could be looking at this from two different perspectives. I think everyone does this sometimes. Lots of people poke fun at people in their ethnic group. Most don't mean it in a bad way.
The main reason African Americans people do these sterotypes is because they are just making fun the ignorance of some in the African American community. People just make fun of that small percentage. Chris Rock says I love black people but I hate niggas. Boondocks is perfect example. You think most rapper believe most of the things they say or really live that way. This image helps rack in over a billion dollars worldwide.
Caucasians do this also. How many time have you heard Caucasians talk about country folk. Tons of Deliverance jokes are still floating around to this day. Jeff Foxworth with his you might be a redneck jokes. If your rich uncle buys a house and ask you to come over and help him take the wheels off of it you might be a redneck. He Blue Collar Comedy was a funny show. Look at shows like Jackass and WildBoyz. Those guys do some crazy shit.
I'm just saying everyone is going to have different view what is acceptable. I still feel if your in the presence of someone who doesn't care for these jokes you should respect their wishes.

[kimpossible]

Why does anyone feel this acceptable in the workplace? Especially a court? These aren't comedians and this isn't the entertainment field.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

^ Well if I think there's also the notion that if something is not acceptable as a joke in the workplace, it really shouldn't be acceptable in the entertainment industry or in comedy either because both the worksetting and the theater are considered public domains.

[kimpossible]

You fully believe that society holds comedy and criminal law to the same behavioral standards and ethics? All 'the criminal justice system is a joke anyhow' jokes aside.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

You fully believe that society holds comedy and criminal law to the same behavioral standards and ethics? All 'the criminal justice system is a joke anyhow' jokes aside.

No I don't believe that at all. I'm just saying it's my personal opinion (and perhaps the opinion of others) that usually if I see something as inappropriate in the workplace (esp. regarding jokes that may offend certain racial, ethnic, or cultural groups), I would also see it as inappropriate if it was coming out of the mouth of a comedian or entertainer whose acts are publicly broadcasted to a widespread mainstream audience. Not so sure about within the confines of the Court, but I would imagine that obviously the standards of political correctness for lack of a better term would be much more strict and limited.

[kimpossible]

But that's what we're entitled to more or less. A harrassment free workplace so we can get shit done. We're not entitled to a harrassment free life.

I get that what you and Dei Wong are in agreement with is 'offensive things are said by people' defense but the comedic use of accents by well received and liked performers doesn't justify it in all other arenas. I find Russell Peters hilarious in a skit. I'm not even offended by what some Asians are offended by in Chapelle's show. It's comedy, performance, artistic expression and he's pretty equal opportunity on all races. But fuck no, it's not okay for say my professor or co-worker to put on a performance like that.

It's a short step up away from ching-chonging someone. There are plenty of people that find ching chong hilarious. Why shouldn't we accept that as well if we're going to accept mocking accents.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

^ Actually...now that I look back the only place where I agree with Dei Wong is how he said that black people do the exact same thing and that's it not an Asian-only deal. I guess I should have clarified that from the beginning.

Edit: I guess I'm curious though. I have a hard time understanding how one may find a joke acceptable or hilarious when a comedian does it but then when a professor does it (assuming that the professor would make ethnic jokes targeting a variety of different groups with the whole equal opportunity thing) it suddenly becomes inappropriate. I could see how one would think that it's inappropriate because the professor is supposed to teach and not waste time like that, but a joke is either an acceptable or unacceptable (i.e. offensive or not offensive) one in my eyes regardless of who says it.

[Dei Wong]

But that's what we're entitled to more or less. A harrassment free workplace so we can get shit done. We're not entitled to a harrassment free life.

I get that what you and Dei Wong are in agreement with is 'offensive things are said by people' defense but the comedic use of accents by well received and liked performers doesn't justify it in all other arenas. I find Russell Peters hilarious in a skit. I'm not even offended by what some Asians are offended by in Chapelle's show. It's comedy, performance, artistic expression and he's pretty equal opportunity on all races. But fuck no, it's not okay for say my professor or co-worker to put on a performance like that.

It's a short step up away from ching-chonging someone. There are plenty of people that find ching chong hilarious. Why shouldn't we accept that as well if we're going to accept mocking accents.

I agree if these jokes are offending someone or makes for an uncomfortable working environment. Then that person should move somewhere else or wait for breaktime or lunch away from that person.

^ Actually...now that I look back the only place where I agree with Dei Wong is how he said that black people do the exact same thing and that's it not an Asian-only deal. I guess I should have clarified that from the beginning.

