Gothamist: When a Band Name Is Also Considered a Slur

GHYardy

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:29:20 -0500

>>perryair is absolutely correct. names can only hurt if you asign too much meaning to them. the best way to disarm a racist is to laugh at their stupidity. whining about how much their words hurt you only gives more tools for them to manipulate you. You don't "assign" meaning stupid. Asking someone of a racial group not to be offended by a slur toward his groups is about as stupid as me asking you not to think of a white bear by telling to "not think of a white bear."

crackersaretrash

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:32:24 -0500

crackers are at it again. is it any wonder that the african slave trade, genocide of the native americans, nazi germany, imperialism, aparteid, jim crow, etc etc all happened to be perpetrated by these subhumans?

ECHO

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:58:01 -0500

Liu should just chill out. sometimes mandarin/cantonese SOUNDS like that to me and i speak mandarin also. is he that insecure of how others may still perceive the asian language ?

ching this

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 16:22:39 -0500

perryair is clearly chinese-american and not chinese. Probably born here, probably wore Abercrombie in high school, probably thinks she's white. Some of the posters on this thread should form a band and call it the Polyphonic Faggots.

otomboy

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:56:05 -0500

garbage man, "perryair is absolutely correct. names can only hurt if you asign too much meaning to them. the best way to disarm a racist is to laugh at their stupidity." I can't help assigning a meaning to ching chong, just as black people can't help assigning a meaning to nigger. Would you really tell your black friend to disarm a rascist by laughing? or "stop whining about how much their words hurt you, it only gives more tools for them to manipulate you" I think your friend would politely say to you "are you a moron?"

nyc_dp

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:03:04 -0500

Years ago, I remember the Italian community being offended by an ad that showed Italian women to be either very beautiful or very haggardly old and ugly. No inbetweens. As a non-Italian I can see how that ad was offensible. So come-on people, ching chong song IS offensible. When minorities of color voice discontent over these subtle yet provocative slurs, jokes, mishaps, etc, there's a leaning towards belittling or downright ridiculing their concerns (as is the case here). This is not right, and certainly not something you respond with "a laugh".

laughing won't make you white

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:06:09 -0500

Wrong, laughing means acceptance. No other race would accept it, why Asians? sorry ole boy, laughing won't get you into the club. I believe otomboy was making fun of giggle boy and giggle boy was accepting the slurs given to him like a pig to slop.

garbage man

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:41:25 -0500

perryair is absolutely correct. names can only hurt if you asign too much meaning to them. the best way to disarm a racist is to laugh at their stupidity. whining about how much their words hurt you only gives more tools for them to manipulate you. anyway otomboy, did you really want to give your money to a racist deli? at least you know now.

hmmm

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:47:18 -0500

coincidentally, david langlieb used to be the editor of the bi-co newspaper when he attended haverford.

red drum

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:04:56 -0500

I can't believe perryair mentioned sarah silverman. Now I know the Chinese are doomed if they like her. you're unoriginal and you're not white, mr. perryair. and, for spite, God or whomever will make your offsprings have the tinyest eyes ever. Ever notice how the one's who shun their heritage get's the tinyest eyes, where the mainlanders have larger eyes. That's kharma. and, if you really do giggle when people call you that, that's pretty sad. konichiwa perryair.

otomboy

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:31:12 -0500

perryair at the deli perryair: hi can i get a ham samwich? deliman: ching chong chong? perryair: giggle that sounds funny... can i get my ham samwich? deliman: ching ching... chong chong? perryair: dude i'm speaking english deliman: ching, getthefuckoutofmystore chong? perryair: Is that the best thing that you could come up with? really? deliman: sayanora! perryair: ... Walks down the street and sees a flyer: "TONIGHT ONLY, CHING CHONG SONG!!" You're right perryair that was "Harmless. Language, like knowledge, can only be used to hurt when it is bottled up and made 'taboo'".

perryair

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:41:14 -0500

I think everyone needs to watch some Sarah Silverman stand-up and calm down. I'm chinese and my first repsonse was to giggle at the fact that a band named themselves ching chong song. I mean, just think of the usage of 'ching chong' as an actual racial slur: 1) just plain sounds funny 2) oooh, why don't you prove to me how sheltered you are that you don't understand the language pattern of a full 20% of the world population? 3) Is that the best thing that you could come up with? really? See? Harmless. Language, like knowledge, can only be used to hurt when it is bottled up and made 'taboo'.

