Banana (slur)
Banana is an ethnic slur, referring to a person of East Asian ancestry who, as a citizen or permanent resident of a Western country, has forgotten the customs or identity of his (or her) ancestors.[1] The term is derived from the fruit banana, which is "yellow on the outside, white on the inside". It may be used as a pejorative term or as a non-pejorative term.
Chinese context
This term is related to the Cantonese slang Jook-sing, which refers to an overseas Chinese person who was born in a Western environment or a Chinese person who more readily or strongly identifies with Western culture than traditional Chinese culture.[2]
See also
- Coconut (slur) – used for South Asians
- List of ethnic slurs
- Twinkie (slur) – synonym for banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside)
References
- ^ Penaksovic, Kristin (Spring 1992). "Confessions of a Banana". Yisei Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Sung, Victoria (28 June 2011). "Caught Between Worlds: In Defense of the Jook-Sing".
Further reading
- Dan Lee Tu: "Twinkie", "Banana", "Coconut". In: Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife - Volume 1. ABC-CLIO, 2011, ISBN 9780313350665, S. 88-89
- James Allen Wren: Twinkie, Banana, Coconut. In: American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore. ABC-CLIO, 2016, ISBN 9781610695688, S. 74-76