"white trash" because their behavior resembles that of stereotypical lower-class black Americans.
Loaded, loaded, loaded!!!! What means???!!! Assumptions, assumptions, assumptions. And yes, stereotypes galore!
Look back in history to see so many upper-class whites (and even royals) tryin' dey best to imitate and yes, behave like darkies, especially up in Harlem during the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and beyond!
I sarcastically await the day when rich 'high-class' black Americans will be casually and mindlessly compared to so-called 'upper-class WASPS,' or indeed 'white' royalty.
Who are we all really? Human race ... and we are connected in indivisible ways that apparently will never be grasped, but I digress.
Indeed, this is a seriously loaded discussion because 'different races' is a man-made construct. I do understand it's something we can't easily eradicate ourselves of, as it's so ingrained in our society and our institutions, historically and otherwise.
Asian-Americans did have a hard time making their way in the sport initially. There were definitely still stereotypical attitudes during the 1990s, and Kristi notably was not offered the endorsement opportunities equivalent to her success. Figure skating is an elitist sport traditionally. Even Carol Heiss and Dorothy Hamill had difficulties being accepted into skating clubs for class reasons. It was a well-kept secret from the general public early in her career that Tai Babilonia's mother is African-American. Tai's Filipino/Chinese? father was pictured and mentioned, but I never actually knew anything about her mother until the 1980 Olympic fluff feature shown on television, just before Tai/Randy's unfortunate withdrawal occurred due to Randy's injury.
Michelle Kwan's outsized, rare domination and consistency combined with changing times is partly what threw open the doors for many Asians to enter the sport with greater acceptance. Also a contributing factor was the burgeoning success of Asian-American ladies in pairs. And yet there was still the weird headline in 1998 or was it 2002:
"American wins, Kwan falters..."
Yes, the Tonya/Nancy story is like a mythical Greek tragedy of sorts, and therein lies it's appeal that actually transcends figure skating. And therefore, has very very little to do with figure skating. That was my beef back-in-the-day. People in the skating community falling all over themselves to cash in on the scandal that put figure skating in the headlines, for the wrong reasons. This, when TPTB in figure skating needed to be finding a way to use that high profile opportunity to show the wider community what the real appeal of figure skating is all about! And as well, they should have used the opportunity to beneficially promote the amazing athletes of figure skating! Opportunity squandered!
I can see Maribel Vinson Owen in her grave twisting on a rotisserie endlessly and infinitely...
While the Tonya/Nancy story still has valid appeal for reasons that have very little to do with figure skating, I don't see the sport taking any beneficial advantage of it at this late date. Especially not when they don't even know how and don't seem to have the slightest desire to figure out ways they can bring the sport into the 21st-century. To even begin they must truly make an effort to study and understand the complexity and significance of the sport's past, which they seem loathe to do.
Three U.S. ladies on the 1991 Worlds podium!!! Three, count 'em! Never seen before, and never seen since! 
