Banana (slur)
Banana is a term for an Asian person living in a Western country (e.g., an Asian American) who has lost touch with the cultural identity of his or her parents.[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]
In popular culture
- King of the hill: In the episode Orange You Sad I Did Say Banana?, Ted Wassanasong says that Khan has become what is known as a "Banana" (referring to a Banana's skin which is yellow and the inside which is white).
Ted: You've become what is known as a "banana".
Kahn":"Banana"?
Ted: Consider the properties of a banana, Kahn.
Its skin is yellow, but its insides are white.
"She thinks you’re some kind of unrefined banana—yellow on the outside, white on the inside."
Goh Peik Lin (Awkwafina) telling Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) that she is a banana
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