Chronicle: AsianWeek undecided on whether to keep author of racist column
From an article to appear in today’s Chronicle:
AsianWeek Editor at large Ted Fang said Tuesday he regrets publishing a controversial column titled “Why I Hate Blacks” in this week’s edition but has not decided whether to keep its author, Kenneth Eng, on his staff.
“Whether he will continue is under review,” Fang said. “I can say his views are not the newspaper’s views. It is very unfortunate that the column got in the paper. It should not have been published.”
Fang would not say whether he personally approved the column, which appeared in the free weekly’s news racks Friday.
Wednesday press conference by local NAACP leader Amos Brown
Rev. Amos Brown, president of the local chapter of the NAACP will hold a press conference related to the Eng article on Wednesday, February 28, at 10 a.m. at the Third Baptist Church on 1399 McAllister Street in San Francisco.
AP: Asian weekly’s “Why I Hate Blacks” column blasted
Coverage by AP writer Terence Chea:
“It certainly does not speak for the vast majority of Asian Americans,” Stewart Kwoh, who heads the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles, said Tuesday. “This kind of inflammatory (column) really can hurt and damage relations with the broader African-American community.”
…
Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a statement that the column had “no place in a city that is known around the world for civil rights and equality for all people. I am deeply concerned, both for the opinions expressed in the column and the fact that these opinions were published in a local newspaper.”
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, one of the city’s top black officials, has co-sponsored a city resolution condemning the article and AsianWeek’s decision to publish it. But she doesn’t believe Eng’s column will hurt relations between blacks and Asians in San Francisco.
“This man clearly is very ignorant of African-American history and his own history, and he’s very angry,” said Maxwell, who represents a district with large black and Asian populations.
US Civil Rights Commissioner Michael Yaki
“I am disappointed and disgusted that Asian Week would publish this thoughtless, bigoted screed. At the national level, we are fighting just to maintain the gains that Asian Americans and African Americans and Hispanic Americans stood side-by-side to achieve. To give voice to hateful lies is irresponsible journalism at its worst, and reminds us of the time when mainstream papers printed bigoted, jingoistic columns as ‘fact’ against the Asian Americans. We cannot return to those days.” — US Civil Rights Commissioner Michael Yaki, former San Francisco Supervisor and former chief of staff to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
“Inclusion, tolerance, and acceptance of diversity among all people are hallmarks of our way of life in San Francisco. While I recognize free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, hate speech in any form is totally unacceptable in our community. Such statements have no place in a city that is known around the world for civil rights and equality for all people. I am deeply concerned, both for the opinions expressed in the column and the fact that these opinions were published in a local ewspaper. Both actions demand explanation and accountability.”
AsianWeek contributor Julie D. Soo
“I think I share the shock and dismay over the racist column by Kenneth Eng that AsianWeek decided to print. I intend to have a very frank talk with the publishers and the editorial staff. I have dedicated my personal time in contributing to AsianWeek to give our communities a constructive voice. This lapse in good judgment by AsianWeek has eroded years of hardwork from those who of us present stories in a balanced manner and look for ways of bringing communities together.
“I think many of the writers at AsianWeek will continue to let their dissatisfaction be known. Kenneth Eng’s views are nothing but inflamatory spew and dilutes the hard work of thoughtful writers in covering legitimate news. I cannot imagine anything constructive from printing Eng’s columns. At least AsianWeek has agreed to co-sponsor a town hall on race relations. But, I am not sure how that will be received, given that the damage has already run deep.
“Keep up the heat. I am just appalled and disappointed.
“While I will not apologize for the Fang’s and AsianWeek, you have my word that I will not let this issue go lightly. I feel that my reputation has been harmed as well.”
– AsianWeek contributor Julie D. Soo
CAPAC Criticizes AsianWeek for Printing Racist “Why I Hate Blacks” Column
Washington, DC – Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) criticizes AsianWeek and expresses outrage concerning its printing of Kenneth Eng’s column “Why I Hate Blacks” in its February 23rd edition. Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of CAPAC, issued the following statement:
“Mr. Eng’s views are based upon ignorance and stereotypes of the worst kind. The racist views expressed in his column and AsianWeek’s publishing of his article undermine the efforts of communities of color working collaboratively to promote equity and justice for everyone in the United States.
“Members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community work tirelessly to fight against stereotypes that have caused tremendous harm to AAPIs. The AAPI community, along with all Americans, owes a great debt to the great African American trailblazers who have helped us frame our American notion of equality for all. As a prominent AAPI publication whose own mission includes community empowerment, AsianWeek should have known better than to publish such harmful views.
“CAPAC calls on AsianWeek to issue an unequivocal apology, review its editorial policy and process, and take appropriate action to hold accountable all those responsible for this egregious mistake.”