Sometimes you have a few headlines lying about until they inevitably happen again, and “Racist Urban Outfitters Shirt” is one of those gifts that just keep on giving. The beleaguered Hot-Topic-for-people-who-are-in-art-school now stocks an oddly racist shirt designed by the non-talents at Local Celebrity. The shirt is a send-off of the nutritional labels on food and yada yada yada, there’s a “black people like chicken” stereotype at the bottom of the shirt.
Don’t get us started about the “Cool Dad in a minivan” lingo that adorns the rest of the shirt (sick rhymes and fresh beats, yo!) but do get us started on this: why is Urban Outfitters still a thing? Sure, people want skinny jeans and the right to feel accomplished with their personal style simply by spending $70 on a cardigan, but we have the internet for that now. Urban Outfitters’ appeal, one supposes, is that they are the archetypal college frat boy hidden by an artistic facade – always preying on the younger ones who don’t know any better. So basically, Urban Outfitters is a racist version of Matthew McConaughey in “Dazed and Confused”:
April 16, 2012 at 6:25 pm, April Freshnis said:
oh my god. please call this shop Urban Whitefitters.
April 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
I could be wrong but, doesn't that sound racist in itself?…
April 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm, April Freshnis said:
Danelle Rae Garcia Duh. Thank you for explaining my point.
April 17, 2012 at 3:54 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Danelle Rae Garcia ignorant*
April 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
Mia Glenn – Look, I didn't mean anything rude by it so, I'm not sure why your upset about it. How would you feel if someone piped up about it being 'Urban Blackfitters'? I'm just proving my own point.
April 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
… not all white people are racist and not all white people would even want a shirt like this.
April 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Danelle Rae Garcia lol. i was agreeing with you.. but okay.
i was trying to say that adding ignorance to more ignorance doesn't make something less ignorant.
April 17, 2012 at 4:00 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
Sorry – I'm obviously on the defensive.
April 17, 2012 at 4:06 pm, April Freshnis said:
Danelle Rae Garcia Mia Glenn – Hilarious
April 17, 2012 at 4:46 pm, Jamal Young said:
Danelle Rae Garcia :It just seems that way though.
April 16, 2012 at 6:31 pm, Daniel Gamboa said:
yeah…when I think urban outfitters, I think hiphop. yeah………..
April 16, 2012 at 6:53 pm, Omar Ramirez said:
UGH…
April 16, 2012 at 6:32 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
I'm not sure what it's like to be discriminated against (nor will I pretend otherwise) but, I don't think it's necessarily RACIST – PREJUDICED, yes but ask someone who is black to really get if it's offense. White people trying to stay on their toes about our differences and silly culture characteristics really need to get over it so we can just laugh at each other… <3
April 17, 2012 at 3:19 pm, Naz Sunshine said:
I am Black, and offended. Racism and prejudice…same difference. They're both ignorant acts that the African American, Asian, and Hispanic races will always endure for as long as we live on this Earth. If u don't kno what it's like to be discriminated against, why are u commenting?
April 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Since you are not African-American you will never know the magnitude of such stereotypes the shirt is RACIST RACIST RACIST no bones about it !! We can laugh Danelle … but not at my expense !!
April 17, 2012 at 3:37 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
I think to treat anyone special in any way because of their race is indeed racism. I think that to assume anything (black people like chicken, mexicans like tacos, white people are wimpy…) is prejudice. If you saw someone in rags would you assume they were poor? If you saw someone dressed nicely would you assume they were rich? You can be prejudice beyond the color of someone's skin. I don't believe in treating people different. I believe a joke is a joke and I've certainly heard my share of white and hispanic ones and I understand that we are all different and that's completely fine. I am commenting because I'm allowed to – it's my freedom of speech and as long as it's not hateful – it's my right.
