JACL Leaders Condemn Asian Week Article
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) expressed its outrage over Kenneth Eng’s article, “Why I Hate Blacks,” that appeared in the latest edition of Asian Week newspaper. The column, which was published February 23, has drawn quick and harsh criticism from Asian Americans across the nation.
“Race-based hate is something that is unacceptable in any form, but it is particularly disturbing when one of our respected Asian American newspapers allows itself to be the source of such bigotry,” stated JACL National Director Floyd Mori. “Asian Week needs to apologize for this blatant error in editorial policy. We join other Asian American organizations in condemning this column.”
In his piece, Eng rationalizes his racism by listing reasons for his hatred. He has come under fire for justifying his views by citing a litany of racist stereotypes of African Americans.
“It is despicable that Kenneth Eng encourages Asian Americans to join him in his bigotry, and it is an invitation that we reject,” stated Patty Wada, JACL District Director. “For someone who touts his academic smarts and honors classes as if they were a badge of intelligence, he is woefully ignorant. Asian Week gave ink to Eng’s racist rant and should know better.”
“We find Mr. Eng’s views reprehensible and offensive,” said Alan Nishi, chair of the JACL’s Northern California-Western Nevada-Pacific (NCWNP) District. “That a publication like Asian Week would choose to publish a piece that spews hate and tries to foster a rift between Asian Americans and African Americans is unacceptable.” Asian Pacific Americans organizations, including the JACL, have encouraged its members to contact Asian Week and to sign the online petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/asianweek/. Many JACLers cite the Nikkei community’s link to the African American community and how, as people of color, Asian Americans and African Americans have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to fight for a more just society.
“We, as Japanese Americans, owe African Americans a debt of gratitude for blazing the civil rights trails, providing vital support and making it possible to even raise the issue of redress,” stated Andy Noguchi, co-chair of the Civil Rights Committee of the JACL NCWNP District. “We need to strongly condemn today’s bigots just as we wished our fellow Americans would have condemned bigots of the past for sending our Issei and Nisei generations off to the interment camps.”
The JACL, the oldest and largest Asian Pacific American civil rights organization in the country, has 112 chapters and 22,000 members.
San Francisco Chronicle
Article by Leslie Fulbright on the front page of today’s San Francisco Chronicle:
Ling-chi Wang, retired chairman of the ethnic studies department at UC Berkeley, said there is an urgent need for Asian Americans to be aware of the history of this country and know that Asian American gains have come largely as a result of the efforts of black people.
“Personal experiences cannot be generalized,” Wang said. “It is really sad to see the racism sentiment being expressed so publicly. I can’t believe Ted Fang would allow such a column to go to print. It is really offensive and damaging and is not one that contributes to a better understanding of diversity.
“I was very disappointed to see it published, and I’m glad there are people protesting.”
AAJA Calls for End to Racist Column
While the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) supports freedom of the press, AAJA believes that all media regardless of size should practice the highest standards of journalism including in matters of ethnicity, race and diversity.
AsianWeek, a nationally distributed English-language newspaper, ran in its Feb. 23 issue “Why I Hate Blacks,” a column by Kenneth Eng. AAJA views the decision to publish this piece as irresponsible journalism.
AAJA is committed to diversity and believes in fair and accurate coverage of all communities. AAJA is in its 13th year as an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and Native American Journalists Association.
Organizations representing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country immediately expressed outrage over the column and issued public statements criticizing AsianWeek. The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, Asian American Justice Center, Equal Justice Society and other groups are sponsoring a petition calling for AsianWeek “to take immediate action and issue an unequivocal apology, terminate their relationship with Kenneth Eng, print an editorial debunking the column and setting the record straight, review their editorial policy and process, and hold those responsible accountable.”
The AAJA National Office has chosen not to quote from or reprint any part of the column, due to the offensive nature. The weekend after publication, AsianWeek pulled the article from their web site. When contacted by AAJA, Editor-in-Chief Samson Wong declined further comment.
AsianWeek today issued the following statement and will provide an update in its upcoming issue:
“AsianWeek sincerely regrets any offense caused by the one opinion piece which reflected that author’s personal views. We apologize for any harm or hurt this has caused the African American community. AsianWeek has great respect for all that the African American community has done for Asian Pacific Americans.
