Chasing Taboo = Racist?

I got this question on formspring, and I expect it will come up a lot as Chasing Taboo increases in popularity, so I thought I may as well address it as a blog topic.

Q: "why does everyone in the chasing taboo universe sound so black??? whats with the stereotype of ganstas. why not run things like the triad if ur after a stereotype."

A: I wrote CT inspired by the kinds of Asian guys I met a clubs at the time, which were not Asian stereotypes (nerd, triad, ninja) at all. The Asians I met spoke in a 'ghetto' dialect, and I had never seen that addressed in any fiction I had ever seen. So, in essence, I was creating a totally fictional fantasy universe that spawned from something completely real and completely not stereotypical. Isn't applying traits that are stereotypical of one group (i.e., black) to a totally different group (i.e., Asian) rather anti-stereotype? Stereotypes are difficult to avoid in general, and I went into CT knowing there was no way to win and make everybody happy, so I wrote what I liked, what I felt was relevant yet unaddressed, and let the chips fall where they may.

It's also worth noting that I think this question is far more racist than anything I have written in CT. For one, who said they sound black? The only Asian character in CT that I will straight up claim sounds 'black' is Wildcard, and Wildcard was raised by a black family in a housing project. I don't think his dialect is inappropriate for that character. Also, who says that Asian gangsters have to be triad to be gangsters? I did write into CT that the opposing gang, the Dragons, do have more of a triad vibe to them, but that was from Olivia's perspective - Olivia who grew up in 'great white guilt' culture who would have no more of a perception of them.

Chasing Taboo is not a cultural commentary, it's a fantasy, but I think of it as a fantasy that CHALLENGES stereotypes. Thugs don't have to be black, badasses don't have to be male, Asian gangsters don't have to be triad, gay guys don't have to be girly, rich girls don't have to be soft, not everyone who speaks with an ebonics dialect has to be black. I didn't choose to write it this way to make some sort of epic, bold statement, I wrote it because I find it interesting and entertaining.

If you find these role-switchings to be interesting and entertaining, please read on. If you find them racist, jarring, or offensive, I disagree, but by all means, don't read what you don't like.

Comments

[jasileet]

it doesn't matter what ethnicity you are. where i'm from anyone could sound street, claim it.

[Yuki]

omg. "sound so black". lol.
how could CT be racist in any way? I mean isn't a story about a korean finding his mate who's also half japanese,half american? moreover they're surrounded by a bunch of other multicultural ppl.
plus all this asian testosterone glorification is written by an american white girl.
I mean, duh..ain't it obvious?
I'm actually sick and tired about all that racist stuff..does it still exist? ain't you ppl bored about that yet?

anyway CT is the best damn thing I have ever read.

[buxianglea]

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