OCA Criticizes Newspaper Editors Conference
Editor’s Note: This is an edited version of a letter sent to the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
Dear Editor: The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) is a civil rights and advocacy group representing Chinese Americans and Asian Pacific Islanders in 44 cities and more than 30 college affiliates nationwide. We are headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Recently, our attention has been called to Amy Leang’s article in the ASNE Reporter (April 6) and Lloyd Grove’s follow-up piece in the Washington Post (April 13), documenting a disturbing event at the ASNE Convention in Washington, D.C. In a comedy skit on U.S.-China relations, a performing troupe, Capitol Steps, presented a white male dressed as a stereotyped Chinese official with thick glasses and shouting “Ching ching chong chong”.
Grove reports that Capitol Steps says this was all in fun. While one can lament the bad taste and racial insensitivity of this group, what is particularly upsetting to us was the response of the newspaper editors attending this show. Apparently, hundreds of them found this skit, which uses crude racial stereotypes, quite amusing.
We are angered and offended by this behavior. Is this an indication of the attitudes of many of America’s newspaper editors about APIs — in spite of ASNE’s stated concerns about improving “diversity” in newsrooms? Many Chinese Americans and Asian Pacific Islanders wonder why stereotyped views about race so often find their way into controversial news stories about Asia and Asian Pacific Islanders. Perhaps now we know why.
While some people may believe the use of these ethnic caricatures is “all in good fun,” we remind America that these words and images have historically been linked to efforts to belittle and demean APIs. We do not think that was the intent of those present at this event. However, the behavior of many of your members suggests a notable insensitivity to the racist origins of this imagery.
What can be done? We ask for an apology from ASNE for hosting this show. At the same time, we note that there are some members of ASNE who have shown racial sensitivity on this issue — and who encouraged Leang to publish her article in the ASNE Reporter.
Based on what occurred at the convention, it appears the problem of racial insensitivity may start at the top. As one solution to this problem, we would like to see some clear signs of progress in diversifying management among the news organizations. While we support ASNE’s efforts to improve staff diversity at its member newspapers, we are especially interested in efforts to hire Asian Pacific Islanders as senior editors and managers.
We encourage ASNE to develop specific policy guidelines regarding the hiring of Asian Pacific Islanders management at member news organizations, and to add this category to the annual report on newspaper employment diversity.
ASNE’s Mission Statement on Newsroom Diversity (October 20, 1998) states, “To cover communities fully, to carry out their role in democracy, and to succeed in the marketplace, the nation’s newsrooms must reflect the racial diversity of American society...”
Implicit in this statement is the acknowledgement that good news reporting requires an objective, unbiased viewpoint. If news editors continue to view stories on Asian Pacific Islanders through the lens of demeaning racial stereotypes, how can their organizations provide quality news coverage of these events?
Victor Hsi
Organization of Chinese Americans
via e-mail
Reinforcing Stereotypes
Dear Editor: This letter is in response to Emil Guillermo’s “Busting Stereotypes” (April 26). In his column, Guillermo exposes the flaws of how the media portrays Asian Americans, as journalists unnecessarily mention race when skin color has nothing to do with the involved issue. His article also talks about how today’s Asian sports figures bust the stereotypes that negatively stigmatize Asian Americans.
I commend Guillermo for his efforts to put shame on the media for its irresponsible approach to journalism, and his emphasis on how Asian athletes are breaking the traditional stereotypes.
However, I was very disturbed when he mentioned that the former Lowell High School tennis player Mark Jee, is a so-called man, not only because of his athletic abilities, but also because “he’d know what to do with Anna Kournikova.” To objectify women and put them on a pedestal for their looks, even in a joking way or a discreet manner, reinforces negative stereotypes of women.
My point is that as Guillermo tries to prove that Asian American men can live up to the standards of our social definition of being a man, he does it at the expense of another minority group that is still struggling for power, equality and acceptance. He may be rooting for the rights of Asian American men, but he is no hero in a feminist’s book.
Tina Lee
via e-mail
Negative Perceptions of Chinese American
Dear Editor: This letter regards the recent survey commissioned by the Committee of 100 on the public’s perception of Chinese Americans.
A very tiny group in our community consistently serves as apologists for the behavior of the Chinese government. Some of them go as far as publicly harassing and disparaging those who hold a different view. They accuse the world, especially the media, of “bashing China,” seldom defining what that “China” means. They claim that the world is using human rights to bash China.
That has created a perception that Chinese are sub-human, not entitled to enjoy human rights. Racists and bigots are not known for their brilliant intellect, but they are capable of re-directing some of that hatred to Chinese Americans, some of whom initiated a negative perception in the first place.
I am puzzled. Are they suicidal, or merely masochistic?
Robert T. Huang
via e-mail
Correction
Do you have something to say? Send a letter to the editor via e-mail (to asianweek@asianweek.com)!
AsianWeek welcomes letters commenting on our coverage and other topics of interes to Asian Pacific Americans. Please keep letters as brief as possible (we reserve the right to edit letters for length and style), and include your name and a daytime telephone number for verification. For letters by conventional mail, address to: AsianWeek, 809 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, California 94108, U.S.A. |