AsianWeek’s operation and editorial policy are based on a philosophy of diversity. This includes fighting to promote diversity of opinion in our own community and even to expose its disturbing warts. It also includes a proven record on promoting cross-cultural diversity and inter-racial interaction. AsianWeek as an organization is proud of its deep and unparalleled history of working with, interacting with, and building connections among all the diverse groups that make up America.”
Youth Media Council
The Youth Media Council posts our statement on their site. Thanks to Karlos Schmieder!
Hyphen blog: ‘AsianWeek Takes the Racist Cake’
Former AsianWeek editor Neela Banerjee on the article:
Long-running Asian American weekly AsianWeek is facing criticism for publishing a column by writer Kenneth Eng entitled “Why I Hate Blacks.”
I have to say, I’m not a regular reader of AsianWeek. Available as a free weekly throughout the Bay Area, AsianWeek doesn’t really seem to reach the Mission District. But I am very familiar with the newspaper: I worked there as a reporter, managing editor and editor-in-chief from 2000-2003. That said, I have no familiarity with Eng or his column, which has the strange title “God of the Universe.” He does seem to be the author of two books: Dragons: Lexicon Triumvirate and Reincarnations. His Amazon.com bio lists him as the “youngest published science fiction novelist in America.”
Hmmmm. I don’t know about you, but this is certainly the resume of the guy I want to write columns about race relations!!
Asian American Leaders Criticize AsianWeek for Printing Kenneth Eng’s Column ‘Why I Hate Blacks’
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 — Asian American leaders joined together to criticize AsianWeek for printing Kenneth Eng’s column “Why I Hate Blacks” in its February 23rd edition. The leaders condemn the piece as irresponsible journalism, blatantly racist, replete with stereotypes, and deeply hurtful to African Americans. They called on AsianWeek to take immediate action and issue an unequivocal apology, terminate their relationship with Kenneth Eng, print an editorial refuting the column, review their editorial policy and process, and hold those responsible accountable.
The original column can be found in the print and on the AsianWeek website at: http://tinyurl.com/2kbtdt. UPDATE FEB. 24: AsianWeek removed the story from its website. Download a PDF of the article.
The leaders call on all individuals to contact AsianWeek on this matter: AsianWeek, Tel: (415) 397-0220, Email: asianweek@asianweek.com.
An online petition is available at: http://www.capaweb.org/awpetition
“Eng’s article is unacceptable and offensive not only to African Americans, but to all Americans,” said Karen K. Narasaki, President and Executive Director of the Asian American Justice Center. “AsianWeek has a responsibility to its readers and to the community to take immediate and appropriate action to repair the serious damage it has caused by publishing this piece.”
“Most Asian Americans would not be here in America today, but for the civil rights movement led by African Americans that resulted in the change to racist immigration quotas,” said Stewart Kwoh, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California.
“The publication of these racist statements is completely irresponsible and damaging to all our communities. Not only should there be a retraction but a serious effort to repair the harm caused,” said Gen Fujioka, Program Director of the Asian Law Caucus.
“Asian Americans should recognize the debt we all owe African Americans who blazed the civil rights path we have walked on in our journey to equality,” said Dale Minami, President of the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans.
“Eng’s column harkens back to a era of Jim Crow and bigotry that should not be tolerated in our society,” said Eric K. Yamamoto, Professor of Law
“Eng’s vile racism is a setback to the efforts of people of color working together against discrimination, oppression and injustice,” said Keith Kamisugi, Associate Director for Communications at the Equal Justice Society. “His words alone are disgusting; that it was printed in a prominent English-language Asian Pacific American newspaper is shameful.”
“Asian Americans do not share Eng’s extremely racist views. Asian Americans need to take this opportunity to reach out and build a constructive dialog,” said Yvonne Lee, Former Member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
“It is critical that our Asian American community stands up and tells America — and particularly our African American brothers and sisters — that our community has no tolerance for the racism expressed by Mr. Eng,” said David Chiu, President of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area.
Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org), formerly known as NAPALC, is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates — the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles.