I've read the whole thread, and I'll admit I can't really tell about this specific song without seeing lyrics. The term "chink" is generally used derogatorily, but given that the play is specifically a wartime setting, it might go over with some decent program notes. I do like the notion expressed above that it's nice to see all of those decades of immigration to England prior to WW2 recognized, along with the efforts that the immigrants made during the war.

But it all depends on how it's phrased, of course. If Mr. Wu is incompetent because he can't see through the slits of his eyes or something hideous like that, then of course the song just won't fly.

On the whole, I prefer my history without too much cleaning up. What offends one generation becomes the lingua franca of a later generation, and what was once fairly harmless can turn bitter. Give the context and then don't apologize too much for the words.

As for song lyrics like those in "Shortnin' bread," I have never heard that song sung with the 'n' word, nor seen it written that way. And I'm all for whoever changed it, if someone did, to "children" or "babies" for every day use. Some song's are just too much fun to lose!

But if we were discussing the history of the song, then it would be appropriate to use the less acceptable term so long as the context is given. How else do you track down when the change was made?