Video: Macy’s pulls t-shirt for fear of offending Hispanics
posted at 12:07 pm on July 24, 2007 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
This one almost qualifies as a “Tuesday stupid” thanks to the marketing expert whose expertise evidently doesn’t extend to deciphering third-grade-level t-shirt slogans. He reads this one as implying that Hispanics aspire to be white, which would be an odd statement indeed from a brand aimed explicitly at fostering “cultural identity through fashion” and among whose other wares you’ll find this. Obviously the slogan is a statement of political and cultural power recognizing the fact that America’s Latino population is growing. It’s offensive insofar as it celebrates racial balkanization, but there’s nothing about it that denigrates Hispanics.
Apropos of nothing, when the boss’s lingering guilt over my not having an iPhone finally gets the best of her — and it will — I’m going to show my appreciation by getting her this. Click the image to watch.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
I thought white was the new brown…
Or something. Who knows – these are liberals we’re talking about here.
Good Lt on July 24, 2007 at 12:11 PM
What about offending gringo’s?
Harpoon on July 24, 2007 at 12:14 PM
I never heard a thing when the IPod Nano and XBox went black. “Black is the new White”, was how they coined it.
kiakjones on July 24, 2007 at 12:17 PM
What was the OLD white?
mojo on July 24, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Michelle…get the stupid phone so we can stop listening to a grown man whine. Next thing you know, Allah will be spending 30 minutes a day combing his hair and giving you fashion advice.
Exit question: Can Allah learn to use the iPhone and still keep HA on top?
right2bright on July 24, 2007 at 12:21 PM
I’m never shopping in that store again. This race pandering is beyond morally bankrupt.
PRCalDude on July 24, 2007 at 12:23 PM
right2bright on July 24, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Doh…will he start asking Edwards for primping tips???
doriangrey on July 24, 2007 at 12:24 PM
No…the whining should continue. I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
I don’t see what the big deal is about the t-shirt, but I find it interesting that companies will act quickly when people object to their products on racial grounds but ignore those who find much of what’s on t-shirts today a violation of common decency.
Slublog on July 24, 2007 at 12:25 PM
PRCalDude on July 24, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Just because they would sell their mother to the devil at 30% off doesnt mean they are…er never mind…
doriangrey on July 24, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I quit working for Macy’s because they were niggardly with my salary. Uh oh, do I have to go to rehab now?
Trumped up racial controversies only dilute the reaction to real racism, but then again it doesn’t slow down Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Why should it slow down Hispanic race baiters?
trubble on July 24, 2007 at 12:26 PM
The shirt is offensive to whites. It’s saying “we’re taking over”. Whatever.
The Boss is probably afraid Allah will use it to giggle at HumpBot all the time.
TK on July 24, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Based on our current illegal immigrant situation and the (non)action of our spineless politicians, in 20-30 years this slogan will be demographically true. Will it be PC for the “white” minority to rant and claim hurt feelings?
notashamed on July 24, 2007 at 12:28 PM
I guess this is where the crude (read males) begins to inject jokes about their underwear?
right2bright on July 24, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Wait, I’m confused…do we have to put all the Hispanics in the closet from September to April?
James on July 24, 2007 at 12:30 PM
right2bright on July 24, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Are you suggesting that underwear isn’t already a joke? I mean not that I personally mind that womens dainties are getting smaller and smaller…
doriangrey on July 24, 2007 at 12:32 PM
That because they were too busy fretting over the “racially charged” Playstation Portable ads to notice.
saint kansas on July 24, 2007 at 12:33 PM
I have no issue with this. Where do I sign up for assistance, no taxes, free education for my kids and medical coverage?
I have no intention of ever speaking Spanish, so that should fit the issue. I’ll just give all the Browns dirty looks, have a chip on my shoulder and live off their earnings.
Can’t wait to talk about them in English while they wonder what I’m saying.
This is gonna’ be sweet
Hening on July 24, 2007 at 12:34 PM
How would you carry it anyway? You can’t put it in your pocket without cracking the screen….
The Motorola StarTac…now that was a good phone…
Asher on July 24, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Eh, I have no problem with it. I went there recently because I returned a gift for store credit, and maybe it’s just all the ones I’ve been to, but it makes sense for them to pander to their customers.
I mean I was certainly a minority there.
