Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Knicks MSG Network makes a graphic and strikes out. Is it ok to include an African American player and watermelon? ribs? fried chicken? White player and cornbread? milkbottles? trailers? Mexican player and sleeping dude at a cactus? C’mon!
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Most of you don’t buy magazines. It’s proven by the decline of the magazine industry, but then why do people care so much that he’s on the cover of this magazine that’s quickly shrinking in size? Tradition? If he were on the cover of si.com, you would probably think, “ok cool” but since he made it to the print edition that you hardly see or bat an eye to, it matters a lot. It’s about tradition and a popular magazine, and the Jeremy Lin story matters to Asian Americans, but most are not supporting SI by paying for this.
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Jeremy Lin watch is on. It’s happening by Asian Americans everywhere. Like the photos and imagery of people watching games or huge events at a TV shop showroom window, it happening on iPhones, bars, and everywhere. Last night, the Lakers played the Knicks. In LA, everyone’s a Laker fan, but for this one game, Asian Americans routed for just 1 player over their own local heroes. Below, I watched part of the game through the barred window at a barber shop in Echo Park. The folks inside routed for the Lakers, us Asian Americans outside, it was for Jeremy Lin. One customer emerged and talked about how the Lakers weren’t playing well, oblivious to the fact that we didn’t care.
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The Chinky Eyes are fine sometimes, when done by an Asian or Asian American, but not okay when it happens at Starbucks. It happened in Georgia to two Korean customers as reported in Angryasianman. This becomes part of the “N-Word” issue. Who says it? When is it okay? The N Word – the variety with the “a” at the end has crossed borders and it says behind closed doors with some racist overtones. Perhaps from it being used by Denzel Washington to hip hoppers everywhere. The chinky eyed character. Is it now ok? Is it not? Is it ok if it’s done behind closed doors? Does anyone want to draw this anyway? Or is it only in malice or racism? It’s a topic that’s not up for debate, but in a short amount of time, it’s appeared in two different contexts. One, okay as it appeared in media everywhere and another Starbucks that’s not ok. It’s all about the intention and it’s important to know that humor might not transcend the lines of perceived racism.
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In the last few days, two names have emerged as the biggest news makers of Asian America – perhaps of the year, and it’s only early February. Our friend, David Choe (below right) made huge news because of a Facebook mural, the right choice, and reportedly $200 million dollars. No, he didn’t build Facebook, but he decorated it and chose stocks over a decent sum of money for his labor in 2005. Years later, he has more than a winning lotto ticket or even Kobe Bryant. He’s been on Howard Stern, Nightline tomorrow, and there’s plenty of media he’s turning down. He’s been in the forefront of the news. Then there’s Jeremy Lin, two games 58 points, a lot of assists and he’s playing in New York City. From the dumps to one of the biggest stages in sports. Who knows what kind of contract he has and what will happen in the next game or when the other guards heal up, but he’s doing the Jackie Robinson type of thing in the NBA for Asian America, although it’s only 2 games. Surely, the Jeremy Lin story might be more important although it’s a mere two games and not an annual All Star candidate, but he’s pushing Asian America in the most traditional ways. From high school stand out to Harvard to the NBA, getting cut a few times then sent to the D League, and now “starring.” Yet, the Choe story is something that’s akin to a new Asian America and new world. Social media riches isn’t the same as the age old NBA, yet for an outspoken Asian American, it’s a great medium and in the case of David Choe, he chose free speeching Howard Stern as his first interview over all of traditional media and was interviewed by Barbara Walters doing graffiti. Since the title of the post has a vs… who’s news is more important? It’s hard to tell just yet. David Choe has potential energy to do a lot more and go to the billionaire mark and be the biggest artist period. Jeremy Lin can be a great basketball player. An All Star if he keep playing like he is, at the moment, Jeremy Lin has the edge but it can die out. Choe on the other hand is like Richard Pryor in Brewster’s Millions. Who knows what he’ll do.
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