Kenneth Eng's "Why I Hate Black People" Article in AsianWeek: What the Hell?

Kenneth Eng wrote an opinion column in AsianWeek last Friday about why he hates black people. (Note: AsianWeek has removed the article from its site, but you can read it here.) AsianWeek is a San Francisco weekly paper that dubs itself "The Voice of Asian America."  I believe in Eng's right to free speech, but I'm sorry, AsianWeek, you do not speak for me.

Eng, a twenty-something, describes himself and "God of the Universe" and an "Asian Supremacist."  I'm so tired of fools like Kenneth Eng. Eng seems to be an equal opportunity hater: he hates Asians and white people, too.

Eng's "reasons" for hating black people include: 

"Blacks hate us. Every Asian who has ever come across them knows that they take almost every opportunity to hurl racist remarks at us."

"Contrary to media depictions, I would argue that blacks are weak-willed. They are the only race that has been enslaved for 300 years."

"Blacks are easy to coerce. This is proven by the fact that so many of them, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, tend to be Christians."

I'm outraged by Eng's reckless comments, not to mention the fact that maybe he should study up on his Asian history before he talks about cultures that are "easy to coerce."

I agree with Henry Der, Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action who said the column "was offensive not only to African Americans but to everyone—and especially because it was published during Black History Month." 

"It is pretty despicable that the piece would do that at this time...If we are to talk about race and issues, then there should be a thoughtful presentation of the diverse views on this topic. If they had done that, however offensive, we would at least understand it in the context in the larger community."

Kenneth Eng, I'd hate to be you right now. Racist, ignorant bigots like you do not speak for me so please, do us all a favor and STFU.

—Stefania Pomponi Butler

Comments

[Michael Kim]

[edited for clarity]

Dear Mr. Eng,

You sound resentful and confused. I understand how you feel. The world is a mirror of our own darkest selves. When we are confused within, all our own failures appear in phantom "others" and this blinds us to the real pressing dangers to society and our sustained well being. When we are calm, when we remember how to face sadness and pain without fear, we see in others what is best in ourselves. This morning it was sunny here, then the clouds came, and the rain. Soon it will be spring. Since you are also concerned about religion, perhaps you will understand me.

Sincerely,

a Korean Buddhist guy who looks more to black people for cultural guidance about living in America than to the “Asian American leadership” which rarely ever speaks to my heart

[Angie in Texas]

YIKES! This article is not good for me, you, Asians, African Americans or . . . anyone.

I don't even know what to say!

YIKES!

[Keith Kamisugi]

Please join us in holding AsianWeek accountable for this hate speech -->

http://www.capaweb.org/awpetition

[Gayle]

Keith thanks for the petition.

[Summer]

Thanks for the petition, let's make it clickable and pass it on. Act Against Racist AsianWeek Article

[Gayle]

Stefania - Thank for posting about this. I searched and searched all morning (since I read the freaking article) for someone on one of my favorite blogs to be talking about this. AsianWeek also needs a spanking for printing this crap.

I'm all for free speech. Kenneth Eng has the right to believe and say whatever he'd like, but AsianWeek has a responsibility to their readers to not add hate to this cycle.

[Tony]

Looks like I have to agree with Kenneth Eng. I've been subjected to racial slurs from blacks all my life - and I'm not even Asian!! Blacks look at me, a white guy, as his excuse for being kept down. Newsflash! Just because you're white doesn't mean you have the world handed to you. If I wore a doo-rag and baggy pants and looked like your average criminal, no one would give me a job either. Duh!!

[honglien123]

I read the SFGate article on this this morning and I kept thinking this guy must be some attention starved nut case. I checked out some more links to him through Angry Asian Man and I think I'm right. On the one hand, ignoring Mr. Eng might be the best policy, but then, on the other hand, his misguided rant highlights the fact that many many Asian Americans don't know too much about Asian American history or the role that African Americans have had in helping our community in the past or vice versa.

P.S. Tony, I hope you're being sarcastic.

[CityMama]

Hmmm. Tony, a white guy with a bogus email address reading a blog written by Korean-connected mothers standing up to say he hates black people, too? Yeah. I bet you aren't EVEN a troll. And, if you aren't you and Kenneth Eng deserve each other.

