I’d like it rare, please
Aghast that Chink’s, a Philly steakhouse, was named after its white founder’s ’slanty eyes,’ a Korean-American woman tried to get the owners to change its name. She was met by a loud yawn from the locals and mockery from Philadelphia magazine:
The restaurant was opened by Samuel Sherman, who was nicknamed “Chink” as a child because of his supposedly slanted, Asian-looking eyes… Asian American groups began lobbying Groh to change the name in 2004, after 21-year-old Susannah Park, who is Korean-American, heard about the small eatery from friends. When she called to ask why it is called “Chink’s,” she said she was told: “Because the owner had slanty eyes.”
Park, now a 25-year-old college student, grew up in Clarksburg, W.Va., the adopted daughter of white parents. “I had all kinds of experiences with that word…” Park’s campaign to get the name changed was unsuccessful. In fact, it elicited a backlash when neighborhood residents began a petition drive to support the restaurant. Philadelphia magazine, in its “Best of Philly” edition, mocked Park and called her effort “the worst complaint” of 2004. [Link]
‘Chink’ has, of course, long been used in America as a term of racist abuse:
… the slur became common in the United States in the late 1800s after the railroads were built and a movement was started to expel Chinese workers from the nation. “The word reflects that period of time from Chinese exclusion to ultimately deportation…” The term became “a very common aspect of anti-Asian violence.” [Link]
But the Cleveland Indians still use a demonic ethnic caricature as their logo. The Washington Redskins have not changed their patronizing name. A CNN anchor was dismissive about the racist portrayal of Indians on The Simpsons, spending most of the segment quoting non-desis and tut-tutting about touchy tribalism.
Meanwhile, Barack Obama’s reference to rural Pennsylvanians loving guns and religion — easy to verify from gun ownership rates and church attendance — is creating a national nontroversy. All of which goes to show you that it’s all just hypersensitive identity politics until your own sacred cow is gored. And people will unthinkingly defend anything as long as it’s old enough. The Confederacy defended slavery, the Chinese foot-binding and Hindus sati because it had always been done that way.
… when Groh wanted to open a second Chink’s in South Philadelphia, Asian American groups protested to the Philadelphia River Port Authority, which owns the site. The lease was denied… “We actually stopped it from expanding”… [Link]
Baby steps.
on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008, 6:50 pm in Issues › 
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I find it offense that every white person on TV is called guru and that the internet violated my sensibilities by issuing avatars to everyones.
That area of Philly is appropriately referred to as “Filthadelphia.”
Southeast Philly is full of the meanest shallowest white people I’ve ever met. The only ones meaner
are in Northeast Philly and maybe a few pockets in the Bronx/Staten Island. It’s the kind of place
where mullets flow freely. The “girls” all have tramp stamps to complement their pull-up ponytail
facelifts.
Be grateful that crowd isn’t in charge of the world… they can only christen their cheese-wiz artery-choking
restaurants with ignorant names.
Manish,
Big reach from an eatery that was named after the owner’s nickname ( however offensive it is ) and Mr. Obama’s statement which as you very well know did not merely mention Pennsylvanian’s love of church and guns but also called them bitter .
fair and balanced? :-)
Reminds me of Coon Cheese and Edward Stanley Brown
Well, I think Pennsylvania can do far better than a name.
I am not going to get into an Obama discussion because I don’t like to keep telling my friends they’re wrong :)
naw man, i think you are all too sensitive*. [via Samir's link here]
here’s what australia thinks on the subject.
*sarcasm intended
Park seems to be choosing the wrong battle here. I know ijit white racists think all east Asians are “chinks”, but “gook” is the accurate slur for Koreans. Plus, it was the business of a white lady w/epicanthic folds; not the business of a Chinese person. White people calling each other names is their business, no? That’s tantamount to a man getting upset with a woman for calling another woman a b!tch. Gallant, perhaps, but totally misplaced and ultimately useless.
I think that a Korean woman would have standing to complain about the name. Whether or not it refers to a white person, the fact of the matter is, it’s offensiveness as a reasonable person would understand it, would emanate from the use of a term that was meant to denigrate and subjugate East Asians. The man objecting to the use of “bitch” is totally different. The term bitch standing on its own is no way offensive to a reasonable man.
As someone who’s grown up in NE Philly, I can personally attest to the experience of virulent racism spewed my way from many of the region’s backward/uncultured residents. Having moved back to Philly recently, I am not at all surprised by this story, much less that it concerns NE Philly. While it is depressing to be back here, after stints in NYC, Chicago, LA - all of which trump Philly by a mile in quality of living and grey matter of the average resident - it is perhaps not as depressing as having to contend with people like Darth Paul on a daily basis. Ignorant people who choose to remain ignorant of the very experiences/perspectives of those who live next door to them. On a side note, I plan to move out of this lousy city as soon as possible. Wish me luck!