The Whirlwind Against Disguise

[achtungbaby]

I'm happy to share some positive new developments with Project Anti-Disguise in the last 48 hours and to preview our activities for this weekend.

The Bandwagon. Awareness is expanding. At the time of this writing, more than 3,500 signatures have been gathered -- 1,500 in the last 24 hours alone -- and media organizations have begun to take notice: tonight, NBC News aired a brief segment in San Diego and San Francisco on our efforts, and the Sacramento Bee will be publishing a story on Thursday.

Protest! This Friday, October 18, 2002 at 12pm, we will be protesting the racist "Kung Fool" costume on Disguise's doorsteps in Poway. The rally will take place at the company's headquarter's -- 11906 Tech Center Drive; Poway, California 92064. The Organization of Chinese Americans in San Diego will be coordinating our efforts. For more information, contact Levin Sy at execvp@oca-sd.org.

Investigate. We are asking everyone to join us in a nationwide investigation this weekend. We have formally demanded that Disguise, Inc. remove each "Kung Fool" costume by this Friday or face a legal action. Therefore, we are asking two people from each city to visit their local Walmart, Target, Party City, or Spencer Gifts (to locate your nearest store, go to http://disguise.com/html/where_to_buy.cfm to determine if the costumes have indeed been removed. If a costume is found, a picture will have to be taken of the costume against the store sign and must be dated. We will need these pictures for any possible legal action. For more information, contact Kasie Lee at kasie@yellowworld.org.

[ChinaLama]

looks like things are picking up. i received 2 email forwards today ALONE, while previously, when the petition first started, and before the petition started, i had only received 1 email on it.

[Andrew]

You might want to keep an eye on Disguise.com's online retailer links (http://disguise.com/html/shoponline.html)as well. As of tonight,
BuyCostumes (http://www.buycostumes.com/Detail.asp?ProdID=10127&promo=&style=grid&page=1&sort=seq&returnTo=Search.asp?keyword=7865067) is still selling Kung Fool.

Also, I found a Yahoo shop, "Halloweenshop (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/halloweenshop/1115.html)," selling the costume. Don't know if it's a front for Buycostumes.com or Disguise.com, but the URL uses the Disguise.com product ID number (1115).



<!--EDIT|Andrew|Oct 16 2002, 08:35 AM-->

[tapestrybabe]

Wow, i must say.. this seems all kinda exciting.. in terms of people coming together... seeing a group effort on all this... and knowing where it all started...

[wylin]

ah all the hoopla i think im gonna have to go buy an kung fool costume as a momento =X jk.

[Arex]

I called their corporate offices today and spoke with the operator, asking who I could voice a complaint about the costume to. She informed me that they were planning on issuing a press release sometime this afternoon (10/16) and I could leave my contact info if I wanted to receive it. The number is (858) 391-3600...

Alex

[Andrew]

I have to wonder whether they're going to end up benefiting overall from all this publicity. I'd never heard of Disguise.com before all this. I wonder what the news coverage has done for traffic on their Web site.

Their press release had better be contrite.

[angel nympho]

Originally posted by wylin@Oct 16 2002, 05:56 PM
ah all the hoopla i think im gonna have to go buy an kung fool costume as a momento =X jk.
It'll probably be worth some good money when they pull it off the shelves.

[Andrew]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Oct 17 2002, 12:47 AM
Originally posted by wylin@Oct 16 2002, 05:56 PM
ah all the hoopla i think im gonna have to go buy an kung fool costume as a momento =X jk.
It'll probably be worth some good money when they pull it off the shelves.
Only if you end up selling it. And if you do, you're as bad as Disguise.com.

[mrazntre]

I wonder why some Asians, or people in general, are hesitant to protest such a racially degrading costume. I have heard the arguments of questionable validity in the court of law, but how about the arena of principle? Regardless of what happens in the courts (don't get me wrong, I do support the petition), why are some Asians hesitant in supporting the empowerment of themselves by trying to rid the world of such racially abhorrent paraphernalia? If not for the legal aspect, how about for your pride? How about the pride of the Asian peoples not only in the US, but for Asians all around the world? Why is there such a resistance to taking a small step in correcting the demeaning exploitation of Asian stereotypes? On top of that, these people expect to make money as a direct insult to Asians. These demeaning stereotypes will not simply fade away, the era of Civil Rights did not pass with the 60s. It is here and now. It is up to the younger generation along with those already fighting the exploitation and prejudice created in American society which has permeated throughout the world. What do you have to lose by aiding in the abolition of racial defamation? This baffles me and makes me angry.

I think that a lot of the Asians who do not or are hesitant to support the petition are shackled by the indoctrination of white society. Why must we be accomodating to their racist virtues? We should not stand around listless and lifeless as the society dictates how it sees our ethinicties, our culture and our way of life. No more of this model minority rhetoric. It is about time for Asians to unite in order to directly face off against the oppressive nature and bigotry of Anerican society. We no longer can fool ourselves into thinking that we are part of a huge cultural melting pot. No longer can we huddle behind other minorities, hoping to escape the full wrath of American society and fly low under the radar.

Now is the time that we can actually do something to prevent the senseless prejudice against our people that has become so ingrained in American society that it is okay for a business to create an exploitative costume that has only one function- TO HUMILIATE ASIANS.

