CONTROVERSY: Kenneth Eng's "Why I Hate Blacks"

A February 23 column in AsianWeek (circulation: 48,000+) by Kenneth Eng has created a huge uproar among Asian-American community leaders, politicians such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Asian American Journalists Association. The column, "Why I Hate Blacks," is not nearly as ironic as I thought it might be; it's a straight-out, racially-supremacist diatribe that claims the following:

• Asians are superior to blacks
• Blacks are weak-willed (eg., tolerating 300 years of slavery before deciding to "fight back")
• 90% of blacks exhibit bigotry towards Asians

The entire piece is meant to justify why Asians should discriminate against blacks. The entire column can be seen here, in pdf format. Here are some excerpts:

"Blacks hate us. Every Asian who has ever come across them knows that they take almost every opportunity to hurl racist remarks at us."

"Contrary to media depictions, I would argue that blacks are weak-willed. They are the only race that has been enslaved for 300 years. It is unbelievable that it took them that long to fight back. On the other hand, we slaughtered the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War."

"Blacks are easy to coerce. This is proven by the fact that so many of them, including Reverend Al Sharpton, tend to be Christians. Yet, at the same time, they spend much of their time whining about how much they hate "the whites that oppressed them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Christianity the religion that the whites forced upon them?"

"In high school, I only remember one black student ever attending any of my honors and AP courses. And that student was caught cheating. It is rather troubling that they are treated as heroes, but then again, whites will do anything to defend them."

The writer, who was a NY-based contributor, has been expelled AsianWeek, which has pulled the article from its website and issued an apology. Earlier this year, Eng wrote another piece for AsianWeek, called "Why I Hate Asians", in which he calls himself an "Asian supremacist." Before that, he wrote "Proof that Whites Inherently Hate Us," at the end of which it states he's written two books, Reincarnation and Dragons: Lexicon Triumvirate.

The San Francisco Chronicle ran a front-page piece on the story. David Lee of the Chinese American Voters Education Committee said Eng's column "echoes the feelings of some Asian-Americans":

"There is a segment that feels the way Eng does, but the sentiment is underground and not brought to the surface," Lee said. "If you don't have a discussion, then I think it allows these types of views to fester and turn into something much more negative. Rather than refute and bury this, we should be calling for a community dialogue to address this."

Read a response from Asian-American leaders to the column. Post your thoughts in the comments section below.

More on Kenneth C. Eng here; he claims to be the youngest  published science fiction novelist (at 20) in America. Below is the full-text of a non-AsianWeek 2005 article he wrote about his adventures at NYU.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ASIANS AT NYU
By Kenneth C. Eng

   NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts is thought to be one of the most intellectual schools in the world, but it is also one of the most corrupt. As an undergraduate student who is not afraid to express his opinion, I have faced extreme consequences for merely speaking my mind. The story of the troubles I had to go through to maintain my virtues sound so fantastic that one would think it came from a movie, but believe me – it is 100% true to the last word.
I worked my rear end off to get into NYU, achieving a 3.8 average in computer science at SUNY Stony Brook just so I could be admitted. In fact, when I was at Stony Brook, I received at least 10 death threats from students who hated my opinions, and was once thrown out of a philosophy class for bringing up racial issues. When I entered Tisch in May 2002, I assumed that the people there would be more intelligent and that I would be more tolerated. Thence, when I took my first film production class, I expressed my negative views on America, religion and African Americans.
Unfortunately, my assumptions were na‹ve, for NYU’s populace was just as mindless as any other. The class shouted, threatened and loathed me after hearing of my views, often referring to me as “racist fuck” and “terrorist” whilst staring at me as if I were a bestial outcast (in an odd counterpoint, no one cares when racist comments are made against Asians as I will prove later in this article). In fact, the professor reported me to the dean in an attempt to have me expelled for my beliefs, but did nothing when a white person made sexist comments against women. Furthermore, since I always speak my mind, I also made negative remarks about students’ films in class critiques in an attempt to help them improve their work. A student punched me in the back of the head just for being honest about his film. Expectedly, my request to call security was ignored, and the professor just laughed at me, saying it was a joke. In response, I punched the white student in the face three times and told him that I was being a comedian.
Nevertheless, I was not going to surrender to the brainwashed majority. Determined, I voiced my convictions loud and clear in my next film course, but this time, I gave the new professor fair warning about them before the class started. Despite my kind gesture, he immediately reported me to the dean just like the other one did. Luckily, the dean decided I was doing nothing illegal, so the worst I got from this class was the occasional chuckle from the white students who laugh at anything different from them.
Later though, a more extreme action was taken against me. An anonymous person with a voice similar to my own impersonated me in February 2003 and made a threatening phone call to the dean in an attempt to have me expelled. It was then that I realized how serious this situation was getting. Not only would this person had to have found the dean’s home phone number, he must also have known my class schedule to time his call correctly, and he had to have known that the dean and I had an argument early that same morning. Since I never show anyone my schedule and the call was made almost precisely when one of my classes was set to end, the only way the imposter could have discovered when I was out of lecture was to have information from numerous people. That implied the frightening possibility that multiple people were observing my life. The only thing that saved me from being implicated for this offense was sheer luck – the class I was taking when the impersonator committed his crime was running late that day. I had quite enough alibis (students and teacher) to exonerate me.
I was later asked to speak to the Tisch Chairman David Irving about my conflicts. At first, he seemed like a rational man who could be reasoned with. However, when the conversation shifted to my controversial views, I told him that I thought Hitler was not a coward and that African Americans were receiving unfair aid from the American government at the expense of Asian Americans. He immediately called the dean, furiously wanting to get me expelled. In fact, when I spoke to Irving again, he blatantly informed me of his own orders to have professors watch out for and report any of my renegade activities. As if it weren’t bad enough that students were stalking me, I now had professors who were watching me as well. The only person who wasn’t going after my head was the dean.
Again and again, every time I vocalized my sentiments, I was attacked, threatened and/or harassed by students and faculty. Three more professors gave me nearly failing grades and tried to have me thrown out of NYU during the summer of 2003 because I told other students truthfully how bad their work was, and believe it or not, some anonymous person tried again to frame me for phone-harassing a professor. This call was seemingly timed to be made on a day before I was to meet with the professor to discuss my grade. In addition, the dean told me that Irving’s rumors had gone so far that they were actually influencing the professors to discriminate against me. Nevertheless, I did not need to be told that. It was pretty obvious that in virtually all of my classes, whenever a white student made a negative comment about someone’s work, they were accepted, but whenever I did the exact same thing, the professors docked down my grade by a letter. The only reason my GPA plummeted like a suicidal maniac was because I was not afraid to say what was on my mind regarding touchy issues.
One would think that is as unfair as it gets, but the plot thickens yet. In September 2003, I took a class in which the professor stated clearly: “…don’t use stereotypes”. For the sake of being nice, I was about to comply to this rule just this once, but a week later, a black girl in that class pitched her script, which was loaded with Asian stereotypes. It was so unambiguously racist that a dolt would have been able to notice. Yet – surprise, surprise -- none of the whites made a passing comment about it.
Although I believe that she has the right to express her racist opinions just like I have a right to express mine, the class treated her completely differently than they treated me. When I expressed my negative perspectives on blacks, 90% of all the students call me a “racist fuck” and harassed me physically and verbally, but when a black says something insulting against an Asian no one gives a darn. Not even the professor who said, “don’t use stereotypes” made a single comment of it. In fact, when I defended myself against the black student’s remarks, the whites were outraged and the professor threw me out of class, stating “I cannot imagine any way in which [the student] insulted you”. Gee, she would have practically kissed my scrotum if I were black and I was discriminated against, but since I’m just a yellow-skinned Asian guy, I guess I just don’t have the same right to express opinions as the whites and blacks do.
To hell with that.
I certainly wasn’t going to take this lying down. When I entered my last film class, I wanted to give them a taste of their own medicine. Every session, I flooded the conversation with derogatory remarks about every ethnic group conceivable, spewed loads of anti-American remarks and blared out against the weak-mindedness of religious followers. As expected, the professor tried again to censor me, claiming that it was my fault that the class was getting angry. All the while, the white students clung to each other like cells of a giant superorganism, muttering to each other whenever I said something they were afraid to say, laughing whenever I created art that wasn’t as cliched as theirs. At first, their ignorance was so animalistic that it was disgusting. However, after reflecting upon how most of them only do what society tells them to and live in fear of being despised, I did not hate them anymore. I pitied them. I may not have the “pleasures” of having human companionship like they do, but at least I am not a coward. To this day, I stand by all of my opinions no matter what the consequences.
I tried to take this article to the Village Voice in New York. The editor shouted at me: “That is hyperbole! I don’t believe you.” He had no logical reasons. He just didn’t want to believe it was true. That is why no one ever hears about these incidents. White people only hear what they want to hear. I also took it to the New York Times and Daily News and received no responses.
Despite all this ruckus, I do have to thank former Dean Elliot Dee for remaining objective throughout my conflicts and fellow filmmaker Pamela Love, who made a documentary about my case.
(And the contact numbers and emails of some of the professors are available through me.)
Again, while this account may sound unbelievable, it is absolutely true to the last word (Elliot Dee and my very large file in the NYU dean’s office can confirm it all). Many students have privately told me that they share similar opinions to mine, but that they are too afraid to express them. Is everyone in art school that afraid to say what they’re thinking? No wonder there’s so much rubbish in Hollywood!

