yes, this is racism.

"It will turn into anther Rowland Heights," said Carolyn Matta, 67, referring to the unincorporated community 35 miles west of Riverside where the population is 55 percent Asian. "We're not going to be welcomed in our neighborhood."

proper response:

I remember the "Asians taking over" panic of the late 80s in the western SanGabriel Valley, a bunch of ignorant nonsense (although, as an ex resident of San Gabriel, I must admit that any intersection/driveway surrounding a Ranch 99 market is a traffic nightmare). As a Latino I am sadly thankful for the Aisan influx, as overconcentration of my ethnicity (which was occurring) was slowly turning the working class sections of fairly decent cities like Alhambra into El Monte (a vast difference in city quality).

I always wonder why comments like: "We're not going to be welcomed in our neighborhood" are never addressed or analyzed, yet always make a media quote. That is an obvious use of projection (and bigotry, by making exception for your own), as the user herself is not welcoming another culture but ironically concerned that another culture will not be welcoming of hers, complete hypocrisy (not backed by any valid evidence). In fact, the media should really either dismiss(and not print) such ignorant mean remarks or use them to ostracise the ignorance of the person coveying that sentiment. It is unacceptable for this crap to be validated by being placed in the media, without any kind of serious dismissal (which means an analysis of why that crap is wrong beyong "its possibly racist", no shit sherlock).

Anyways, the lack of english is a plus rather than a negative at these markets. You can totally shop and inquire about products and whatnot purely with hand gestures and grunts, I have seen numerous shopping by mexican immigrants who do not speak a lick of english (and it makes my "moments why diversity in LA is beautiful" list). I dont call that "not" accepting another culture (becuase there always is a few workers who speak english, they mandate that) I call that transcending acceptance by incorporating a universalgesture approach. And soy bean milk rocks.

By Art at February 16, 2007 10:04 AM