Susan, Adam, cyber-punch me if I step on toes: But I kinda disagree. I don't think Asians are the most acceptable to joke about (besides possibly Native Americans, or definitely 'white trash') because they are the newest immigrant race for a few reasons. 1st is because most Asians in America are more than 4 generations in, and live on the left coast; often with genealogy dating them back to the great Asian migrations of the 1800s. Secondly, they are the butt of jokes because they are the most "successful" of the minorities. thus, they are attacked for it. I would postulate that Asians are 'attacked' because others are both defensive against the "model minority" and because they can justify it to themselves and others by saying, "I'm not keeping anyone down because they're already so sucsessful."

I think it is socially unacceptable to joke about African-Americans because the civil right movement, more than anything, made whites feel ashamed. But if I had to pick one race that was being treated the worst in America, it would be any Spanish-Speaking person. In rightwing politics these days it is a staple to presume that 'spics's are threatening 'our' culture. And in terms of studies and whatnot, it is virtually impossible for Hispanics to rent or buy houses in 'white' areas and only 'very hard' for blacks. Asians have trouble too, but not nearly the way other races seem to.

I know there are things I just said that are wrong at least a little bit, or disputable at least. So please comment. Besides maybe the GLBT movement, race and social class seem to me to be the most important social issues of our day. The civil rights movement to me does not seem to have ever been truly fulfilled. At least, not in Omaha.

posted by john owens-ream   [11:54 PM]

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