Kenneth C. Eng is the twice-published youngest science fiction novelist in America at age 21 and a current undergraduate student at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has articles on metaphysics and philosophy as well at Down In The Dirt magazine and at Circle Magazine.

Post your thoughts in the comments section below.

Comments

[Jaya Kamlani]

Oo! La! La! What disturbing thoughts spilled out of Kenneth Eng's heart and onto his journal. What is in one's heart eventually finds an outlet.

Over a decade ago, I was consulting on a project for IBM and I was working with the company's Executive Director, an African-American, a straight-A graduate student from Stanford University. One evening while we were dining, she said to me that it took her community so long to be accepted by the whites, then the Asians came along and looked down on them (paraphrased). She and I were good friends, we stayed at the same hotel, traveled in the same car to work, often dined out together (as we were both on a traveling assignment), so I know she could not be referring to me, for she even invited me to visit her if I was in her town. In fact, she was so helpful that she brought me up to speed in the business area she was heading and the global computer system we were designing for the company. Reading this article and looking back to that moment I now understand what she meant. That means this animosity between the two groups goes way back prior to 1994.

Kenneth Eng eventually tripped on his ego. He forgot that in God's eyes we are all equal.

Jaya Kamlani

[Keith Kamisugi]

Thanks for posting this Arun. The organizations that came together to challenge AsianWeek on this issue have a blog at http://dontspeakfor.us. We welcome comments on the various announcements, news/blog coverage and updates.

What's appalling is that in one of their earlier statements, AsianWeek blamed the whole thing on community leaders for not doing enough work on race relations.

[Rage]

While I believe that AsianWeek should be held accountable for their poor editorial choices, I think that David Lee had a much better response than some of the mainstream Asian American groups that put out their first press release, which did not really acknowledge that Eng's article and the fact that AsianWeek printed it, underscores the need for antiracist work in all segments of the American community.

Tracking the media hits on a flare-up tangentially related to this core subject seems a little like missing the point. With most mainstream media run to make money, the controversy sells papers, but doesn't really build or change anything.

What also bothers me is that the positive stories of communication, understanding, and coalition between communities seldom make it into the big headlines, but these incidents (and this one is just a crazy example, but I'm also thinking of more serious moments when bias and disconnect result in tragedy) get far more play. We should be working against that trend, rather than just feeding it.

[nirvana]

"A black girl in that class pitched her script, which was loaded with Asian stereotypes. It was so unambiguously racist that a dolt would have been able to notice. Yet – surprise, surprise -- none of the whites made a passing comment about it."
I agree with what Kenneth Eng said about the whole sterotyping thing.It has almost become inherent in Hollywood to Sterotype every Indian character as being clumsy or funny mimicing their accent and wear. Look at Kal Penn's role in National Lampoon's Van Wilder. Isn't that sterotyping asians? Had people perceived Asians to be any better then roles like this wouldn't exist be it comedy or not. So while it was quite acceptable for the girl that he was referring to sterotype Asian's why then didn't it occur to his professor that she was in fact being racist.That just goes to show how discrimination against Asians is not looked at as being a grave issue here.

[C. M. Naim]

Reading the original story I noticed that the writer described himself as 'God of the Universe.' That should have been enough of a warning to the editors of AsianWeek not to publish the diatribe. It should also inform our reactions. I only hope Kenneth Eng gets the medical treatment he badly seems to need.

[dchads]

Rage brought up some good points. Regarding the media response, I don't want to pressure organizations to not print these types of articles. Then they'd not be publishing them out of fear and self-interest. Their underlying thoughts on the issue would not change and the bitterness of being forced to do something can get in the way of introspection. That this article was published offers a certain transparency in racial views that we might not otherwise have, and I mean those of the publishers and audience moreso than the author.

That being said, there are serious perceptions out there that this article brings to light that need to be refuted. That African-Americans are "week-willed" as evidenced by the duration of slavery. Barack Obama addresses that perception in his first book. Also, what nirvana brought up about the tolerance of Asian stereotypes is not a unique sentiment.

[Anirvan]

Of possible interest -- commentary on the issue from Neelanjana Banerjee, former editor-in-chief of AsianWeek:

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archives/2007/02/asianweek_takes.html

[Timothy Nishimura]

"...On the other hand, we slaughtered the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War."

Excuse Mr. Eng, the last time I checked, you are not Japanese. In fact, the conflict you refer to took place in Korea and Manchuria, a part of China. Perhaps you would like to revise your future diatribes to include hatred for the Japanese people?

It's funny how bold people become when they are safely behind a camera, a blog, a publication or within the confines of academia. It appears that Mr. Eng posses so much cowardice, that it would be inconceivable of him to voice his apparent hatred of humanity, at Holcombe Rucker Park on a Saturday, with a loudspeaker, sans security.

"Look at Kal Penn's role in National Lampoon's Van Wilder."

What about the socially awkward Jews that need Van Wilder's party liaison services? You can pick apart almost any film today as reinforcing stereotypes, or on a case-by-case basis they can be accepted at face value (Taj did get the girl at the end and returned to lead the sequel).

I think your point might hold more weight, if The Namesake wasn't on it's way to theaters soon.

