Comments

1. Dana wrote:

   Ha! Someone posted this on a completely non-race related website and I said I was not entirely comfortable with the routine.

   I felt very ambivilent and wasn’t quite sure how I felt. I settled for “I don’t feel comfortable with a comedy routine based entirely on racial caricatures”

   I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s “racist”. But given the social backdrop of overwhelming racial stereotyping, I don’t think this kind of thing really serves a purpose. And, true to life or not, what exactly about it is funny?

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 8:25 am ¶

2. Ji In wrote:

   I guess for me, this comes down to cultural (mis)appropriation. It strikes me as inappropriate, or at the very least, unwise, to deliberately coopt the cultural qualities of another ethnic group (or what one interprets as the cultural qualities of another ethnic group) in pretty much any scenario. Comedy seems no exception to me.

   Resorting to “ethnic” impersonations and relying on cheap racial stereotypes as gimmicks generally seems like the hallmark of dime-store comedy anyway. It brings to mind Rosie O’Donnell’s whole “ching-chong” bit, and her insistence that “ching-chong” was her rendition of a Chinese accent. “Just comedy, folks,” she said. (Hmm, OK sure, so just mimic the culture and language of another race, and it’s instant comedy? Simple!) Johnson more or less depends on the same kind of schtick at the end of the video, with her “rendition” of the Vietnamese language.

   Take away the “ethnic” aspect of Johnson’s act, and what’s left to laugh at? It’s clear that she is relying on the “accent” to get her audience off, not on the actual dialogue. So yes, I feel like this is, to some extent, racist. Sure, probably not maliciously intended, but racist nonetheless.

   I don’t think people of color should be let off easy for caricaturing other people of color, simply because they’re POC. It would have struck me as equally unsettling coming from a white woman or a black woman. As you’ve mentioned, Philip, I agree that Asians doing “Asian accents” as comedy probably serves to perpetuate stereotypes to some extent, but I would still argue that a Vietnamese-American comedian doing a Vietnamese accent has an element of — I want to say “ownership” — that isn’t there when a non-Vietnamese coopts or appropriates a Vietnamese accent.

   I guess it doesn’t matter to me how “well-researched” this was. If 5 out of 10 Vietnamese Americans are offended by this schtick, that’s still 5 too many for me to be able to rest easy about Johnson’s act.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 10:05 am ¶

3. Rob wrote:

   I think that the following is a good way to look at it.

   It’s racist but it’s not. Here’s why:

   I think it’s not racist because she’s just mimicking an accent that isn’t racist by itself. I’ve seen people do annoying accents of all kinds so the act itself isn’t bad.

   However, it’s racist in the fact that it’s building and reinforcing the same tired stereotype of the nail salon owner that can’t speak English. This reinforces the Perpetual Foreigner stereotype which is racist because it is racially connected.

   Am I making any sense?

   Say, if you have a role of a big, tough gang banger and a studious math nerd. Both are roles that are not racial specific but if you had a black man play the gang banger while an Asian guy plays the nerd, it would then be racially connected because certain races have stereotypes connected to them.

   If, say, the Asian guy played the big and tough gang banger while the black guy plays the math nerd, they’re no longer racially connected.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 10:24 am ¶

4. kim wrote:

   “Cultural misappropriation.”

   I’m glad you chose that term. I agree with Ji In’s comment on the whole.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 10:56 am ¶

5. anonymous wrote:

   I’m asian, and the ugly truth is, asians (especially FOBs) are funny and are easy to make fun of. Bad accents, traditional values, funny smell, funny food, short and weak, and bookworms.

   Until they cut off the H1B and immigration pipeline, most Americans are going to see asians as strange foreigners, making life in general a little tougher for the 2nd and later generations of asian-americans, who have very much assimilated in but are still sensitive to FOB caricatures.

