The 8Asians Talk About: Angry Asian Man and the Word “Chink”

By Ernie | Tuesday, April 13, 2010 | 4 Comments

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20100414 fwetran9fjwrbx5q5h4mwc75cg The 8Asians Talk About: Angry Asian Man and the Word Chink Our internal e-mail lists have us discussing all kinds of stuff: Asian American identity, representation in the media, the experiences of activism in an academia setting and its progression as we transition to the working, adult world. And sometimes, we talk about the usage of the word “chink” and “nip” and issues of context. Sometimes, the conversation spirals out of control.

Ernie: AngryAsianMan wants you to not use the words “chink” or “nip”, even as regular non-slanderous nouns.

Jeff: It doesn’t seem to me that he advocates never using “chink” or “nip” in any context, just not when discussing Chinese or Japanese people respectively: “I have a suggestion: how about avoiding the use of the term chink — in whatever context — when discussing anything having to with Chinese people? Same goes for nip and Japanese people.” That doesn’t seem to be that unreasonable.

Joz: Reminds me of the whole “niggardly” controversy.

Jun: Kinda like in Clerks II where the guys says ‘porch-monkey’ in front of a black customer cause he didn’t know it was a racial slur… I would read ‘chink,’ giggle at the irony and move on with my rather boring life.

Kevin: Does that mean I will never be able to say “chink in armor” ever again? This takes it too far, I understand when people get offended by “gay”, even then, its sort of evolved into something derogatory, and not necessarily homophobic. This? I would’ve read it and moved on without noticing.

Moye: What if you’re talking about nipples but don’t have time to type out the entire word?

John: When would one not have the time to write out nipples instead of nip? While tweeting or updating your FB status while having sex?

Ernie: Hey, it’s tough to write out “NIPPLE” with one hand on an iPhone.

Efren: And what were you doing with your other hand, Ernie?

John: Efren, Ernie is using his iPad with his other hand.

Ernie: If by “iPad,” you mean “PENIS.”

So, my argument: “a chink in the computer system” isn’t offensive, “a chink in the Chink’s computer system” is totally offensive, but because of the upper-case Chink, not the lower-case chink. “A chink in the Chinese government’s computer system” is… an unfortunate choice of words for someone who probably went to a better college than I, but no, I’m not really ragey. But that’s just me; what do you think?

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slchen

I doubt it was used intentionally. I also think there are many appropriate uses of the word "chink." This is not one of them.

Reactions to these words always include the "What, so we're never supposed to say the word [blank]?" variant. I think this is silly. For Asian Americans, our burden of proof with respect to racism is abnormally high. Even APA's ourselves are fond of justifying the use of harmful terms, because it's easier to live with innocent intention than a world filled with racist undertones.

But I think this is no excuse. Nobody is saying that no reporter, ever, is supposed to say "chink in the armor." But, echoing a previous poster, to refrain from that phrase in an article about, of all things, China, isn't too much to ask. America asks reporters to be careful with ambiguous terms for any other race, and we should demand the same. A lack of intention was never a defense to racism.

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Simon

Because no one uses the word "chink" meaning a crack, fissure or flaw (and expects to be taken seriously).

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MacLu

Um, no. Would you ever, in a Harlem restaurant full of African Americans, say, at top volume, "Stop being so niggardly!" to your friend when he leaves a 10% tip? We all know the word doesn't have any relationship to "nigger" but it sounds close enough that we will avoid it because we don't want anyone to even THINK that we are using "nigger". It is THAT offensive. Chink (in the armor) should be exiled to the same desert island. There are plenty of other synonyms. Allowing people to plead a passive agressive innocence when using "chink" is giving them a cop out excuse. Believe me, there are plenty of folks who will walk right up to that racism line and not cross it just to see what you'll do about it.

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joshychau

I support AAM on this issue because it's a matter of the very subtle racism that is in play.

Intent is not the issue but rather the underlying culture of the words. I get lots of offhand comments about how as an Asian I'm supposed to be smart or good at music or whatever. These comments are never meant in a racist context and are really a passing thought expressed out loud.

And therein lies the problem, that this is something even the person saying the words may not realize is insensitive.

At this point I think it's not inappropriate to point out that the choice of words is poor and possibly racist. It will drive home that point and force people to think about what they say.

Letting shit like this slide is what will allow people to take advantage. When you point it out and say, "Hey! Not Cool!" people are more careful and we'll move closer to an equal social standing.

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