Esthier on July 24, 2007 at 12:36 PM
This is where this post could take a disaster of a turn, and ruin Allah’s hard work in posting his analysis…and getting his daily dig in about his iPhone. He has spent more time lobbying for this phone than Thompson has for abortion.
right2bright on July 24, 2007 at 12:40 PM
What a Loser. I have some bad news for the distinguished doctor, if he were to join the military his race would be listed in his SRB as “Caucasian” (at least it would’ve been fifteen years ago, they may have changed it – but he’s still a Loser). “Hispanic” is an ethnicity, not a race.
srhoades on July 24, 2007 at 12:43 PM
right2bright on July 24, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Not to worry, AP has much support in his lobbying efforts, even if it does come from some of the least influential people on earth… :P
doriangrey on July 24, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Interesting site.
The “B is for Beaner” T-shirt is sort of confusing though.
Is that another one of those “We can say it but you can’t” type of things?
Kowboy on July 24, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Want to PO the Census Bureau during the next census. When you see the “race” section, and you are “white, non-hispanic,” check the “other” box instead and write: Euro-American
Wuptdo on July 24, 2007 at 12:51 PM
If it weren’t for liberals, we wouldn’t have to be constantly reminded of everyone’s skin color. I wouldn’t know Muslims are “brown people” or a “race”, or that Hispanics aren’t a mix of all races, or that the only racists are “white” people, if it weren’t for liberals.
So thanks,liberals,
NellE on July 24, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Or do what I do on job applications. Check Native American. When they ask me if I am I tell them, “Yes, I was born here. This is my Native land.”
Kowboy on July 24, 2007 at 12:56 PM
I can just see the way this went:
Macy’s Cultural Sensitivity Rep: “That T-shirt is Racist!”
Corporate Flak: “Pull it off the Shelves, NOW!”
Macy’s Cultural Sensitivity Rep: “Uhm, it seems as those the shirt is racist towards White People”
Corporate Flak: “Uh, I didn’t think that was possible, but lets get it back on the shelves then!
Macy’s Cultural Sensitivity Rep: “The Hispanics are the ones complaining!”
Corporate Flak: “But, but I thought the shirt meant that the Browns were taking over!? Oh the hell with it, we can’t afford to offend them, let’s PULL IT OFF THE SHELVES!”
Macy’s Cultural Sensitivity Rep: “Now, the Black people are complaining that they’ve once again been marginalized by being left completely off the shirt!”
Corporate Flak: Head Explodes!
Fatal on July 24, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Kowboy on July 24, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Doh……I love that one…
doriangrey on July 24, 2007 at 12:58 PM
new naco T
macy is the new migra
Chinga la macy.
mr_oni on July 24, 2007 at 12:58 PM
…Mr. Pundit….enough of the iphone stuff….not funny anymore…If you want one, buy one yourself…
Ben Here on July 24, 2007 at 1:13 PM
I is for iphone Idolatry.
mojowire on July 24, 2007 at 1:29 PM
So brown is the new white eh?….Coincidently, my 8 year old, who hasn’t mastered the proper technique of ass wiping yet is capable of making white the new brown. When I point this out to him he seemed offended also. So I pulled his from the shelves too.
soulsirkus on July 24, 2007 at 1:33 PM
I like the running iPhone bit. Ignore the haters Allah.
Bad Candy on July 24, 2007 at 1:33 PM
No Hispanics after labor day?
liquidflorian on July 24, 2007 at 1:35 PM
Yes, and this is the real tragedy of all this sort of stuff. They used to call it “crying wolf.”
Labamigo on July 24, 2007 at 1:37 PM
Only the “day laborers”
Brat on July 24, 2007 at 1:38 PM
excellent.
As as for the IPhone, the hubby got one a few weeks ago. It is very cool (sorry Allah), but it is not problem-free. He’s had some issues with syncing. I got his Blackberry Pearl as a hand-me-down and frankly, I think it works better.
And this t-shirt business – everyone could be offended by something. People need to grow some.
pullingmyhairout on July 24, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Did anyone else notice on the website that all of the models of these shirts were young, white, males all of whom seem to be inflicted by teh ghey? I mean come on, the way the stand just gives it away. My brother and his “friends” could have been those guys.
Where are the “brown” people modeling those shirts.
thomashton on July 24, 2007 at 1:50 PM
I hate this PC crap. What a waste of time.
congsan on July 24, 2007 at 1:54 PM
I almost got arrested at Macy’s (34th St.) but my navy blue Catholic high school uniform saved me.
