AsianWeek Apologizes

Melissa Hung
February 28, 2007

In other ethnic media news, Hilary Clinton’s campaign snubbed reporters from ethnic media. Reporters from Chinese-language papers, a Chinese-language TV station, and a Russian-languge newspaper were denied admission to a San Francisco fundraiser.

Reporter Portia Li of the World Journal - a Chinese-language paper run independently from offices in San Francisco and other North American cities - said she arrived about five minutes late. When Li showed her business card, the staffer asked for two forms of identification, which Li said she found insulting because she never had to do so at similar events.

"She kept saying this is only open for local media, not foreign press," Li said. "I told her, I'm not foreign press. I'm local media."

"It's not about myself, it's about how the mainstream looks at Chinese (people) as a whole. Why do they call us foreigners, even they we have a local address on our business card?" she added.

I couldn’t agree with Li more.

Oh, but enough about that. Judging from the volume of comments being left on our site, I know you really want to talk about the AsianWeek thing. SF Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll weighs in today. He wonders what the hell AsianWeek was thinking in printing Eng’s column. Don’t we all? AsianWeek's Ted Fang says Eng’s column doesn’t reflect the views of the paper.

OK, I wouldn’t say that all stories that appear in Hyphen represent the views of all Hyphen staffers either, but the thing is: there are lots of racist idiots spewing hateful, badly-written drivel. But you don’t hand them a column -- especially when you claim to be “the voice of Asian America,” which is AsianWeek’s tagline.

Surely when young Mr. Eng wrote in to AsianWeek to say he was the author of a book and wanted to write a column for them they asked him for some work samples? Or maybe not. It doesn’t seem like they googled him, or else they would have found this.

Carroll refutes Eng’s assertion that blacks hate Asians by bringing up Tiger Woods. Apparently one famous, multiracial child of an African American man and Asian American woman means that race relations between Asian Americans and blacks are A-OK!

For more takes on the story, you can read former Hyphen staffer Claire Light’s opinion at other magazine’s blog.

Or read Philip Arhur Moore’s dissection of Eng’s column.

And best of all, check out these fine songs dedicated to Eng, who it seems was annoying his classmates at NYU long before he subjected his views on the rest of us.

Contributor: 

Melissa Hung

Founding Editor

Melissa Hung is the founding editor of Hyphen. She was editor in chief for the magazine's first five years and went on to serve in many other leadership roles on the staff and board for more than a decade. A writer and freelance journalist, Melissa has written for NPR, Vogue, Pacific Standard, Longreads, and Catapult. She grew up in Texas, the eldest child of immigrants.