[carol]

My jaw just kept dropping ... and dropping ... and dropping as I read this ... why would a publication that claims to speak for Asian America give a guy like this the floor - not just for the repugnancy of his opinions, but for his ill-informed and just plain stupid arguments. Why, AW, why??

[Nina]

You want to believe that it's all just a bad joke.

Kenneth Eng certainly does not speak for me. It's just embarassing that a supposedly respectable Asian American publication put this out there.

UGH!

[HappyAsianMan]

Does anyone have the actual article? I'd like to see what Mr. Eng wrote exactly. I heard this on the radio this afternoon in the car.

[Sidney]

I think that is despicable of him to act so socially irresponsible. I honor free speech and commend him for expressing his feelings. But Eng's hasty generalization is nothing more than feelings. It is certainly not expected for someone of his intellectually level to lash out at an entire 'race' for encounters he has had with such a small population of black people.

As a black male, I take it very personal. I would never offend the whole Asian population for the faults of just a few. In fact, I respect Asian cultures for their hard work and contribution to our society as a whole. I wonder when people will stop making such remarks and fallacious assumptions.

[jason]

Sometimes it's necessary to be socially and politically correct. I understand that in our society it is important to preach acceptance and tolerance.

Then there are times when you have to stop ignoring the facts.

The majority of African-Americans blame slavery and suppression of civil rights for their current problems. Their excuse is that the playing field is not fair & the rest of America has a head start.

Thousands of Asian-Americans graduate from college every year. Their parents came to America on a boat, worked hard to provide a stable job and environment for their kids and instilled in them a work ethic. You guys know who you are.

You tell me, whose plight was more difficult? An African-American couple born and raised in America speaking the native language? Or two immigrants floating in the Pacific Ocean, who couldn't speak a lick of English? And who would have the better story to tell twenty-some years later?

It's time to stop with the excuses. I'm not making this up, it's simply just a fact. If African-Americans start the race 50 yards behind the line compared to whites, Asian-Americans start it somewhere in the 3rd row. And yet many of us each year become doctors, lawyers, engineers & overall productive contributors to society.

African-Americans represent the significant majority of participants of the Food Stamp / WIC programs, which is a huge drain on the government's resources.

Why is this? Because the majority of them refuse to improve their lot in life by putting in the time & effort to get an education. Rather, they accept government assistance as a rite of passage in life, and pass this attitude from generation to generation.

When you turn on the evening news, the majority of the crimes you see on TV are perpetuated by African-Americans. Why? It's very simple.

When kids are young they need guidance. Without it, they grow into impressionable teens who turn to temptations like violence, drugs and sex. Too many young African-American girls either 1) bow to the pressure from their male peers to have sex or 2) willfully have sex to procreate for purposes of acquiring free government assistance.

Then when these little kids are no longer cute and adorable, and grow into annoying adolescents and teenagers, these young mothers/fathers simply relinquish their responsibilities as parents. They neglect their duty to raise their become law-abiding citizens. Let's face it, it's hard being a parent. But that doesn't mean you give up.

Furthermore, if you knew you didn't want to deal with the hassles and aggravations of raising teenagers, why have children in the first place? It's because the majority of African-Americans do it for the wrong reasons, namely the inability to control their sexual urges, to qualify for government assistance, or simply because they find kids fun to play with.

These impressionable kids drop out of school, do drugs, or simply have no motivation to make something of themselves. Years later they turn into the criminals that you see on TV.

I understand NOT ALL blacks accurately fit what I have described. That is why I prefaced it by saying "the majority". Just like not all Asians are doctors instead of felons.

But the statistics are clear. And in this case the numbers do not lie. On the whole, African-Americans are lazier, less motivated, and more prone to crime than Asian-Americans. It's not racist, it's not stereotypical. If you were completely honest with yourself, then you would admit this.

[puke]

chinese fly lice anyone?

