Multicultural Initiatives: Make Me Asian

What's this blog about?

I teach several courses under the broad topic of "Multicultural Education," prioritizing social justice issues of access, power/privilege, & narrowing the academic achievement gap. I am a person of color and I almost always have a white co-teacher. We include topics, such as: racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, ethnocentrism, deculturalization, transforming curriculum, etc. This is a place where I post information that we teach; lesson plans for activities; and resources we use and/or which are shared with me by my adult students.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Make Me Asian

Make Me Asian http://www.npr.org/2013/01/12/169201593/make-me-asian-app-sparks-online-backlash: Tens of thousands of people have downloaded two apps from the Google Play Store that are sparking accusations of racism.

The "Make me Asian" and "Make me Indian" apps allow Android smartphone users to take a picture and superimpose characteristics the developer thinks relate to those ethnic groups. An online petition is urging Google to remove the apps from its store.

My comments: This is similar to "Black Face" and for the same reason, should not be tolerated. It is offensive to take characteristics of an ethnic group, assuming they can be distilled down to just a few characteristics, and reinforce stereotypes and prejudices of society at large, especially when that group is historically oppressed and under-represented in accurate imagery.