Let's keep Kenneth Eng out of the diplomatic corps, recognize that racism/prejudice exists in the Asian American Community, address the issue and move forward without him.

[Diana Rohini LaVigne]

We see ourselves as far more advanced than last generation. Are we? We are still battling with the same stigmas and the same racist slurs we were years ago; even the younger generation, evident by Eng's 'Why I hate blacks' article, is learning the language of hate, not tolerance, understanding, acceptance and global equality.

I was once told that my children, who (when born) will be part Native American Indian and part Asian Indian (mixed race), will have issues with racism if we decide to raise them in India. But I'm honestly equally as worried about raising them in America.

Is each generation learning from the previous one's mistakes or are we drawing a line in the sand deeper with each generation? I'm a bit of an idealist and so perhaps my vision of a global nation is further off than I could have ever imagined.

However grim it seems, I invite others to share in my 'hopeful' thoughts that we can create a well-balanced global envirnoment. Maybe there is a way to build this community. Just Maybe.

[John Laxmi]

Kenny Eng gets umpteen hours
Of fame, and why?

Has SAJAforum nothing else
To blog about?

Who cares what Engs write?
AABA, of course, CAPA too.

NAPALC jumps in, SAJA too,
MULTI, CULT, URAL, ISTS.

Art Schlesinger
Rest in peace :-(

Regards,
John

[Anonymus]

Anonymous

In my view, there is no denying that article is obnoxious. But the debate around racism is very relevant. I, as an Asian hear racist remarks day in and out. Whites mimicking Indian accent, mocking the Indian software professionals whom they call to get their computer fixed, repeatedly saying – excuse me – to make you aware of your accent to simplest of words that any child can understand. We are able to understand their accent. Are they so dumb that they can not understand simple words such as ‘report.’ I am a north Indian professional educated in ‘English medium’ schools in India. I am fine with my Indian accent, but I am very aware that it is not so heavy that these dumb White American’s can not understand it. Racism against Asians is so under-exposed. I did not feel like this when I moved to the U.S. Facing racism constantly has made me hate Whites. Superiority is so internalized in them that even most ‘liberals’ don’t realized how racist they are.

We are a submissive – docile community – still struggling to get out of our colonial past. I wonder if Whites are as aggressive with Blacks in racist remarks and get away with it. We respond with our sheepish laughs, Blacks respond with ‘f’ word. May be we should learn from them and fight back the monster of racism.

[Cal]

It is very clear that There is a alot of racism in Asian communities. My Asian fiends even say so. The good part is that it is mostly the older generation, and many of the younger ones that grow up and are educated in America are more open minded. And if this idiot thinks America is so bad, why did his family come here? Oh yea, because America is the best, and most fair country on earth, and life in China sucks for the vast majority of the population (forced abortions, organ harvesting, party members stealing peasants land, no religious freedom etc etc etc).

[Anonymus]

Wow, unless you are native America, why the hell your ancestors came here? They even killed people to make America their own country. Have you ever heard of economic compulsions for migration?

Yes, China has lots of problems so does every country on this earth. Can you name one country where there are absolutely no problems and any country on earth from where people do not go to live in other countries? You sick of American superiority. Yes, there is racism in Asians, but does that condone racism in America? Does it give right to so fair White Americans that they can bully Asians on the name of 'why you came here' now that you did - you got to say America does not have racism and suffer.

Even without the question of Asians, there are lots of problems in America- you seem to be very aware of forced abortions and so on in China, are you aware of poverty, difficulties to exercise reproductive rights, racial discrimination, torture practices and so on in America.

[Anonymous]

I have always found it rather strange that African-American students dont seem to get the support as a community they so badly need to do well in life. There's so much pressure on them to be cool, more than any other community, that sometimes other things they need in life are overlooked.
Ken Eng is racist no doubt but he does bring up an interesting point - Statistically speaking, this community should have shown a huge rise in success rate after going through such hardships. Thats what happens to other communities around the world when they undergo inhuman suffering in some form or other.
Indians, Chinese, Japanese after independence did not have enough resources to be brilliant and hardworking and be known for that around the world.
Having the resources and the murky past they left behind, why did they resort to having to justify themselves all the time?
What could possibly be different in this case?
Why do we still resort to either pitying them or looking down upon them rather than giving them incentive to buck up and join the rest of the world?Why do we still isolate them and target them all the time?
why do they isolate themselves?

[Jaya Kamlani]

We as a minority group ourselves in America, feel for other minorities who have suffered, or are suffering. What happened to Eng and the Asian community which is perplexed over this situation, could very well happen to any one of us and our community. If even one Indian writes something bad about another community, our community will be targeted too. So, it is better that we keep our hearts clean and accept everyone as we would like them to accept us. We should understand what the Asian community is now grappling with, because I have heard our Indians too talk against other communities. We are not perfect either. We make our share of mistakes too. Since 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there has been so much tension between communities.

I believe it is imperative for colleges throughout the country to have townhall meetings on the subject of DIVERSITY.

Earlier on someone mentioned that the older Indians in America tend to be more prejudiced and younger generation born in this country assimilates well with other groups in America. I have found that to be true as well. That is because those who came from India were a bit set in their ways of thinking and tended to hang around among other Indians for comfort and security, and in so doing they found it comfortable to speak of other groups. Fortunately, I have always worked in the corporate world since my arrival here in America, and due to my exposure I did not feel that way. Even today, I feel blessed to have a varied group of friends.

Jaya Kamlani

[Reb]

To all of you bad mouthing America and whites..I have just one question..who the hell invited you anyway? I didn't..It was the insanity of the 1965 immigration act that opened the flood gates to our dispossession. Look at it from our standpoint. The neighborhoods where we grew up now look like a polyglot boarding house for the world. Can't even go to the gas station without encountering a Tower of Babble. Worse..we are expected to shut up and not complain..denied the right to look after our own like every other ethnic group does. Diversity is good for you..to paraphrase Churchill, never before have so many pretended to believe something so absurd.

[Jaya Kamlani]

Dear Reb, I don't mean to offend you, but since you mentioned Churchill, maybe someone should have asked him why so many British came to India, and then stayed on to rule India for two centuries. But what is past is past. We must look forward. It is true that if people of any country dislike America, they should go back home. I agree with you there. You cannot come and live in a country only to abuse it. The same should also apply for Americans who are working in any Asian country. But what about the immigrants who love America? After all, this is a country of immigrants, and children/grandchildren of immigrants. Since your name does not sound like a native Indian, I am sure your ancestors were immigrants too.

You may not realize how our Indian engineers and doctors have helped America in its many innovations and research areas. Our journalists are among some of the very best too. We should not judge a whole group by the mistakes of a few, because every community has a few bad apples. We have them in the Congress too. So can we all stop picking on each other and see how we can all get along instead. This is after all a secular America. And if you tell me that I don't know what I am talking about, I will have to write back another note telling you I have lived in this country for decades, and I am probably more American than most Americans, simply because of the number of years I have lived here, and I have lived coast-to-coast. So, please everyone of every color, every race, let's all get along together. We have a lot to learn from each other. There are major wars being fought out there, and people are dying for our country. Let's not quibble over race, or where we migrated from. At this time, we need to come together for our country, for America.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

Hello all,

Here is my PROPOSAL for all Asian-American groups, regardless of which Asian community you represent:

I believe we need to discuss race relations at a forum where Americans of all communities are represented and our voices can also be heard. We can discuss this on the blogs until the cows come home, or TAKE ACTION AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA. If the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Indonesians, Malayasians, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, people of Myanmar and others that I may have missed on this Asian list, would like to have a forum with the African-Americans and all-encompassing white Americans ... I think it can be arranged this summer in Atlanta. After all, Atlanta was the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement.