[Rachel]

Jason, I'm not sure such a hateful, racist comment really deserves a response. But you can't compare the experience of Asian immigrants and African-Americans. Discrimination against African-Americans did not end with the Jim Crow laws. African-Americans continue to face enormous institutional barriers to success: unequal access to property, banks unwilling to make loans, and under-funded schools. While some Asian immigrants who come to the U.S. don't speak English, they have other advantages that African-Americans don't share. They tend to be better-educated when they arrive, and they often have more access to capital. Of course Asians also face discrimination and other obstacles, but it's not fair to compare the two groups.

[carol]

It saddens me that, in 2007, we as a HUMAN race still only see things from the surface. We still can't find it in ourselves to dig deeper into the institutional, cultural, and psychological basis for why things are the way they are, so ready to throw stones. The "we did it, why can't they" self-righteous rationalization that just goes to show we still treat each other like different species of animal, not as real people with real minds and hearts. We are all in this together. So many love to take sole credit for success, but don't see that the failures of others are all of our failures, collective systemic failures. Where is the compassion.

[Gayle]

Jason,

I'm sorry that you've bought into society's skewed history of minorities in America. As so clearly you have. Blacks in most cases are consistently driven to the poorest, least healthful areas of a city and kept there by the use of programs purported to "help" them. These parts of the city have the worst transit systems, making it extremely difficult to maintain consistent employment. Many are single parents who can only afford the cheapest childcare for their children and often times can't trust their childcare provider. The list goes on and on how society oppresses blacks.

Your beliefs just make it all worse. Asians haven't made it. We are just the poster children for the powers at be to say "Look. Asians can make it. So can everyone else." And there are plenty of Asians living in the ghetto, not getting a college education, involved with gang violence. And suffer the same oppression.

You want to think Asians are somehow better than blacks and that's sad, because it's not a competition - or it shouldn't be.

There was a Third World Strike in the Bay Area in 1968-1969 - at SFSU and UC Berkeley. Asians, Blacks, Chicanos, and American Indians stood together to demand Ethnic studies and as an extention equality for everyone. We had to stand together and HELP eachother to continue the struggle for equality. And it was because they did, that we have ethnic studies throughout the California colleges. Ponder that.

[carol]

I'd like to share an excerpt from this article. Some of it will sound familiar to recent comments:

On Sept. 29, 1854, in the powerful New York Tribune, Horace Greeley, the paper's legendary publisher and staunch abolitionist, called the new Chinese "uncivilized, unclean and filthy beyond all conception." The men, Greeley wrote, "were lustful and sensual," while every Chinese female was a "prostitute of the basest order."

Two months after Greeley's article, the California Supreme Court overturned the conviction of George Hall, a white man who had murdered a Chinese miner named Ling Sing.

The higher court ruled that the testimony of three Chinese witnesses to the murder was not admissible because Chinese, like blacks and Native Americans, could not testify against a white person.

In the court's opinion, Chief Justice Hugh Murray called the Chinese "a race of people whom nature has marked as inferior, and who are incapable of progress or intellectual development beyond a certain point ... between whom and ourselves nature has placed an impassable difference."

[Nina]

I'm sorry, I just want to throw up when I read things like Kenneth Eng's rant and comments like Jason's.

Where do you people come from? Do you live in a hole somewhere and just watch Jerry Springer during the day and the ten o'clock news at night?

Some people have no compassion, no sense of justice, no sense of right and wrong. I'm sickened. Really, really sickened. I'm embarassed that you people choose to represent yourselves as being MY voice. The voice of Asian America. As someone who has African American friends and who feels the historical debt we owe to African Americans for standing up and demanding the rights that we now benefit from and who feels compassion for the injustices and hatred they've experienced and continue to experience, I feel personally affronted by these attacks. Please, just go back into your hole.

[Glenn Mar]

The potential silver lining in the dark cloud is a real set of discussions over racial perceptions and relations. Hopefully, AsianWeek's town hall meeting will be a decent start.

There are now lemons all around. Time to make some lemonade.

[James Lim]

What the fuck is you talkin' about my nigga'?! You don't speak for anyone but your little pecker Mr. Eng. I'm an Asian Pacific Islander (Filipino) and you sir are the biggest idiot in this world. Stop making an ass out of yourself. "Sucking up to whites?" Sounds more like you've been doing some sucking of your own, shall I say a glass dick, cause your crack head ass done lost your mind. Was that "ghetto" enough fo' yo a**?

