The Charleston Gazette Mail reports that the governor of West Virginia has used a slur offensive to many Asian Americans.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice used the term “not a Chinaman’s chance” during a debate over a natural gas tax.
“There’s not a Chinaman’s chance in the whole wide world that will happen,” Justice said. “It’s not getting out of committee.”
The racist phrase is a reference to the pioneer Chinese railroad workers who were killed while using dynamite to build the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1870’s and 80’s.
Those who defend its use commonly compare it to the terms Irishman and Englishman.
LATEST STORIES
Many Asian Americans, however, point out the term has never been used as a term of endearment and has always carried a negative connotation.
Guy Aoki, the founding president of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, elaborated.
“It’s never been something that’s used in a positive way. It’s also been used as a way to describe any Asian person, whether Chinese or Japanese,” Aoki said to the West Virginia Gazette Mail. He said “a common experience for Asian children is to be taunted on the playground as a ching chong Chinaman.”
Aoki’s group was successful getting the word edited out of Seinfeld reruns.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Facebook page and our Twitter feed, Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story for consideration.