The convention runs for several days and is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people. I know the person who is heading the planning committee. She is an African-American friend who specializes in conflict management, and is the key organizer of the convention. I have not run this proposal by her, but if the Asian-American organizations are interested, I can talk to her about it, and then we will have to submit a proposal within six weeks.

If there is interest in the Asian community (including South Asian community) to follow up on this, I will update this column with more details. I have been thinking about this option since the day Kenneth Eng's article was published on SAJA blog two days ago, and wanted to help bridge the gap between all Asian communities, African-Americans and all other Americans.

Could some of you PLEASE POST THIS PROPOSAL ON MY BEHALF ON OTHER ASIAN-AMERICAN BLOGS, or direct that blog to this SAJA site, or publish it in a daily or weekly Asian newspaper. Those interested can post their responses on this SAJA site. Thanks.

Jaya Kamlani

[TerraTango]

Jaya,
You forgot to mention WHAT conference. Please be specific, and please give us a url. Otherwise we have no idea what you are talking about.

You may have written your post in a hurry, but its a bit patronizing to say "the African Americans." Which ones? You get my drift...

This could be an interesting opportunity to bring Asian American leaders in with key other leaders of color, especially media folks, who in part could call attention to the fact that all the amazing inter community work that goes on daily does NOT for the most part get reported, and if it does, it NEVER makes the front page.

The people to ask to help plan whatever forum you're thinking are the Asian American leaders who called attention to this issue. They have already done lots of thinking and conceiving around this, as have tons and tons of Asian American leaders around the country; so there is no need to reinvent the wheel.

Lets also not forget that class, historical dynamics, and personal immigration history figure strongly into the dynamics of race relations.

[Jaya Kamlani]

TerraTango, thanks so much for your response. After I read your comment and received an email response from Keith Kamisugi, an Asian leader who said he would discuss the proposal with others at a meeting, I wrote an email to my African-American friend who is the key organizer of the event, and sent her a copy of my SAJA posting to ensure that my proposal was indeed feasible for the convention, and if so, who would be the person to contact. GIVE ME A DAY OR TWO TO HEAR FROM HER BEFORE I WRITE ANY MORE ON THIS SUBJECT. But at this juncture I feel very positive about it, for all proposals are due in 6 weeks and we have some time. But I don't want to mention names or events in this comment, just in case they cannot accomodate us. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for all races to come together if things work out.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

Hello Everyone,

The 5-day forum I was referring to where Americans of all races and colors will come together is the USSF Forum, to be held from June 27 – July 1, 2007. Each year it is held in a different country. This year it is being held in Atlanta, USA. It is the first time it is being held in the U.S. Last year it was held in Venezuela, and attended by over 100,000 people. The Forum has a very wide agenda to address various issues important to the Americans. Organizations signing up for the forum will bring their own large tents and set it up on the grounds to hold discussions or give presentations. I assume that means making arrangements for the chairs for the tent as well. Asian-Americans, for example, could set up a tent to discuss race-relations, or select a subject from the wide array of topics suggested on the website.

From the menu displayed at the top of the website www.ussf2007.org select “FAQ” option (Frequently Asked Questions). You will read why the South, and why Atlanta was chosen as the city to host the first USSF conference in the U.S. Why? Because it is the birthplace of Reverend Martin Luther King and the Civil Right Movement.

When you select the “News” option from the Menu, you will find various articles worth reading. One of them explains that the African-Americans want to open a dialogue with the Mexicans because undocumented Mexican workers in the U.S have been taking away their jobs in the south. On the “News” index page, you will also find an article “Bringing it back home…” written by Eric Tang, an Asian-American from New York, who is involved with the USSF effort. Eric declares, “The Social Forum process is not so much about putting aside differences, as it is about placing them at the center—of bringing whole movements and whole selves to the table…” Perhaps the Asian-American leaders would like to get in touch with him for his views on USSF participation and the proposal submission process.

The “Materials,” option from the Menu guides you through the proposal submission process, how to plan for it, how to register, who should attend the 5-day seminar to be held from June 27 – July 1, 2007.

Given below is the response I received from my friend Alice Lovelace, National Lead Staff Organizer of the USSF Forum. She has a Masters in “Conflict Resolution,” is a social activist and known in the African-American community. If you select the “Contacts” option from the website Menu, you will find her name and other contact names with their pertinent information. Also read “About USSF” and Home page for more details on the social forum. I hope the USSF Conference can provide a platform for the Asian community to connect with the African-Americans and find ways on how we can all work together in the future.
Jaya Kamlani

*****************************************************************

Jaya,

The social forum is self organized. This means we do not organize any sessions, organizations that will attend the social forum submit proposals for programs and as long as they are in line with the social forum principles, they are accepted.

If you have a group that will be attending the social forum they can submit this proposal. You do not need anyone’s permission or approval.

In terms of getting involved in programming for the USSF, the process for getting a program on the schedule includes:
You must register as an organization: registration for organizations is on a sliding scale—you can register up to three people from your organization for one fee between $125-$300. You may register as many people as you wish.

Once you register, you can submit proposals for programs.

Please visit the website to view the call for submissions.

www.ussf2007.org

I hope this is useful.

Alice

[Tashun Jackson]

I think this is the most sicken thing in the world for someone to post. If you can't see the thousands of sucessful blacks, you must live in a hole. And for you to set an example about slavery, that was a time that we could do nothing about, but with the help of GOD, we got out of it. It is people like you who try to put us back there. But, the devil is a lie!! You need to do more research and get your facts straght. And this is from another sucessful black person.
I challenge all the professional BLACK people that see this to give your opinion about this.

[John]

Kenneth Eng can't be racist. Only white people can be racist because only white people have the power to be racist. Kenneth Eng isn't white. Therefore Kenneth Eng cannot be racist. Sound familiar?

[Jaya Kamlani]

Tashun, the journalist (Arun Venugopal) who posted this article did not post it to hurt the African-Americans. He posted it here because it is so much in the news, and also to have an honest discussion on how best to prevent such situations in the future. In fact, I too was disturbed by the racist article.

I personally know successful and highly educated African-Americans, so I am very much on your side. Somehow, there is a disconnect between the "East-Asian" and African-American communities, and it needs to be addressed and ironed out. We also need to remember, one racist writer of a community does not make the whole community racist.

I am originally from South-Asian country of India (the Gandhi country) and have visited Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta. I don't need to get involved in this heated 'race' issue, but I choose to, because I would like to see us all get along. You will notice from my postings that I have been attempting to do just that. If you have suggestions that might be helpful, we would really appreciate your input, and from your friends as well. This is a forum for all who want to contribute their thoughts and make this country a better place for all.