Fistfights and verbal altercations, nigga', you ain't never put in dirt for me cause' I ain't never seen your kind come around my block. You most likely come from the same product who you're ranting about. It's called self-hatred you punk ass bitch. So stop tryin' to bring everyone else down with you because we ain't buyin' your fake a** tickets. Now don't get me wrong, cause I'm not one to shy away from altercations (physical or verbal) no matter what color or creed cause I just don't give a fuck like that. But in your case, it sounds more like you're in need of some professional and medical help.

Now, how exactly would you say a "true" Asian is suppose to sound like? Do all Asians have to sound like Mr. Miyagi? Your own statement suggests that you contradict what you have to say when it comes to Asian stereotypes. And for those f**ks who are even considering what this Eng guy has to say, think again, because he is the prime example of the weak minded in our community or in any community for that matter. Mr. Eng and people like him are the types of individuals who will buckle in any situation. In this case, his own insecurities. Who can blame the fuck, sounds like he ain't had pussy since pussy had him.

"Thirdly", you talk about chuckling at our own stereotypes, as I said earlier, only weak minded individuals like you will fold at any sign of distress. Because what you don't realize is at the end of the day, what people say about us only become stereotypes if you start to believe that they represent what you are. I myself refuse to be labeled as such, therefore the way I see it, if you have something to say about me, my race, culture or the way I comb my damn' hair, then we can handle that sh** accordingly.

In conclusion, obviously someone must have been out of their mind to actually publish this stupid article of yours on AsianWeek, but what I'm truly wondering is if that same dumb a** is paying you to write this crap. Because clearly you don't represent anyone in my community. As part of the "Asian" commonality, I refuse to be part of your racist vendetta against all "Humans". It's people like you who make it possible for inferiority/superiority crap to exist. When common sense tells us that no man is greater than the next, your ass is still over there tryin' to stir s**t up.

But, I must agree and say that you're right by saying that every race has its inferiors, and you sir are the greatest example of this, along with like minded individuals such as yourself which exists in every race whether black, white, red, yellow brown and so on... I despise your kind, and that's not being politically correct either. I've seen your kind around most of my life, and I have to tell you, bigotry comes in all colors. I've hated bullies all my life, and you pretty much resemble every aspect of it. And in case you want to know how I've dealt with those bullies in the past, then meet me somewhere where I can introduce myself and my foot up you a**. Biaaatch!

Here's the link to why Eng dude dislikes Asians: http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=7db9bd5343504d52fa065fef122fc04d&this_category_id=172

[James Lim]

On the other hand, this comment is for the people that are trying so hard to be politically correct about this whole "race" issue. Some of you talk about having several "African American" friends but you still soundin' like you have no fuckin' clue how it is to live within the black community. I myself grew up in such a community during the late eighties and have first hand experience when in comes to "the ghettto". Let me tell you, everyone that has been there knows that it is possible to get out, it just all depends on how hard you're willing to work for it. No one is holding you back, yes there are obstacles, but just like any struggle, you have to learn to overcome what gets in your way. It might be harder for others, but it is possible for everyone. And contrary to what some of you might think, as a Filipino American, my family and I have also gone through discrimination from both Blacks, Whites, Latinos and so on. This is America, so you shouldn't expect less for your money. But you live and learn and you rise to the occasion and get over all that.

So as much as I would hate to agree with what some had to say, some comments in here do make sense simply because no matter how you look at it, history shows us that minorities have always suffered in this country and other societies(not just blacks.) But for some reason, people in the Black community seem to think that they are some sort of exception because their ancestors were brought here as slaves. Of course it's wrong for any human being to have to go through such atrocities. And you don't need to know your history to know that. But, if after 300 hundred years and you're still using part of that as an excuse for your community's failure to progress in this society, then there must be something else at play there. Besides, I don't think black people are being oppressed as much as they would like to admit. I mean, you have your own black colleges for god sakes. What else can you say? There are plenty of successful Black folks out there so you can't really blame some of us other minorities for criticizing some of you.

