'Misanthropic Mr. Chu' Stereotypes
To the editors:
For the past couple of months, The Crimson has been running a comic strip entitled "The Misanthropic Mister Chu." This comic depicts a Chinese student who is short, anti-social, awkward both physically and socially and concerned only with math and science. As an Asian American student with pride in my culture and identity, I take offense personally to the negative portrayal of a fellow Asian American individual. As a member of the Asian American Brotherhood, I have deep concerns about the perpetuation of negative Asian American stereotypes in the media. As an individual with a conscience, I cannot believe that any self-respecting newspaper would allow itself to print a strip based upon stereotypes, artistically unoriginal and certainly socially unacceptable.
Due to the unfortunate tradition of negative Asian American stereotyping in American media, Asian American youth often have no role models to look up to, no positive elements to take pride in. Hence they suffer in silence. Where are all of the romantic Asian male lead roles in movies? Why is every Asian-looking man in a movie either kung-fu fighting or a dull, weak businessman lacking in personality? Given the success and numbers of Asian Americans in such fields as science and business, why isn't there greater Asian American representation in politics?
These answers lie partly in the pigeonholing of Asian Americans through stereotypes in the media. Since the writers of the strip do little more than continue the shameful tradition of negative stereotyping of Asian Americans, on behalf of the Asian American Brotherhood I ask that "The Misanthropic Mister Chu" be removed from The Crimson.
Sean S. Cheng '02
April 6, 2000
The writer is the social director of the Asian American Brotherhood.
Hemenway Open to All
Your article "Hemenway Reopens After Renovations" (News, April 6) misrepresented my position on access to the gym. The article implies that the Harvard Law School Council has decided to oppose undergraduate access to the facility. We do not, in any way, oppose undergraduate use of the gym.
In fact, Harvard Law School (HLS) does not control access to Hemenway. New challenges facing the gym will be decided in committees of administrators and students with full cooperation between HLS and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, without whom we could not have completed the renovations in the first place.
We're excited about the new Hemenway and look forward to sharing the gym with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Harvard community!
Jay Munir
April 6, 2000
The writer is the President of the Harvard Law School Council.
Read more in Opinion
An Economic Plan for AfricaRecommended Articles
-
Mister Chu's Bad SideAsian-American males have often been portrayed in the media as short, hairless, socially awkward nerds with a disproportionate love for
-
Asian AdmissionsTo the Editors of The Crimson: We, the presidents of the Harvard Radcliffe Asian American Association, firmly believe that a
-
Long Duck Dong's DamageA sian Americans hold a unique position among ethnic groups in the United States. As part of the most recent
-
Narasaki Advocates Political RightsKaren Narasaki, an influential national advocate for Asian Pacific American civil rights, spoke last night before a large audience in
-
Why Can't Yan Speak?I am writing in response to Tehshik P. Yoon's article, "Long Duck Dong's Damage" (December 14, 1993). The author argued
-
Breaking Asian-Americans the MoldV ery few Harvard students can claim that they formed a one-two offensive punch with Rasham Salaam, Colorado's star tailback,