Jaya Kamlani

[A Black Muse]

Eng's the kind of person who abuses freedom of speech, pushes his opinions on others and anyone who disagrees or get angry with him, is a moron! And then he plays the race card. The TRUTH is, if you're not likable, people won't like you and if you aren't respectable, you won't be respected. If people hate him wherever he goes, he might want to look in the mirror for the cause. His article was a juvenile, irresponsible, uninformed, badly written POS the editors should never have published.
Had they wanted to open some constructive dialogue on the subject, an essay should have been published entitled "Why is there annomosity between Asian and Blacks?"
I don't know what's going on in Frisco, but I have NEVER seen this kind of hate or fear between Blacks and Asians in MY social circles in DC, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta or anywhere else, so it could hardly be as rampant as this guy claims. I do know that thanks to bad western influences, many Asian people have very low opinions of Blacks, but that misinformation needs to be corrected.
Years ago at the computer networking expo called the Interop, I saw a booth with products for wireless networking. It was way in the back, away from the big booths like Sprint, Netware and MS...just a little non-descript table with an Asian guy sitting there by himself lookin kinda bored. I was thinking 'minority solidarity' and went to take a look. I had also done a lot of business with an Asian computer parts place in Miami where I was always treated with respect. Wireless was pretty kewl technology several years ago, so I was interested to say the least. Up until then, I had only studied the technology in school, but hadn't seen it IRL. I looked at the simple diagram on the package and asked the guy how much they were going for. He started to give me a price with installation costs and whatnot when I told him that I didn't need anyone else to install it. "How much is the package all by itself?" He responded "Ohhh, but you need someone who knows computers!" I told him that I have that covered. I knew what I was looking at, knew what to do with it and that I wanted it in my house. AGAIN, he questioned me. "But you need someone who knows computer NETWORKING." I said that I did and he responded with "YOU know computer NETWORKING???" THEN I got snippy. "NO, I'M A HAIRDRESSER!!! This IS a computer networking expo isn't it? I'm a computer networking professional...UNIX networking if you must know! I don't need any help!", and THEN he acted like the $300 pricetag was out of my budget! By then I knew why his sorry butt was way back in the 'cheap seats'. Not only that, he didn't even have any cool promotional goodies to give away! But it didn't matter if it was 9.95 and came with a free laptop, he wasn't getting a dime from me!! What we need are more organizations like JAFA (The Japan African American Friendship Association), where cultures learn how to do business with each other. In a professional arena such as the Interop, you cannot afford to treat ANYONE like that. True, at that moment, I was a UNIX Network Engineer with no purchasing power, but two years prior, I was a senior systems manager at a different company, yes the BLACK GODDESS of all things PC, (pun intended) MAC, UNIX, and telephony. But you know what? In Atlanta, I was completely ORDINARY as there are many accomplished Black men and women.

[Ubi]

I wonder if Kenneth Eng has Asperger's Syndrome. As I was reading his diatribe about his experience at Tisch, I couldn't get over the remarkable similarity between his writing and that of a long time acquaintance of mine who does have Asperger's. Both Eng and my much older friend, "Eddie," are self absorbed writers who portray themselves as bright, eminently honest people who call it like they see it and consequently suffer maltreatment from the groups they have challenged. The members of these groups are conspiratorial, unfair and illogical.

My writer friend Eddie didn't address racial issues, but has written extensively about experiences exposing cheaters and crooks (including a dean at a prestigious college). His piece on how he hung a jury (of which he was the foreman) describes a roomful of blathering imbecils unpersuaded by his cool, dispassionate reasoning. Eddie's writing is meticulous and detailed, thus inclining the reader to believe it is accurate. But having been present on occasions Eddie has written about, I know how off base he can be. There is so much about the human dimension that he completely misses.

So, too, Kenneth Eng, a much poorer writer, misses the commonality of the human experience. Particularly telling was his remark, "I may not have the "pleasures" of having human companionship like they (his class) do, but at least I am not a coward."

[meka]

Having the resources and the murky past, why do they have to justify themselves all the time. What the #@1&?

We have made progress. Over 60's percent of US are above poverty. Also, though Asian-Americans are looked at as the model minority, they have some poverty as well-having more obvious forms of cultural resources, middle-class resources, and education notwithstanding. Much respect goes to Asian contributions, but blacks have their share of accomplishments just like Asians. Also we are not given special treatment, we are talked about like dogs in coded and obvious terms by the same groups you claim give us so much sympathy. Speaking of sympathy, Asians pool resources,personal savings,community chamber funds,etc. and work together, and help each other in business, but they also have greater access to SBA loans,etc..than blacks along with all types of consumer support in a way some black businesses don't. If somebody is tempted to say it is because some black business are incompetent, that can be said for all groups. The same groups that use Asians as a role model minority to bash Blacks. Blacks have their strength and their sad flaws but if other groups are so successful here, why are many, at least most of their contrymen, not always all that successful as they claim blacks should be in their own countries. Because, like blacks in the U.S., those Asian groups faced colonialism, racism, internal division, classism and all the same obstacles that some blacks were not able to rise above.

[Chondra]

I have to commend you Jaya for contributing so much to this discussion and trying to ACT, instead of just type.

Though the article is a little old now, I am so saddened. I lived in Japan for 3 years as a child. I visited many other Asian countries. I have always had the highest admiration for all Asian cultures. That will not change, because of one idiot. The values, history and love that Asians (abroad and in America) have shown me throughout my lifetime has just instilled so much love in me. Cultures steeped in tradition, amazingly close family ties and simple, but always timely values. Countries filled with beauty. And just like we have bad parts, all countries do, but the appreciation I was shown has touched my life for a lifetime.

I am a successful African American woman. Guess what, movies and media portrayals make fun of all cultures. Hello! Do ya live in America?! There are slurs for all cultures. I never get so caught up in that trash, that I don't see the person underneath. Never.

Perhaps, Mr. Eng (in reading the older article above) could have addressed the issue with the African American woman on a one on one basis or expressed his opinions in a way that people could have connected with him, instead of ranting like a hurt, madman. He received the response he did for a reason and if this is the story of his life, there is a reason why the same things continue to happen to people over and over.

Anywho, at first I was incensed by his most recent article and came to this site and read the other. The more time I have taken, the more I refuse to waste any energy on his uninformed information.

I acknowledge the fact that there probably is some racial tension between Asian Americans and African Americans. I think there is a deeper racial dialogue that needs to occur including all races. These issues should be addressed with open community dialogues. Maybe they need to occur with-in communities, facilitated by trained professionals. Healing needs to occur on a grand scale.

I am a lover, not a fighter!

[Ezekiel]

As a very black and proud man, I must honestly say that Mr. Kenneth Eng is very close to the truth, even though he may be fairly naive, simplistic and insecure in his opinions.

The first thing he should learn is never to criticize his own "PARENTS" in public. This sets the tone for rebellion from his own children, regardless of their complexion.

Unfortunately, the black leadership seem not to want to discuss some of the important points that he raised, such as Christianity. This is the real slavery - a 4th century Roman philosophy that has nothing to do with the Bible or black people. This subject should only be discussed by level heads.

By the way, I am very impress with the Communist Chinese - how they are able to beat the Western Capitalists at their own game, without firing a shot.

Black America has some very serious spiritual problems, which we must resolve on our own, with the time frame alloted (1619-2019). It would be so nice to sit down face to face with some of your readers and explain this matter in detail, but first I must try with my own people, and they are just not interested yet.