   I think I’m going to have to live with comedians always making fun of asians, but I would love to see an asian comedian making fun of other ethnicities – no holds barred.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 11:15 am ¶

6. LM wrote:

   I have no beef with Anjelah Johnson here. As compared with Rosie, for example, Johnson’s “rendition” was a specific one from her experience, not some warmed-over infantile impression that conveys an utter lack of shared humanity. Beyond the accent, one of the details she highlighted was some sophisticated salesman(woman)ship. I say credit Anjelah Johnson with being a sharp listener, observer and reporter… and however “close” her vocal impression is becomes almost irrelevant. For the record, it sounded good to me; if it hadn’t been I would’ve cringed — just as if I’d seen a bad audition on “American Idol.” Not that I’ve ever seen “AI”.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 11:47 am ¶

7. bertie wrote:

   I don’t think its racist. Doing accents–whether British, French, Vietnamese, Latin or even southern “Bubba” are not racist by themselves–especially if it is an accurate description of how a person speaks. The content and context must be examined. The comedian is trying to set a scene that many in the audience may have familiarity with. The “humor” is in the truth of the shared experience. Is it automatically racist for a storyteller to enhance the setting of the scene by including accents? I don’t think so.

   As LM noted the point of the routine was not to show the characters as stereotypically clueless immigrants with poor language skills and no grasp of American culture. Instead, in my opinion, the routine shows the vietnamese characters as sophisticated business women who use small talk, compliments, and a keen understanding of how their U.S. born and/or culturally assimilated customers think to upsell services to their clients.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 12:27 pm ¶

8. julie wrote:

   are her looks swaying any critical opinon? when my boyfriend and i watched this clip online, his initial reaction was, “wow, she is hot, is she hapa, wow, she is hot, drool, idiotic drool”.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 12:36 pm ¶

9. daddyinastrangeland wrote:

   Just saw this on Angry Asian Man:

   http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/02/a-sneak-peel-at-mike-myers-racial-romp.php

   Mike Myers’ new character is an accented quasi-South Asian guru.

   Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 12:37 pm ¶

10. Yori Kim wrote:

    I feel offended (though I’m very sensitive about this stuff) . I don’t think that asian accents are funny what so ever. I think they’re normal (considering half my family has accents.) I’m seriously dissapointed into what comedy has become. Not saying there isn’t good humour out there. It’s just that race humour happens to get more and more popular by the minute. And I find that extremely sad

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 1:54 pm ¶

11. Colin wrote:

    Is there any one who thinks this routine is funny? I thought it was racist and really bad, as humor would go. It’s kind of shameless, it seems, her use of racial stereotyping as her basis for humor is kind of sad.

    One question I have is: Is the racial aspect the only funny thing because she’s not funny otherwise or because the audience just naturally finds that funnier?

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 3:31 pm ¶

12. ren wrote:

    Oh, I agree with you Bertie, accents aren’t inherently racist. One must examine the content and context. That’s why I agree with Ji In’s view of the content:

    “It’s clear that she is relying on the “accent” to get her audience off, not on the actual dialogue.”

    You say the “humor” is in the truth of the shared experience. But what of all the guys in the audience, would we just not find that funny since few of us have entered a Vietnamese nail salon? Perhaps the experience of the Vietnamese nail salon is just one of those universal truths, an archetype, that even guys can shake their heads knowingly and understand. Or perhaps ethnic accents, like pratfalls and lemon pies to the face, appeal to the lowest denominator because it tickles our generalizations about ethnic groups. I don’t know for sure.

    I don’t find her particularly racist. Using an accent to enhance the comedic material is fine. But in this case an over-reliance of the foreign accent was done in lieu of comedic material, I find that a bit uncomfortable. Before I judge if a storyteller is using an accent appropriately, I’d first make it a requisite for a storyteller to have a story to tell. Same for a comedian if they are going to relay their experience in the context of being comedic. This isn’t spontaneous stand-up comedy quipping about a particular experience, this is a finely polished and practiced routine. Quite a few people here don’t find the story particularly funny, even less so if there was no accent. Few of the people at Kineda said this was an hilarious routine or how funny she was, they all approved of the impeccable accent which says nothing of the actual comedic material.

