Olympic commentary tinged with racism
LL
On Saturday night’s men’s short track speed skating competition, the hyped match-up was between Apolo Ohno and the South Korea’s Ahn Hyun-Soo. Now, the race itself had two americans (including Ohno), two south koreans, and one skater from China. Before the race, the analysts are talking about strategy and potential race scenarios, and they both go “look for the two Koreans to conspire together against Ohno.” Conspire means to work together for something illegal. Then of course, the commentators go, “well there are two americans but they won’t be working together.” So again, we see the “sneaky chinaman” stereotype placed upon all Asians. Then, at the post-game interview with Ohno, the interviewer asking if the koreans conspired against him, and he (and this i guess i should be thankful for) goes “it was a good race.”
And also, Shani Davis wins gold! First Black athlete to win a gold in the winter olympics for an individual event! He’s being harpooned in the media for giving terse responses and not competing in the men’s team event but whatever, he won!
hmmm... wrote:
I think you’re reading too much into the commentators’ remarks regarding the Ohno race. Sounding a little paranoid.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 1:43 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
…or not. The “sneaky chinaman” was a very common element of “Yellow Peril” cinematic propaganda in the 1940s.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 1:53 pm ¶
hmmm... wrote:
yeah but I rather doubt that the commentators were thinking of that when they made the statement. I watched the race and heard the commentary and I didn’t note any invidious racism in the commentators tone. Lets not play the race card when there is no real justification for it.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 5:14 pm ¶
H wrote:
I think it just has to do with the relentless pro-American spin the Olympics coverage has. American athletes are the focus and usually everyone else is looked at as the competition unless there are no legitmate American competitors. Its just garden variety sports nationalism.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 9:20 pm ¶
Sho wrote:
I think if Ohno had a rivalry with skaters from the Netherlands and faced two Dutchmen in the same race, then I think the analysts would have said to look for the two guys in orange suits to “conspire” against Ohno. Also, I wouldn’t expect American commentators to be objective enough to say the same about two Americans in the same event.
I can see where LL is coming from, but I think the matter might be overblown. Now if this type of commentary was given in several skating events and directed toward Asian athletes, then I’d reconsider my stance.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 9:30 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
—yeah but I rather doubt that the commentators were thinking of that when they made the statement.–
The funny thing about many racist assumptions today is that they are seldom conscious. These people may well just *see* the “yellow peril” without really knowing it.
That said, I really can’t argue, seeing as I didn’t watch the event. Still, let’s not start with that whole “race card” nonsense. That term was created in order to systematically strip legitimacy from any allegation of racism.
Posted 21 Feb 2006 at 11:22 pm ¶
Luke wrote:
“yeah but I rather doubt that the commentators were thinking of that when they made the statement.”
-I never said that those commentators were cross-burning KKK racists who were directly alluding to 1940’s cinema trends, what I said was that it curiously echoes a general American sentiment with viewing Asians as these conniving people that you should be careful of. What I criticized was what they said for being racially offensive. Wiat, hold on, guess what, I just used the “N” word when I just saw a giant gorilla I saw on TV, I swear I wasn’t THINKING of that but it just came out, can ya blame me!?
“I think if Ohno had a rivalry with skaters from the Netherlands and faced two Dutchmen in the same race, then I think the analysts would have said to look for the two guys in orange suits to “conspire” against Ohno.”
-They probably would have, but the Netherlands isn’t an Asian country and people from the Netherlands don’t share the long history of racial overtones that Asian Americans do in America. And to be really, really, really bold: different groups have different stereotypes and sensitivities. Calling a 30 year old black man “boy” has a different effect than calling a Latino or White man that. Referring to a black woman’s hair as “wild” has a different effect than calling an Indian or red-headed woman’s hair “wild.”
“I can see where LL is coming from, but I think the matter might be overblown. Now if this type of commentary was given in several skating events and directed toward Asian athletes, then I’d reconsider my stance.”
-Several skating events? It would require more than one to get upset? Ahn Hyun-Soo isn’t an “Asian athlete”?
Posted 22 Feb 2006 at 1:10 am ¶
hmmm... wrote:
I still think you’re reading too much in their statements Luke. I’m not denying that their is racism directed against Asians, I just didn’t note any racism in the commentators statement. I’m not trying to minimize the appearance of racism, but I don’t think we should read things that aren’t really there. In my opinion using the N word is different from saying “look for the two Koreans to conspire against Ohno.” The N word has a stronger negative connotation than the commentators statements in my opinion. Perhaps it would have been wise for the commentators to use the skaters name, but I think there statements reflect nationalism more than racism. But that’s my opinion. You certainly have a right to your own.
Posted 22 Feb 2006 at 3:10 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
DUDE, RACISM DOESN’T START & END WITH RACIAL SLURS!!
Posted 22 Feb 2006 at 6:38 pm ¶
Sho wrote:
“-Several skating events? It would require more than one to get upset?”
