For those of you who don’t know, over a month ago I created a petition asking Google Play to remove the “Make Me Asian” app from their digital store. The app perpetuates and normalizes the use of offensive and degrading stereotypes of Asians, is insulting and hateful, and so is in clear violation of the rules which developers are supposed to adhere to. And I’m not alone in this perception, as some 4000 people agree wholeheartedly with me, many of them not Asian themselves. But at the same time, I know that many regard this app as a joke, and have said that I should just lighten up.
Haha. There, I laughed. See, I’m not without a sense of humor.
Listen, I truly don’t consider myself a crusader for racial sensitivity, and have never initiated anything to this end before. In fact, some of the most important statements I have made about race are based around the central idea that we need to exercise self-control when it comes to our response to race, and NOT identify every single situation as racist. So I understand the idea of just laughing this off, I really do. But a couple of thoughts for those who say it’s just a joke, and I should lighten up:
First, the Chinaman image is not an inactive trope that rarely rears its ugly head – it is being used to humiliate and isolate Asians right now. Just ask Lady Chinky Eyes. Just the other day, some punks passed by me in a car and used their fingers to slit their eyes at me, laughing like donkeys the entire time. Really no comeback to that. And in that context, you can understand how the use of such characterizations in an app is much harder for me to laugh off as irrelevant or not personally affecting – it IS relevant, and it IS personally affecting and insulting. For people who have been called a chink or had someone turn the corner of their eyes at them, I think such sensitivity is natural. Insensitivity to racism is a privilege largely reserved for the ignorant.
Also, at some point in American history, it was also considered funny for white people in theater to put on blackface and dance around in an exaggerated imitation of what they believed black people to be: the happy-go-lucky darky. Rather than being intentionally racist, it was supposed to be all in good fun…I guess. But it began to dawn on people that even if intended to be humorous, these characterizations were actually offensive and even dangerous because they served to perpetuate stereotypes of blacks: the image of black people as clownish, subservient, and good only for entertainment. And the use of these images in a supposedly humorous context actually normalized those stereotypes for others in turn. And so society realized that despite its humorous intent, blackface was indeed racist, and that the humor and entertainment value of blackface were not enough to justify its use. Thankfully, the use of blackface has become far more rare, although still not totally non-existent, especially on college campuses around Halloween.
There is a similar dynamic at play with this app – I understand that it is supposed to be light-hearted, maybe even an ironic jab at the practice of stereotyping itself, although I have a suspicion that ironic racism is still racism at its very heart, as so eloquently described by Lindy West. I would even assume that the creator of this app did not intend for this app to be racist. But at the same time, that light-heartedness does not abrogate the fact that the portrayal of Asians in such a narrow and dated manner is offensive, to me and a great many others. And what’s more, it perpetuates the use of these stereotypes, normalizing a terrible depiction of Asians that should be abnormalized, if anything. So even if the app is humorous, and even if does not intend to be offensive or racist, it still IS offensive and racist.
Please don’t get me wrong, humor is a great thing, one of the best things in life. And like I said, I am not at all an advocate for being hyper-sensitive when it comes to race. But humor alone does not justify the use of such characterizations. Because as wonderful as humor is, we should never forget that it can still be used as a cover for our contempt for those we consider to be “others”, and a means by which racism is perpetuated and spread.
Hi Peter – I came across your blog via a link that was shared with an online group of parents with children from China. We have two daughters adopted from China, ages 10 and 12, and we live in northern Indiana . . . . so far we have not experienced any thing such as you describe – but that could be because we are in such a rural area. I have never lived in a big city, so I have no idea what that must be like.
My fear for our daughters is that this kind of thing may become more prevalent as our culture deteriorates further into the abyss of ignorance, intolerance (often times by those who claim to be the most tolerant!), and degradation.
I am so sorry that you have experienced these ignorant expressions of “humor” and wish you and your family all the best as you pursue your ministry to the inner city. There is truly a need in our country for courageous men and women who have been called by God to minister to people who in many cases have never heard the message of the Gospel. Thank you for your work.
My husband and I have eight biological children between us, who are all grown up and have children of their own, and we still have our beautiful daughters at home with us. They have truly been God’s gift and blessing in our life to give us this opportunity. We traveled to China twice, and found the people of that country to be so gracious and loving. The beauty of the country was amazing! We hope to travel there again one day to share all of that beauty with our daughters.