    Not sure about this free-market capitalism defense of bad comedy. Considering that people laughed and elicited clapping at the very first thing she said, which wasn’t funny at all despite being said with an Asian accent, I don’t think when they heard that it was because they immediately construed an image of Vietnamese women as sophisticated and savvy businesswomen. Perhaps that’s what jumped into your head afterwards and maybe that’s funny in a sense, but that sounds more like after-the-fact reasoning. Not saying that isn’t a “possible” reason to find it funny, just not sure if it’s what people found funny at the time. And honestly if you have to give a rational after the comedy is over as to why people SHOULD or COULD find it funny, I’m guessing, it wasn’t that hilarious and they weren’t laughing for those particular reasons.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 3:33 pm ¶

13. P.Moore wrote:

    are her looks swaying any critical opinon? when my boyfriend and i watched this clip online, his initial reaction was, “wow, she is hot, is she hapa, wow, she is hot, drool, idiotic drool”.

    You make a good point.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 3:37 pm ¶

14. Daniela wrote:

    Hi! I really enjoy your blog. I was wondering if you heard about this:

    BET will air the Top 25 Events That (mis) Shaped Black America on February 20 at 10p. The 60-minute show, a BET and blacjac entertainment group co-production, takes a rather comical look into the hooplas around Fab 5 Freddy, Meagan Good, Nekesa Moody, and others.

    If you check it out I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

    Keep up the great writing!

    ~ D

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 3:48 pm ¶

15. P.Moore wrote:

    Instead, in my opinion, the routine shows the vietnamese characters as sophisticated business women who use small talk, compliments, and a keen understanding of how their U.S. born and/or culturally assimilated customers think to upsell services to their clients.

    This is what I was referring to when I said she did her homework. I didn’t see this as a dig on the ‘nail lady’ at all, but rather a statement about the keenness of a businesswoman.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 4:08 pm ¶

16. Meg wrote:

    That was boring and not funny which breaks what should be the first rule for a comedian – be funny. I think if you’re actually funny then you can get away with a lot more. Is it always racist to do an accent – i don’t think so cos it adds to a routine but the routine has to be funny on it’s own merits. I’ve seen an Aussie-Indian(i think) start his routine with a stereotypical Indian accent – ppl politely sit – then he says something along lines of get stuffed and reverts to his real aussie strine and has caught the audience out on their preconceptions of him. My whole description prob sounds not funny, but it’s an e.g where i think the accent thing can work. It gets awkward with accents/cultural stuff cos you’re unsure is it racist, is it challenging stereotypes, etc but i think things which call the audience on their likely stereotypes can (and does) work.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 4:39 pm ¶

17. al wrote:

    if your story (or bit or whatever) is only funny because of someone’s accent, then it’s not actually funny. if it’s funny anyway, then you don’t need the accent. if it’s some kind of misunderstanding because of the way someone speaks you can describe that situation without imitating the speech. if someone was speaking in another language, you can just say, they were speaking in another language. it’s really not that hard.

    the only thing this clip has going for it is that it doesn’t seem to be a generic ‘asian accent’. at least not the one i’m familiar with. but it’s not funny, and the only things that seem to be ‘jokes’ are the accent and that they keep upselling her, which is pretty much presented as them tricking her. and the accent really makes that part seem like a shot at vietnamese people as opposed to beauticians, so….

    i don’t know, i just don’t see what was funny about that bit. maybe because i’ve never had my nails done or been in any predominantly vietnamese spaces. the only thing that could make this unracist is an analysis of the power involved, which i’m not in a position to do. it definitely has the non power element of racism.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 5:09 pm ¶

18. Geoffrey wrote:

    It looks like this accent thing features prominently in her life: http://www.raiderdrive.com/accent_on_personality.htm

    And she majored in speech communication.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 6:13 pm ¶

19. LM wrote:

    Fellow commenters, what do you think of performances by Sarah Jones and Anna Deavere Smith? I think Anjelah Johnson in the clip here is similarly inhabiting a character as Jones and Smith have done in their stage work… yes, Johnson’s doing it in a far different context and I’m not saying her talent/ambition is at the same level as Jones and Smith’s, but the concept is the same.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 6:19 pm ¶

20. kim wrote:

    LM!