Blue was the old brown. Who knew?
IrishEi on July 24, 2007 at 1:58 PM
How many generations will pass before being America gets its own ethnic classification? Let’s start now, because liberals will resist this one for as long as possible.
Check the “other” box. Write American.
The Race Card on July 24, 2007 at 2:10 PM
That idiot thinks that the shirt is saying that Mexicans are aspiring to be white? He really is stupid, how did he graduate from high school? The shirt is saying, Browns are being coming the new group in “power”.
Tim Burton on July 24, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Liberalism can be so blinding at times. Here’s a quick primer in raza educacion.
This same company also has a shirt that says, “M is for mojado.”
Mojado is a term used by American Mexicans meaning “wetback.” The direct translation for “mojado” is wet.
How could Macy’s possibly be so stupid as to pull the least offensive shirt of the bunch?
The clothing company’s name “Surropa” refers to Surenos‘ ropas. Sureno means Southern Mexican. It’s a term used most frequently by street and jail gangs.
Ropas means clothes.
The company name obviously refers to that sense of empowerment many ethnic groups attribute to their marginalization. This is the equivalent of the black-owned clothing company FUBU, minus the multimillion dollar earnings last quarter.
Macy’s PR people must now wear shirts saying: D is for dumb.
The Race Card on July 24, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Well, I cannot wait to see what race bating slogan they print on thongs.
For me, this simply indicates a marketing technique to jump on the wave of Latino empowerment. The message is quite clear (as someone here pointed out) concerning the rise of Latino voting and economic power. And Macy’s is pointing this out so that they can cash in on Latino power by clearly saying that Brown is the new White Power.
What seems to be ingored is that many brown, black, yellow, and red skinned folks have become quite successful without becomingwhite.
A perfect example is our very own Michelle.
BTW-Since I am not 100% white, perhaps Macy’s would care to explain to me which part of me is the NEW WHITE.
The False Dervish on July 24, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Has anyone bothered to inquire why these shirts are printed in English?
James on July 24, 2007 at 2:54 PM
I see that too, only, and here’s the kicker; if you are the new majority, you can no longer be the minority with all the perks, privileges, and moral authority that come with that office.
And correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t latinos white until the 90s?
- The Cat
MirCat on July 24, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Touché Turtle.
The Race Card on July 24, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Who wants to be white? Being white just means you can’t benefit from all of the swell government programs that you pay for…
DCJeff on July 24, 2007 at 3:40 PM
Repeat using a sing-song kindergarten-age voice:
“Okay, Macy’s, let’s run through this again. Being brown-skinned is viewed as hip…or as if you were in the majority, like Whites are currently. Understand?”
‘Whitey’ is offended, Macy’s, that you’d even carry it. Retail Karma!
Miss_Anthrope on July 24, 2007 at 4:47 PM
I had a Mexican-immigrant first sergeant in the Air Force in 1967 who used to say, “If you’re white, get outta sight; if you’re black, get back; but if you’re brown, you can stick around.”
Of course, in 1967 it was a joke that was meant as a joke and taken as a joke. Nobody got their BVDs in a wad.
rivlax on July 24, 2007 at 5:38 PM
Being offended by this shirt is offensive to whites. It implies that there is something wrong with being white. So, I’m offended by his offendedness. Oh–oops–I fugot. There IS something wrong with being white. Sorry, I’m not from NYC.
“I is for inevitability. They’ll all be brown in the end.”
Yeah, I know. It’s a thong, not a billboard. Maybe they could put it on the Rosie sized thongs.
smellthecoffee on July 24, 2007 at 6:08 PM
Even though the world’s richest man is Mexican, Brown will never be the New White until a source of guilt can be established.
Zaire67 on July 24, 2007 at 6:58 PM
White males have the thinkest skin of all. The conservatives just because they have thick skin, and the liberals because they have spent their entire adult lives self-hating.
BadgerHawk on July 24, 2007 at 7:13 PM
If I was your boss … I would tell you to quit whining and go get your own phone. This is a blog, not the welfare line.
AZ_Redneck on July 24, 2007 at 11:28 PM
Brown is the new White.
Macy’s is the new Woolworths.
Mojave Mark on July 25, 2007 at 2:06 AM
Comment pages: