Racism Radio
From UCLA Asia Pacific Arts online Magazine:
Racism on the Airways, Yet Again!
First we have Mike North, who hosts the morning show on WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago. After a poor performance by Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu, who is of Korean descent, North said, "Who was the Chinaman on the mound the other day? Whoever it was shouldn’t wear a major-league uniform ever again. He was dreadful." Several Asian American interest groups in the area filed complaints with the radio station and demanded a public apology. They not only cited the racist term ‘Chinaman’, but also opposed the homogenization of Asians into one race. After refusing to apologize, North responded with, "I don’t get it. I grew up in the streets and we used to say that all the time. I’ve got buddies living in Chinatown who are Italian. Wait, can I say ‘Chinatown’? I don’t mean any ill will and I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but every five years it’s something different. You used to be able to say ‘Oriental.’ Can you say Oriental Theater anymore?"
Next we have DJ Lucas of Tower 98-3FM, who hails from Toledo, Ohio. DJ Lucas seems to think it’s OK to make prank calls on the air to local Asian restaurants to make fun of their accented English. A petition to put an end to this harassment is being circulated by Asian Communities United and is available at www.PetitionOnline.com. A portion of the petition reads: "Your DJ Lucas’ on-air prank calls to Asian establishments, made with the specific intention of ridiculing the recipients of those calls, were dehumanizing, derogatory, and outrageously offensive. These actions are based on the racist assumption that people of Asian ancestry don’t speak English, don’t mind being racially harassed on radio airwaves, or somehow deserve less respect than other members of American society."
For more information on Mike North, visit: www.chicagotribune.com
To sign the petition against DJ Lucas, visit: http://www.petitiononline.com/ACU123/petition.html
Racism on the Airways, Yet Again!
First we have Mike North, who hosts the morning show on WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago. After a poor performance by Chicago Cubs rookie pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu, who is of Korean descent, North said, "Who was the Chinaman on the mound the other day? Whoever it was shouldn’t wear a major-league uniform ever again. He was dreadful." Several Asian American interest groups in the area filed complaints with the radio station and demanded a public apology. They not only cited the racist term ‘Chinaman’, but also opposed the homogenization of Asians into one race. After refusing to apologize, North responded with, "I don’t get it. I grew up in the streets and we used to say that all the time. I’ve got buddies living in Chinatown who are Italian. Wait, can I say ‘Chinatown’? I don’t mean any ill will and I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but every five years it’s something different. You used to be able to say ‘Oriental.’ Can you say Oriental Theater anymore?"
Next we have DJ Lucas of Tower 98-3FM, who hails from Toledo, Ohio. DJ Lucas seems to think it’s OK to make prank calls on the air to local Asian restaurants to make fun of their accented English. A petition to put an end to this harassment is being circulated by Asian Communities United and is available at www.PetitionOnline.com. A portion of the petition reads: "Your DJ Lucas’ on-air prank calls to Asian establishments, made with the specific intention of ridiculing the recipients of those calls, were dehumanizing, derogatory, and outrageously offensive. These actions are based on the racist assumption that people of Asian ancestry don’t speak English, don’t mind being racially harassed on radio airwaves, or somehow deserve less respect than other members of American society."
For more information on Mike North, visit: www.chicagotribune.com
To sign the petition against DJ Lucas, visit: http://www.petitiononline.com/ACU123/petition.html
posted by Catterpillarboy at 12:18 PM
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