    I was just going to similarly inquire!

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 6:31 pm ¶

21. justin wrote:

    If there is any truth in her act she feels coerced. She doesn’t care about salesmanship.
    She didn’t smile once during the salon routine. Compare her scowl to the expressions she has for Mexicans.
    Re; Anonymous, up thread, Fresh of the boat is an offensive term, where I come from at least. The abbreviations are worse.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 9:15 pm ¶

22. Nina wrote:

    LM and Kim I agree in the comparison to Smith and Jones but Smith and Jones aren’t trying to be funny. They are creating characters in serious dramatic pieces. Johnson is making fun of the Vietnamese accent, that is what makes it cringe inducing. I have seen Margaret Cho do bits on her mother using a Korean accent. I have seen John Leguizamo riff on his hispanic upbringing and the neighborhood he grew up in. And we have all seen Dave Chapelle make fun of African Americans. The reality is that there is a pass given to people of color to make fun of their own, but not to cross racial lines. Ah but what about the white chracters that these same comedians create in their skits. That could be a whole other thread of discussion in itself. The lines are indeed blurry but I think we all have a sense of when the lines have been crossed. It is hard to explain but to me Johnson’s skit was inappropriate and not that funny. Would love to know what the racial makeup of the audience was.

    Posted 06 Feb 2007 at 10:55 pm ¶

23. Melissa wrote:

    I agree with Ji In and Rob on this.
    Unfortunately, I think that we`re so accustomed to hideously exaggerated images of Asians that a portrayal less over-the-top is not expected. That`s the novelty of her act, and may cause people to hesitate for a moment. I wouldn`t confuse it with challenging a stereotype, though. She might have simply toned it down a bit, but she`s still using the same formula. The audience reaction reflects this, particularly when she resorts to using gibberish.

    Posted 07 Feb 2007 at 4:39 pm ¶

24. Y. Carrington wrote:

    It may be just me, but Johnson’s “accent” doesn’t sound remotely Vietnamese. Rather it’s a bad amalgam of bit-player Southern Dixie and Chinese—the same old stereotypical Hollywood-strength nonsense that we’re used to.

    I’d say that the “foreigner” accent is employed here solely for the guaranteed cheap laughs, and unfortunately, it works every time. And that’s where I find the racism here—the fact that audiences will consistently pay big rewards for comics’ ethnic stereotyping.

    Posted 08 Feb 2007 at 3:21 pm ¶

25. Colin wrote:

    Y. Carrington-

    Good point, makes you think about how people like Carlos Mencia became famous, or at least wealthy.

    Posted 09 Feb 2007 at 4:00 am ¶

26. TR wrote:

    P.Moore wrote:
    This is what I was referring to when I said she did her homework. I didn’t see this as a dig on the ‘nail lady’ at all, but rather a statement about the keenness of a businesswoman.

    …the immigrant asian has taken over the nail industry in many states. They have been called “chop shops” and “non-standard salon NSS”. The irony is that they are very talented and a GREAT business people.

    And the best part is that they are building their wealth and their children are getting a white collar education and they are laughing all the way to the bank!

    If only us white folk in this industry had the same work ethics and business savvy.

    I am white so is this last comment racist? Some of you people need to get a life!

