Should racist phrases be perpetuated for profit? No, says the Asian American Justice Center, after seeing a skateboard company's "Gooks of Hazzard" shirt.
According to TMZ, the t-shirt, from Baker Skateboards, "features two Asian men in a car named the 'General Li.' One of the men is pro skater Don 'The Nuge' Nguyen -- who's sponsored by Baker. The shirt also features a tagline, "Good Orr Boys" ... a play on the stereotype of an Asian accent." But General Li is funny, right?
The Asian American Justice Center said it's "unacceptable for Baker Skateboards to create a depiction of Asian Americans which uses racial slurs and perpetuates racist stereotypes... Baker Skateboards, and the outlets that sell this shirt, should be aware that use of the term 'gook' on their apparel is offensive and quite simply amounts to racism for sale. No one should seek to profit from racism." Yeah—talk to Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie and Fitch—they have first-hand experience with these kinds of complaints.
