Focus attention on stereotypes, not racism The discourse among
Asian-American college students regarding the Abercrombie &
Fitch graphic T-shirts concerns the necessity to distinguish
whether the shirts constitute racism. The consensus seems to be
that the shirts, with slogans such as, "Wong Brothers Laundry
Service: Two Wongs Can Make It White," next to caricatures of
slant-eyed Asians with conical hats, symbolize racism. Activists
are demanding that Abercrombie & Fitch make a sincere apology by
acknowledging that the shirts are racist, rather than just
pulling them from the shelves. If the goal of these Asian-
American students is to educate, they are expending their energy
on action that does little to help Americans understand why the
shirts are offensive. The task of utmost importance for Asian-
American students is to explain the offensive nature of the
stereotypes embodied by the caricatures, rather than claiming
their racist nature, which only kindles confusion among all
Americans. This is my attempt to