What Kind of Asian are You?

Yesterday, some awesome guy posted a comment in response to my article about single Asian fathers which appeared in both the NW Asian Weekly's print copy and website.

I think I'm more disturbed by the fact that this singular person has decided to make themselves the gatekeeper to who can be considered an Asian or Asian-American. Ignoring the fact that he uses the term "flip" -- which is not only racist and derogatory, but also archaic -- what kind of follow up can someone have? I simply wanted to write a story about being a single father who happens to be from an ethnic group.

This does open up the floodgates of who people consider Asian. Up until the mid-to-late 90s, I've always been identified as "Asian" in legal documents. Afterwards, "Pacific Islander" started popping up in forms and applications, but seeing as how my family has roots in Chinese, Spanish and Indian cultures, I feel that "Asian" is an all encapsulating term. Also, I'm full Filipino, well as full as someone whose parents are both from Manila can be.

I guess, in the end, it really comes down from a source of miscommunication, ignorance and just plain ol' dumbness. But somehow, I'm still left dumbfounded.

Fun while it lasted...

I haven't had the opportunity to write about "Ashergate 2009" recently, but here's the quick rundown:

My least favorite rapper, Asher Roth, played at Rutgers and tried making light of last years Don Imus/Nappy Headed Hoes comment. Obviously, this did not play out very well. But to give my archnemesis the benefit of the doubt, he was trying to lampoon Imus. Fair enough. Then Roth is quoted in Pitchfork as saying "You guys (other rappers) are disgusting." Again, in all fairness, he was talking about the plight of Africans and how American rappers tend to spend their money. This coming from a guy who basically glorifies date rape on his single about college and used the release date 4/20 as his marketing ploy.

Huh.

Eskay and the Nahright crew weren't having this and issued a Roth ban until homedude apologized, which he did, assuming that Steve Rifkind threw a chair at him or something that he picked up from working with ODB or MOP.

Personally, I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion to a certain degree. More than anything, however, I doubt Asher Roth -- as a white kid from an affluent suburb -- is in any position to talk about how rappers who have typically come from places of poverty should spend their money. Yes, I am being a hypocrite here since superficial musical acts are usually who I talk shit about the most, but given the nature of my upbringing, I feel like I have a much better grasp on the socio-political implications than some severely mediocre college rapper. I'm just sayin'.

That being stated, I'm actually a little bummed that the Roth ban is lifted. The reality is that if the ban had stayed in place, Roth already has such a following (there's no accounting for taste) that just because a singular hip-hop website (even if it's the best one) stops posting about him, it won't hurt his career among fans -- only credible hip-hop heads. Which, as I write this, was probably the point all along. Oh well.

BAN ASHER ROTH!