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You know, I've been bothered by comments like Shaq's that I've heard on local radio stations here. There's this hip hop song called "React" that features a sample of what I'm pretty sure is Indian singing and then the guy says "Whatever she said then I'm that." I swear that whenever I hear that song on the radio, the DJs talk over the end and sing weird pretend Chinese stuff like "ooo ching ah oh" or "ching chang mah po" and whatever other Chinese sounding words they can think of at the time, not unlike what Shaq said. It's always bothered me, but it got me wondering why *some* people in the black community find it funny or acceptable to do that. Of course, the other thing that really gets me is that the sample isn't even Chinese!!!
I do, however, think that this type of thing qualifies as ignorant rather than racist. As far as kids looking up to people like Shaq -- I think that if kids hear Shaq (or anyone) talking like that, it gives parents a perfect opportunity to educate them about respecting other cultures and people.
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