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Use of word 'Oriental' restricted by law
Full story:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/...ur01m&date=20020701 By Alex Fryer
Seattle Times staff reporter
Beginning today, state and local lawmakers are prohibited from using the term "Oriental" in statutes, codes,
rules and regulations.
Instead, officials must use "Asian" to describe people of Asian descent.
The change is mandated by a bill sponsored by state Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, and is the first such law in
the country. Shin said he got the idea from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who sought to outlaw the
word "Negro" because of its connection to slavery.
The word "Oriental" was first used to denote everything east of London, said Shin, a Korean War orphan. It
was later used to describe people with flat noses, small eyes, black hair and mysterious ways, he said.
"We don't appreciate that," he said. "It's pejorative terminology. It's offensive."
He introduced the bill last year, but it stalled in committee. At the time, many legislators said they had no idea
Oriental was perceived as a slur. And some were confused when told it was still OK to speak of Oriental
food and rugs but not people.
Shin tried again this year, and the measure overwhelmingly passed. Only six lawmakers — all from
Eastern Washington — opposed the change.
The law immediately reforms only a lone statute that requires the solicitation of minority contractors for
construction of city water mains.
The law read: "Minority group members include, but are not limited to, blacks, women, native Americans,
Orientals, Eskimos, Aleuts and Spanish Americans."
Shin's bill replaced "Orientals" with "Asians" and "Spanish Americans" with "Hispanics."
Since the law is limited to references to human beings, it leaves RCW 18.36A.050 and its mention of "oriental
medicine or oriental herbology" untouched.
Shin said he's fielded called from newspaper reporters across Asia inquiring about the change.
He also heard from U.S. Rep. Michael Honda, D-San Jose, Calif., who told Shin he may introduce a similar
bill in Congress next year.
