Is the Fukudome shirt/headband racist?

[Howling Mad]

http://ballhype.com/video/fukudome_headband/

^ link to a video of the headband.

I already know this poll is going to be skewed because... well, there are going to be more Caucasians responding to this thread then Asians. But for th regulars that read the board I'd like to hear your input.

I've gotten about a dozen emails about this topic and I still haven't responded. Not because I don't know my position, but I don't want the tone of my e-mail to get the wrong interpretation. Ya know how some posts(or anything typed out) can have the wrong tone and the reader can mis-comprehend your message.

Anyone who knows me personally, knows my 1-2 punch in any joke is mocking Asians in the medical field (which 90% of my family is), or mocking Asians who practice a career that revolves around the computer (ME!).

For those that don't know, Yes, I am Asian.

Adding to insult, on the Fukudome shirt is the butchering of the Cubs logo. Besides the offensive phrase there is also the slanted eyes on the logo. If you didn't notice it also has Harry Carry glasses. Surprised Dutchie Carry isn't all over that one.

I've asked several people this question and the majority of Caucasians say they have a difficult time answering because they aren't Asian. So, I'll put in a third option if you feel like you fit into this category.

I get the t-shirt. Asian cartoonish text, mocking the improper pronunciation of "Holy Cow". Cute. Slanted eyes, because everybody from Japan has slanted eyes.

Note: Fukudome can probably speak better English than most Americans can speak Japanese.

What I don't get is the headband?

Is Fukudome a ninja? Last time I checked hes a baseball player. I understand the headband/ninja is a symbol of the Asian community, but its like me wearing an Afro when I have my Derek Lee jersey on. Do all blacks have afros? No.

I really don't care, but I've realized people have been avoiding to make eye contact with me at games who are wearing these shirts and headbands. I don't even have slanted eyes. I'm not even purely Asian, and the Asian in me, is one of few cultures(Filipinos) that doesn't naturally sport the slanted eyes feature.

Ok, I'll quit it here.

[2poor]

I'm a straight up white boy. German/Irish.

I find it to be offensive/racist. Not to say that I personally am offended by it, but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one of those head bands or anything with that logo (or anything of the sort).

The image is vulgar, as is the stereotypical spelling/pronunciation.

[Howling Mad]

I'm not personally offended by it, but... well I'll just post what I wrote back to the dozens of emails I got from close friends.

Hey guys I appreciate your emails about this silly conundrum, but I'm responding in mass e-mail style because I've received about 14-15 e-mails all saying/asking the same thing. "(If you know my name-insert it here), are you at all offended by these shirts and headbands?"

Of course, some e-mails were a little harsher than others(thanks Chachie, you whop! You too Tottle, you barbaric Greek. What kind of name is Aristotle anyways?), but all in good fun. You all know how I love my racist jokes.

My answer to this is simply, no. I'm not offended. I'm not Japanese and the mocking of the incorrect pronunciation of the word 'Holy', doesn't really reflect my culture's native language. Its actually offensive to any foreigner who doesn't speak proper English.

Its kinda like asking McD if he is affected by Nazi jokes. (he's Irish for those who don't know) Obviously he isn't offended. The Japanese and the Filipinos are as different as the Irish and the Germans.

The bottom line is, if this situation hadn't affected my enjoyment at the games, I wouldn't mind it all. I can actually sit back and soak up the humor in "Horry Kow!". Its offensive, but funny if you can get past the political correctiveness of it all.

However; over the past few days, I've been to a rooftop against the Bucs, and sitting at my normal seats against Cincy. Both times I felt uncomfortable in a way I've never felt before. Eye contact was scarce, and people who sported these shirts and headbands didn't interact with me as they usually would. By that, I mean, they didn't cheer when I attempted to rally the crowd, fewer people gave me high fives after scores. Maybe its just me being self conscious about it, but I've asked a few of my other Asian friends(die hard as me about he Cubs), and they've all experienced the same thing. It all started after that Sun-Times article was released about a week back.

Anyways, so yeah, no hard feelings about it, but I'm glad they've pulled the product, even though some will still attempt to sell it.

For the record, Fukudome doesn't approve, and he doesn't find it funny at all. In the Japanese newspaper, he's actually been quoted in saying that it is offensive to the culture.

So on a lighter note, when are you fools going to come out to a game. Many of you promise, but never come through.

