Showing posts with label Racist Signs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Racist Signs. Show all posts

1/14/2011

Chinky Bucks, Manila


IMG_1744, originally uploaded by Patrick Cowsill.

I came across this restaurant at the Taft Station LRT (Light Rail Transit) Station in Manila. I wanted to take a picture because I was amazed by how offensive it is. In their defense, I'm pretty certain the Filipinos/nas who put it up and who are tolerating it don't get how offensive it is as their history is unique from other countries.

In America, we wouldn't call a Chinese restaurant either "Chinky" or "Bucks." The former is a racial slur. The latter touches on a negative stereotype, namely that Asians are bucktoothed. If you think Bucks is just a coincidence, look at the teeth on the happy face.

When I was taking the picture, the people working at Chinky Bucks got defensive. I assured them that I wasn't trying to steal secrets but rather taking photographs of places that interested me, so I wouldn't forget them.

Note: I googled "chinky." According to Wikipedia, a chinky is what many people in England call Chinese takeout restaurants. I don't know if the connotation is negative or not in that country.

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