Comments on: Embracing or Erasing Race?

By: Jud Travis

Jud Travis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:22:23 +0000

Professor Lim- I really enjoyed reading this. Your remembrance of the experience in the grocery store moved me the most- and also perfectly illustrates the harmful effects of both subtle and overt racism. Repeatedly questioning yourself on what you should have done at the time of the incident is something that no human being should ever have to experience.

By: Tosin

Tosin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:43:11 +0000

You present some very interesting musings, Paul. I think a very important question you posed is “Is racial profiling “bad” when the profile is meant to be complimentary and flattering?” The answer to which is not easy. In the example of Asian Americans being the “model minority” you’ve presented many positive complimentary stereotypes. But what comes along with that is the inherent condescension of those who would choose to call you that title. Plus, there’s also an expectation that you remain only that, leaving no room for you, as an Asian American, to behave in a way that is outside the realm of those stereotypes. Not being “sexually threatening” sounds more like an insult anyway. It’s like they’ve take you and “your kind.” It implies a whole subservience and “Taming of the Asian,” if you will. And let us not forget that the word minority, while politically correct as you said yourself, is a form of latent racism or subdued discrimination.

For myself, I live with some of those positive stereotypes in my day-to-day experiences. For example, “black men all have big penis’”. It’s a sort of nice comment but to have to put up with it, or any race-wide assumptions, takes some effort and can be very tiresome.

What I find most interesting these days, are the inter-racial stereotypes that we regurgitate and infringe upon our own “kind.” I am guilty of this as well as anyone else is. And honestly, I don’t know the universal solution to that problem, if, in fact, it is a problem.

By: Folabo Ajayi

Folabo Ajayi — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:00:29 +0000

“Plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme chose.” We can only hope the changes accumulate, and overwhelm the ‘same ol’ same’ But do we have stories to tell or what! Indeed, these stories need to be told, so we can learn from them; many times I had thought I was imagining things.

Thanks very much Paul, for sharing your experiences.

By: Jerry Samuelson

Jerry Samuelson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:57:59 +0000

Paul, thanks for the story. You write like you talk and that’s not only fun and informative, it’s consoling as well. I never heard of bananas in this sense, but they have one undeniable thing: a-peel.
I’ll keep up with your excellent blog (that’s what it is, right?)
And thanks again for your hospitality.

By: Roger Shimomura

Roger Shimomura — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:50:47 +0000

Paul, thanks for telling and sharing your stories.