Despite what statistics may have to offer, I think that the only people who can fix the so-called black issues is for Black communities to come together and say enough is enough and take matters into their own hands. Take responsibility for all the wrong that is going on in your community, whether it's being caused by racist cops, or drug dealers on the corner, don't just take it up the ass. Be proactive and work together to fight against all hate. Because everyone is fighting for their own piece of the leftover pie. And it doesn't help any of us, Blacks, Asians and others to point fingers. We all just need to put in our own efforts to make the necessary changes in our own communities and once that's done, we can all work together to make our society as equal as we all dream it to be. We just have to be honest and deal with the problems accordingly.

And last but not least, as far as racism goes, black folks, I'm sure some of you can agree that you need to check some of your peoples as well. I grew up around black folks and I have to say, some of you need to learn more about the Asian culture as a whole because clearly, you're as ignorant about us as we are of you. That's why in a way, I'm kind of glad that Mr. Eng, as racist as he may seem, he actually managed to stir up a conversation on what other wise would have remained a taboo topic in this "politically correct" environment we all live in. Let's "fight the power", but let's not leave anyone behind.

[Haven PierreLouis]

I'm sorry to say James but the last time the black community got together and said enough is enough the government found J Edgar Hoover and started COINTELPRO. Now as an african american I'm not saying slavery is the cause of ALL the black communities problems, but if you look at history you gotta wonder how every time we want to do better something happens to turn it around. Yes there's Black Colleges but there's self-racism in every race and Blacks are no different. It wasn't like we were slaves for 300 years and it all stopped. You can't be property one day and completely free the next. You're right there's more at play than just slavery. You can look at the government's reaction to the New Orleans crisis and see there's more to it, look at the city of Detroit and see there's more too it. It's institutionalize. And it's not just the Blacks it's anyone that has to make a dollar out of a penny, but better believe when colleges look at your name on a college application they see you as a possible asset, when they see my name they see me as a possible liablity. I think everyone wants to be competing on who got fuck the most by the "man", when we really need to band together and stop picking at eachother's weaknesses and start playing on eachother's strengths.

And I've seen alot of people sterotype criminals as these people in Do-raggs and etc. which is only because that's all you see on the Ten o'clock news, but you don't hear about Trump pushing hundreds of Minorities including poor whites and asians out of their homes and rebuilding the property only to make it impossible for them to move back in, and you definately don't hear about the sentencing of the CEO fucking millions of hard working americans out of their hopes and dreams, or of wal-mart ethicly-raping their workers, who are mostly poor. The rich stay rich and the poor stay hungry, it just so happens that the majority of poor is black. None of the crap in this country is going to change until we get facts and history straight and stop saying we're all the same, when we're really different people that need to be appreciative of each other.

*~1Love~*

[Mama Nabi]

I can't speak for everyone but I think I speak for most of us when I say that our stance has nothing do it with being politically correct - isn't it about time people come up with a different phrase besides "politically correct" when they want to hide their icky thoughts behind a fad phrase? (It's so nineties!)
At least for me (and for many members of our blog community), this is about sensitivity and understanding among human beings. Am I naive enough to think that people like Eng doesn't exist? Hell no. However, as a group, we protest that utterly hateful and ignorant piece of garbage is printed and presented as a voice from Asian Americans.
Is it about being on a bandwagon? No. Until some of you reared your ugly heads, we thought we were speaking to a kinder, smarter, and definitely more evolved group of friends who have some connection with us, be it as parents, as multi-cultural and -racial families, as kimchi-lovers (I know there're a few of you out there!), or just interested in what we have to say.
We as a group are taking a stand. Not against free speech. Against hateful and ignorant speech parading as our voice.
Be it that some may agree with Eng - but I guess I don't see why someone would actually take the time to come to this forum just to tell us (paraphrasing here) 'Hey, I'm as hateful as that guy Eng - come on, you know you are as well. Look, I'm making baseless bulletpoint presentation here, agree with me. Or not, since that's more fun for me." Obviously, these aren't those Asian-American doctors mentioned previously - I work with those docs and they sure don't have the time.
We understand that racism comes in many colors but please... PLEASE don't try to 'recruit' others. After all, we are merely a group of mommies (and friends) just struggling to make this a better world for our little ones, and raising these little ones to be better for that world. I doubt any of us will be easily swayed into contributing to more hatred in this crazy human race. You see, we love our children too much.

