From wikipedia:
“Ching chong is an ethnic slur used to mock people of Chinese ancestry or other Asians who may look Chinese, and an onomatopoeia used to represent Chinese language speech patterns by those unfamiliar with them. Many public commentators on the recent usage of the term have deemed it derogatory, and referred to its derogatory usage in history.”
One of the couple slurs used for Chinese people…apparently it’s not considered one to quite a few people. One of the most notable events of the use of CC happened a while back with Rosie O’Donnell when she used it to emphasis how worldwide the View was…she didn’t know it was a racial slur and apologized afterwards, yet it was somewhat insincere:
“To say ‘ching chong’ to someone is very offensive, and some Asian people have told me it’s as bad as the n-word. Which I was like, ‘Really? I didn’t know that.’ I’m sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground. But I’m also gonna give you a fair warning that there’s a good chance I’ll do something like that again, probably in the next week, not on purpose. Only ’cause it’s how my brain works.”
Seriously, wtf. Jin responded back to this with a rap….okay, so it’s not really constructive to the cause or justified, but it’s damn hilarious!
A couple of other incidents:
-Shaq on Fox Sports Radio used CC when joking about Yao (he used in jest with no malice or prejudice and apologized).
-Dave Dameshek did a comedy parody of the Asian American Excellence Awards for the Adam Corolla Show and used CC to mimic the awards show (Adam Corolla also apologized later on).
…All these incidents seem to stem from the ignorance of the term, which I can only reply to with “Wow, really?”
I can somehow understand why people wouldn’t know the significance of CC though. I mean, it’s like how people mimic British accents, Carribean accents, ghetto talk, etc., but not really. People, if you don’t want to excite Chinese/Asian people the wrong way, don’t try to mimic the language with “Ching Chong”…you won’t be funny, you’ll look stupid, people will be turned off, and your sneakers/jackets/etc. will magically fall apart.
Last 5 posts in Issues
- Jackie Chan Kicks Bear Farmer Ass - May 19th, 2008
- We're Not All Chinese, Nor Play Jokes, Nor Go Pee Pee In Your Cokes - May 14th, 2008
- Struggling Asians Get Swept Up With The "Outstanding" - April 4th, 2008
- Racists? 2 - April 1st, 2008
- My Goofy Take On Asian Americans Being The Model Minority - March 28th, 2008
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October 23, 2008
Just to be clear, is that what SHE called her apology? If so, that’s really fucking pathetic. Pardon my language- I don’t really even care that she said “ching chong” or whatever, but that’s the saddest excuse for an apology. It’s a non-apology. You don’t apologize for something you did on national t.v. then defend it. And you ESPECIALLY don’t insult the people you offended - AGAIN.
That’s all putting aside what I really think of her - I agree with Donald Trump… Rosie is a loser. “It’s how my brain works”??? Her brain is probably just working to be controversial so she can be in the news. She pulls shit like this all the time, its unbelievable she’s still a public figure.
And aside from all that, I’ve never heard Jin rap in English before… he’s…not as good as I thought he’d be o.o
October 23, 2008
“its how my brain work”… That is so lame !
I find the rap really interesting. The part where he raps in Chinese, true, not really justified, not in a blanket sense, anyway, but it IS hilarious ! Particularly the classic curse.
By the way, what is the little box with the words “vote up” for? Pardon my ignorance.
allthingspurples last blog post..Car Sandwiches Bento
October 23, 2008
Oh, I see now. its to vote for the post. haha ! love all your posts anyhow. I visit whenever I get your newsletter.
allthingspurples last blog post..Car Sandwiches Bento
October 24, 2008
@ChakGahk
Yea, what a half-assed apology. With that kind of apology, she shouldn’t of even bothered saying it in the first place. I’d like to see her say something like the “N-word” and do an apology like that. And I think Jin is pretty good! :p His freestyle battles are better though!
@allthingspurple
Heh, yea her apology was pretty lame…I mean did she even have to say that?
Thanks for the props! And yea the little voting box is for essentially giving the post a “thumbs up”, or showing that you liked the post. It’s not tied to any social network, voting system, or anything…it’s just something I thought would be fun to add to the site.
November 22, 2008
Ching Chong is one of Chong’s nick. lol