Oriental Rugs, not People

After the killing of Vietnamese-American fisherman, Du Doan, likely fueled by anti-Asian motivation, Chicagoans must mind our language [Greg Pawlowski, Letters to the Editor, Sep. 13.]. Despite a Sun-Times reader’s assertions, the term "oriental," like the terms "negro" and "colored," is outdated and pejorative. “Oriental” is appropriate for inanimate objects: “oriental rug” or “oriental jewelry.” But “oriental” person is offensive because it first signified everything east of London and then described people with “flat noses, small eyes, black hair and mysterious ways.” “Oriental” people raises negative stereotypes of Asian-Americans including "exotic," "strange," and other demeaning connotations.

From the Mike North controversy – referring to a Korean-American Cubs pitcher North said "Who's that Chinaman" – we see that words can hurt. After North’s careless comments, nearly 100 community members last December packed a school-board hearing at Senn High School to oppose naming a school field in his honor. Sam Ozaki, Chicago’s first Asian-American principal, then poignantly reminded us that such words eventually led to the WWII internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans.

Laura Washington sagely noted that during times of national anxiety, Asian-Americans are viewed as foreigners in our own home, and become targets for blame and hate. Post-9/11 there has been increased hate incidents targeting South-Asian-Americans. 25 years ago, at the height of anti-Japan sentiment, two out-of-work autoworkers murdered Vincent Chin in Detroit. And with the rise of China as a global power, along with stories of lead paint and faulty magnets in toys, we must guard against animosity toward Asian-Americans in Chicago.

Myron Dean Quon, Esq.
Legal Director
Asian American Institute

The Asian American Institute (www.aaichicago.org) is the region's pan-Asiannonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the Asian Pacific American communitythrough advocacy, by utilizing research, education, and coalition-building.