I respect your opinion Luke, but it would probably take more than one comment like this to get me into HULK SMASH mode. If this commentary was repeatedly occurring, then that would be a strong indicator of racism–to me–rather than something that is ambiguous enough be interpreted as nationalistic bias.
I agree that there is a sentiment among some Americans that Asians and Asian-Americans are “untrustworthy” and “traitorous” (e.g. Wen Ho Lee, the Japanese-American “Fifth Column”). However, I just don’t get that impression from NBC’s commentary.
“Ahn Hyun-Soo isn’t an ‘Asian athlete’?”
Apologies if I sounded like I thought Hyun-Soo isn’t an Asian athlete. I was probably being a little too redundant for my own good. Maybe that last sentence would have made more sense if it had read like this:
“Now if this type of commentary was given in several skating events
and directed toward Asian athletes, then I’d reconsider my stance.”Posted 22 Feb 2006 at 10:23 pm ¶
Darla wrote:
I think the commentators simply meant the Koreans would need to come together with some sort of strategy to beat this heavy favorite.
As for Shani, he is under attack for his terse comments, so why not address it? You’ve jumped all over a presumably white-man for comments he’s made, why not analyze what a black man has said? You didn’t just say “oh well it was an American commentator speaking to an American public about the American favorite, of course his wording may be a little biased!”
Shani’s comments definately play into the “inner city black man who thinks he doesn’t owe anything to anybody and could care less about this opportunity” stereotype. How about looking into why he said those things? Maybe everyone needs to consider that this man has worked so hard for so much and has done it all on his own. He’s had only himself and his mother to depend on so why wouldn’t he be a little reserved with his emotions? Or maybe he’s a jackass. And how about our own perceptions that a black man in his place should be on his knees weeping and thanking the lord while visions of enslaved ancestors dance through his head? Can’t a guy just win a medal?
Either way, a conversation about it would do much to steer the negative reaction his terse comments have created, AWAY from his race.
Posted 23 Feb 2006 at 11:04 am ¶
hmmm... wrote:
I never stated racism start and ends with racial slurs. You obviously don’t understand my point, you obviously didn’t see the race or hear the telecast so why don’t you argue about something you know.
Posted 23 Feb 2006 at 2:28 pm ¶
Merq wrote:
hmm…
I don’t need to watch a telecast to see the flaws in your argument. What was the point of introducing “the N word,” then?? Your argument was simplistic and poorly thought out, and that’s the truth. Don’t get all defensive when you obviously either can’t look at the bigger picture, or are just bad at expressing yourself.
Posted 23 Feb 2006 at 9:12 pm ¶
hmmm... wrote:
YAWN!!!!
I didn’t introduce “the N word.” Luke did. Again you don’t know the facts. Try reading eveyone’s post for once.
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 10:30 am ¶
tmj wrote:
Well, the americans weren’t going to conspire together because Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick hate each other. Apparently, the Koreans did not. I can see how “conspiring” could be offensive, why the minorities gotta be “conspiring”??? Oh, could it be because that’s what white folks have BEEN doing from the get go and secretly fear that all minorities will rise up and “conspire” against them in retaliation?
As far as Shani and Chad–Shani is sick of being treated literally like the piece of shit of the US Olympic team. He has said he’s been called all sorts of names and definitely NOT embraced by the team. As a result, he didn’t care to race with the team in the relay, which pissed off Chad. See, Chad was trying to win 5 gold medals, one of which would’ve come in the relay race. And since Shani is a fast MF, they would’ve easily won, giving Hedrick his chance at making Olympic history. So when Shani didn’t run, Hedrick got pissy, called Shani selfish (maybe he is, but aren’t you?) and the feud was on. The funny part of the whole situation what that they both lost that race to the Italian.
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 11:47 am ¶
yeah but... wrote:
…Shani probably would have performed better in that race if he hadn’t false started.
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 1:03 pm ¶
Jeff wrote:
I watched the 1000m short track qualifying heats and final, and throughout, the Koreans demonstrated extremely high athleticicism. Although he had a very good chance, Ohno was not THE favorite by any margin; Ahn Hyun-Soo was the guy to beat. I heard the American commentators’ comments about how the Koreans would work together (but not obviously) and how the Americans would never do that kind of thing (they played fair). I felt offended, and that’s all that matters. I don’t expect much from sports commentators any more, but I wish more of them would think before they blurt out their prejudiced viewpoints. Where’s the mute button?
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 3:44 pm ¶
anonymous wrote:
the commentor said, “koreans have been notorious for team skating…both the koreans are skating together, not doing anything right now” implying that the commentor expected team skating to occur, but their history and records of team skating would somewhat justify his blind assumpiton.
in addtion, during the interview, the man asked ohno if he believed that the koreans were team skating and ohno replied, “maybe.” afterwards, he said that he was happy with the olympics and mentioned that the koreans never team skated.
Posted 02 Mar 2006 at 2:09 am ¶