Edit: I guess I'm curious though. I have a hard time understanding how one may find a joke acceptable or hilarious when a comedian does it but then when a professor does it (assuming that the professor would make ethnic jokes targeting a variety of different groups with the whole equal opportunity thing) it suddenly becomes inappropriate. I could see how one would think that it's inappropriate because the professor is supposed to teach and not waste time like that, but a joke is either an acceptable or unacceptable (i.e. offensive or not offensive) one in my eyes regardless of who says it.

I agree

[Banana]

I think that Asian people are just extremely socially inept that they'll try anything to fit in. In this case, unfortunately, he's degrading himself in order to do just that. He might not know it but he comes off as a stereotypical minstrel to everyone.

[kasia]

well, a joke is funny if it is a joke. but if it's not a joke and the only thing that is supposed to be funny is the chinaman accent...wtf?

[Chester]

well, a joke is funny if it is a joke. but if it's not a joke and the only thing that is supposed to be funny is the chinaman accent...wtf?That, I agree, is generally the sum and total of the "humor".

If you're using the accent as part of an impersonation of a particular person who happens to have that accent, I say it's fair game. But if you're just doing the accent, period, then you're making fun of the accent itself and, almost always, giving credence to stereotypes in the process.

When this is done within an "insider" audience, then I don't have any problem with it. When it's done for the laughter of an "outsider" audience, it makes me uncomfortable.

I've done impersonations of my father before, for non-Chinese/Asian friends and even that specific lampooning made me feel kind of dirty.

[Chu Chi]

i haven't said anything about this because i don't want to hurt his feelings **or make the situation uncomfortable**, but isn't it bizarre that nobody else realizes that this is racist?


Its already uncomfortable, thats why you're telling us isn't it?


Kasia, when truth is revealed about what racism is and how it works; White people are going to be offended and non white people are going to be embarressed, even embarressed enough to come to the defense of White people.

Its gonna happen.

There ain't no way to "politely" counter racism.

People are going to be uncomfortable when you reveal truth because the system of racism is fueled by deception, lies and falsehood.

My suggestion?

Do it anyway.

Speak up and tell the truth, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

Not only will you become a stronger, better person, but the people who practice racism will begin to change their behavior.


CC


PS--this is the reason I don't think Margaret Cho is funny; she spends too much time impersonating her parents speaking ability in front of an audience full of White people; If she only knew why they were laughing.

[Dei Wong]

Its already uncomfortable, thats why you're telling us isn't it?


Kasia, when truth is revealed about what racism is and how it works; White people are going to be offended and non white people are going to be embarressed, even embarressed enough to come to the defense of White people.

Its gonna happen.

There ain't no way to "politely" counter racism.

People are going to be uncomfortable when you reveal truth because the system of racism is fueled by deception, lies and falsehood.

My suggestion?

Do it anyway.

Speak up and tell the truth, even if it makes people uncomfortable.

Not only will you become a stronger, better person, but the people who practice racism will begin to change their behavior.


CC


What if the person doesn't think they did anything wrong?

[Arex]

What if the person doesn't think they did anything wrong?If a person's genuinely ignorant, you probably don't need to beat the person up over it, but I think it's still important to try to educate that person.

[Irezumi Kiss]

If a person's genuinely ignorant, you probably don't need to beat the person up over it, but I think it's still important to try to educate that person.
Unfortunately, there are some people you just can't say or tell ANYTHING to. Because they ain't hearing you when they have their own personal "glory" moment working for them. And sadly, some people simply don't give a shit or are just plain indifferent to how you see it. Or maybe they do see it but don't want to admit that they're wrong or should have some shame in their actions.

In a place of work, you have a more vested interest in keeping things in a certain level. When outside hanging out, you can walk away from whomever it is, but at work you have to deal with that person more intimately. And you know they're gonna do it again because it's "working" for them. That's why it happens.

[pikachupacabra]

Unfortunately, there are some people you just can't say or tell ANYTHING to. Because they ain't hearing you when they have their own personal "glory" moment working for them. And sadly, some people simply don't give a shit or are just plain indifferent to how you see it. Or maybe they do see it but don't want to admit that they're wrong or should have some shame in their actions.

In a place of work, you have a more vested interest in keeping things in a certain level. When outside hanging out, you can walk away from whomever it is, but at work you have to deal with that person more intimately. And you know they're gonna do it again because it's "working" for them. That's why it happens.