[Jaya Kamlani]

Dear Mr. Ezekiel,
In you closing paragraph you stated, QUOTE "It would be so nice to sit down face to face with some of your readers and explain this matter in detail, but first I must try with my own people, and they are just not interested yet." UNQUOTE

Mr. Ezekiel, you must not lose heart. Big changes start with small steps. So start conversing with your people now. What I have found works is that our own children sometimes listen to others rather than to us, because they have become so accustomed to our voices that they take us for granted. So if you find that happening within your community too, get a respectable outsider with a lot of charisma to communicate your thoughts to them (your people). Either way, your thoughts will be communicated.

Dear Chondra,
Thank you for your kind remarks. If you know of any avenues/meetings where these 'race' dialogues can begin, please post them on this site. It could be the beginning of a wonderful trend between all races. We don't need any government initiatives to bring us together. We can handle it ourselves. Call it the EMPOWERMENT of people.

The Chinese community already has a couple of social events planned for this month:

Asian-American Cultural Festival of Long Island, New York --
Building Bridges & Promoting Awareness & Appreciation for Cultural Diversity.
Sunday, March 11, 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Student Activities Center.
If you have any questions, contact Wang Center, Stonybrook University at 631-632-4400, and ask for my friend SUNITA MUKHI who is the Director of Asian-American programs at Stonybrook University, Long Island. Each month she hosts several very interesting programs.

1:00–5:00 p.m.
Free Admission. All are welcome.
Multi-Cultural Booths with Crafts, Live Music, Literature, Costumes. Small Group Performances/Lectures. Tea Ceremony and Cultural Displays by the Tzu Chi Foundation. Children’s Live Interactive Show

5:00–9:00 p.m.
Reserved Tickets: $20
Presentation of Awards
Classical Performances by Asian Artists
Delicious Asian Fusion Buffet Dinner
Spectacular Raffle Drawing
For more information Download flier:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/wang/AACultural%20FestivalFlier.doc.pdf.

AND
Asian-American Film festival, March 15-25 in San Francisco.
For more info, visit the following website:
http://www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org/

Jaya Kamlani

[Justin Time]

Bottom line the guy is insane. If you doubt this is true then read these interviews with Kenneth Eng about his book "Dragons: Lexicon Triumverate":
http://www.forewordmagazine.com/ftw/ftwarchives.aspx?id=20050601.htm
http://blogs.ign.com/Hil-IGN/2006/09/01/29782/
(note the cover of his book)

This thing has gone way too far, the guy is obviously is mentally unstable and shouldn't have been able to get a job as a writer for any publication at all.

I am black and I currently am living in China, and for the most part everyone is extremely nice to me, I mean there is the odd incident here and there, but there are idiots in every race, and I treat them like I treat the idiots in my own race, I ignore them.

Seems to me like ol' Kenny may have cooked up this whole scheme just to bring attention to himself and his terrible science fiction novels.

[Erin Birch]

Looking at the above account by Mr Eng I find it whiney and self aggrandizing. "I am the only honest person willing to speak my mind, every other person (especially those who disagree with me) are stupid or dishonest. I speak my mind no matter how wrong I am and all the dishonest or stupid gang up on me Wah wah wah. If he is so smart he would realize that it is his attitude that is causing his problems. For some reason he can't understand that his distain of others might come back and bite him. Silly person.

His determination to be rude, abusive, and stupid will rub people the wrong way. This will ensure that when people are being asked to give him the benefit of the doubt or even a fair chance they won't do it because the dislike him and his nasty narrow minded beliefs. Yes there are racists in all races yes there are idiots in all races. I am sorry the Asian community seems to have Mr Eng a twofer.

[Tim]

After reading this article, which I've just found, I find it hardly worth the effort the American press seem to be giving it.
A circulation of a paper which one must purchase is not even 50,000? How many people then actually had the ability to find this magazine, let alone this exact issue, to read the damning article in question? But I digress.

The point is, Kenneth Eng should have the ability to write whatever he pleases. America is a country that was founded on these principles of freedom of thought and speech, but it seems in this era of political correctness that we're silencing things we don't agree with or cannot accept. Why is it the people who always preach tolerance find it so difficult to tolerate people who are intolerant? It seems hypocritical, and this is something few people seem to acknowledge publicly.

While I find Kenneth Eng's article very angsty and angry, it's clear he still has a lot of growing up to do. The world doesn't care what you say or think until it's something that pisses someone else off. Due to this, it seems like we're missing out on discussion for a range of issues in the fear that somebody out there might have been offended by it.

I've lived in China for a number of years and currently still live here. I've experienced racism in many forms, from getting an apartment, to visiting certain areas, to simply buying vegetables and foods in the market. Racism is everywhere, and it's unlikely that one article from a relatively unknown paper is going to persuade thousands of young Asians to march against blacks and whites.

More than any other group in America, the Asians suffer from huge misunderstandings by whites and blacks about their culture and habits. Often times blacks as well as whites don't even realize that Asia is a very diverse place with amazing cultures and languages. Asians are typically viewed as wearing straw hats, eating odd things, and speaking in tonal gibberish. This in itself is offensive. Kenneth's article makes it evident that he's an angry young guy, and he's venting his anger out on people who are different. However, if we're going to burn the witch, let's burn all of them, shall we? I find it shocking to see and hear some of the things done on MTV and on television shows such as Chappelle Show. Hip-hop artists make millions off of racial diatribes while Chappelle rolls in money for making racial jokes about nearly everyone. Where should the line be drawn?
When is it okay to talk about racism, and when is it not? It's a horrifying thought to think that in this day and age of fighting for freedom and democracy that we chastise those who we disagree with because their thinking is not what the majority accept.

[Stephen]

Jaya,

From reading your comments, you seem like a very compassionate person, wanting our dynamic society to become a melting pot , showing understanding for each others social behaviors and history. I applaud your spirit, just dont exhaust yourself because this country is built on hatred and isolation. Its the american pastime, people really bottling up their true feelings, and its somewhat taboo to voice blatant discontent for neighboring races. I am a black male and my wife is asian, i had no knowledge of her country until we met, Eng to me seems a bit off the wall but he is upset and is using the media as a resource to voice his concerns. reading his article initially made me a bit angry but after reading other articles about this makes me wonder what the real problem is.

Ezekiel,
From reading your comments, I have never heard any black person challenge or voice any concerns about the impact of Christianity on black people or asking any questions about black discrepancies in our society. I applaud you sir, we have much needed work, and this lesson can only be taught to those seeking the truth, because the majority will greet this with rage and irrational dialogue.

[Jaya Kamlani]

Dear Stephen,

Thank you for your kind remarks. I try to win over one person at a time. There is too much hatred in the world and that is why wars are being fought. We don't need to add more fuel to the fire. I too have seen challenges in my life, but I have always maintained faith in myself and in God. And I have hope that someday we can all see the folly of our arrogance and decide to come together.

I think one of the best things that we can do for Kenneth Eng is to have him spend a couple of months with an African-American family, so he can learn about their culture, eat with them at the same table, and accompany them to their church (church attendence is optional). In other words, he has to live like an ordinary African-American for that time period and provide community service to the African-Americans. He has to pitch in and help out. When he is done with that program, he will hopefully be a changed person. During that period we should NOT judge him at all. Following that, we should observe him another year to determine if he has changed in his ways. I think that is the best thing we can do for Kenneth Eng. It will help him overcome his anger too. If he changes, who knows someday he might also change other people's attitude towards racism. Perhaps someone can suggest this to one of the Asian leaders in San Francisco.