Comments

Comments

shig wrote on Sun, 03/04/2007 - 7:35pm
"You know what I find ironic. Asian Americans like hip-hop and other forms of African American culture, but at the same time they make stereotypes and judgements on African American folks."Your statement is idiotic as "yeah, I find it ironic that African Americans who love Kung Fu movies would post inflammatory remarks about Eng on this blog.
Anonymous wrote on Sun, 03/04/2007 - 8:38pm
Kung Fu is not that popular in the hood
luca wrote on Fri, 12/28/2007 - 6:18am
happy new years lattin-can
Anonymous wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 6:09pm
Did the Princeton school paper's racist parody of Jian Li get any attention from CNN? And did the writers of that column get fired and castigated also?Racism towards asians is mostly ignored. When a 22 year old clueless asian boy without PC skills tries his own version of "clever" (but really socially stupid & offensive) satire, he'll be held up as a national symbol of asian racism by the TV media.I'm mad because I just saw CNN/Paula Zahn's coverage of this scandal. I was surprised that it made it to CNN TV. It's bad that this Eng guy was so socially & politically clueless and in need of therapy, with his racism.But what made me upset was CNN's completely one sided coverage of this.They interviewed kids complaining about Chinese store owners following them around. (ok) And they quoted a black professor bringing up the issue of Asian racism towards blacks. (ok, ok)They quoted Eng's offensive generalizations of black people, but they intentionally omitted the reason for tension on the Asian side -- (not ok, and biased) -- They omitted his statement that many asians often experience lots of personal racism from black people also. They completely ignored other side of the story, and did not show any personal interviews with asian leaders about their own experiences from their side.Again, the TV media dismisses and tacitly condones anti-asian racism, by not acknowledging it.Most of the mainstream TV media shows it cannot be trusted. When they can get away with it, they will pounce on you when you are vulnerable, and choose to ignore your point of view when you need to convey it.
Anonymous wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 6:22pm
Another thing, CNN refused to mention that the clueless Ken Eng also wrote a column titled "Why I hate Asians"How many times has the media produced something offensive towards Asians? How many times was there a wide public rebuke and punishment for the artist or writer for it?I'm upset at Eng's stupid and clueless essay, and I'm upset at the EXTREME double standards by the mainstream media.
a questioner wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 8:08pm
well, I wouldn't put the Princeton Uniersity newspaper in the same league as a much more widely distributed publication like AsianWeek so that comparison is a bit off. As for anti-asian racism, while I don't agree that it should be ignored or overlooked, would it really be helpful to have some Asian interviewees effectively saying 'Well they started it!'?? What value is there in that? If the column creates the 'energy' to have a meaningful discussion on the subject then at least somebody is trying to make lemonade from lemons.
Anonymous wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 8:44pm
Not in the same league, but the writer or writers of the racist parody of Jian Li weren't fired, nor as thoroughly repudiated. There is indeed a double standard."Well they started it?" is a misrepresentation of the situation if that's what would be said.And it would have helped to provide both perspectives in order to facillitate a truly meaningful discussion.The CNN tv coverage was mostly a hit piece, with "blame the asians" as the theme.
Just Curious wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 9:06pm
This is a trend thats being exposed as time goes on. Pit Minority against Minority. Mainly Brown/Yellow/ and who ever else against blacks. What is Americas facination with dividing other minorities against blacks? Ive read other Asian publications, when a white person makes racist remarks towards asians, beat them up, commit hate crimes against Asians. The Asian community is quick to dismiss it, conclude it as a misunderstanding and is quick to sweep it under the rug. When black people do something, they want to make it look as if the reason their lives are misreable from day to day is because every black person they encounter is picking on them, calling them names, making their lives a hell. Theirs a double standard when it comes to racism in America. Black people ae not in any position to make Asians lives miserable. Do Asians want to get in that country club on the hill that bad
Anonymous wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 10:20pm
Asians did not enslave black people, and make Jim Crow into law. So Asians don't have the historical burden and history of brutally oppressing African-Americans. It's not the same as being insensitive and callous by yelling at or following kids around in a store.At the same time, Asian-Americans should realize the respect and honor that they owe to African-Americans for their leadership in civil rights and progress for the rights of all minorities.Asian and black people should treat each other with the same standards and respect as they would treat themselves.However, there needs to be more understanding to bridge the gap between the two.
Anonymous wrote on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 11:08pm
agreed, this is almost like a workshop
a questioner wrote on Thu, 03/01/2007 - 11:38am
You know what I find ironic. Asian Americans like hip-hop and other forms of African American culture, but at the same time they make stereotypes and judgements on African American folks.
Anonymous wrote on Thu, 03/01/2007 - 7:55pm
Well thats just a fact, so do white kids and they buy over 50 percent of the music.
a questioner wrote on Fri, 03/02/2007 - 7:13am
this is the REAL Questioner and I did not post anything on March 1. Hopefully whoever did will stop using my 'name'. Thank you.
The Dharma wrote on Fri, 03/02/2007 - 11:51pm
The most amazing aspect of this whole incident is that for someone who loves the various asian cultures and people, I'm not surprised at the fact this article was published. As human beings, our greatest racial sin is to pinpoint the faults of others to make them less than human. It empowers those who chose hate as means to engage the complex reality that no matter what is said or done, we are all the same. It's just strange to hear racism coming from a culture that nurtures the pratice of Taoism and Zen. An attachment or Desire to hate by any person or group brings an end to harmony.