Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Is the Ching Chong Ling Long Food Delivery Service Racist?
"Ching Chong Ling Long" means many things: It means you're an airheaded UCLA student ranting about Asian schoolmates in the library. It means "I love you" to one songwriter. It means a clever marketing ploy for a Chinese food delivery service in Westwood. But when it comes to the latter, one politician says it simply means "racist."
Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) expressed his concern about the business in a letter sent to UCLA Chancellor Gene Block this week, reports San Marino Patch. Eng wrote:
“Numerous student groups and faculty members from UCLA have expressed to me their outrage over the name and have deemed it both racist and offensive. Stereotypical phrases such as these perpetuate misunderstandings about Asian Americans and intensify hurtful sentiments toward this community.”
Ching Chong Ling Long (a bitch to fit on business cards and signage, no?) for their part has said from the get go the name is all in good spirit, and say on their website: "We believe that the best way to combat intolerance is through a positive cultural experience mixed in with a healthy serving of humor."
Co-founder Rachel Lee says she was hesitant at first to use the controversial buzz words as the business name, but claims the UCLA students "convinced her otherwise," notes one Chinese news site. (Incidentally, that site has a totally unbiased headline about Eng's letter to Block: "Racist behavior toward Asians arouses concern in L.A.")
So is Ching Chong's chow mein racist? Or is this much ado about mushu?
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