Jaya Kamlani

[Jaya Kamlani]

This evening I received the following email from "dontspeakfor.us" info@dontspeakfor.us for a petition I had signed against Kenneth Eng’s article in Asian Week.

Subject: AsianWeek Removes Samson Wong as Editor-in-Chief

Dear Petition Signer,

Leaders of the civil rights organizations that initiated the protest against AsianWeek's publication of a hate speech column against African Americans today noted the newspaper's decision to remove Samson Wong as editor-in-chief.

The masthead of the newspaper's March 30 issue shows that Wong's title is now "Senior Editorial Consultant."

"We asked AsianWeek to hold the editor responsible for publishing the piece accountable," said Gen Fujioka, program director at the Asian Law Caucus. "Though the community still needs to hear directly from AsianWeek, we hope this indicates a step towards healing the hurt caused both to African Americans and also the vast majority of Asian Americans who abhor the racism expressed by the previous article."

"From the start, this has not been just an issue of hate speech, but an issue of journalistic judgment and responsibility," said Vincent Pan, executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. "All communities must be vigilant against bigots and racists, as well as those who hand them microphones."

After initially denying any wrongdoing, AsianWeek issued an apology and fired Kenneth Eng, the writer of a column titled "Why I Hate Blacks" that advocated discriminating against African Americans.

Immediately after the column was published, a national coalition of APA and civil rights organizations called on AsianWeek to, among other things, review its editorial policy and process and hold those responsible for the decision to publish the Eng piece accountable.

Thank you very much for signing our petition and lending your support on this issue!

More info at dontspeakfor.us:
http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=132190727&u=1267617

Jaya Kamlani

[Stephen]

Jaya,

I feel that black people have always been on the side of wanting acceptance in the great american society, so many talk shows over the years of blacks getting upset with those individuals who voice their discontent for black people, black culture and black behavior. It is time that blacks need to take advantage of the opportunities that are available and make significant progress as individuals than as a group. We are far too divided and the majority having no historic origin to tie our beginnings to, leaves us a non-directional people. Eng does not need to spend time with a black family, he does not deserve the chance to do so. But we can all learn from his statement, there is much truth to what he has written. We are a weak people, handicapped by religion, flurishing through entertainment and sports, calling each other nigger and becoming highly upset when others call us the same name. Michael Richards tirade bringing out black leaders holding dialogue with him about why he is angry with us, who cares about Michael Richards, he is an idiot comedian. I am tired of apologies, lets just work hard, make money and build our communities. This country was built on terror but lets not dwell on the past, accept the past and build for the future. Blacks main problem is generations just recycling bad habits and tendencies, becoming highly emotional during a police brutality episode but after the smoke clears there's no progress just regress. I too have bad tendencies to shed but I have acknowledged them and will do my best to become a better human being. (my writing needs work but hopefully you all can understand my message)

[Stephen]

Perhaps Asian Week needed the exposure, knowing that targeting blacks would receive a mild ramification, obviously the screening process for editorials for major newspapers is extensive this would have happened at a high school level, especially knowing the emotional reactions to something of this nature. They gambled and really did not lose just earned some easy controversial points and perhaps some new readers rather than loosing some. They probably just wanted some shock journalistic attention, and they received just that at the expense of black people.

[Rob]

Kenneth Eng hit every group except the insurance selling Australian aborigine.

Think he is going to the extreme to make a point that there is a no difference between political correctness and racism by using the extreme and being absurd because everyone dont want to admit they are a racist for we rarely examine our own actions, thoughts and life. Its only when we are "punched in the face" by such "cold water" that force us to think and react.

We may not outwardly or act like a racist but just about all of us will sit silently and not react or remedy someone else being attack racially or by using the "race card" as a hypocritcal tool of racism. For one does not remedy racism by using more racism (i.e. affirmative actions, quotas, etc).

Apathy and silence when someone else be being racially attacked is just as racist as those who overtly are spewing their hatred.

[RIchard]

He's a fiction writer yes? I think perhaps he was just writing up some fiction to try and show a point: that racism is still an isue. Or he's insane. Whatever it is he's hardline.

[Sananikone]

HAH!,(dealing with stateside readers*) i have a question that is sure to engage some thought, since this seems to coincide with history. as far as slavery and mistreatment by the americans upon other races is concerned- *please dont forget that the chinese(asian community) were enslaved to create the first intercontinental rail-road, the native americans and the trail of tears (forced relocation from homelands), and the spanish today payed barely minimum wage if that (illegal or not, its happening), as well as the slave trade for the afro-americans.

what grounds/history do we really actually know(for those of us who studied in the states again*). for all we know the history books we picked up from first all the way to whatever grade could have been re-written hundreds of times. and each time changed to suit/fit/produce a more "american" or "suitable" history of what really happend. yes im questioning my own personal knowledge, because i keep an open mind. think about it.

apologies if im getting off topic, but the way i see Kenneth Engs article is that he's basically mad that the afro-americans have become more "accepted" in society as opposed to asians/native american/middle eastern..whatever race. bottom line is they have(and its the truth*), why? i honestly dont know, but i think its yes partly because of the slave trade. but mainly the afro-americans were the first to unite as a whole against america to gain their freedom. i dont know where im going with this exactly, its hard for me to accumulate my thoughts at the moment and form them into coherent text, but my thought is there. atleast i hopefully provided a question/thought that might stir some more opinions or beliefs, and isnt that what we're all here for? to share our thought, comments as well as beliefs?

and for those of you who dont think race is an issue in this day and time. why is affirmative action still enforced?

[Jaya Kamlani]

Dear Sananikone,

I think you ask some very intelligent questions that many people take for granted. I think you can be a wonderul writer someday because you dig deep into human behavior and history... about the afro-americans being "the first to unite as a whole against america to gain their freedom," and therefore now very much accepted by an average America, which I also believe to be true.

You also state, QUOTE "chinese(asian community) were enslaved to create the first intercontinental rail-road, the native americans and the trail of tears (forced relocation from homelands), and the spanish today payed barely minimum wage if that (illegal or not, its happening), as well as the slave trade for the afro-americans." UNQUOTE

Now, I know something about the "Trail of tears" for I live in Atlanta, and I know that Cherokee territory once passed through the land where I presently live, and how the Cherokee were driven off from their lands to the west of the Mississippi, because gold was found in southern Georgia. But then you talk about the Chinese and the inter-continental railroad and the Spanish and their minimum wage...

You come across as a very knowledgeable person and want to analyze these histories and come to some conclusion. I commend you for that. I hope some of the other readers can help you get to where you want to go with that information. If not, then keep searching and you will find the answer someday yourself. Deep thoughts eventually get you some place when you are trying to make sense of the world.

I do believe race is still an issue not only in America, but in the whole world, because we are so ego-driven, we cannot accept another creation of God. We are too driven by the superfluous to understand the depth of a person. I hope more people like you will communicate on this blog, so we can have some deep and meaningful debates and conversations.