Then in that case, they've moved from IGNORANT to WILLFULLY antagonistic, and deserve a beatdown.

[tapestrybabe]

just by the title alone...
ask me the question when i was
a teenager what i thought about
making fun of asian accents...
and i would have done it out of
mockery and putting it down...
cuz heck, korean language wasnt
mine to begin with, it was funny to me...
just like any other ching chong language
was funny, it being all the same to me anyways...
yeah, i didnt care too much of it...
not having any sorta appreciation, connection
to such a thing...

i know better now...
i mean, if i do make jokes about it...
it doesnt deal with ridicule...
as it use to be for me...

[FuriousFob]

You people have it all wrong. What we need to do is convince the world that a Chinese accent is sexy.

[Chu Chi]

What if the person doesn't think they did anything wrong?

What if Adolph Hitler "doesn't think they did anything wrong?"

Does it matter WHY someone rapes your daughter?

Is there something they could tell you that would make you say: "oh...OK"?

Are soldiers trained to sit around scratching their heads wondering why they are being shot at?

or are they trained to return fire and silence the target?


Counter racism is not rocket science. Preventing people from being mistreated does not require an understanding of a suspects motivation.

Besides, if the person is a racist, they don't care if their behavior is incorrect.

Your focus should be on preventing the unjust behavior; leave the "paralysis of analysis" for the spectators.


CC

[Chad]

Its already uncomfortable, thats why you're telling us isn't it?


Kasia, when truth is revealed about what racism is and how it works; White people are going to be offended and non white people are going to be embarressed, even embarressed enough to come to the defense of White people.

Its gonna happen.

There ain't no way to "politely" counter racism.

People are going to be uncomfortable when you reveal truth because the system of racism is fueled by deception, lies and falsehood.

I agree with this 100%. It happened today. I was in a casual conversation with a friend and some acquaintances. I wasn't paying too close attention to everything, the conversation was silly in nature but then this white guy uses the word "Japs." I told him that it's offensive. My friend said, "why are you offended? you're not Japanese." I said, "yes but that hasn't stopped people from calling me that before."
Then the white guy accuses me of being "too PC" etc. The more I listened to him the more pissed I got until I was talking so fast I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth. There was a black guy there during this entire conversation who remained silent. The white guy asked him if he was offended by racial slurs, he didn't want to respond. In the end I called the guy a racist asshole and walked away. Everybody present were visibly uncomfortable but I didn't give a shit after I got mad.

[LaiSteve66]

Sadly, most people won't object to racist remarks unless it's directed at their race.

[thaite]

I think that Asian people are just extremely socially inept that they'll try anything to fit in. In this case, unfortunately, he's degrading himself in order to do just that. He might not know it but he comes off as a stereotypical minstrel to everyone.

I agree with this. On more than one occasion I've seen a person mock themselves and their race as a means of fitting in. By displaying the most ridiculous stereotypes they can then set their own behavior apart from those they are really ridiculing, and tell their audience, "See, I'm not like those people -- I'm like you." Approval from their audience is acknowledgement that their act is working.

It's irritating to me.

[Faithless]

Sadly, most people won't object to racist remarks unless it's directed at their race.
I hope that's not the general concensus.

I think if I heard this sort of stuff about another race at work, I'd react to say, "WTF!"

[Chu Chi]

Sadly, most people won't object to racist remarks unless it's directed at their race.

I'll go a step further and say that most people are not aware how a statement supports the practice of racism.

I was watching a round table discussion of the impending "energy and enviromental crisis" and a White person said the main problem was "China's VORACIOUS appetite" for oil and how "they might do anything to get it".

None of the other people challenged that statement.

None of the other people asked a question like:

"oh, you mean China might make up an excuse to attack and invade another country so they can STEAL some oil?"

Non white people often fail to challenge racist remarks because they don't pay attention to the EFFECT the language has on peoples behavior.


CC

[TB4000]

I think if you do speak up against it nowadays, people tend to throw the "quit being so P.C." card at you. Basically, acknowledging that something is racist has become politically correct, which is now frowned upon.

[kasia]

I'll go a step further and say that most people are not aware how a statement supports the practice of racism.

I was watching a round table discussion of the impending "energy and enviromental crisis" and a White person said the main problem was "China's VORACIOUS appetite" for oil and how "they might do anything to get it".

None of the other people challenged that statement.