April 17, 2012 at 3:45 pm, Danelle Rae Garcia said:
My comment saying that 'I'm not sure what it is like to be offended (nor will I pretend otherwise)' is because of how annoying it is to me when people like to pretend they know how it feels. I feel horrible that anyone would make anyone feel like they are any less than equal. I couldn't imagine that someone would treat me different because of the color of my skin. I hate to say it but, the majority of 'white folk' that make a comment saying how horrible it is have no idea how if feels to be discriminated against and shouldn't even try to say otherwise.
April 16, 2012 at 7:14 pm, Samantha Euell said:
it's just dumb stupid, chicken has nothing to do w hip hop. yet they throw that dumb shit on there? like..what's the point.
April 16, 2012 at 7:22 pm, Samantha Euell said:
it's like doing the same thing w a pure "light rock "tee, and putting "get some meatloaf" at the bottom, or "my cracker ass" that's how stupid that shit is.
April 22, 2012 at 11:57 pm, Brian Decarlo Settles said:
Samantha you just don't get it I understand. The issue has been addressed and clarified. You can turn your head the other way and say whatever you want but please don't act like RACISM doesn't exist. That shirt is offensive not meant to be a compliment to the African American community and the comment about the meatloaf and cracker ass? Where did that come from? Who has even been profiled for eating meatloaf and the company knows better to say something like n*gger but they can use didn't was the market a race just like the Japanese are associated with rice wrongly when everybody loves rice.
April 22, 2012 at 11:58 pm, Brian Decarlo Settles said:
but they can use different ways to market a race just like the Japanese are associated with rice wrongly when everybody loves rice.
April 16, 2012 at 7:51 pm, Cody Justesen said:
Wow.. I love chicken.
April 16, 2012 at 7:55 pm, Konstyantyn Halonkin said:
ummm news flash floks…its 2012…there are plenty of WHITE, ASIAN, HISPANIC rappers around.
April 17, 2012 at 2:30 pm, Yvette Renee said:
Who are these Asian rappers since you're giving us this newsflash?
April 17, 2012 at 2:32 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Yvette Renee Teriyaki Boyz. Japanese. Signed to Pharell. They made the title song for Tokyo Drift. But there are plenty rappers from every country and all of them are NOT black… -____-
April 17, 2012 at 2:45 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn yes, there are rappers of different ethnicity's and nationalities found on just about every continent. However, hip hop is still tied to black culture. When individuals and groups want to blame hip hop for the problems in America, it's not photo's of White, Asian, and Hispanic rappers that are generally used. It's black rappers so stop acting brand new.
April 17, 2012 at 2:47 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Brian Miller Just like rock and roll. There are black rock bands but the white people are blamed for everything. THE PROBLEM WITH YOU PEOPLE IS THAT YALL LIKE TO PUT A COLOR LABEL ON EVERYTHING.
April 17, 2012 at 3:04 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn I am not trying to be disrespectful but I am shocked and awed at your lack of understanding. Young lady there is no way you can possibly feel comfortable equating the demonizing of rap music with rock music. Both have many examples that promote violence and misogyny but rock music gets a free pass. White people hated Marilyn Manson in the 90's but that's it. They weren't demonizing all rock music because so many of them were weaned on it. However, the media does not acknowledge the different sub-genre's that exist within rap music. For them, it's all gangster rap. So, rather than going all Kanye and using vehemence and belligerence to make your point, espouse thoughtful and meaning commentary! We do not live in a colorblind world. Human beings segregate quite easily on issues because of the injection of color. Urban Outfitter's knew what they were doing by mixing this supposed "hip hop" related shirt with a chicken reference! So again, stop acting like you're brand new!
April 17, 2012 at 3:09 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Brian Miller You are so naive and blind. You're so one sided and uncultured and it's sickening. I'm not acting like i'm anything. I was in UO yesterday and saw the shirt and i didn't think "Oh that's racist" I thought it should be in a different color. A shirt is an inanimate object therefore it can't be racist.
black people aren't the only people in the world who eat chicken. I never understood the stereotype… -___-
April 17, 2012 at 3:18 pm, Maliek Ball said:
Mia Glenn I'm sorry and I mean no disrespect but there seems to be a lot of things that you aren't understanding here. Your lack of knowing your own history and the stereotypes placed upon us/you for starters. I guess you saw no problem with the blatant racist satirical cartoons of Obama and his family eating chicken and watermelon for his election celebration? It wasn't racist because all people eat chicken and watermelon, huh?
