Racism is easier to understand when the shoe is on the other foot

The diverse cast of Hamilton includes Phillipa Soo, 2nd from right, as Eliza Hamilton.

C'MON FOLKS, give people credit when it's deserved.

European/Americans (AKA "white people," aka "caucasians") are not insensitive to the racist slings and arrows thrown at people of color. When they see an injustice, or an act of bigotry, they sometimes take the time to point it out.

RELATED: Why I prefer using the / instead of the -

Sarcasm or satire is so hard to convey in the written word. In case you can't read the sarcasm in the first few lines of this post, let's dispense with the subtleties. 

When the Hamilton producers put out a casting call last month for the traveling production of the hit Broadway musical, posted a casting call looking for “non-White men and women,” there was such a hue and cry along the lines of reverse discrimination.

“What if they put an ad out that said, ‘Whites only need apply?’” said civil rights attorney Randolph McLaughlin, of the Newman Ferrara Law Firm. “Why, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians would be outraged.”

“You cannot advertise showing that you have a preference for one racial group over another,” McLaughlin said. “As an artistic question—sure, he can cast whomever he wants to cast, but he has to give every actor eligible for the role an opportunity to try.”

RELATED: Leading ladies speak about diversity onstage

The New York Times reports that Maria Somma, the spokesperson for Broadway union Actors’ Equity, said the notice was “absolutely inconsistent with Equity’s policy.” She also said that the union wants “to encourage that everyone has an equal opportunity to go in and audition for shows.”

The producers responded, it is essential to the storytelling of Hamilton that the principal roles—which were written for non-whitee characters (excepting King George)—be performed by actors of color. Precedence for this accepted practice for casting certain characteristics in certain roles is OK if it constitutes a “bona fide occupational qualification." This follows in the tradition of many shows that call for race-, ethnicity- or age-specific casting, such as in The Color Purple or Porgy & Bess or the recently closed George Takei-inspired Allegiance. 

"The casting will be amended to also include language we neglected to add, that is, we welcome people of all ethnicities to audition for Hamilton," concluded the response.

But nothing tops in honest the response from actress Constance Wu of ABC's Fresh Off The Boat.

ESPN host Bomani Jones favored subtlety in his satirical protest of the racist mascots used by sports teams but the response he got was anything but subtle.

RELATED: That darn football team in Washington D.C.

When Bomani filled in for Mike Golic on Mike & Mike wearing a T-shirt with graphic that had similarities to the MLB's Cleveland Indians' logo  — but in place of "Indians" was the word "Caucasians." And instead of the cartoony Chief Wahoo mascot with a feather headdress was a cartoony Euro/American with a dollar sign over his head.

A closeup of the Bomani Jones' controversial T-shirt.

"The detrimental effect of treating Native Americans like mascots isn't just a matter of hurt feelings ... Native youth already face among the highest rates of depression, substance abuse and suicide in the nation, the direct result of a history of state-sanctioned violence, endemic poverty and systemic racism," Mic's Zak Cheney-Rice wrote in an article last year. He went on to cite a 2014 report from the Center for American Progress that said such imagery damages the mental health and self-esteem of Native American Youth.

Bowman's sarcastic T-shirt was noticed by viewers even though it was not a topic of conversation on the ESPN show.

To which Bowman replied:

Clearly the T-shirt struck a chord. Upset viewers used the reverse racism argument, thusly:

The debate surrounding the name-change and the Cleveland team's mascot has been going on for years and like their NFL counterpart based in our nation's capitol, the Cleveland baseball team has resisted the name change.

That leaves us with one final burning question: Where can I get the Cleveland Caucasians T-shirt?

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For more news about Asian/Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.

Thanksgiving greetings: You have got to be kidding department

FILE THIS under the "You have gotta be kidding" department. I don't want to spoil your big ol' meal, but ...

The NFL team based in  Washington with the racist mascot and whose name we swore to never mention in this blog, just Tweeted out a Happy Thanksgiving greeting.  The  Twitterverse responded quickly:

More Tweets here.

The truth and myths about Thanksgiving. My apologies for my international followers. All this probably doesn't make sense to you.

Everything in perspective. Enjoy the day off.
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Oct. 12: Indigenous Peoples Day challenging Christopher Columbus

MORE CITIES are questioning the celebration of Columbus Day on Oct. 12.

At least nine more U.S. cities will be celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day instead, according to AP report, including Albuquerque, Portland, Oregon; St. Paul, Minnesota and Olympia, Washington. They will be joining Minneapolis and Seattle which made decided to switch the emphasis last year.

Oct. 12 has long been a celebration of Italian contributions to America because Christopher Columbus was Italian. 

Critics of Columbus Day say American should not be celebrating an event that led to the destruction of pre-Columbian civilizations and the decimation of the people who were already living here.

RELATED: Columbus: Hero or villain?

The drive to change the emphasis is a growing movement to recognize the more historically accurate impact of Columbus's arrival on the shores of a land that he thought was India.

Don't get me wrong, the arrival of Columbus is no small matter. His voyage sparked an era of exploration by European nations, but history classes should also teach the after-effects, including the exploitation and genocide of the people who occupied the lands being "claimed" for those European powers.

Perhaps not coincidentally, on the eve of Oct. 12, California's Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that would prohibit schools from using the name "Redskins" as their mascot.