None of the other people asked a question like:

"oh, you mean China might make up an excuse to attack and invade another country so they can STEAL some oil?"

Non white people often fail to challenge racist remarks because they don't pay attention to the EFFECT the language has on peoples behavior.


CC

that's exactly it. nobody questions the implications. so there are really two aspects of it: 1) i'm annoyed by asians that act like a monkey for non-asians and 2) i'm annoyed by asians who don't care that they're perpetuating racist stereotypes.

also, just fyi, he's been told by at least one other asian in the office that it's not really acceptable behavior. i think he's cognizant of that fact because he's not a stupid guy. so now i think he does it because he gives into peer pressure when they ask him to do it. and it makes me feel sorry for him because it puts him in a hard place. but then again, how hard is it to say - no.

[Paradox]

I think if you do speak up against it nowadays, people tend to throw the "quit being so P.C." card at you. Basically, acknowledging that something is racist has become politically correct, which is now frowned upon.
What's funny is when you go to those right wing forums and they all throw around accusations of people being "PC" while actively insinuating that minorities are to be blamed for one problem or another. Calling something out as being "PC" is just a convenient strawman to knockdown because they can't debate the issue coherently.

[LaiSteve66]

I hope that's not the general concensus.

I think if I heard this sort of stuff about another race at work, I'd react to say, "WTF!"

I think that is how most people operate. As a mixed race person most people will mistake me for some type of purebred. Do you know how many Asian people have mistook me for pure Asian and started spewing anti-White comments to my face? Do you know how many non-Asians have mistook me for pure White or Hispanic and started talking shit about Asians? Happens quite a bit. People think they can get away with being racist if no members of the "target" race are around and I have observed very few instances in real life of someone calling out racism that wasn't directed at their race.

[Atealtha]

"Hey guys, I just want to let you know I think it's great how we can be so social with each other. But I noticed an imbalance with the joking. So just to get to know each other more, I thought we try something new.

[your friend's name here] will do his hilarious bit with the chinese accents you love so much. But I want you [point to Blacks] to pull out your lips and do something African. You [point to Latinos] just act like you're the janitors of this courthouse and talk to each other in spanish.

It will be great!"

[grimfan]

Nothing shows more confidence and comfort with one's identity than the ability to make fun of it.

But given the image of Asians in America, especially males, we have no right as dignified human beings to accept or be comfortable with such a racist caricature.

Why are whites allowed to make fun of themselves? Because for every anti-Irish, anti-British, anti-French, or even just anti-white joke there is, there are thousands to provide positive re-enforcement to the image of the white person. No such thing exists for peoples like Asians and Latinos. There are some for the blacks, although the positivitiy of those images are widely disputed (arrogant athletes and semi-talented rappers are not exactly the best role models).

[TB4000]

^A lot of the white, latino and asian kids see the rappers and athletes as manly role models, hence it has its own positive spin on it.

[grimfan]

^A lot of the white, latino and asian kids see the rappers and athletes as manly role models, hence it has its own positive spin on it.

As manly as a thug may be, it still has many negative connotations.

[thaite]

so now i think he does it because he gives into peer pressure when they ask him to do it. and it makes me feel sorry for him because it puts him in a hard place. but then again, how hard is it to say - no.

Are you kidding me? People actually go "Hey Charlie, do that thing you do. You know, that thing with the accent? Yeah, do that." And he does it? That guy needs a brick to the head.

[kasia]

Are you kidding me? People actually go "Hey Charlie, do that thing you do. You know, that thing with the accent? Yeah, do that." And he does it? That guy needs a brick to the head.

uh, yeh. that's exactly the way it goes.

[BeTheReds]

I can't believe this thread has gone on this long. Anyway I'd pull the guy aside and tell him how I feel about it. That's about the only thing you can do.

[Aurutus]

I think you could ask your co-worker to take part in the American Idol and be the next William Hung!!! The mainstream American media loves this kind of act.

[eos]

^ this is absolutely the WORST you can do. william hung has embarrassed us and strengthened the dorky asian guy stereotype. even my boyfriend, who's also from hong kong, was enbarrassed.

[returntosender]

Funny, I watched that whole William Hung thing go down and just didn't care. It never affected me. I even rented his DVD movie.

That would certainly explain why people refuse to sit beside me on the bus.

[eos]

or because you smell

[achtungbaby]

I can't believe this thread has gone on this long. Anyway I'd pull the guy aside and tell him how I feel about it. That's about the only thing you can do.
Werd.

Closing.