    Posted 22 Feb 2007 at 6:49 pm ¶

27. Nicole wrote:

    I understand that some don’t find it funny but most people who do find it funny, do so because of the shared experience. It’s the same reason Mexicans find George Lopez funny. It’s the shared experience. And maybe Anjelah Johnson didn’t use an authentic Vietnamese accent, but she sure sounded like a lady or two at nail salons that I’ve visited. I think that many people today have a hard time laughing at racial comedy, which it is, regardless of whether or not you feel it is funny. White people seem to be most uncomfortable with it and understandably so since they’re not given the freedom to poke fun at anyone but themselves. I wonder if those who have difficulty with racial stereotyping in a comedy setting are uncomfortable with their own race or ethnicity. I am Mexican-American and love hearing George Lopez, and other Latin comedians do their accents and ethnic skits. I feel connected. I would think that by now most audiences know that the accents and jokes don’t apply to the whole ethnic group, but they definitely belong to a few.

    Posted 20 Mar 2007 at 9:23 pm ¶

28. Andrew Nguyen wrote:

    I’m Vietnamese and I have an american friend who always asks me to do the unaccented english like Angelah Johnson does . And most of the time she goes laughing really loud.
    I wonder if Angelah speaks any foreign languages and what she thinks if people mock her like she did to others.

    Posted 02 Jun 2007 at 1:34 pm ¶

29. Eugene wrote:

    At the end of it all, the only thing that makes me sad, is to see how many people can’t take a joke.

    If people actually bothered to look up the comedian and see more of her act, you’ll find she *does* poke fun at her mexican heritage, that she *does* poke fun at latinos who can’t speak spanish or speak it with a “white” accent.

    But at the end, I guess I shouldn’t expect people who are so quick to judge someone based on a 2 minute comedy routine to take the chance and actually educate themselves. I guess it’s far more easy to simply make snap judgements and then throw social buzz words arround to hide their own reactionay insecurities.

    Posted 13 Aug 2007 at 6:08 am ¶

30. Nat wrote:

    This was an interesting act of new Mad cast member, Angelah Johnson, but let’s not pinpoint simply on the Latino lady. There must be many well-known, and even professional comedians doing exactly this ethnic-accent (and more) act. If anyone has heard Russell Peters – Anglo-Indian-Canadian comic – you’ll sure to see quite a resemblance in her and the racism comedian from 1989. Angelah may have even slipped the name “Russell” in her first appearance in one of those moments of nonsense ramblings (pre-Vietnamese nail). So, why everyone is so uptight about this one act of a new comedian when this kind of thing is not new, I don’t understand. Maybe, MadTV being as popular as it is, it’s more to outshine and expand on the international audience than this one Canadian comedian.

    Posted 11 Nov 2007 at 9:09 pm ¶

31. C.J. wrote:

    I understand that some might find it offensive,
    but most comedians are like that anyway. So with that said, it isn’t new. It might be stereotyping, but in a sense there is some truth to it. Like I love how she portray, no matter what language, you can tell someone is talking “sh**” about you, but instead they say like “…you and your friend should be models..”.

    I found it funny, just because it happened to me once when I had to complain a bit with my pedicure. My friend and I wasn’t offended, we laugh it off, we laugh it off instead and said “lets not come back there anymore they did not do a well job doing our nails”.

    Comedians makes fun of any kind of race, and their race; so it’s really you at the end who find that funny or not.

    Posted 13 Jan 2008 at 12:20 pm ¶

32. Lilian wrote:

    I’m Asian.. 100%, born in Taiwan, moved here (California) when I was 2 years old.

    So yes, I’m a very in-the-middle when culture comes into play..

    BUT.

    I still find it hilarious. I’m going to be honest, I get my nails done every other week, sometimes every week. I go to multiple nail salons in search of my perfect place, and it’s true! She really has done her homework. I find it that the people who think this is full on degrading and racist are the people who 1) have never actually..been..to a nail salon.. 2) can’t take a joke. And honestly, all she’s doing is mimicking the accent. The story itself would be straight up BORING if the accent was taken away. It’d be just another nail experience.

    So what’s wrong with mimicking accents. They exist, don’t they? She never made a comment about Vietnamese people themselves, just their accents. Boohoo.

