Chink-O-Rama: Fan Mail/Hate Mail

From: Tavia Campbell
To: kate@katerigg.com
Subject: thank you for chink-o-rama

Dear Kate,
I just wanted to thank-you for doing what you do. I saw your show at Brava tonight and immediately went home and e-mailed everyone I knew to tell them to go see your show, all while listening to your CD. I have a feeling I will take in a few more shows before you leave.

For the first time in my life I have a word to describe myself. Not half-breed, banana, twinkie, etc. I am a ricecracker and I am proud. I could never say Asian-American, because my dad is English and Eurasian, well, just never seemed right. Now, ricecracker, that is something I can live with. I had never heard that expression before and I am so glad that I finally have.

When I was growing up the word "chink" was so hurtful. It wasn't so much the word, it was the way it was said. That and the "Chinese, Japanese, ouh wee, look at these, dirty knees." I didn't figure out what that one was about until I was an adult. I never thought I would ever be able to use that word, but after your show and reading your chink theory, I will use it with pride.

Your show and the anthology Half and Half have done so much to finally make me feel not only comfortable in my own skin, but proud as well. From the bottom of my heart I thank you.

Sincerely,
Tavia

P.S. Nip-chink is so beautiful, I think I may be in love:)

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From: Jenni Graham
To: kate@katerigg.com
Subject: YOU ROCKED Saturday night

Kate,

Saturday's show was fabulous...you're an inspiration and make the rest of us feel like lazy assholes.

Good luck in San Francisco and thanks for CHINKARAMA!

Jenni Graham

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.
~ John Lennon

From: Janinne Johnsen
To: kate@katerigg.com
Subject: chink-o-rama made me pee myself

Oh damn, I saw Chink-O-Rama a few weeks ago at Joe's Pub, and I nearly pissed in my pants. My name is Cara, maybe you remember talking with me after the show,I was the one recalling da block party we wuz at on da stoop, drinkin' 40's an den PoPo got mad at me an' dragged me into da house by my hair, do you remember that? Well, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the show. It was one of the best things I've seen in awhile, thank you for making me laugh like that. I was also wondering if you would be willing to have your brain picked? Becuz I am mad funny,yo an' I don't really be telling jokes, but I gots these peeps in ma head and I don't know how to be organizin' them.Maybe you could talk to me? Unless you got something against Irish Puerto Rican girls? For real though, if you have the time or inclination to talk to a stranger that would be greatly appreciated. You blew me away with that show.If you decide to get in touch with me (I'm on a friend's computer, don't have e-mail yet,I finally broke down to get a cell phone), I can be reached at [number deleted]. And your web site isn't that cheap ass. Thanks for your time, lady.

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Subject: Radio interview KCSM
From: scottp
Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 10:33:17 -0700
To: kate@katerigg.com

I'm listening to your radio interview right now. Went to your websight.

George Harrison said in an interview I saw once "First we have to be aware"

If we never investigate our understanding of each other, how can we improve?

Cheers,
Scott

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Hi Kate,

We all LOVE your CD but our favorite song is not on it. What are you? Where are you from?

Anyway, almost all of my friends have seen at least one of your shows and are all big fans now. My student, Annie, was blown away by it and is spreading the word in chinatown.

Thanks,

Your No.1 fan ;)

Wendy

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Subject: RE: Offensive Language
From: Marcy Wehling
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 13:18:59 -0400
To: "'kate@katerigg.com'" <kate@katerigg.com>

Thank you for writing back so quickly.

One major point of my e-mail was to convey that the use of the word 'retarded' was a big turn-off to a potential new fan. For that reason alone it might be worth changing. And, thank you for considering that option.

Just an observation...you rationalized using the word 'retarded' by saying that you are referring to yourself when using it--but you are putting the language out there for people to read by having it on your site, and for that reason, it is not just about you anymore....

This reminds me of one time I heard a straight man say that word 'gay' when he really meant "stupid"--in response to my criticism, he said it was ok for him to use it because "obviously" he did not mean "homosexual" and
because he was talking about himself. But don't we know, as queer people, that for someone to use our term in a negative way--in a way that means "stupid"--that it is hurtful to us?

