Is this casual racism? Along the lines of ching chong jokes?

[Cimcardishan]

I'm BBC (British born Chinese) and feel that it seems more permissible to be casually racist about Chinese than other racial groups. A few years ago there used to be a Chinese tea advert with a kung fu monk and really bad accent which just felt wrong to me. I don't think that kind of advert would have been made about jerk chicken or naan bread for example.

Someone just posted on my FB jokes with Chinese accent, one liners, eg.Tie my shoe Tai Mai Shu

OK, thats pretty rubbish but it was a long list of them. It wasn't to me personally.

I found it old fashioned and un PC. I feel if someone posted this with Jamaican or Indian accents it would be disapproved of.

Am I being oversensitive?

[TempusEedjit]

I'm half Chinese (or half caste according to some no doubt ) and I too find it offensive.

Having endured my fair share of racist jokes at my expense starting from infant school right through to the workplace how dare anyone presume to decide on my behalf what I should or should not find upsetting?

[xmasseason]

YANBU. It's not "just a joke", it's a racist so-called joke.

[Leelu6]

I don't think the jokes regarding Chinese people are more accepted...

Look at

Rules of Engagement tv show (constant mockery of Indian character)

Little Britain (white actors playing black/Pakistani/Chinese or Thai characters)

YANBU for being upset but YABU for thinking it's more accepted for Chinese people.

[Cimcardishan]

Thank you guys for understanding.

I think if you've endured eye pulling and ching chong jokes and worse, expected to laugh along with it, it can be really upsetting. The jokes aren't even funny.

And if you do think they are please post the equivalent African, Jamaican, Pakistani accent jokes on FB and see what kind of reaction you get.

[Cimcardishan]

leelu

Please read

www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/30538929/british-chinese-people-say-racism-against-them-is-ignored

[WMittens]

Cimcardishan
feel that it seems more permissible to be casually racist about Chinese than other racial groups

Thing is, members of every ethnic group will say the same, simply because they are more sensitive to the subject of their own group - it's a form of confirmation bias; same as when you buy a new car and you suddenly notice loads of the same model on the roads - they were always there but you just weren't noticing them before. You will most likely notice references to Chinese or Asians, whether racist, casually racist or non-racist, more than references to white, Middle Eastern, Black, Hispanic, etc. etc.

[Cimcardishan]

A study he worked on in 2009 with the charity, The Monitoring Group, suggested British Chinese people experience "perhaps even higher levels of racial violence or harassment than those experienced by any other minority group" but that the true extent to their victimisation is often overlooked because victims were unwilling to report it.

[BrandNewAndImproved]

Tbf there are plenty of Indian and Jamaican jokes on TV.

[ChocPretzels]

As a BBC myself, I also find those kind of jokes offensive: but half the time I'm too embarrassed to pull people up on it, for fear that I'd be labelled "too PC" or "over sensitive". I may hide it, but it's bloody upsetting and I do find it offensive, regardless of whether it was intended to be banter or a joke

[Cimcardishan]

This is not intended to be a racism missing contest.

My sole point is this would not be seen as overtly racist if don't other cultures so why not for the Chinese?

Even on this thread some posters find this harmless and funny which im sure they wouldn't admit to if it was a joke aimed at other minorities

[Cimcardishan]

*pissing

[raffle]

If you are a BBC, do you not have a Britsh accent? Sorry if that's a silly question. It's just that if you do then people who do 'Ching chong' jokes at you must be quite stupid, if you don't actually speak with a Chinese accent .

Stupid, but still mean.

[Cimcardishan]

I do have a very English accent which some people find surprising

[ChocPretzels]

I may have a cut glass RP accent, but I still look Chinese and thereforesome people I have come across seem to feel is perfectly acceptable to pull at their eyelids/ make "slitty" eyes at me, or to a "funny Chinese" accent for me...

[BrandNewAndImproved]

Your the one who keeps comparing op. I'm only pointing out what your trying to compare it to isn't true. Tbbt has Indian jokes everyday, lenny Henry is always making Jamaican stereotype jokes ect.

Anyway I think there can be humour in stereotypes, hyacinth bucket is a good example but pulling your eyes to make them "squinty" ect is racist. There is a line but some people do just like being offended and finding offense when there isn't none and the way you replied to me I'd say you were one of them.

[MistressoftheYoniverse]

Half caste is a racist term...

and yes they are being racist

[Bumshkawahwah]

YANBU

Someone posted on FB today, exactly along the lines you are talking about...'sum ting wong' etc etc. I was really surprised to see it as it seems unacceptable to me.

[ChocPretzels]

BrandNew isn't Lenny Henry is making jokes about his own cultural heritage, not someone else's?

OP is making a point about non-Chinese making remarks that some Chinese born may consider racist.

[VagueIdeas]

You know what?

You have the right to feel uncomfortable, and feel that it is racist. That is your experience and it's a totally valid one.

I don't think any poster has the right to tell you that you're being over sensitive. If you find it offensive, then it's offensive. I think it's as simple as that.

FWIW I do think, for some reason, casual racism (like bad accents) towards Chinese/East Asian people slips through the net, in the same way that similar caricatures of African and South Asian people just wouldn't happen anymore.

[Katarzyna79]

you're not being overly sensitive

it's more accepted, and im not Chinese but south Asian so i feel like Asians should grow a back bone and speak up when they hear crap like this because they have or do experience it themselves.

I think in European countries racism not just towards the Chinese is more in your face, its disgusting. The UK has progressed greatly and is more accepting educated and respectful than those countries and even the USA. Google Holland's got talent racism, and pic the video link for the Chinese man doing Opera. Even before he starts the judge is laughing uncontrollably for no reason, then he asks the guy for a no. 22 (cant recall exact no.) basically implying they all run takeaways. He goes on though. i know if this occurred on the UK talent show theyd be made to apologise then have their butt kicked off the show for good. This judge continued to host for years to come. the other judges didn't exactly condemn him which makes me think this is an accepted norm in Hollland?

[BrandNewAndImproved]

choc that was just one example. There are plenty of "jokes" about other cultures around cracked by white people.

[Cimcardishan]

Like what?

Im curious about these jokes that are socially acceptable brand?

Can you give an example of white people in UK making jokes about other cultures which haven't been widely complained bout? Or jokes on FB?

[ChocPretzels]

Sure BrandNew, but as Vague says, if that's your experience then it's a valid one. Likewise if an Irish person feels offended by "funny" faux Irish accents, then their experience is also valid.

Why would the racism felt be diminished, just because it also happens to other ethnic / cultural groups?

[FlatOnTheHill]

I have got a strong Essex accent. People at work take the piss out of it all the time. I laugh and joke back. People need to chill out its ridiculous.
Also who is that asian comedian thats on t.v a lot at the moment. He takes the piss out of himself and his race. People are so sensitive. And take offence so easily.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

God, it's not even casual racism. It's actual racism. Call them out on it op.