UES

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:11:08 -0500

"there seems to be an increasing number of people who come to New York and sequester themselves in little circles re-creating their pasty-white communities from PA or WI or whatever. It's a shame because NY has so much more to offer." Yes, it's called Upper East Side.

asiangirl

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:44:53 -0500

I hate it how LaMendola is TELLING others how to react to her insensitive, ignorant slander. Hey - listen - people are offended. Stop being defensive and listen for a minute to what people are saying. If we tell you that we were taunted and ostracized as children, and this language is still deeply painful today, why in the world would you not heed that? We expected that as adults, we wouldn't have to face this type of language anymore. We don't want to be constantly reminded that people view us as outsiders. Can it be true that things haven't changed since the playground 20 years ago? Unfortunately, there seems to be an increasing number of people who come to New York and sequester themselves in little circles re-creating their pasty-white communities from PA or WI or whatever. It's a shame because NY has so much more to offer.

stewart

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:43:06 -0500

I wonder how many of the responders here are hypocrites - I'll bet most of you have some misogynistic anti-white gangsta rap music on your ipod right now. And isn't this comment ethnically insensitive: "And if any people are known for their sensitivity towards minorities, it's the Germans!" What if I replaced it with: "And if any people are known for their tolerance, it's Muslim fundamentalists!" or "If any people are known for their appreciation of baby girls, it's the Chinese!" I bet you'd be angry - and these are quite tame. ==> The whole concept of predjudice is in applying stereotypical ehtnic or racial attributes to individuals soley because of their belonging to said group, instead of judging them on their individual merits or deficiencies.

so there

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 03:24:36 -0500

Call a white woman a fat pig and she will get the picture. Call a white man bald and he will also get the picture.

USA

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:21:27 -0500

Forgot to mention this band too, theyre pretty good. "Racist Imperialist Pasty White people who all died (some burned, some jumped, some choked) when planes hit the twin towers and they still cant get over it"

USA

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:17:56 -0500

Ching Chong Song? Never heard of em. You should check out" "Smelly Ass Monkey Nigger from Africa about to be hanged by Whites Like Me" best band ever.

it-was-a-joke

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:48:25 -0500

Geez, it must be great to be white! You can make fun of other people and when they get offended, just say that it was a joke AND complain that they need to chill out, and how there's no respect for freedom anymore.

otomboy

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:36:43 -0500

Let's make this clear for the non-minorities. "Ching Chong Song".... "Nigger Song" Same effect, one is more obvious. People will get upset and rightfully so. and re post #30 "But still. Things like this have to be considered in context. Is Ching Chong Song the band in any way making light of or encouraging racial discrimination or violence? The answer is clearly no." You don't need any kind of context, replace "Ching Chong Song" with "Nigger song" and the answer is clearly yes.

Armchair_warrior

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:53:44 -0500

ching chong was a taunt i got before i got spat at and beaten. besides the usual chink. anyone moron with some brain cells know it's racist.

Cheter

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:37:02 -0500

"ching chong" is the way asians pronounce Ping Pong. The problem is due to the fact that there is no "P" sound in chinkinese. That means that "Chinese" for example is really pronounce "Pinese" in the original.

behind closed doors

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:12:53 -0500

There's no translation for "ching chong" so the mispronouciation excuse is moot. Anyway I hope more of you closet racists see this POS band, you deserve each other. Here's a hint, the chick in the band plays her instrument with her legs wide open. NOW go, post haste to get them tickets. NO you won't get a panty shot, oops, I let the cat out of the bag.

