<p>Now, I know many of you are too mature to watch Disney Channel. But I’m not here to discuss Kim Possible or Lizzie Mcguire. I’m here to discuss Disney’s attitude towards Asians.</p>
<p>First ever series to star an Asian as the main character was “American Dragon Jake Long”. It’s a cartoon series about a Chinese boy who transforms into a dragon (and so does his grandpa on his mother’s side and his sister)</p>
<p>Now you may be able to guess what I’m trying to say: Disney treats Asians as people who are all about Chinese characters, the color red, and martial arts fighting.</p>
<p>This “Jake Long” is half-Chinese. Okay, fine with that. His best friends? One African-American and one white kid. Does that happen often? No way. And the girl he’s crushing on is a blonde, blue-eyed girl who happens to be his arch enemy, a ninja. The way he talks? He talks like a wannabe-African American guy. And if you look closely, Disney drew the eyes of all Asians as a line and a dot with no iris. </p>
<p>Another famous Asian in Disney Channel is Brenda Song, who is currently acting in “Suite Life of Zack and Cody” as a spoiled, stupid daughter of a hotel owner. From this series you can definitely tell that Disney is trying to break the “Stereotypes” by starring her as dumb and starring Ashley Tisdale, a blonde, as a poor, yet smart girl who always corrects Brenda’s grammar. </p>
<p>And now you maybe thinking this: Disney’s not starring Brenda Song as a martial arts freak. But you’re wrong.</p>
<p>Next month, a Disney Channel movie called Wendy Wu is comming out. Typical Asian-American name, don’t you think? Anyways, it stars Brenda Song as yet another martial arts fighter who some how relates it to a spring dance. There also is another revealed character in that movie, and he is Japanese…yet another samurai.</p>
<p>i hate it when people must point out every slightly politically incorrect aspect of the world. prepkid, youre looking for stuff that just isnt there man. go spend your time doing something productive instead of looking for some rascist connatations on childrens television that simply dont exist. joseph conrad wasnt rascist and neither is the disney channel.</p>
<p>Looking at the history of Asians on tv, I’m just happy that television are including Asians in the first place. When I was in elementary school, I only saw one Asian kid in a major role, and that show ended up cancelled. Now, there are shows that star prominent Asian characters who imprinting their name in pop culture. Of course, there are many steps of progress left to trek, but be happy that progress is coming along.</p>
<p>I personally think you’re reading too much into this, PrepKid. Now, do I think that the Disney Channel is targeting a specific audience by having the characters that they do? Yes. But, the same thing could be said for BET - they don’t have many so-called “white” shows, but that’s because their audience is not aimed at the caucasian population. The Disney Channel puts out shows for middle-class kids and pre-teens from the suburbs. Do you know what the majority of their races are? That’s right - white.</p>
<p>I noticed all those things too prepkid. And that new Jet Li martial arts movie that’s coming out is the same deal. It’s pretty annoying in my opinion but whatever.</p>
<p>It doesn’t, but it’s also politically correct because it’s an example of another kind of minority disabled people. Or should I say “differently-abled”?</p>
<p>That reminds me of my freshman year math textbook, which, for a world problem involving basketball, had a picture of people playing basketball in wheelchairs. I thought that was slightly ridiculous.</p>
<p>Yah, shows do ring of political correctness, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Networks are feeding into the changing demographics of America. For example, when I was three or four, I didn’t watch “Dora the Explora” or any other Hispanic targeted kids series. They didn’t have them. Fast forward thirteen years and Hispanic characters are everywhere. </p>
<p>When demographics change, so do television casts. If little kids are learning most from tv kid’s series, I’m happy that they are learning what diversity is, that it’s not bad to live in a culture where different people intermix, and that, you may not like them, but you should always respect groups, regardless of race, gender, creed,disability, and income. And, if all kids were subjected to all-white shows, how would they understand that?</p>
<p>Umm I’m black, my best friend is half white half latina, another friend of mine is asian, and another is indeed native american. So guess what, it is possible to have friends from many different races and thats the reality of many people.</p>
<p>S is black. His best friends include an Asian guy who was formerly dating a blond. S’s close friends include: Hispanics, Eastern Europeans, a white girl with 2 mothers, and I could go on and on and on.</p>
<p>What the OP thinks is Disneyland actually is reality for many.</p>
<p>If Disney Channel had a show that starred a Caucasian boy turning in to a dragon and muttering about the “forces of fire” and such, won’t you be a bit suprirsed? But if a Chinese boy was to star that dragon freak, most people feel, though unconsciously, “relieved”.
Many Caucasians have set the standards for what is right for Asians and unfit for Caucasians, as if the thought of a Chinese boy turning into a dragon makes more sense than a white boy turning into one.</p>
<p>This is what’s happening. So far Disney Channel has introduced two Asians as lead roles, and they both do the whole martial arts fighting. Sure, the Chinese have a “different culture”. But these “Chinese” kids are Chinese-Americans IN America, and one of them’s not even a full Chinese. </p>
<p>god i watched that jake long thingy once. its so freaking obnoxious! the show is so loud, and the kids freaking voice is so disgusting it makes me twitch. and he said yeah and yo and “in the hizzouse” and crap like that alot. ugh…</p>
<p>well whats wrong with that?
that’s actually not fitting into the stereo type of asians bc asians usually are really overly articulate and never use slang.</p>