My Hong Kong | Hong Kong needs to wake up: racism in the city may not be obvious like Donald Trump’s ‘kung flu’ slur, but it exists

Casual jokes, skin whitening products and the exploitation of helpers show covert racism is alive and kicking in a city still behind the times

Allowing the scourge to fester unchallenged makes you as culpable as those directly engaging in such behaviour

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President Donald Trump made the ‘kung flu’ remark at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo: AP

Published: 10:13am, 3 Jul 2020Updated: 10:10pm, 3 Jul 2020

It’s certainly a good thing that the world is becoming more aware of racial issues and learning to embrace racial differences.

So when people make hurtful, offensive, or racist comments, no matter who or how important they are, they will now be held accountable by the world at large.

A case in point is the term “kung flu” used by US President Donald Trump at a recent campaign rally in Oklahoma. Trump has been pushing this phrase as a way to shift the blame of the coronavirus pandemic to China or Chinese people in general. It also appears to be a means to distract the public from his inadequate national response to the virus.

The term is not only outright racist, it is dangerous because it perpetuates discrimination, hatred, and violence like other racist clichés used to bully and demean non-white people.

Donald Trump’s ‘kung flu’ slur perpetuates discrimination, hatred and violence. Photo: Zuma

It’s similar to calling all Chinese or Asian-looking men Jackie Chan. It might sound innocuous on the surface but stereotypical comments are in fact prime examples of casual racism.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Hong Kong | Hong Kong needs to wake up: racism in the city may not be obvious like Donald Trump’s ‘kung flu’ slur, but it exists

My Hong Kong | Hong Kong needs to wake up: racism in the city may not be obvious like Donald Trump’s ‘kung flu’ slur, but it exists