Asian American feminism, politics, and pop culture
Bob Beckel, who last week used a racist slur in a long rant against those he characterized as dangerous and untrustworthy Chinese people, has apologized. Sort of.
This morning, the Fox News The Five co-host spent less than a minute addressing his usage of the slur “Chinaman” on air, in which he apologized for the slur, but “refuse[d] to apologize… to China.” (Transcript and video after the jump).
The term “Chinaman” is an archaic racial slur dating back to the mid nineteenth century, with a heinous history of dehumanization and violence against Asian Americans (and Chinese Americans in particular). Yet, Fox News co-host Bob Beckel has used this slur on-air not once, but twice, in reference to Chinese and Chinese Americans. Most recently, he referred to Chinese people as “Chinamen” in a July 10, 2014 episode of “The Five”.
Fox News’ ongoing tolerance of Beckel’s anti-Asian racism, and their unapologetic airing of Beckel’s repeated use of anti-Asian slurs, is both unprofessional and an insult to Asian American viewers.
SIGN THIS PETITION to call on Fox News to IMMEDIATELY issue a retraction and an apology to the Asian American community for their airing of Beckel’s usage of racist slurs, and to call upon the network to terminate Beckel’s position as Fox News co-host. Then, share the petition with all of your friends.
California State Senator Ted Lieu is calling on Fox News’ Bob Beckel, co-host of The Five, to resign after he used the slur “Chinaman” on air last week. I recently wrote about how the term “Chinaman” is a derogatory slur with a heinous history.
In an online statement issued over the weekend, Lieu responded to Beckel’s on-air usage of an anti-Asian slur and demanded the co-host’s resignation.
Continue reading “CA State Senator Ted Lieu calls on Fox News host to resign over anti-Asian slur”
(H/T Talking Points Memo)
I just wrote about how “Chinaman” is, in fact, an archaic slur for Asian Americans with damning historic origins. The day that post published, I was asked by Twitter user Malcolm Shields whether anyone even uses that word anymore.
@reappropriate Does anybody still use that term, because if they do, They're really stuck in the past.
— Malcolm Shields (@macdiesel1215) July 9, 2014
The answer is yes. Yes, they do still use that term.
Yesterday on Fox News‘ The Five, a political talk show hosted by five different co-hosts in roundtable style, co-host Bob Beckel ranted against Chinese hackers in a segment where he called the Chinese people “Chinamen”, before correcting himself. He then makes an obscene gesture intended to tell Chinese people (or “Chinamen”?) to fuck off. To their credit, his co-hosts appear mortified (video after the jump).
Continue reading “Fox News’ Bob Beckel uses racist slur “Chinamen” on air”