Made in USA

I'm a 3rd generation American-born Asian mutt. I'm Chinkorean - chinese and korean. And NO I don't speak Korean or Chinese... why? Um my parents spoke English to each other.  I'm a child of the 80s and grew up in the suburbs of upstate NY where we were the only "orientals" in the neighborhood. At 5'9 I'm also the largest Asian that most people have seen outside of a full-on regulation basketball court. I've been asked "what are you?" way too many times than I'd like to remember. And that question is typically the last in a series of "where are you from? (NY) No, I mean where were you born? (Connecticut) No, I mean what arrre you?" interrogations.


I'm on a mission for us Asian-Americans to take back ownership of the word "chink". Just like African-Americans took back the "N-word" why can't we do the same with the "CH-word"? Chink, that is (must add the "h" to distinguish what I mean here, right?) Imagine a time when it would be okay to greet other Asian-Americans with a "Hey Chink whassup?" and we'd feel a sense of comraderie and ownership and understanding of each other. It would be something that would bring us closer together and would hopefully make others (non Asians) refrain from it. It would be a "We can use it but you can't because we are owning it and have changed the meaning of it." So why is it that this has not happened? What is it in the Asian DNA that still makes us feel embarrassed, mad, upset by this word? Maybe it's not DNA per se, and I think this may sound like I'm blaming us Asians. I don't profess to know everything about everything  however that being said, WHY is still my question. There are good things, I mean GREAT things about being Chinky. And there are definite signs of chinky behavior that we will explore more in future blog posts.


Recently, I used the CH-word out loud to a "white" acquaintance of mine and she was aghast -  "You can't use that word!!" I then was the one aghast and explained vehemently that "People who look like you have called me that all the time growing up. So don't tell me I can't use that word!" WTF, right?! I think I scared her. She doesn't talk to me much anymore.


So in the words of Jeri Blank, I GOT SOMETHING TO SAY! And lots of experience to share and stories that will hopefully make you laugh, cry, or feel SOMEthing.
And yeah, there...I said it...GetCHINKY!! Now deal with it. |-)