...

[WEFFPIM]

As an outsider you all know, that struck me as pretty racist at first glance.

[2poor]

I'll come to a game BeP!

What do you mean about this "lack of interaction" though? Do you have one of these headbands and/or shirts, or do you mean you, as an Asian, were specifically ignored by those wearing the offensive material(s)?

Or do you mean the fanbase as a whole seems to be less in-touch with Asians?

[The Sheik]

I think its racist and embarrassing.

I dont see people selling Derrek Lee "hood star" shirts.

I dont know why but for some reason its cool to have offensive asian stuff.

Beyond the whole asian thing, I think the shirts look stupid anyway. Hopefully over the summer I will see a white boy wearing that shirt and tell him how stupid he looks.

Fukudome is blowing up to much, I have non Cub fans asking me to get them a jersey...I wanted to get his jersey, but I think Im gonna end up getting a Marmol or Lee jersey.

[Howling Mad]

I'll come to a game BeP!

What do you mean about this "lack of interaction" though? Do you have one of these headbands and/or shirts, or do you mean you, as an Asian, were specifically ignored by those wearing the offensive material(s)?

Or do you mean the fanbase as a whole seems to be less in-touch with Asians?

No, I don't wear either. I'm one not one to conform to the fad, so I'll wait to get my Fukudome jersey 'till later.

What I meant about the interaction is things like, random talking about baseball. I usually start random baseball chit chat with whomever is sitting next to me. Another is crazy chanting. I'm one to start a Lee, Fuku, etc chant, with others following along. Another is slapping high fives on random. I'm pretty crazy at a game.

I guess the main thing that I noticed (which I confirmed with other Asian Cub friends) is the eye contact.

I love saying high to everybody at the park, just to indulge in the atmosphere that much more, and lately I've been trying to make eye contact with people to say hello, maybe give them a "Go Cubs!", but they've often looked away.

Once again, maybe its just me over reacting, but this shirt crazy has turned into a bigger deal than it should.

[Howling Mad]

...I need to somehow find a bunch of tickets together so a bunch of us can meet for a game.

The problem is, I only have 4 seats together and only 20+ games. We've broken bread with the people behind us, good enough to ask for another 4 tickets, so I guess I can get 8 together. My friends and I have traded tickets with them so they can entertain out of town guests and attend the Cub game as a big party. I'm sure it'd be no prob to ask.

We need to find a date to get some peeps out to a game.

I'll buy all you guys Fukduome headbands. You can look stupid for only 5 dollars a piece.

[2poor]

I might just get one of those el-cheapo jersey t-shirt things. I've never been much of a jersey person. On that note, I don't know why people can't just appreciate the seeming novelty of the name 'Fukudome.' That in itself is enough for a chuckle, no need to take it a step further.

Maybe that logo, unedited, with 'Holy Cow' in Japanese, would be cool. With that logo, the writing could be in any language and any real Cub fan will know immediately what it says.

The rest, ehhh. Sometimes I question the decency of people wearing things like that. Maybe they're oblivious to the bigotry it promotes, who knows.

Anywho, I would definitely be down for a meet-up for a game. My girlfriend and I's tickets for the August 8th game just showed up, and thats all I have for this year.

[Ruben Douglas]

I don't find it offensive, I'm not asian. I do think it's racist. But so are all of the asian jokes in movies and on television. You never laughed at Long Duck Dong? Or at the asian waiters in A Christmas Story? They just said on ESPN that Fuku gets a kick out of the head bands, partly because a lot of people are accidentally wearing them upside down. Not even taking racism into consideration, I do think the head bands are as stupid as it gets. It's like wearing a cheesehead. The T-Shirt at first glance did make me chuckle, I would never buy one in a million years or support the purchase or selling of those T's, but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't find it slightly amusing.

[IbreakNeckZ101]

slanted eye thing doesn't look that racist.. it actually looks cool but the phrase definitely racist..

[Posey H8er]

I personally do not find this shirt offensive probably because I am not Asian. But I can see why people can feel offended. It attacks the false foreign Asian stereotype. It's not in good taste either. It's making fun of a group of people. I am all right with the "Fukudome is my Homie" or "F.u.k U" shirts, but this shirt goes out of it's way to be offensive to get an extra buck.

