Chronicle: AsianWeek columnist fired
From an article posted today at 2:57 p.m.:
The author of the “Why I Hate Blacks” column published Friday in AsianWeek has been dismissed, and editors say publication of the piece was “a serious lapse in editorial judgment.”
“The failing of our editorial process in allowing this piece to go forward was an insensitive and callous mistake that should never have been made by our publication,” AsianWeek editor-at-large Ted Fang said today at a news conference organized by the local branch of the NAACP.
New York-based Kenneth Eng will no longer be writing for the paper, Fang said.
The editor(s) responsible for allowing the column to run are still at-large.
Silicon Valley API Leaders Express Dismay At Racist Remarks Printed In Asianweek
The Asian Pacific Islander Justice Coalition of the Silicon Valley (APIJC) strongly condemns AsianWeek’s decision to print Kenneth Eng’s column “Why I Hate Blacks” in its February 23rd edition.
APIJC joins the Asian American Justice Center, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area and the Equal Justice Society in calling for AsianWeek to fire columnist Kenneth Eng and hold the editor responsible for allowing Eng’s column to be published.
“It is reprehensible for AsianWeek to print such a hateful and ignorant article. AsianWeek’s publication of the article dishonors the work and efforts of many African Americans whose struggles for civil rights and justice improved the lives of all Asian Americans,” said Thanh Ngo, President of the Asian Pacific Bar Association of the Silicon Valley and APIJC member. “Clearly, AsianWeek is not the ‘voice of the Asian American community.’”
“We disagree with all the points raised in this article, which is not reflective of the Asian American community’s sentiments. I am disturbed by the remarks of Kenneth Eng and by the fact that AsianWeek published it,” said Anne Im, Director of Community Programs and Advocacy at Asian Americans for Community Involvement and APIJC member. “There was absolutely no value added to community dialogue as a result its publication.”
APIJC reiterates that the views expressed by Eng do not reflect the sentiments of the API community in the Silicon Valley. APIJC encourages all community members to express their concern and hold AsianWeek accountable on this matter.
The Asian Pacific Islander Justice Coalition of the Silicon Valley (APIJC) is a newly formed network of organizations whose mission is to advocate for social justice and unite and empower the Asian Pacific Islander community in the Silicon Valley.
BET.com Readers Respond
Read the post on BET.com, asking readers to comment on “From your point of view, in general, what is the relationship between Blacks and Asians? Good or poor?”
OCA Finds Kenneth Eng’s Racist Views Offensive
OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) organization dedicated to ensuring social justice for Asian Pacific Americans, Feb. 28 strongly criticized AsianWeek columnist Kenneth Eng’s recent article, “Why I Hate Blacks.” The short column used inflammatory language to convey the author’s racist opinions towards African Americans.
“This column is shameful for its blatant bigotry and hate speech, and only serves to build barriers between communities that should be working together for a free, fair, and equitable society,” said Michael Lin, Executive Director. “Mr. Eng owes an apology, not only to the black community, but also to the readership of AsianWeek and those who support a hate-free America.”
“The APA civil rights movement recognizes crucial strides made by the African American community and its struggles, and the two have a long and fruitful history of collaboration and cooperation,” said Ginny Gong, National President. “We sincerely hope Kenneth Eng’s article and the regrettable decision on the part of AsianWeek to publish his column will not damage our relationship with those to whom we owe so much and with whom we have so much to gain.”
“Mr. Eng’s article is contemptible in its derogatory views on blacks,” said Stephanie Kao, Hate Crime Prevention Program Manager. “For years, OCA has worked with groups such as the NAACP and National Council of La Raza to achieve greater understanding between APA and other communities of color. We will continue to work with civil rights leaders around the country to further the dialogue between all of our communities.”
Pelosi Denounces Hateful Views in AsianWeek Column
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement Feb. 28 denouncing a column by Kenneth Eng published in the February 23 edition of AsianWeek:
“The hateful views expressed in Kenneth Eng’s column must not be tolerated and AsianWeek’s decision to print them was irresponsible. Eng’s words were not only offensive to African Americans, but to all Americans.
“AsianWeek, a publication known for promoting diversity and civil rights, has now issued an apology and has decided to no longer run material by Mr. Eng. These are steps in the right direction.
“I am proud to represent a city that prides itself on its diversity as its strength. Speech that promotes hate has no place in San Francisco or anywhere in our country. We must continue the fight to end racism and promote social justice for all.”
AsianWeek Suspends Eng
AW issued posted this statement today on its website:
AsianWeek sincerely regrets and apologizes for publishing New York-based contributor Kenneth Eng’s column in the issue of February 23, 2007. AsianWeek rejects Eng’s biased views on a critical segment of American society, African Americans.
While AsianWeek continues to truly believe in diversity of opinion and freedom of the press, we are also very aware that the promotion of hate speech is not appropriate, nor should it be encouraged.
Given that the genesis of the American civil rights movement was borne primarily by the African American community through blood and perseverance, the failing of our editorial process in allowing this opinion piece to go forward, was an insensitive and callous mistake that should never have been made by our publication.
We will be reviewing that editorial process and making any changes necessary to prevent this from ever happening again.
The condemnation of this serious lapse in editorial judgment was rightfully taken by civic and community leaders and organizations including Congressman Mike Honda, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Readers of AsianWeek over the past 27-year history clearly know that we reject any racist agenda. To the contrary, our editorial policy has led the way in interracial and multicultural strength and diversity.
As a publication whose motto is the “voice of the Asian American community” we are humbled and overwhelmed at reader response not only chastising our editorial process, but strongly urging our paper to sever all ties to this contributor. We have heard the call and Mr. Eng has been suspended from writing for the paper.
In the future we will take extra steps to ensure that while diversity of opinion remains a constant pillar in AsianWeek editorial policy, promotion of hate speech of any kind will not and should not ever be tolerated. These steps shall be our ironclad resolve as we start anew in this auspicious Lunar New Year of the Boar.
Chron’s Jon Carroll Worried About Samson Wong
From today’s column by Jon Carroll:
See, the person I worry about is Samson Wong, editor in chief of AsianWeek, a free publication aimed at the Bay Area Asian community and published by the famously powerful Fang family. I put myself in his place. He gets a new column from his feisty young columnist Kenneth Eng. The title of the column is “Why I Hate Blacks.”
…
So Samson Wong apparently says to himself, “Sure, why not, it’s a free country,” and he prints the column. Did he not perhaps think that a newspaper has many missions, and fostering community understanding is one of them? This wasn’t a reasoned screed against affirmative action; this was a goddamn “Why I Hate Black People.” One has been in the newspaper business many years; one’s jaw is agape.
I also fret about David Lee, spokesman for the Chinese American Voters Education Committee. He said that Eng’s column reflects the way some Asians really feel and that it’s good to get this stuff out on the table. “Rather than refute and bury this, we should be calling for a community dialogue to address this.”
I’m just guessing here, but if I wrote a column called “Why I Hate Yellow People,” I’m pretty sure that David Lee would not be quite so sanguine about it. I imagine he would refute the column, probably really strongly, and I don’t imagine he’d want to have a town hall meeting first. I’m all for dialogue, but there’s a baseline of respect that’s necessary for the dialogue to work. If there’s no respect, then the dialogue can often turn into what we like to call “war.”
