The Organization of Chinese Americans is blasting as offensive the roast of a volunteer fire chief which included a police chief wearing oversized glasses and a queue braid while dressed up as a take out food container, reports the Asbury Park Press.
Outgoing Keyport, NJ fire chief Eugene Eng defended the roast and says he was not offended.
“My thought is that this is worse than ‘yellow face,'” said Virginia Ng of the Organization of Chinese Americans. “Could you have done this in ‘black face?'” Ng said. “Could you make up jokes about being a Black person or being called a ‘n—–?’ I don’t think so.”
Eng said the costume and roast were his idea and called the evening a “wonderful night.” He described police chief George Casaletto as a “lifelong friend of mine.”
Many of the jokes made fun of Chinese names. “Gene, you’re mentioned on the wall with these great leaders: Ho-ly-s–t, Poo-ping, you-so-dumb and, of course, Dumb, ” Casaletto said in remarks recorded on a cell phone. “You remind me of my other Chinese friend, Ug-ly,”
Borough Business Administrator Stephen Gallo said several phone calls have been received objecting to the roast. He said this was a personnel matter and under review.
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Roast of Chinese American fire chief riles OCA: He should change his name to Uncle Chan