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
is not 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 backrub 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 heard the word all our lives.
we have learned to be Oriental.
we have learned to live it, speak it,
play the role,
and to survive in a white world
become the role.
The time has come
to look at who gave the name.