[Ayo]

Some Klansman will be seating somewhere, licking his lips and thinking to himself....... let these ethnic cannibalise "theyselves" and then we'd finish off the weakened rest in chains, perhaps!

Dude if you aren't blue eyed and blond haired you are not "in the pina". And Kenneth be hating self so much he even wrote why he hates Asians..... what sort of point is he proving?

What we need is not to wilt under the propanganda that these set of minorities are doing better than those and so on and fuelled by this to start believing the hype.

A chinese woman once told my gf (incidentally Korean) that she would die before allowing her daughter to date a black dude. I urged my gf to remind her that without us (blacks)rioting in Brixton, Handsworth and Toxteth she wouldn't have no rights civil or otherwise in the UK as a newbie. It's a chicken and egg situation and head gotta catch up and focus on the real enemy whoever that be.

I am unsure of the types of right Mr Eng would have in the 1940's to 60's USA.

[jordhanna]

deep, intelligent topics brought up. really. but simply put, go look up the process of skin pigmentation and the function of melanin to see what this "black", "white" and "yellow" yall speak of really is. i wonder, what would we call a "black" skinned person who happened to grow up in an "asian" country... or would a blonde haired, blue eyed "african" that moves to "america" be an "african american"?..."definitions belong to the definers, not the defined"..

[myconju]

Everyone wait! You all are speaking as though there are no African Americans who have worked hard and are doing well. The media is full of poor African Americans that are hankering for welfare and are criminals. But the fact of the matter is African Americans are Teachers, Ministers, Police Officers, Doctors, Lawyers, Civil Servants and the list goes on and on. Don't believe the hype.

Just as a previous blogger stated, there are poor people in every community. But for some reason America wants the perception to be that all African Americans are poor. This is far from being true. Get out and meet some African Americans and you'll learn a thing or two.

One thing I will like to add. Half of the perception could be our own fault because we will not stop the fight for justice until all of our people are doing well.

[jus2shy]

I'd just like to say thank you to all the people that condemned Eng about the article and voiced your opinions against bigotry. I happened to come across this site while searching for the actual text of the article Eng wrote. As an African-American/Japanese person, I'm deeply offended when comments based off of stereotypes are made about any group of people. I defend whatever group may be oppressed because I believe in human rights. I'm glad to see that others posting here are of the same belief...

A Buddhist "Black" Person

[Andre Thompson]

My best friend in the world used to work for ABC in NYC...He's black (as am I). He personally trained Kenneth Eng to take over for him. He used to tell me stories about this arrogant, racist Asian guy that he is training. Thought he was exaggerating. Oh well. If anyone wants to find this asshole he works for ABC programming commercials or something of that nature. I think my friend said Good Morning America. FYI.

[Tommy Jefferson]

After all the wailing, pants-wetting, and ad-hominem attacks over Eng's heresy, not one of you has show his statements to be in error.

Your religon of diversity fails in the face of reality and reason.

Pathetic really.

[Michelle]

Haven't been here in a while- you women have got a hot topic going on! The roots of institutionalized racism in America run deep and have seeped into our own perceptions of ourselves and others. All we can do is just take each battle as they come and try to expose our children to as many non-stereotypical experiences as possible. Seek them out- it's our parental responisibility to show that poverty and oppression as well as privilege and elitism come in all "colors."

[Ann]

After reading the article I was stunned, first of all Asian and African American are minority, we both struggle to represent ourselves positively in this country for the last hundred years. For K.Eng to write a negative article on African American degrading them is really wrong and ignorant. Maybe he should get out of his bubble and start seeing the world out there, and meet different races of people, maybe he will see that we are all the same-- human beings.

I also heard that he wrote another article, "Why white people dislike asian, and he dislike asian." How??? and where did this person come from?? I don't know about him but I am proud to be a Asian--and proud of other ethnics who contribute to this world positively.