RELATED: Bill targets NFL team's racist mascot

The legislation, Assembly Bill 30 introduced by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, will prevent public schools from using a term that American Indians regard as offensive, starting in 2017.

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Asian American lawmaker's bill targets Washington's NFL team's use of racist mascot

Rep. Mike Honda, 17th District, California

THE NFL TEAM based in our nation's capitol has been lambasted for its mascot based on a racist slur against the First Americans.

But despite the severe criticism, team owners and loyal fans refuse to change the name. This bill from Rep. Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) is the latest attempt to persuade team owners to change the football team's name.

Honda, who survived a bruising reelection campaign last November against Indian American Ro Khanna, another Democrat, released the following press release,

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Bill Would Prevent Any Team Trademarking Name Offensive to Native American Groups

Feb 3, 2015  

Press Release 

Washington, DC – Continuing his promotion of the modern progressive agenda, Congressman Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley) today introduced legislation to prevent sports teams from using a derogatory slur for Native Americans as their nickname, The Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act.

This bill will retroactively cancel any existing federal trademarks, and prohibit the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from issuing new trademarks, using the term “redskins” in reference to Native Americans. It will formally declare that the word “redskins” is a disparaging term when used in reference to Native Americans, and thus cannot be trademarked under The Lanham Act. In January, the Department of Justice joined a lawsuit to defend the constitutionality of The Lanham Act.

“It is unbelievable to me that, in the 21st century, a prominent NFL franchise is calling itself by a racial slur,” Congressman Honda said. “Team names should not be offensive to anyone. Allowing trademark protection of this word is akin to the government approving its use. Removing that trademark will send a clear message that this name is not acceptable.”

This bill is part of Congressman Honda’s kick off of his 114th Congress legislative agenda.  Each of the first six weeks, he will be introducing legislation that addresses a key area of the modern progressive agenda. Previously, he introduced bills on Manufacturing and Technology and Public Safety, Human Trafficking, and STEM Education. In the next two weeks he will introduce legislation on Education, and the Environment and Energy Infrastructure. 

Supporting statements for this legislation from outside organizations include:

“The negative and historic connotation of the word ‘r*dskins’—and the modern day implications it carries for Native people—has no place in today’s society. We are thankful that Congressman Honda has introduced the Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act. Congressman Honda and the bill co-sponsors have chosen to stand on the right side of history by introducing legislation that would effectively eliminate the federal trademark protections of this racial epithet. We look forward to working with Congressman Honda and the Congress to finally bring an end to the use of this derogatory term in the National Football League.”

--Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director, The National Congress of American Indians

“UNITY: Journalists for Diversity believes that the 'R-word' has no place in American sports. It's an epithet used toward Native Americans and should no longer be part of our vocabulary in 2015. We strongly stand behind this bill and hope that this disparaging term soon will no longer be part of any team's name.” 

--Russell Contreras, President, UNITY

“The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) supports Congressman Honda and applauds his introduction of the Non-Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2015. This important legislation would cancel existing federal registrations for trademarks using the term “redsk*n” and deny registration for new trademarks incorporating the disparaging term. The use of mascots that depict Native Americans is a testament to the continued practice of the outright commodification of Native peoples and their unique cultural identities.  It destroys the individual self-esteem of Native students and devalues the cultures of Native peoples. This is unacceptable. NIEA looks forward to working with Congressman Honda’s office to move this legislation quickly, so that it becomes law.” 

--Clint Bowers, Policy Associate, National Indian Education Association  

“The overwhelming majority of Native people support an end to the racial slur that is the name of the Washington NFL franchise. It is a reminder of the vile practice of skinning Natïve people for ‘proof of Indian kill’ for payment of bounties issued by colonies and states. Even if it only meant the color of one's skin, it would be the worst case of invidious discrimination committed in public in our time. In 23 years of litigation in two lawsuits, the franchise has not brought any Native people into court on its side. Instead, it parades individuals before the media who in no way are equivalent to the memberships and constituencies of the major national Native organizations. The federal trademark judges have twice cancelled the registrations for this disparaging name. This legislation would affirm those decisions and withdraw the federal stamp of approval for this ongoing offense, and we are proud to support the Non-Disparagement Act.” 

--Suzan Harjo, President and Executive Director, The Morning Star Institute, Presidential Medal of Freedom winner

UPDATE: KUDOS to John Swett High School in Crockett, California for joining a growing list of educational institutions deciding to foregoing "tradition" and alumni pressure for deciding to do away with its Indian mascot. The school board voted 5-0 last week to change the name. 

Washington football team totally punked

HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!

The professional football team in Washington D.C. and the NFL got totally punked Sunday when during their televised football game  a commercial aired that was promoting the season premiere of the irreverent "South Park." The topic of the commercial made fun of the rationalizations that the team owner, Dan Snyder, has been using to continue using the racist mascot that demeans the First Americans. 

To pour more salt on the wound, the Washington team lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The promo ran only in the Washington market so the rest of the country didn't get to see the commercial. For everybody else, enjoy the video.

I don't know if it was a deliberate slight or just a coincidence of bad timing, but it couldn't  have happened to a better football franchise. You won't get any sympathy from this corner.

More media abandoning the racist mascot. Read this article from the Columbia Journalism Review.