American ignorance against Asian Americans
By Joseph Shao
You would think that A&F's recent blunders in the
last year would somehow make the rest of America more culturally aware
of Asian American issues, especially with slogans on t-shirts depicting
little Chinese men with slanted eyes that caused a national uproar among
Asian Americans. Now there are costumes depicting a ìhideous face
-- protuberant ears, squinty eyes and enormous buckteeth, one eye blackened
and beaten -- and wears a headband adorned with a Chinese character.î
In one word, this is outrageous.
The issue is that now there is an escalation of blatant insults to Asian Americans. Many spokespeople such as Chris Wahl Disguise claim that their company "is a culturally sensitive company" and though "[they] apologize to anyone who may be offended by the design, no insult or offense [is ever] intended against any race, ethnicity or individual by the sale of this product." However, IF any of these companies are "culturally sensitive", how is it that these products are prescreened? Or perhaps this is a true reflection of the rest of American society, including Asian Americans themselves. Unless there is change, corporate America's, American society's, our (as Asian Americans) problem is and will be ignorance.
Ignorance is, has and will be the underlying issue that will surround corporate Americaís blunders, especially since they are promoting it! So apologize as much as they want, discontinue any line, we can rally, protest, sign petitions, sadly it has done nothing. What then needs to change? Are we just overreacting? Absolutely not. Any degrading depiction of any race is unacceptable, especially if it reflects and perpetuates stereotypes. America needs to go through an educational change and it needs to start with corporate America by acknowledging that they know nothing about being 'culturally sensitive' and that they will work for that awareness. Second it requires that we are active in our understanding of our own situation. Let's face it, a predominate view of Asian Americans is that of a perpetual 'foreigner'. Well let's also face it, we are AMERICANS! As such we should be educated as Americans and find our places in history.
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The issue is that now there is an escalation of blatant insults to Asian Americans. Many spokespeople such as Chris Wahl Disguise claim that their company "is a culturally sensitive company" and though "[they] apologize to anyone who may be offended by the design, no insult or offense [is ever] intended against any race, ethnicity or individual by the sale of this product." However, IF any of these companies are "culturally sensitive", how is it that these products are prescreened? Or perhaps this is a true reflection of the rest of American society, including Asian Americans themselves. Unless there is change, corporate America's, American society's, our (as Asian Americans) problem is and will be ignorance.
Ignorance is, has and will be the underlying issue that will surround corporate Americaís blunders, especially since they are promoting it! So apologize as much as they want, discontinue any line, we can rally, protest, sign petitions, sadly it has done nothing. What then needs to change? Are we just overreacting? Absolutely not. Any degrading depiction of any race is unacceptable, especially if it reflects and perpetuates stereotypes. America needs to go through an educational change and it needs to start with corporate America by acknowledging that they know nothing about being 'culturally sensitive' and that they will work for that awareness. Second it requires that we are active in our understanding of our own situation. Let's face it, a predominate view of Asian Americans is that of a perpetual 'foreigner'. Well let's also face it, we are AMERICANS! As such we should be educated as Americans and find our places in history.
Back to Editorials