K.Eng wake up, discrimination only create more animousity and jealousy between people with no real basis to hate each other. I really think you need some more education in ethnic cultures. You will learn to be proud of your culture and appreciate others as well.

[Ann]

Oh, one more thing-- jason and others. Maybe you should stop watching cable tv so much. May or Maybe you guys haven't notice but our first explosure to racist is probably through TV sitcoms and News media, they portrayed every criminal as being black; ganster as being asian, black, mexican or italian..minority. Every fat and ugly people as mean or low self-esteem, every media consider fit pretty people to have it all. no wonder everybody is obessessed with plastic surgery and dieting. And our culture is full of hatred and discrimination, even before we meet these people.

Lets not even talk about the news media, if there was a pretty caucasian person being kidnapped it's all over the media for weeks or months, but if a African or Asian or Mexican child being kidnapped we get the 5 seconds intro. To even get more media help we need to call and beg-- and maybe if the stories are more interesting with a twist like in the movies then there are more coverage.

[honglien123]

Ok, just getting back to reading through the comments on this post. It's probably old news right now, but here's a thought that's been on my mind while reading the comments:

Sure Mr. Eng doesn't speak for all Asian Americans and only speak for himself; but isn't that obvious? As much as I disagree with Jason's uninformed and misguided rant on blacks here, his comment on the Kimbap post has a point. America is a nation of individuals. I find it disturbing that the Asian American community would find it necessary to give so much attention to someone who is bigoted and happens to be Asian. It is the INDIVIDUAL and the publication who gave him his soapbox who should answer, NOT our community. Our community does not owe an apology to the African American community for this idiot and it should be obvious from the get go that Kenneth Eng doesn't speak for anyone but himself.

African Americans have their idiots too, I don't expect the whole of their ethnicity to have to explain for their behavior when I've been confronted with racism from blacks.

There is a danger to the fire fighting mentality that is gripping us to do damage control for the thoughts of one racist asshole and the publication that was stupid enough to publish his rants. White Americans don't apologize for a Caucasian individual's racist comments, why should we? The whole of white American or heck, even gay America didn't have to apologize for Rosie O'Donnell, why should we? Why do WE allow ourselves to be grouped together instead of as individuals?

I have lived and grown up in the ghetto in black, latino, and white neighborhood and I can honestly say that I don't speak for the majority of Asian Americans either. This model minority middle class existence didn't make an appearance in my life until relatively recently. I know, that wherever I go, when I am in the minority, I am judged as a representative of my race and ethnicity by some people. But those people who assume that are racist for putting me in that position.

It's great that there are comments and posts condemning Mr. Eng, but we have to wonder why we felt the need to defend ourselves and why others would be looking for that defense.

[Nina]

Honglien, I don't think we're defending ourselves (because, um, we're not the ones who were being racist idiots) so much as we're condemning Eng and expressing our outrage at them presuming they can be OUR voice. I think there's a difference.

Sure, OF COURSE, it's Eng and AsianWeek that should answer for the publication of that article, but we as a community (not necessarily "we" being all Asian Americans, but "we" being our little community here, let's say) are standing up and saying that they SHOULD answer for it because, they weren't. AsianWeek was trying to justify their stupidity until enough people (probably not us, probably more important people) put enough pressure on them.

You're suggestion that we're just doing "damage control" here is a little off-putting. We're expressing our outrage, which we have EVERY right to do. I don't think there's anything wrong with that whatsoever, and your suggestion that our drawing attention to it is "disturbing"...well, that's a little disturbing. Would it be better if we just let it fade quietly into the night? Should we just stay quiet everytime someone says "Hey, I represent all Asian Americans and I think blacks are lazy and stupid and I hate them!"

I really don't think we should. I really like what Mama Nabi said: "After all, we are merely a group of mommies (and friends) just struggling to make this a better world for our little ones, and raising these little ones to be better for that world." And part of that struggle, for me at least, is standing up and saying something when I feel compelled to.

