Chin-Kee: A Symbol Of Ignorance

Chin-kee: A Symbol of Ignorance
Stereotype: a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. The mythology of stereotypes have long been related with negative connotations towards individuals and their race. These stereotypes cause hate, embarrassment, and disgrace towards one’s own self and heritage. Often stereotypes are dismembered from literature to avoid a negative backlash; however, in Gene Yang’s comic American Born Chinese the author provides an offensive character as a symbol to combat stereotypes. This character by the name of Chin-kee is packaged as “every Chinese stereotype” from appearance, being extremely school oriented, and knowing Kung-Fu. Yet, this character portrayed in Yang’s
In the early 19th century, it was common for film stars to portray Asian individuals as villains as part of their role in film. This role then subconsciously sets the standard up for one Asian stereotype, this stereotype being that Asian folks are to be considered evil and conniving. An article presented by Zak Keith named, “Hollywood Asian Stereotypes” similarly enforces the belief by announcing, “Asians who are not characterized as benevolent or belonging to the faceless, conformist model minority, are paradoxically depicted as ruthless criminals, and unscrupulous archvillians” (Keith). This quote reinforces the negative belief of Asians being depicted as villains, yet Yang uses his influence of popular culture to negatively enforce this stereotype. In the panel, shortly after Chin-kee’s first appearance, it could be seen how Yang portrays the mythology of Asian males desiring to obtain white American women. As was a common occurrence in old movies where the Asian villains would attempt to kidnap American females. In the passage Yang portrays Chin-kee as conniving as he drools from the mouth ready to pounce as seen in the panel Chin-kee stated, “such pletty Amelican girl, must bind feet and bear Chin-kee’s children” (50). This statement by Yang’s character depicts him to be a classical Asian movie star villain, which in title feeds the racist belief that all Asians are considered evil. In a similar argument presented by Omi, he stated, “In our society, one of the first things we notice about people is their race, we utilize race to provide cues about who a person is and how we should relate to her/him” (540). This directly strengthens the belief that through the use of popular culture, our society is drastically influenced on what to