Alex

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:40:34 -0500

Yeah the indie scene sure is such a haven of racism and bigotry.

Benjamin Dover

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:17:29 -0500

This white guy is going to jump in his time machine to 1995 and protest the band named Cracker.

disgusted

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:05:21 -0500

These comments are precisely why minorities like me don't feel welcome in the indie music scene. It's not going to stop me from going to shows, but it's disgusting and infuriating that people who are supposedly my peers are so dismissive of racism and actively disrespectful, if not just out and out racist. What is so wrong with treating other people with kindness and sensitivity? And I'm sorry, but "grow a pair" is the stupidest response ever.

david

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:30:51 -0500

And not using the term "ching chong" helps stop racism how?

nyuisracist

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:14:40 -0500

rock on Cracka Ass Saltine Crackas! I also

garbage

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:06:11 -0500

"But still. Things like this have to be considered in context. Is Ching Chong Song the band in any way making light of or encouraging racial discrimination or violence? The answer is clearly no. " Well, the answer isn't clearly no. Just the use of the words stirs up a sort of anger in people who have experienced it being used during childhood or whenever. It lends a legitimacy to those bullies and racists who use it, no matter how small that may be. It may not be on par with full blown racism, but hell, it's still racist and/or ignorant. That's it. It shouldn't have happened in the first place. Also, we wouldn't have these other people stating how it's useless to fight it or get worked up over it. Is it in some PR handbook that it's okay to use racism/stereotypes to self promote?

umm

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:58:49 -0500

what is so racist about saying ching chong? if you don't know the language, it sounds kinda like ching chong. who fuckin cares, why would that offend you? if someone spoke the language of my ethnicity in the wrong way why the fuck does that matter?

meesalikeu

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:28:38 -0500

dave chapelle as rick james was hella funnier than these guys, "ah welcome to the ching chong china club!"

Ching Chong

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:21:20 -0500

Me love you looooooong time !

its all just fun being white

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:16:12 -0500

Race issues are so fun to talk and shout about. Mostly because no one seems to understand the other. Non-whites just get too wound up. AND well whities just don't friggin' get it! Because they're white. Oh how rosy and fun all of this is, when you're primary concern is what's for dinner tonight. Yay! Hey, I'm a progressive white guy, I like Chinese take-out, sushi and Indian. Sometimes even Moroccan!

gary Clitter

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:55:15 -0500

rock on, that should be, ching chong song, me love you long time. Everyting.

Stephen

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:47:03 -0500

Well, the real reason whites don't care about 'whitey' is because caucasians have the most power, control, and privelege in the country. Even the world, some might argue. But still. Things like this have to be considered in context. Is Ching Chong Song the band in any way making light of or encouraging racial discrimination or violence? The answer is clearly no. The problem here is that many liberals are so tightly wound over issues of race and class that they're jumping at shadows. If any of the people who protested the band were genuinely interested in social justice or solving problems of racial discrimination or violence, they'd be way too busy with so many of the real issues and difficulties facing nonwhites and the lower classes in this country to even consider protesting this band and their name. The protest against this band name is an empty gesture, fighting an enemy where none exists.

rock on

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:05:34 -0500

rock on, ching chong song... we love you anyway...

huawei

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:00:19 -0500

the edge: Why didn't they name themselves "The Nigger Faced Swing Band", huh? I don't know ask them. why don't you address my point. Or is police brutality and job discrimination less important than the name of a band. ever wonder why 'whitey' or 'gweilo' isn't a slur to whites? because whites don't give a shit if you call them that. we should stop giving a shit. and your guitar playing by the way really went downhill after unforgettable fire.

you_take_yourself_wayyy_2_serious

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:55:36 -0500

I heard the Cheap Jews are opening for the Nigger Faced Swing Band, with special guests Dot Head Hindus & Sleazy Spics.