    I’m SORRY! I know this is a terrible thing to say on its own, but the more sensitive people are to racial jokes, even just accents, the more tension there will be between races and less social harmony. I make cracks at Asian accents all the time and guess who laugh the most? My Asian friends. Why? Because they’re the ones who understand it and know just how right on it is. That’s what makes the world go round. Laugh at yourself.

    Posted 08 Feb 2008 at 9:43 pm ¶

33. Hong wrote:

    Well, I understand that people make jokes about other people accent (probably behind other’s back) but it is really sad to see that my people are being make fun of. I feel that this is stereotyping as I have been to many Vietnamese nail salons and not eveyone act the same way as what Angelah Johnson portray. Just put yourself in the same situation. Do you want someone to make fun of your accent while other laugh at it??

    Posted 03 Apr 2008 at 12:48 am ¶

34. Ada wrote:

    A bit late but for anyone who comes across this: AJ is not a racist, she’s from San Jose a VERY diverse city where most nail salons are owned by 1st generation Vietnamese. The sketch is funny because the accent is actually spot on (I recognized it immediately being from the Bay myself) and it mimics mine and a lot of people’s experiences at these nail salons. For someone who said she was offended by the “gibberish”, it was a take on how some salon ladies will talk smack about you if you criticize them or in the case of one of my friends, your feet need serious maintenance haha (while the customer is left confused at the non-English “gibberish”). For AJ, I think her accent work is very much an immigrant thing, not comic hate. My friends and I who are 2nd gen sometimes break into accents when talking about our parents or culture.

    Posted 22 Mar 2009 at 9:41 pm ¶

35. Phở Kinh Yue wrote:

    I just want to say as a person of Vietnamese descent, I don’t think Angelah Johnson’s nail salon joke was trying degrade Vietnamese people in a malicious manner. If you’re complaining about the usage of the accent, well I think that just adds to the entertainment and how people can relate. Sure she could of done the joke without the accent, but so far she’s one of the few comedians who have done the nail salon joke with a more accurate Vietnamese accent. I personally don’t like the accent that is done by the Mad TV actress who keeps saying “HE look like a man”.

    There’s actually video of Anjelah Johnson mentioning that her best friend is Vietnamese and also tried to help her learn a few Vietnamese words, and his mom, and even the person she gets her nails done by! I at least give her credit for that and I don’t think she needed to get a 100% authentic accent and words to say in Vientamese, it’s not like non-Vietnamese speakers would understand anyways.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c29wsgs9VQA

    However with that said, when people mention their Asian friends who laugh at Asian jokes. It makes me wonder, is it Asian-Americans who laugh at those jokes? or is it actual Asians aka “F.O.B.s” that laugh at those jokes. I don’t think it be surprising that Asian-Americans would be the ones laughing at the fobby jokes, since part of American humor is laughing at ethnic jokes whether it’s racist or not.

    I’d also like to mention another comedian, Russell Peters. I actually showed one of my Chinese-American friends who laughed at the Anjelah Johnson joke non-stop, but when I showed him the Russell Peters Chinese joke…he started analyzing and getting offended at what Russell Peters did because he said Russell Peters didn’t say any Chinese words that meant anything. Seems like some people will laugh at jokes, as long as it’s not related to them.

    Here’s another controversial one by JustKiddingFilms – KOrean History Channel. Seems like non-Koreans love it based on the comments, while Korean nationals hate it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptyzc4BQliY

    Posted 02 May 2009 at 6:53 am ¶

36. Tina wrote:

    Personally, I didn’t think it was. (I’m 1/2 Viet… I’ve also studied linguistics and I love languages). I, interestingly, only think over-exaggerated accents and faux languages are offensive (by the latter I mean “ching chong”). I think it’s hilarious, though, when they do faux language using real words but the semantic order makes it have no meaning… then it’s sort of an inside joke to those that know the language.

    Posted 01 Jul 2009 at 3:09 pm ¶