I found this post because of the misplaced #cn tag. However, as a Chinese decent myself living in a western country I used to receive a share of racist comments. I understand it does not feel good when someone then calls you something with a negative connotation behind it. But whenever I am faced any racist and negative remarks, I tried to deal with it positively or with with without lashing out, because there is already enough negativity in this world. Responding to racism in a negative way will only fuel more hatred which then fuels more racism.

I have a brother who embraced being called a monkey, because he was born in zodiac year of the monkey, and also because he is clever, fit, good at climbing, and he loves fruits. On the positive side, according to the Chinese zodiac, a monkey is intelligent, eloquent, adaptable, agile, active and flexible. You may think of that next time someone calls you that.