Skateboard Company and Asian Slur T-Shirt Causes Outrage
Skateboarding company Baker Skateboards has come under fire for a new t-shirt that depicts two Asian men riding in a car meant to represent the "Dukes of Hazzard." The Asian American Justice Center has called for the shirt to be recalled in light of its blatant racism.
The shirt features two Asian men riding in a car meant to be a play on the "Dukes of Hazzard" series, only instead of "Dukes," the shirt reads "The G--ks of Hazzard." The term is offensive to Asian people, explains the Asian American Justice Center, which has labeled the shirt "unacceptable."
"Baker Skateboards, and the outlets that sell this shirt, should be aware that use of the term 'g**k' on their apparel is offensive and quite simply amounts to racism for sale. No one should seek to profit from racism. It's unacceptable for Baker Skateboards to create a depiction of Asian Americans which uses racial slurs and perpetuates racist stereotypes," a spokesman for the AAJC told TMZ.
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According to the New Oxford Dictionary of English, "g--k" is defined as "offensive, chiefly US, a foreigner, especially a person of SE Asian descent."
"We would say that t-shirt is obviously racist and we agree with the comments that suggest this is essentially a case of racism for sale," Paul Kearns of Show Racism The Red Card told the Huffington Post. "We hope to see it withdrawn in the very near future. It promotes racial stereotypes and it is unacceptable."
The shirt is not the first to cause outrage. In April, Urban Outfitters was the target of serious backlash after producing a yellow t-shirt that featured a six-sided Star of David. Many saw it as a reflection of the Holocaust, in which Jews were forced to wear yellow Stars of David for identification.
"We find this use of symbolism to be extremely distasteful and offensive, and we are outraged that your company would make this product available to your customers," Barry Morrison, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote in a letter to the company. Urban Outfitters quickly removed the shirt from its line and stores.
Baker Skateboards has yet to respond to the charges from the public.
