President Barack Obama has signed a measure that strikes from federal law the term "Oriental" when referring to people of Asian or Pacific heritage. The term has long been considered offensive when talking about people of Asian descent. Rep. Grace Meng of Queens proposed the change. Washington, D.C. bureau reporter Geoff Bennett has the story as part of our Asian-American Heritage Week coverage.
Queens Rep. Grace Meng says her staff came across the derogatory term while reviewing an energy bill up for consideration in the House.
“We discovered in one of the parts that the word 'Oriental' was still being used when it came to describing in the Asian-American community,” she said.
The language, first drafted in 1970s, reads: "As used in this section, the term—'minority' means any individual who is a citizen of the United States and who is a Negro, Puerto Rican, American Indian, Eskimo, Oriental."
“The word Oriental has no real geographical significance when it comes down to describing one’s ethnicity or race,” said Meng. “We just want to correct what’s on the books.”
So Meng drafted legislation of her own, replacing references to “Oriental” with “Asian American” and updating the outdated terms used to describe other ethnic groups as well.
Meng introduced her legislation on the House floor in February, telling her colleagues, “The time has come to repeal certain terms from federal law that many in the Asian-American community would find offensive. This legislation is long overdue, and I am thankful for your consideration. And I hope passage of it.”
It did pass, with unanimous support in both the House and Senate. On Friday, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.
“We believe that what’s on our laws is symbolic,” said Meng, “and we are using this opportunity to educate future generations.”