I think we should not let our standards drop just because a term does not refer to us directly.

Even if you truly did not mean to offend, you did. But thanks for writing back and for considering the change.

Sincerley,
Marcy Wehling

-----Original Message-----
From: kate@katerigg.com [SMTP:kate@katerigg.com]
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 5:11 AM
To: marcy
Subject: Re: Offensive Language

On Thu, 13 June 2002, Marcy Wehling wrote this website has taken two years to mount and its upheaval is long overdue. clearly it is retarded. as in late. or behind. or slow. i apologize if you think i think that mentally challenged=retarded. i do not and co opt the language satirizing myself and the word itself which is meaningless without intent and ignorance on the part of the user. i assure you that when i assign the epithet to myself i am not speaking the word to or about anyone but myself. iused no word to degrade any group i degraded myself and if retarded is a word traditionally used to dehumanize particular groups please be assured that i would not assign it to anyone in said group. but i reserve the right to be ofensive to myself and to re occupy and occupy the word. you will be happy to know i may change it on the site at your advice, but really, a person of multiple minority status who deals in language, my use of the word chink in my work might be more to your liking or at least a site for further pc versus iconoclastic debate
kate

I was looking at the NYC Pride site, and went to your link....The first thing to greet viewers on your site the word "retarded" ...I HOPE that you might see that that is HIGHLY offensive to many, many people. As a person with a multiple-minority status, I would think that you would know better than to use language to degrade a group of highly marginalized people. I, and many others, I am sure, feel the same when you use the word "retarded"
to express your own stupidity, or unwillingness to learn something. Please get rid of some of your ignorance and choose another word--unless, of course, you truly are developmentally disabled. Otherwise, I would think that lazy, dumb, stupid, obtuse, insensible, foolish, etc. would do the trick just fine.

Thanks,

Marcy Wehling

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On Tue, 27 May 2003 20:42:00 -0400, joyce layco wrote:

hello kate, i just saw your show on saturday and i just wanted to tell you how much i enjoyed it. i am giving you my own personal standing ovation. anyways, i was also wondering where slanty eyed mama performs. i loved your lyrics and especially your hand motions (oh so very graceful!). please let me know or add me to you email. thank you

