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The Clog just had a brief conversation with T-Shirt Orgy vice president, Jonathan Fernandez. You may recall that some people were getting quite hot-headed over certain race-focused gag shirts displayed in Fernandez’s store. The controversy climaxed May 2nd with a sizeable protest on Telegraph Ave. So now we’re curious as to the future direction of the Futura basement. Specifically, we want to know if one can still buy a cliche Radiohead tee and something crassly satirical. Here are some highlights from our chat.Clog: Has the pressure from protesters died down recently?JF: I think like um, we were receptive to the message. We’re working together to bring the clothes they (the protesters) want us to carry.Clog: What’s your take on it? Did you think the shirts were offensive?JF: I think it’s obvious that they were offensive because a number of people were offended.Clog: Will business practices change in the future? As in, will you guys still be willing to make offensively comedic shirts?JF: I think they (the protesters) have an ongoing concern that there be positive shirts for sale that they would not construe as being racist—that there won’t be any shirts that are offensive. There might be shirts that are offensive to my parents. We’re going to be careful about shirts that are offensive based on race, though. I’m going to change from negative portrayals to positive.So, apparently, in response to economic pressure, T-Shirt Orgy is going to adopt a system of more stringent oversight. Fernandez didn’t really bullshit us on the topic. This choice to change is a business decision and nothing more. While explaining store’s response, Fernandez said, “You always pick your battles in life. What’s the point of arguing whether a shirt is racist or non-racist?”Well, there is a point as far as society is concerned. Too bad it seems T-shirt Orgy and the protesters have equally little interest in debating satire vs. racism. On a tangential note, we’re sort of hoping that someone will do a counter anti-sensitivity protest to amuse us during this grueling stretch of finals (We’re looking at you, Squelch people.)You won’t get much editorializing out of the Clog, but it must be said that the “Rutgers” shirt seems to be making fun of an offensive statement—not necessarily endorsing it. The protesters might have had some trouble in separating message from messenger there. As for the other offenders, the “Lynching” shirts confuse us, the “Diego” shirts are offensive as well as unfunny, and our opinion on the “Jewbacca” shirts shifts depending on how stereotypically self-hating we happen to be on a given day (remember, the Clog is Jewish on its father’s side).The Clog would like to hear from the protesters on this topic, so feel free to contact us and give your side on this most controversial issue.
The “T-shirt Orgy” in the basement of Futura/Bear Basics has always raised our eyebrows.
The name itself can be construed as being offensive. But now a coalition has been built aiming to stop Futura/Bear Basics from selling t-shirts that can be seen as offensive.
This all started when someone spotted a shirt that stated: “Rutgers Nappy Headed Hoes Basketball Team” (pictured above). The student demanded that the store remove the shirt. The shirt was finally removed after the person created a Facebook group and mobilized people to go yell at Futura.
Now the group has begun to try to stop the company that made the shirt in the first place.
What that shirt was referring to was a remark that Don Imus, some supposedly popular radio talk show host, said a couple of weeks ago. He said on the air that the Rutgers women’s basketball team were “nappy-headed hoes.” There was an ensuing outcry and Imus was fired a week later.
But this t-shirt isn’t the only one going down in Futura. There are several more than the group wants off the shelves.
Hearty-har-har. We get it, people of Jewish descent are supposed to be hairy, right?
Yeah, given today’s political debates and the fact that an immigrant’s rights rally turned ugly in Los Angeles today, it’s probably not the best shirt to buy or sell.
That’s just horrible.
Boycott Futura/T-shirt Orgy [Facebook]
Tags:boycott, Futura, immigration, imus, rutgers, T-Shirt Orgy
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- Savanna: Obviously it is a play on the word CHIC!!! Its really not that complicated… I would expect anyone from Berkeley to get that!
- Shrey Aggarwal: dude shrey youre gay
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- mc: I don’t see how watching movies and having a ‘party’ at the Bear’s lair, has to do with a strike, nor how it gives any...
- Albert K: Hey, name used without permission? By the way, feel free to interview or ask for a picture. I don’t like being quoted without an...