Prejudice

Prejudice in the form of racial stereotypes is demonstrated in many of the chapters in American Born Chinese. The reader sees this most pronounced in the form of Chin-kee, who adopts all of the negative traits commonly used as slurs against Asians. The illustrations are key to propelling the stereotype forward as it shows Chin-Kee dressed in ancient and outmoded clothing and hairstyles. The emphasis on Chin's ability to be smarter than everyone in class is also offered as racial judgement.

Interesting to note are the repetitive ha ha ha's and the clap clap clap that is often placed at the bottom of the panels where Chin-kee is featured, which is meant to replicate old canned laugh tracks and studio audience sounds....like old racially charged sit-coms in the '70s.

The Monkey King also is used to illustrate racial prejudice toward his own race. He...