The Proud Asian
  • The Proud Asian
  • Why We Are Proud
  • Golden Spotlight
  • Proud Reports
  • Stop Asian Hate
  • Submit News Tip
  • More
    • Caught on Video
    • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
The Proud Asian
  • The Proud Asian
  • Why We Are Proud
  • Golden Spotlight
  • Proud Reports
  • Stop Asian Hate
  • Submit News Tip
  • More
    • Caught on Video
    • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
The Proud Asian
No Result
View All Result
  • Why We Are Proud
  • Golden Spotlight
  • Proud Reports
  • Stop Asian Hate
  • Submit News Tip
  • Opinions
  • Caught on Video
Vivek Ramaswamy, The ‘Funny’ Name Thing Isn’t Cute When You Do It

Vivek Ramaswamy, The ‘Funny’ Name Thing Isn’t Cute When You Do It

HuffPost by HuffPost
Aug 31, 2023 12:17 pm EDT
in News
0 0
A A

During the first Republican presidential primary last week, Vivek Ramaswamy introduced himself by saying that he was a “skinny guy with a funny last name,” echoing a line from former President Barack Obama. Although he was referencing and, in some weird way, aligning himself with the former president, it just didn’t hit the same way it did when Obama said it for several reasons.

First off, boo, you do not reflect the values of other people of color in this campaign like Obama did. Not even South Asian Americans. So your little joke didn’t come across as playful — it came across as placating.

Also, I can argue that in a post-George Floyd country, the funny-name-joke no longer captures the cultural moment. As people of color, we’ve learned and progressed since then. Throughout his campaign, Ramaswamy has repeatedly pointed out his ethnicity and immigrant parents’ background as a sort of shtick to set him apart from the other Republican candidates, which has felt exploitative.

I wonder if reminding Republicans about how “ethnic” he is, is a way of playing into some of their fears of being perceived as racist — if they voted for a brown person (the “safe kind,” mind you), they couldn’t possibly be racist, right?

But Ramaswamy’s rhetoric is actually pretty racist and anti-immigrant. He described the movement of undocumented immigrants into the U.S. as an “invasion.” He characterized people coming in from the Southern border as criminals, much like Donald Trump has on many occasions. Just before the hate-motivated shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, Ramaswamy denied the existence of white supremacy.

But what’s more, I feel like Ramaswamy is the type of brown person who’s willing to make fun of himself at the expense of other brown people to make himself more relatable to the (overwhelmingly white) Republican voters, as opposed to trying to get them to a place where they make an effort not to butcher his name. After the Republican…

Read the full article here

Have a news tip for The Proud Asian? Submit your news tip or article here.
ShareTweetPinShareShareSendSend
HuffPost

HuffPost

HuffPost is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers politics, business, entertainment.

Related Stories

Melissa de la Cruz’s “When Stars Align” Explores Fame, Friendship, and Second Chances

Melissa de la Cruz’s “When Stars Align” Explores Fame, Friendship, and Second Chances

by Mochi Magazine
May 31, 2025 9:00 am EDT

Set in a world of pop glam and celebrity gossip, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz’s new...

Fat, Asian, and Bipolar: Michelle Yang’s Memoir Challenges Stigma

Fat, Asian, and Bipolar: Michelle Yang’s Memoir Challenges Stigma

by Mochi Magazine
May 28, 2025 9:00 am EDT

Content warning: This article contains references to emotional and physical abuse as well as suicide. If you or someone you...

UPRISERS’ Michelle K. Hanabusa is shaping culture through fashion, community and sustainability – Cold Tea Collective

UPRISERS’ Michelle K. Hanabusa is shaping culture through fashion, community and sustainability – Cold Tea Collective

by Cold Tea Collective
May 27, 2025 4:08 pm EDT

Combating racism through cultural sustainability with apparel brand founder Michelle K. Hanabusa A fourth-generation Okinawan Japanese American born and raised...

From Animation to Live-Action: Revisiting “Lilo & Stitch” as a Cultural Touchstone

From Animation to Live-Action: Revisiting “Lilo & Stitch” as a Cultural Touchstone

by Mochi Magazine
May 24, 2025 9:00 am EDT

Before Moana sang and sailed into the spotlight, there was Lilo — a misfit 6-year-old Hawaiian girl with a camera,...

The Proud Asian

The Proud Asian is your number one website for the latest news affecting the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It’s about representation. It’s about being heard. It’s about feeling Proud to be Asian.

  • Why We Are Proud
  • Submit News Tip
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact

© 2023 The Proud Asian - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • The Proud Asian
  • Why We Are Proud
  • Golden Spotlight
  • Proud Reports
  • Stop Asian Hate
  • Submit News Tip
  • Opinions
  • Caught on Video

© 2023 The Proud Asian - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.