Beloved Children's Story through my 2 Year Old's Eyes
My daughter has been requesting "Tiki Tiki Tembo" for her bedtime story every night for the past couple of weeks. It's a story about these two Chinese brothers. The older had this great, long, distinguished name. The younger, Chang. When Chang falls into a well, Chang gets saved right away. When Tiki tiki tembo no sa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo falls into the well, he stays there much longer because of his name. My daughter follows along and repeats Tiki tiki tembo's name.
Last night, she asked my husband why the characters were all sleeping. Huh? Sleeping? Apparently, she thought they were sleeping because their eyes were represented with lines. My husband told her that it was because it was sunny. Good save, Daddy.
How do you explain to a two year old the stereotype that East Asians always look like they are squinting or that their eyes are slanted? I have loved this story since I was a kid. I wonder what other surprises await me in other stories.
Last night, she asked my husband why the characters were all sleeping. Huh? Sleeping? Apparently, she thought they were sleeping because their eyes were represented with lines. My husband told her that it was because it was sunny. Good save, Daddy.
How do you explain to a two year old the stereotype that East Asians always look like they are squinting or that their eyes are slanted? I have loved this story since I was a kid. I wonder what other surprises await me in other stories.
Posted by Kevin on May 21, 2007 at 02:55 PM MST #