Finally, I just wanted to tell you that God has given me the privilege of being the editor of a small, online Christian women’s magazine, Ruby for Women, where we share words of hope, inspiration, and encouragment to women really from all around the world. If you would be interested in seeing our ministry, please visit us at http://www.rubyforwomen.ning.com I would also love to “meet” your wife and hear her story. Blessings in the Lord to you and your family, and thank you for sharing this post. And thank you for sharing God’s love and Word with those to whom you minister. Sincerely, Nina Newton, Sr. Editor, Ruby for Women
thank you nina! yes, this petition is for all of our children, that they would live in a society that would see them as they as really are, not simply as over-simplified and dated caricatures of how media has portrayed them. and thank you for opening your heart and family through adoption! i don’t think there is a better example of how God loves and embraces us into his family as well! blessings on you and yours…
Hi Peter
Rather than the fact that our appearance is racially different.
I too have a beautiful daughter adopted from China and this app is distinctly not funny.
I spent 8 years in queues and drowning in international paperwork to be privileged to adopt my daughter (she was 8 months old, now 4.5 years) and I am determined to provide her with a home that fosters a love of her birth country, culture, history and heritage all the while acknowledging that she is growing up in a Western world.
Fortunately, where I live, I am more likely to be stopped in the street by people commenting on the amazing beauty of my daughter
That said, the world can absolutely do without a piece of ‘technology’ that stimulates such foolish stereotyping and ignorance.
Our online adoption community has been alerted to this “app” now and I – and am sure many others – will be going directly to the petition to add my name.
So, from all the way ‘down under’ in Sydney, Australia, thanks for this campaign!
Wish you and your family well.
Alexandra & Ondine Yining
alexandra, thank you so much. i’m so encouraged and blessed to see the adoption community passionately standing up against these kind of characterizations, like all good parents do!
Dear Peter and to your lovely family, I just happened to log on and find this topic of particular interest. I am a mom of five children, four whom I have adopted. My first daughter was adopted from Korea and at 6 months old, she was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy. She has endured several surgeries throughout her 27 years of life and is one dynamic young woman. My Korean son was born 5 years later and joined our family at 13 months with a diagnosis of spina bifida. He is now almost 23 and will pursue a career in speech/language and audiology. He has endured about 40 surgeries as a result of complications of spina bifida. Hannnah was born in China and is now almost 18. She joined the clan at 17 mos. old and had a diagnosis of bilateral cleft lip and palate. We live in a very busy city of Baltimore and my first daughter, Emily has experienced the most racism. often, I am not sure who feels the inner pain more, her or myself. Being the first adopted child and Asian, i was thought to have been prepared for the ignorance among society. She had to wear leg braces and at that time, there were very few Asian adoptees in our local school system. As time passed, she entered high school for the arts and it was a very diverse community. As a family, we experienced a horrific incident of racism when she was about 18 months old in a fast food restaurant. A very old man began banging his fists on the table and came over to ours stating that he fought the war for this? First, she was and is a beautiful child with a personality to die for. We all just “froze” in our seats and calmly proceeded to make our way to the car. I will never forget how distraught I felt and just held her tightly and sobbed all the way home. After four “special needs” children, God has given me the gift to how and when to advocate for my children. I have found this world to be filled with more ignorance than I would like to say. Along the way, I have adopted another son who is as caucasian as can be with his very fair skin and blue eyed blonde! He has endured over 80 surgeries as a result of spina bifida as well. If you could only witness the “fire” in his eyes if anyone says anything racist to his brothers and sisters. I am so glad to be informed about this issue. I will continue to pray for your family; especially your dear wife. It is unfortunate that there will always be those “punks” young and old who have not opened there eyes to witness the beautiful people in it. Forever grateful, Lois
lois, how wonderful – your strength and love for your children is beyond admirable! i would like to think that those people who think this app is just a joke only think this way out of ignorance, not from true malice. because if they had witnessed what your family had in that restaurant, they would realize that many asians are still stereotyped and discriminated against, if not simply outright hated for being the way God made them. and perhaps they would think twice about this app and its ilk being “harmless fun”. but if it’s true that the challenges we face only serve to make us stronger…THINK OF HOW STRONG YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOW!
…and i’m getting the sense that the adoption community is NOT one that you want to mess with!
Hi Peter
Alexandra from Sydney again – had to laugh at your comment about the adoption community, we definitely should not be messed with!