[SportsWorld]

Yesterday, during Fukudome's at-bat there was two guys behind homeplate having a mock ninja fight. Are people that stupid?

[Howling Mad]

Yesterday, during Fukudome's at-bat there was two guys behind homeplate having a mock ninja fight. Are people that stupid?

yea.. heard about that one. The Japanese must be sitting at home thinking how stupid Americans are.

[Howling Mad]

So we have a "No" answer, but no one here to post and defend it. Interesting.

Remember, I don't care either way. I don't personally find it offensive, but I feel for the Japanese, among others who can't speak perfect English.

Come forward you coward, or were you just trying to be as cute as the t-shirts?

GYBE... I know thats you, laughing at us Americans.

[SportsWorld]

That was me with the "no" answer and it was by accident

[Howling Mad]

So unanimous, very surprising. Very.

[Jo Jo English]

Racist? Yes.

Worn with the intent to belittle Asian people? Doubtful. (Very doubtful)

Does it need to stop? Oh yes. It makes those particular Cub fans look like idiots.

I'm not a person that blindly supports the PC movement of the past twenty or so years, but still... dumb is dumb.

This shirt was created due to ignorance.

[mattbulls]

Racist? Yes.

Worn with the intent to belittle Asian people? Doubtful. (Very doubtful)

Does it need to stop? Oh yes. It makes those particular Cub fans look like idiots.

I'm not a person that blindly supports the PC movement of the past twenty or so years, but still... dumb is dumb.

This shirt was created due to ignorance.

I agree.

[Howling Mad]

Cubs can't stop all sales of offensive Kosuke Fukudome T-shirt
Team, Fukudome offended, but tops still being hawked

The Cubs attempt to prevent vendors from selling racially insensitive T-shirts outside Wrigley Field apparently have hit a snag.

The T-shirts, which feature a cartoon of a slanty-eyed bear Cub with oversized, Harry Caray-style glasses and the words "Horry Kow" written on the front, drew the ire of the organization when they originally went on sale at some souvenir stands outside Wrigley in early April.

The T-shirts were supposed to be an attempt to poke fun at Japanese pronunciation of the English language, using Kosuke Fukudome's popularity on the North Side as a hook. The Cubs were able to get vendors who sell Major League Baseball merchandise around the park to stop selling the offensive T-shirts and a team spokesman said the company that manufactured the shirts has agreed to stop making them.

But apparently a large number of the shirts still exist, and the T-shirt ban hasn't stopped individuals with city licenses from selling them. A few vendors were selling them outside of Wrigley before Thursday's game.

"My personal viewpoint is they're not blatantly racist," said John Weier, a vendor selling the "Horry Kow" T-shirts outside of the Cubby Bear Lounge at the corner of Addison and Clark Streets. "It's a novelty T-shirt. We're not trying to hurt or offend anyone."

Weier knows Fukudome does not like the T-shirts but said he has no qualms about selling them to fans, saying he was "trying to make a living."

Fukudome has called the T-shirts offensive and the Cubs were so concerned about them they forced many souvenir stands to remove the shirts last month. But Weier said the Cubs have no say over the street vendors, as long as they are not selling the T-shirts on club property.

"There are four or five guys selling them on this corner alone," he said. "Hey, you can buy them on eBay for $50."

Weier also had another T-shirt that read "Fukudome for President," but left small spaces in between some of the letters to make it profane.

Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said the team is working with the city to crack down on the sellers but said they can not police every corner every game.

Efforts to reach a city spokesman were unsuccessful Thursday.

Code: Select all

Johnny D II & Donna J Weier
1089 Buckskin Ln
Carol Stream, IL 60188-9103
(630) 231-7214

Yes sir, yes, it is offensive. The 80 or so percent of me that is Asian, not even Japanese, says it is, along with Fukudome, the reason why the shirts are making money.

No wonder why Fukudome has an interpreter. He can speak English, but its fools like this that scare him away from it.

Like many of you know I worked in Wrigleyville at a bank two blocks away. We had several Cubs related accounts and many of them operated like this, no business etiquette, and just out for the dollar. Business' as big as Bars and as small as individual ticket brokers, dirty dirty area for back door business. I had to watch it all and suck up to those people at the same time. I felt like I sold my soul to the devil. Don't wanna name any names, but you'd be surprised how high the corruption goes.

Karma is a bitch, just wait.