We were all having so much fun, too. Doesn’t mean it’s time to break out the racism.
I was wondering when someone would use a “Chink in the Armor” reference.
I’m sure many Asian Americans thought about it before ESPN did. But only the most screwed up Asian American self-hater would use it in public to describe the basketball flaws of Jeremy Lin.
It’s not so bad if we were all living in Medieval America and people actually bought their chain maille and armor from Barney’s and Macy’s. Then, hey, sure, it might be OK. When you get a ding in your metal suit, that’s a drag. We all can relate.
But the dark ages are gone. We live in a diverse America, and when you say “Chink,” you are not bringing the love. Nor are you talking about the flaws of Sir Lancelot, real or imagined. Besides, you play basketball in your underwear.
Still, if someone likened Lin’s ball-handling to Lancelot trying a crossover move in full armor, you might make a case for “plausible deniability.”
At least in a metaphorical sense.
But let’s face it.
The ESPN headline was not poetry. We all know what someone means when they say “Chink” in reference to Jeremy Lin.
The media, in this case the headline writers at ESPN, have been so giddy with Linsanity, they must have thought it gave everyone the green light to have some racist fun.
Editors surely would have taken more care before blurting the “N” word. But evidently not the “C” word.
The good fun of Linsanity is intended to make people realize how inclusive the world has become.
It’s not intended to desensitize us all to the racist sentiments of the past.
ESPN has apologized for the slur, but that isn’t enough.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is calling for full apologies on ESPN cablecasts. The network needs to set the record straight for all to hear, lest anyone get the idea that Linsanity is a good excuse to turn racist.
