A Utah teen has gone viral and sparked a debate about racism and cultural appropriation over her decision to wear a cheongsam to the prom.
The traditional Chinese dress is often worn by brides at their wedding parties.
Prom pictures posted by the girl, who identifies herself on Twitter only as Keziah, have been retweeted nearly 1,200 times and generated almost 15,000 likes.
PROM pic.twitter.com/gsJ0LtsCmP
— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 22, 2018
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Was the theme of prom casual racism?
— .kate. (@holdyourbutts) April 27, 2018
This isn’t ok. I wouldn’t wear traditional Korean, Japanese or any other traditional dress and I’m Asian. I wouldn’t wear traditional Irish or Swedish or Greek dress either. There’s a lot of history behind these clothes. Sad.
— Jeannie (@JeannieBeanie99) April 28, 2018
—Chinese culture. she has ignored all criticism and called it “just a dress”. it’s not a just a dress. it’s years of culture and meaning and she chose to disrespect it. she showed no sign of even being knowledgeable about Chinese tradition.
— danielle ha (@nahjoonah) April 29, 2018
Keziah has remained unapologetic, saying she only chose the dress because it was pretty.
To everyone who says I’m ignorant, I fully understand everyone’s concerns and views on my dress. I mean no harm. I am in no way being discriminative or racist. I’m tired of all the backlash and hate when my only intent was to show my love.
— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 28, 2018
To everyone causing so much negativity: I mean no disrespect to the Chinese culture. I’m simply showing my appreciation to their culture. I’m not deleting my post because I’ve done nothing but show my love for the culture. It’s a fucking dress. And it’s beautiful.
— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 28, 2018
I don’t understand everyone’s need or desire to cause so much hate. I’m simply showing my love for a beautiful culture and there is nothing wrong with that. Keep talking shit. I don’t care. I have much respect for the Chinese culture ❤
— Keziah (@daumkeziah) April 28, 2018
Keziah’s timeline is full of retweets of those who are lining up in support.
The response on Facebook has been equally as divisive with one Asian American saying “That photo of her and her friends sure doesn’t look like they are appreciating Asian culture – they might as well do slanty eyes. After she got dissed, she made an apology, insisting she has done nothing wrong. LOL. Basically, she wrote that apology so she can get sympathy from other racist losers.”
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RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: Really don’t see the problem here…. she wore it because she liked the dress, not to mock the culture.
RE: White Teen faces charges of racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: Please, get a life. I grew up an Asian in south central LA. People’s skins are way to thin. Most people have no idea of real racial slurs and epithets.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism After Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: What is offensive is the posing of the girls being submissive and the boys being aggressive. This a very racist photo!!
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: Dear Keziah,
I’m half Asian…. I understand that you thought the dress was beautiful and that’s why you wore it to your prom we completely understand that, but if it was just that than why did you and your friends insist on taking a group picture in that matter that you did? Considering noone else was dressed in Asian attire except for you so therefore you guys were trying to be funny and do some Asian poses, but let me explain this to you sweetie that is far from any Asian pose. So next time you wanna mock a culture make sure you atleast do it correctly because you just make yourself look more like an idiot that you already are. Your not fooling anyone when you try to explain that it’s just a f*cking dress, yep to your spoiled ass it is just that… A f*cking dress… In the Chinese culture means alot more than just a f*cking dress. I would have believed you only if you were receiving backlash because you chose that dress and was non Chinese, but do you realize it’s not the dress that’s the real issue here it’s the fact you and your friends did a group photo with you in that just a fucking dress trying to be funny with so called Asian pose. Common man… have some common sense. Get over yourself. You aren’t no one special sweetie.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: People get offended by everything lately. How about if we start heading toward tolerance instead of judging people by their possible ‘subconscious micro-aggressions.’
I’m of Scottish descent, and if anyone wants to wear a kilt to their prom, that’s fine by me.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism After Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: When I was in Hong Kong the restaurant hostesses wore cheongsam. It’s not a wedding dress, women go out to big occasions wearing them. My only problem with the photo is the praying hands thing. Wrong culture!
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism After Wearing Cheongsam to Prom:Their pose is far more questionable than the actual dress, but even that is fairly innocuous.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism After Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: It almost seems as if the people that are acting outraged are just trolls pretending to be “liberals”.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism After Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: I don’t get the big issue here. I’m Korean and whenever I see a non-Korean wear a hanbok, traditional Korean dress, I think it’s pretty awesome. When Britney Spears and Chloe Grace Moretz went to Korea and wore it, it was big news and people complimented about how great they looked. Now some random girl wears it and how dare they! Maybe the pose was a bit overboard but it’s a high school kid acting stupid.
I grew up in Koreatown Los Angeles in the early 90s in 18 Street hood and got rocks thrown at me and called ‘Chino’ while riding my bike down the block. Lived through the LA riots and had bricks thrown through my family station wagon when my parents were going to work. That’s racism. Getting sensitive over some dumb sh*t.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism After Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: I think she looks great in her choengsam! I do not find it offensive at all. It’s a beautiful dress and why should she not wear it? Asians wear western prom dresses. Like others have said, it’s just a dress folks. The stereotype hands pose is just innocent ignorance… even Asians do this in fun. Keziah, You looked great! Wish I could look like that in a choengsam! Btw, I am Chinese American, an elder, and I think you chose wisely for your prom!
RE: White TeenFaces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: Just tacky bad taste.
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: No one blinks when Asian, African or Eskimos wear European/British clothes…what is the difference?
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom: This is so stupid. I love wearing Kimono and I am not Japanese. So I am racist?
RE: White Teen Faces Charges of Racism after Wearing Cheongsam to Prom:
I think yes. Its a beautiful dress.