[Mahone]

I'm a white guy (this is relevant in this particular debate, and everyone seems to be declaring their racial/ethnic identity) and I have to agree with one vital point of Eng's that most people don't seem to want to address: and that is how out of control "political correctness" is. I also think he's right about the herd mentality that PC has engendered in educational institutions. The fact that he doesn't like whites does not bother me -- what bothers me are those who want to shut down Eng, or myself, or anyone else in America, simply because our opinions on a controversial topic are statistically aberrant. The crushing force of PC – which is the epitome of intolerance – is our enemy, not Mr. Eng.

[honglien123]

Nina,

I appear to have offended you, for that I apologize. However, my comment was more about what I felt while I was reading the comments and some of the other aspects of the coverage on this Kenneth Eng thing. I think the response from Asian American community leaders has been lets have a discussion on Asian American and African American race relations because of the dubious revelations of Eng's "editorial"
to be an overkill reaction. If it weren't for all the media and blog coverage of this idiot, how many people would have even known about this? Seriously, who the hell is Kenneth Eng and AsianWeek to really produce such a reaction? Personally, if some black halfwit with no credibility whatsoever, wrote a piece in a barely read African American "newspaper" titled "Why I hate Asians" would anyone even bat an eyelash?

I agree, we should express outrage when we see and hear this but maybe in a bit more context. I mean why are we outraged by this? AsianWeek as far as I know, has a very small readership and despite its tag line is not very well known in the Asian American community itself. If it weren't for blogs and media articles would we even know all that much about it? Besides, the editorial was titled, "Why I hate African Americans" and not "Why Asian Americans hate African Americans"

I was commenting on what I see as a trend with Asian Americans in the, "We're not all like that!" reaction we seem to have to proclaim anytime something negative happens by someone who happens to be Asian. What we should be saying is, "We're not all like that! Duh! What's wrong with you for even asking if we're all like that? You got some issues with race you're not talking about?"

It's like we're trying to fight to keep that model minority stereotype that we hate so much, because you know, most Asians don't have prejudices or inflammatory opinions right?

[Tommy Jefferson]

Posted by: Mahone
"...I have to agree with one vital point of Eng's that most people don't seem to want to address: and that is how out of control "political correctness" is".

Political correctness is not "out of control" if it brings you housing subsidies, front-of-the-line college admissions, and affirmative action preference in employment.

If that is your situation, political correctness is a quite good thing.

Ad-hominem attacks, Eng's statements are generally true, and each of you know it, regardless of how many "good ones" you know.

No one will talk about that.

[carol]

Tommy Jefferson: Okay, I will talk about it. Were the blacks enslaved? Yes, this is true. Are many of them Christian? Yes. After being here for generations, many of them integrated Christianity with their own folk rituals and customs (you see this fusion throughout Mexico, Central and South America as well where Catholicism is practiced). Do individual blacks sometimes insult an asian person? Yes, it happens. The same way humans of all color can be cruel to others. Are these reasons to hate an entire group of people, take historical events and personal experiences out of context, not considering the institutional, cultural, legislative and socio-economic history behind why things are the way they are, and unfortunately continue to persist despite efforts to reverse it? And then make low-blow, generalizing conclusions out of them? Do you hate "us Asians" too, because we are so easy to coerce, proven by the fact that so many of us practice Christianity? Are Korean women weak-willed for being enslaved as "comfort women" to the Japanese military? And are these logical reasons to hate us? No, it's just assanine and ridiculous. And absolutely irresponsible to publish a megalomaniac's crappy op-ed piece. That is the point of this discussion.

If you read the comments (or at least glanced at the title of this blog) as you said you did, then you know that this is a community of mostly moms raising Korean and part-Korean children. As one of us said, this blog was not set up as a forum to recruit people into racist belief systems. We are trying to make sense of what has happened, because we actively want to make a better place for our children. Maybe striving for diversity and understanding is a naive, but one that we believe we can achieve starting with the new generation we are nurturing. Please, Tommy Jefferson, and everyone else who is a casual visitor to this community, respect that. You seem to want be part of a different discussion, that I'm sure is taking place elsewhere. So please, you've stated your opinion, I ask you to be considerate as a guest of this community - and kindly move on now. Take care.

[CityMama]

Aaaaaand Carol gets the last word. Comments are now closed on this post.