Kojak

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:24:25 -0500

I’d listen to the Ching Chong’s, but I’m more into the Hooknose Money Grubbers and the Spearchucking jungleboyz. Their music is totally sweet

dinosaur jr

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:21:41 -0500

Mendola isn't the most artful defender of free speech, and her appeal to identity politics is pitiable, but she has a point: nobody even bothered to listen to whether her band and its name stood for the racist message it was alleged to. They got hounded out of Bryn Mawr without anybody even asking the question of what they really meant. Maybe they did get the name from Germany's version of rock-paper-scissors? And what's to say that the German expression came from a slur? And since when does "Google" decide what a racial slur is? Furthermore, didn't campus speech codes die in the '90's? And Ms. Milne's self-righteousness? Please, let's hope this sophmore signs up for her intended major and gets on with life.

haha

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 13:04:03 -0500

the comments on this story have been hilarious

street artist

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:20:38 -0500

there is nothing about graffitti in this post. I am OUTRAGED. So outraged I'm gonna go write my name on some stuff.

phreak wookie

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:19:56 -0500

You did? who was the warm up band? The Greasy Wop Dagos or Dumg Guineas?

nick

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:12:12 -0500

I saw the Nigger Faced Swing band last month at Northsix! Man, they fucking SLAYED.

john liu

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:09:18 -0500

I'm am outraged!!! Get me a grandstand .... where are the television cameras?????

not offended

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:48:09 -0500

CHING CHONG SONG is playing at galapagos tonight.

The Edge

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:45:37 -0500

huawei- Thanks, I guess we should just accept being model minorities then, huh? As an aside: Why didn't they name themselves "The Nigger Faced Swing Band", huh? Oh, that's right...

S.D.

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:43:32 -0500

I'm thinking they wanted attention and free publicity. In that regard, it worked...

nick

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:42:35 -0500

a german rock paper scissors drill.

??

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:36:19 -0500

so what do we call jumping out and running around the car at the stop light before it turns green?

huawei

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:34:38 -0500

if the biggest thing asians have to worry about is a band name then clearly we've solved this whole discriminatin/prejudice thing. Cool.

superoffended

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:34:15 -0500

seriously, there are a lot of bad isms out there, and racism isn't going away! supporting bands/movies/tv shows/anything with "funny" or "clever" sounding, but ultimately racist names, isn't funny or clever at all.

morningjava

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:32:29 -0500

alright I got money down that super-liu our ethnic identity crusader will have something to say about this in the next few days...

offended by offensive band

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:31:13 -0500

I feel horrified to know that my university would invite such an unthinking, inconsiderate band!

alright sirr

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:30:08 -0500

OK, then that's the name of my new band. Dumg Guinea.

nick

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:27:50 -0500

this is all just so stupid. don't people have bigger things to worry about than the name of some joke band?

Tim N.

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:20:35 -0500

Umm, I think dumb is spelt with a b...

Chris

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:18:59 -0500

I think it would be legitimate excuse...if they were a German band.

ha

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:17:59 -0500

"can't wait till 2012 when all you dumbass racists finally realize you've been OWNED by China." It's not that they'll have been owned by China, but rather that they will be owned by China, along with the rest of the country, and the world.

generation dummie

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:10:23 -0500

A poor second generation Italian-American? Damn, that is sad. You should be ashamed of yourself. Dumg Guinea.

Dave H.

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:06:11 -0500

And if any people are known for their sensitivity towards minorities, it's the Germans!

Mansei

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:00:17 -0500

can't wait till 2012 when all you dumbass racists finally realize you've been OWNED by China.

watch me pull a rabbit

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:42:57 -0500

The name for my next band, The Greasy Wop Dagos.

sarah_silverman

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:41:41 -0500

those fuckin chinks ruining it for everyone!