A poem I found on the internet, posted anonymously...
ASIAN
is not
Oriental.
head bowed, submissive, industrious
model minority
hard working, studious
quiet
ASIAN
is not being
Oriental
Lotus blossom, exotic passion flower
inscrutable
ASIAN
in no talking
Oriental
ahh so, ching chong chinaman
no tickee, no washee
ORIENTAL
is a white man's word
Oriental is jap, flip, chink, gook
it's "how 'bout a back rub mama-san"
it's "you people could teach them niggers
and mexicans a thing or two
you're good people
none of that hollerin' and protesting"
ORIENTAL
is slanty eyes, glasses, and buck teeth
Charlie Chan, Tokyo Rose, Madam Butterfly
it's "a half hour after eating chinese food
you're hungry again"
it's houseboys, gardeners, and laundrymen
Oriental is a fad: yin-yang, kung fu
"say one of them funny words for me"
Oriental is downcast eyes, china doll
"they all look alike"
Oriental is sneaky
Oriental is a white man's word
WE
ARE NOT Oriental.
We have learned the word all our lives
we have learned to be Oriental
we have learned to live it, speak it,
play the role
The time has come
to look at who gave the name.
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