Wanted to let you know that I also own a large business group in Sydney (nearly 1500 members and growing daily) – I have also posted the petition link and my thoughts to my group under the title “I don’t find racism funny” – I think you can expect a lot of traction and petition signing from my members as well
Also, realising the information I first received re this was from an International adoption group, am posting the details to our Australian based groups as well.
Thanks for championing this worthwhile campaign.
God bless.
Alexandra
PS: To Lois – you are a gift from Heaven and am sure your beautiful children know it!
Peter, I’ve just read the comments you’ve received and your responses…and I’ll have to agree……it’s best not to mess with those of us who have brought our children home through adoption. We had to be pretty darned tough to live through the paperwork, dealing with multiple governments, reactions of friends and families who may or may not agree with our choice to adopt at all, select a country, choose a child whose race differs from ours……the list goes on and on. We have survived all that and will not tolerate silly applications that are supposedly funny but truly degrade our children and their diversity. I am particularly disturbed by the fact that these apps are targeting those who don’t show up on the national radar as groups who shouldn’t be maligned……can you imagine the outrage if there was a ‘make you black’ app????
I’m weighing in as the very proud mom of two girls – the oldest home from China at 7 months old and is now a beautiful 17 year old- inducted into the local National Honor Society last night, heading to an amine convention tomorrow (driving, I might add …ack!!) and getting ready for the upcoming softball season as her 9th year on the mound. The youngest hails from Russia and is blonde and beautiful and oh so funny. I will not tolerate any app that belittles my children….they might not have come into my family the ‘conventional’ way….but I could not love them more nor have more Mama Bear responses regarding them!
Very cogently put; thanks. I’m going to be stealing that “insensitivity to racism is a privilege largely reserved for the ignorant” line.
haha, i don’t mind the steal, as long as i get a shout out!
Peter, I too am a member of the international adoption community, a Caucasian mother to two teenage girls who were born in China. We’ve experienced some racism even here in our liberal enclave in the Pacific Northwest, though thankfully not very frequently. I really appreciate that you started this petition. It’s so important to educate people on how hurtful and isolating these types of practices are. Please keep us informed as to any future advocacy efforts in this area! Thank you.
thank YOU for your support!
I just came back to check to see how things were going with the petition. Thank you so much for starting this and to make a difference. We too have 2 daughters adopted from China, living in Indianapolis, IN and are part of a group called Families with Children from China. Our daughters have had comments made to them. It happened recently but our daughter did not tell us. I learned about it from mom of friend that was with her who is also adopted from China. I wonder how many times it has happened and she has not told us. This opened up the conversation. Tonight she was talking about shows on Disney that make comments that she finds offensive and hurts her feelings. She did not think anything could be done. It was great for her to see how you have made a difference with starting this petition.
thank you for this marilyn! so many people argued that these apps were all in good fun, but i tried explaining that these stereotypes are NOT fun. they’re still used to make fun of people, people like your daughters, like me, and countless others. i made the petition for my daughters, and for yours too. and guess what…the apps are down now!!
Hi Peter
That is FABULOUS news!! I posted the petition all over the place (as am sure others did) and will now try and let some of those groups know.
Congratulations – that’s a brilliant achievement.
Ciao
Alexandra – Sydney
thanks alexandra! from my point of view, the adoption community got involved and BAM – days later, google takes it off their store. see, i told you that you guys are not to be messed with…
Peter, Wonderful letters from the adoptive parents. A cousin has two daughters adopted from China, oldest is graduating from HS this spring and looking at college. The UU principle that slammed through my brain when I saw the ap, and again reading this post;
# 1 Affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Since I entered nursing clinical rotations in ’75, it has always been essential for patients, coworkers and every human I interact with. It can be amazing how differently people interact with me because of it. The most difficult patients, doctors, and others, are able to just be decent humans. My kids knew they would be treated with dignity, their inherent worth was valued and nurtured. They were rarely in trouble of any kind.
Despite the negatives, this is making me think a lot of the LGBT progress. There are pockets that are still behind, and more that are changing. The people in the changing areas are what adds momentum. They are happy, interacting with family, laughing, loving, looking like people who have dignity and know their inherent worth. It is a sight for sore hearts. Confused, fearful minds seem to clear up and feel their own dignity, self worth. It is getting better, as you said. Only three months. That’s a victory. Enjoy the feeling.