Yellowface!
Yellowface
Caricatures in Politics
In 1997, The National Review magazine published an illustrated cover of then President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. They were in stereotypical Oriental garb and featuring caricatured features, buck teeth and slanted
eyes.
National Review: The Manchurian Candidates
President Bill Clinton was portrayed as a Chinese houseboy. Hillary Clinton
was portrayed as a Maoist Red Guard holding a "Little Red Book."
And Vice President Al Gore was dressed-up as a Buddhist priest, holding a
begging bowl stuffed with money. The associated story was about concerns
over campaign contributions from Asians and Asian-Americans polluting the
political process. The National Review was not concerned about corporate
money, or even foreign money generally, but specifically identified Asian
money as a danger to the American political process.
Asian Americans across the country were incensed. Daphne Kwok, executive director of the Organization of Chinese Americans described the cover as extremely offensive and racist. She complained that Asian-Americans
felt that their patriotism was being questioned. The National Review was unrepentant, editor John O'Sullivan denounced the complaints as orchestrated by the ethnic grievance industry and demanded an apology from Ms.
Kwok.
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