- thank you again. take care...joyce


From: Tavia Campbell To: kate@katerigg.com Subject: thank you for chink-o-rama Dear Kate, I just wanted to thank-you for doing what you do. I saw your show at Brava tonight and immediately went home and e-mailed everyone I knew to tell them to go see your show, all while listening to your CD. I have a feeling I will take in a few more shows before you leave. For the first time in my life I have a word to describe myself. Not half-breed, banana, twinkie, etc. I am a ricecracker and I am proud. I could never say Asian-American, because my dad is English and Eurasian, well, just never seemed right. Now, ricecracker, that is something I can live with. I had never heard that expression before and I am so glad that I finally have. When I was growing up the word "chink" was so hurtful. It wasn't so much the word, it was the way it was said. That and the "Chinese, Japanese, ouh wee, look at these, dirty knees." I didn't figure out what that one was about until I was an adult. I never thought I would ever be able to use that word, but after your show and reading your chink theory, I will use it with pride. Your show and the anthology Half and Half have done so much to finally make me feel not only comfortable in my own skin, but proud as well. From the bottom of my heart I thank you. Sincerely, Tavia P.S. Nip-chink is so beautiful, I think I may be in love:) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From: Jenni Graham To: kate@katerigg.com Subject: YOU ROCKED Saturday night Kate, Saturday's show was fabulous...you're an inspiration and make the rest of us feel like lazy assholes. Good luck in San Francisco and thanks for CHINKARAMA! Jenni Graham ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. ~ John Lennon From: Janinne Johnsen To: kate@katerigg.com Subject: chink-o-rama made me pee myself Oh damn, I saw Chink-O-Rama a few weeks ago at Joe's Pub, and I nearly pissed in my pants. My name is Cara, maybe you remember talking with me after the show,I was the one recalling da block party we wuz at on da stoop, drinkin' 40's an den PoPo got mad at me an' dragged me into da house by my hair, do you remember that? Well, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the show. It was one of the best things I've seen in awhile, thank you for making me laugh like that. I was also wondering if you would be willing to have your brain picked? Becuz I am mad funny,yo an' I don't really be telling jokes, but I gots these peeps in ma head and I don't know how to be organizin' them.Maybe you could talk to me? Unless you got something against Irish Puerto Rican girls? For real though, if you have the time or inclination to talk to a stranger that would be greatly appreciated. You blew me away with that show.If you decide to get in touch with me (I'm on a friend's computer, don't have e-mail yet,I finally broke down to get a cell phone), I can be reached at [number deleted]. And your web site isn't that cheap ass. Thanks for your time, lady. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subject: Radio interview KCSM From: scottp Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 10:33:17 -0700 To: kate@katerigg.com I'm listening to your radio interview right now. Went to your websight. George Harrison said in an interview I saw once "First we have to be aware" If we never investigate our understanding of each other, how can we improve? Cheers, Scott ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hi Kate, We all LOVE your CD but our favorite song is not on it. What are you? Where are you from? Anyway, almost all of my friends have seen at least one of your shows and are all big fans now. My student, Annie, was blown away by it and is spreading the word in chinatown. Thanks, Your No.1 fan ;) Wendy ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subject: RE: Offensive Language From: Marcy Wehling Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 13:18:59 -0400 To: "'kate@katerigg.com'" <kate@katerigg.com> Thank you for writing back so quickly. One major point of my e-mail was to convey that the use of the word 'retarded' was a big turn-off to a potential new fan. For that reason alone it might be worth changing. And, thank you for considering that option. Just an observation...you rationalized using the word 'retarded' by saying that you are referring to yourself when using it--but you are putting the language out there for people to read by having it on your site, and for that reason, it is not just about you anymore.... This reminds me of one time I heard a straight man say that word 'gay' when he really meant "stupid"--in response to my criticism, he said it was ok for him to use it because "obviously" he did not mean "homosexual" and because he was talking about himself. But don't we know, as queer people, that for someone to use our term in a negative way--in a way that means "stupid"--that it is hurtful to us? I think we should not let our standards drop just because a term does not refer to us directly. Even if you truly did not mean to offend, you did. But thanks for writing back and for considering the change. Sincerley, Marcy Wehling -----Original Message----- From: kate@katerigg.com [SMTP:kate@katerigg.com] Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 5:11 AM To: marcy Subject: Re: Offensive Language On Thu, 13 June 2002, Marcy Wehling wrote this website has taken two years to mount and its upheaval is long overdue. clearly it is retarded. as in late. or behind. or slow. i apologize if you think i think that mentally challenged=retarded. i do not and co opt the language satirizing myself and the word itself which is meaningless without intent and ignorance on the part of the user. i assure you that when i assign the epithet to myself i am not speaking the word to or about anyone but myself. iused no word to degrade any group i degraded myself and if retarded is a word traditionally used to dehumanize particular groups please be assured that i would not assign it to anyone in said group. but i reserve the right to be ofensive to myself and to re occupy and occupy the word. you will be happy to know i may change it on the site at your advice, but really, a person of multiple minority status who deals in language, my use of the word chink in my work might be more to your liking or at least a site for further pc versus iconoclastic debate kate I was looking at the NYC Pride site, and went to your link....The first thing to greet viewers on your site the word "retarded" ...I HOPE that you might see that that is HIGHLY offensive to many, many people. As a person with a multiple-minority status, I would think that you would know better than to use language to degrade a group of highly marginalized people. I, and many others, I am sure, feel the same when you use the word "retarded" to express your own stupidity, or unwillingness to learn something. Please get rid of some of your ignorance and choose another word--unless, of course, you truly are developmentally disabled. Otherwise, I would think that lazy, dumb, stupid, obtuse, insensible, foolish, etc. would do the trick just fine. Thanks, Marcy Wehling ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ On Tue, 27 May 2003 20:42:00 -0400, joyce layco wrote: hello kate, i just saw your show on saturday and i just wanted to tell you how much i enjoyed it. i am giving you my own personal standing ovation. anyways, i was also wondering where slanty eyed mama performs. i loved your lyrics and especially your hand motions (oh so very graceful!). please let me know or add me to you email. thank you - thank you again. take care...joyce
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