Jaya Kamlani

[Derrick Tatum]

It seems that Mr. Eng is taking his unpleasant experiences with some African-Americans and writing off an entire race of people. Unfair at best. I've had unpleasant experiences with Asians, but I can't hate an entire race of people because of that. I've also had extremely pleasant and rewarding experiences with Asian co-workers/friends. What Mr. Eng left out of his Feb. article and also this 2005 article is his role in the interaction. Listening to his views on other races, it is not terribly surprising to know that he has trouble getting along with other peolples (Americans, Whites, Blacks...etc.) How can you expect to have anything but a less than desirable encounter with people you've completely written off and don't mind revealing the fact that you have. It would take a very big person to overcome your unfair presumtions about them and like you in spite of yourself.
I would love to hear from the 90% of blacks that he spoke of, as well as his class-mates. It would not surprise me if I were to learn that a majority of them were re-acting to his negativity. You get out what you put in. It would also not surprise me to learn that a small few of the 90%/classmates were just as racist as you are Mr. Eng. There are some in EVERY race. It's a human thing, not racial.

That being said. Seperation is a social construct. The notion that we humans are so vastly different is flawed. We're just different peoples having different experiences. Just about every race were enslaved at some point in their history. If this planet were to be invaded by extraterrestrials, our racial problems would dissolve overnight. WE ALL ARE ONE! I pray/long for the day when HUMAN BEINGS wake up and realize that we are all the same and we want the same things in life. I hope this young man comes to realize the truth about why we are here and what it is we should be encouraging. I respect his right to have and even share his views, but there are better ways of dealing with his perceived discrimination against himself.

[Steve]

It is too bad that Kenneth Eng couldn't have an honest discussion about his feelings.

I don't believe he was justifying his feelings. He was just giving his reasons for his feelings.

Most of us can rise above our feelings and treat people appropriately regardless.

Perhaps the people who were so offended were those who themselves can't rise beyond their own feelings. And I admit, this was too sensitive of a discussion to have in a public forum.

Regarding it took them 300 years to fight back, they didn't fight back even then. It was the whites that eventually ended their slavery.

But after reading and re-reading Eng's article, trying to give him every benefit of the doubt (perhaps it was black bitting satire, perhaps it was a blunt account of how some do think but shouldn't) I just can't justify it.

Surely I kind of applaud Eng for putting some of this out in the open. There are cultural things that do separate blacks from Asians. The slavery thing for example, Japanese don't believe in surrender. That is why they treated their white prisoners during WWII so bad. I kind of respect the Japanese the "no surrender" attitude but of course there are times when one must yield to practicality.

But since Eng is being so blunt here, let me be blunt. There were several reasons why we dropped the nukes on Japan instead of Germany. For one reason, the war was about over in Europe when the bombs were ready to be used. But you know what a big reason was. RESPECT. Yes, RESPECT. We felt that there would be no other way to get a people so culturally against surrender to do so. And for what we know now even after the bombs were dropped they still almost didn't surrender.

But getting back to should Eng have written this. I believe he needed to have a better explanation as to why he did write it. It didn't seem like he was making any point here like Jonathan Swift was making in "a modest proposal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Modest_Proposal

I support Harsh Open talk, but there needs to be a point to it. In the end, what Eng posted was too much heat and not enough light.

[magusat999]

I had to respond to some of the erroneous and unresearch comments made in this forum.

"Regarding it took them 300 years to fight back, they didn't fight back even then. It was the whites that eventually ended their slavery."

Neither was slavery a 100% "WHITE" institution. The African American slaves were part of an industry known as The Slave TRADE. They were TRADED by other, influential, RICH and AFFLUENT Africans. Whites did not, and could not, just go in and grab some Africans and enslave them. It was a co-operative effort between BLACKS and WHITES. So think again before you speak with such ignorance as if Blacks were just hapless victims who were sitting around being plucked off like bananas on a tree.

The same thing happened at Shanghi - Asians selling Asians to Whites. But I guess people like you dont think other people know that...

Any time you take a primitive culture, which Africans WERE, not ARE, and take them from their homeland, surround them with a weaponed militia, and isolate them - it can be expected that they won't be able to put up much of a resistance. If you are relying on ,ovies like Roots to get a picture of African American slavery, then you are a naive fool. Even the book details a much more horrible picture. Roots was made in a way not to offend the White Anericans. There are hundreds of REAL stories about slave rebellion, inhumane treatment, slave escape systems - ifyou are open to shedding your racist views you can find them; they just aren't going to be at Blockbuster... read a book sometime. You and Mr. Eng make it sound like they didn't fight back, but you both don't have a clue as to how hard they fought and the millions of slaves that died in the process - and you probably have no interest in knowing the truth, because it makes life have meaning to live in your world of lies and bullshit.

In another article, Eng speaks of Asians with no honor. He reminds me of a brash, immature, young Asian fellow who "thinks" he knows what honor is - until his elder superior reigns him in. He is too young and too immature to see the whole picture, and is conducting himself in a dishonorable fashion. Honor has no racial, cultural bias. Honor respects honor, no matter where it comes from. Honor is thankful, and indebted to those who help them. Blacks helped Asians and people of all races and cultures by putting down the sword and using the INTELLIGENT WAR TACTIC called Civil Disobedience, under Martin Luther King. They won that war, BTW, and because of that Human Rights has been a banner flying across all nations. If it weren't for the efforts of Blacks, all ethnics would have been shipped out of the USA by now. There would be NO efforets to improve the treatment of humans in any country - and don't lie and tell me that ANY Asian government was treating all of it's citizens fairly before 1964 - many of them still treat it's most impoverished citizens like sub-humans today.

Blacks contributed to your very freedom to speak your racist rubbish. Al sharpton defended the KKK's right to freedom of speech - that's honor.

Too bad this wasn't feudal Japan - I woder what type of punishment a blowhard like Eng would suffer for his big, loud mouth and his bigotry against - well everyone. Obviously, he isn't royalty - so what hut would he be living in? If you want to go back to a world like that, Mr. Eng; where the efforts and the effects of the contributions of Blacks does not apply, I'm sure there are a few obscure places in the world where you can find it. You are free to travel and live any place in the world that you can find where it is as race monopluristic as possible. When they come to your house and execute you, I bet you'll be reconsidering then... but alas - too late.

[Some Random Asian Dude]

There are some truth in his convictions - it has become socially acceptable to make fun of Asians, and not receive flak about it. I know that every race has its stereotypes, but Asian stereotypes are brushed off as non-serious. I don't know if its because of the fact that we didn't recieve some well-recognized genocide like the Holocaust or Enslavement, which would otherwise make people feel sorry for us. We are fairly successful on a per capita ratio, maybe that instills some jealousy, anger, or hate. I too have experience racism, but I take it in stride, I look at it as someone who is too ignorant/stupid and rather consume his/herself with hate. I feel sorry for Kenneth, he left racism get the best of him.

[Asian_Dragon]

I believe Eng should speak his mind. He may appear weak in appearence but strong in the heart because it sometimes is harder to speak out than to be silent. I believe his power is not in his physical appearence but in his pen and it strikes harder than any punch thrown at him. For the powerless in society the voice is the best defense. Now, Eng needs to avoid those 'dark alleys' such as that acting class in which he described. Instead, he should do whatever it takes to leave places of such negativity because he really is asking for it. Blacks do not understand but we dont look down on them. The African American community has wounds it needs to deal with internally but they do not need to lash out at Asians and Whites. Onces African Americans learn to forgive is only when they will realize that Asian Americans are just standing up to negatively with a will and determination of steel.