I do not know how it is humanly possible to stand on the sidelines.

Please support our petition. Racism in all forms is simply hate. Help abolish this hate.



<!--EDIT|mrazntre|Oct 17 2002, 06:34 AM-->

[kasia]

people just won't see it til they believe it.

the same people/organizations who did not take a stand when they first saw the costume are now quick to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim, "i thought it was completely racist all along!"

human nature, i guess.

[karizma]

>> tre: well said dawg...you said what i was thinking so um...i wont have to post :D...but just know i support this whole-heartedly.

[S. S]

I agree with you. We need to stand up and let our voice be heard. Otherwise, no one will give us any thought if they are insulting us or not.

Not related to the topic but Disguise Inc is being sue by Harry Potter's creator over Halloween costume too.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/976187.stm

[Laurabell]

I posted the link to the petition to list serves for parents of Asian adoptees. I am sure that many signed the petition and many reported that they called retailers and the corporate offices. THanks for bringing this to our attention.

[jo-sun]

Originally posted by mrazntre@Oct 17 2002, 06:23 AM
... racially abhorrent paraphernalia?

On top of that, these people expect to make money as a direct insult to Asians.

... shackled by the indoctrination of white society. Why must we be accomodating to their racist virtues?

...oppressive nature and bigotry of Anerican society.

... full wrath of American society ...

...okay for a business to create an exploitative costume that has only one function- TO HUMILIATE ASIANS.

While you are entitled to your opinions, you should not make accusations that you can not support. I know people that work at Disguise and they are all good people. In fact, I know Asians who were involved in the creation of this very costume. Who do you think came up with the "Loser" symbol for the headband? It was meant as a humorous costume - period. Think Jerry Lewis crossed with martial arts. Does Jerry Lewis portray caucasians in a negative light?

This great country is where it is because of the diversity it enjoys. Sure, there are people who are racist, but it is their lack of education and exposure to different cultures that makes them that way.

[futomakiman]

Driving to work this morning, I listened to JAMIE & DANNY on KissFM, speak of the Kung Fool costume as being not racist...even after mentioning the costume was akin to the caricatures of the Japanese during the WWII they still thought there was nothing wrong! Moreover, Jamie goes on to convey that slanty eyes and buck-teeth are funny! Am I overreacting if I were angry at this attitude they seem to carry? :angry:

[achtungbaby]

Originally posted by jo-sun@Oct 17 2002, 09:42 AM
Sure, there are people who are racist, but it is their lack of education and exposure to different cultures that makes them that way.
So since Disguise has had "education and exposure" to Asians, what's their excuse?

[achtungbaby]

Originally posted by futomakiman@Oct 17 2002, 09:46 AM
Am I overreacting if I were angry at this attitude they seem to carry? :angry:
futomakiman, you're certainly not overreacting if you get annoyed by anything Jamie says.

Did they mention the site, btw?

[futomakiman]

Nope...no mention of the site.

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by jo-sun@Oct 17 2002, 05:42 PM
In fact, I know Asians who were involved in the creation of this very costume. Who do you think came up with the "Loser" symbol for the headband?

It was meant as a humorous costume - period. Think Jerry Lewis crossed with martial arts.

Does Jerry Lewis portray caucasians in a negative light?

This great country is where it is because of the diversity it enjoys.

Sure, there are people who are racist, but it is their lack of education and exposure to different cultures that makes them that way.
Simply because a few Asians were involved in creating something that exploits the stereotypes of Asians does not make something automatically "okay." As for the "loser" symbol. I'm Vietnamese, yet I came up with these English words in my comments. You don't necessarily have to be Asian, or Chinese to be specific, in order to come up with that symbol.

A humorous costume is something that makes you laugh. A humorous costume does not bring back the relics of prejudice and bigotry from the 1849 Gold Rush era against the Cantonese nor the portrayal of Japanese people during World War II. Time and time again, Asians in US society have been portrayed as buck toothed, disfigured subhumans. Is that humorous to you? I think not. This costume makes those in support of the petition cringe with disdain for a corporation that has marketed a racially insensitive costume that has the ability to propogate negative stereotypes against Asians.

Jerry Lewis is a souce of the problem. He portrayed Asians in a negative light in many of his "comedy" sketches. It is he who has exploited the buck toothed look of Asians.

I agree with you on the point that this country is great due to its diversity, however..... we are not discussing diversity. We are discussing an intolerable product created by a company for profit. Diversity is a melding and understanding of cultures, not blatant acts of bigotry against another.

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by futomakiman@Oct 17 2002, 05:46 PM
Driving to work this morning, I listened to JAMIE & DANNY on KissFM, speak of the Kung Fool costume as being not racist...even after mentioning the costume was akin to the caricatures of the Japanese during the WWII they still thought there was nothing wrong! Moreover, Jamie goes on to convey that slanty eyes and buck-teeth are funny! Am I overreacting if I were angry at this attitude they seem to carry? :angry:
That is the very problem that we're dealing with in US society. As blatant as it may be, society at large has become insensitive to their acts of bigotry. As such, they ignore the forthcoming repercussions and simply laugh it off as "funny" and "humorous."

[deez nuts]

No doubt, tre holding it down. We ain't got the NAACP or the Anti-defamation league. We our own watch dogs. And sometimes if you give these folks an inch, they'll take a foot, gotta keep them in check.