April 17, 2012 at 3:19 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn, I'm one sided and uncultured? I guess it should not be surprising to me that you think the way that you do because you don't understand the question a la Sarah Palin. Silly me, of course there is no satisfaction to be gained when talking to the willfully ignorant and blissfully uninformed! You think everyone is up in arms about an inanimate object being a "racist" when it's clear to everyone else that the intent behind the creation of the shirt was racist! Call me what you want but I am proud to not be an ostrich!
April 17, 2012 at 3:25 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Maliek Ball See, that's where you're wrong. I know about my history. I know about my culture, I know more about mine than most people of my ethnicity and racial background probably know about theirs. But that has nothing to do with this. My background has nothing to do with a shirt that says chicken. -___-
I worry about REAL issues like why there are FEMA camps being built around this country and why our people are still in the middle east fighting a war… Not about a shirt that says chicken. There are real BIGGER issues that need exposure.
April 17, 2012 at 3:38 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
Mia Glenn, I share Mr. Miller's sentiments and while I can not speak for him in regards to the spectrum of his own mindset, I can in fact divulge the fact that I am not uncultured, or inexperienced when it comes to view the objectives from a different perspective. I have friends, not acquaintances, but friends that I share very close bonds with that were born, and raised in different parts of the world. When my Korean friend explains to me the difficulties in living in such a divided society, I don't discredit her because I have not witnessed it with my own eyes, I try to understand and show empathy for her situation. When the riots of London for racial equality, and the student protest for an affordable college education were happening I felt their anguish and respected their plight to make a change. All of that to say Mia, that just because You, personally, have never understood a particular stereotype, or never experienced any type of discrimation, racism or hatred, it doesn't make it less real. It only makes it unique to certain people and that's exactly what we are fighting against. Equality and fair treatment for all, a standard of the highest caliber, but if we continue to ignore the underlying feelings regarding race the only thing that will be high will be death rates and racial tension. Point blank, ignoring it will not make it go away.
April 17, 2012 at 3:44 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Kenishia Kay Matthews I know that there are things out there in the world that's wrong but I'm not gonna be bitter and pick at every little thing. I live in the South… The heart of the confederacy. We have streets named after racist people… I've been discriminated against.. So when I see this shirt, it doesn't really pull a reaction out of me.
April 17, 2012 at 3:47 pm, Brian Miller said:
Kenishia Kay Matthews well put and it is safe to trust that I am far from uncultured and unable to stretch my imagination beyond my own experiences and purview! LOL!
In all seriousness, you've approached Mia's shortsightedness from a very well thought out vantage and I can only hope this time it translates. She's getting more and more belligerent while people are simply trying to help her see beyond the implications that are right in from of her face!
April 17, 2012 at 3:48 pm, 'Mercedes Love said:
Mia Glenn Never heard of them but thanks for pulling out that rabbit.
April 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Brian Miller Now you're calling me belligerent? Lmfao You're really ridiculous. I can be belligerent. I just don't understand why you're all into your feelings over a goddamn shirt. It's not like the shirt says "niggas love chicken" and it's not my fault that you don't know the difference between racism, ignorance, and prejudice. Grow up. Don't you have a job to be at instead of going back and forth with me over a t-shirt?
April 17, 2012 at 6:05 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Brian Miller Can you say it again ?? smh …
April 17, 2012 at 7:29 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Mia Glenn the shirt is displaying the thought/stereotype.
April 17, 2012 at 4:29 am, Afternoon Links: There Is A Kurt Cobain Solo Album, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Might Be Dating | BookingMemory.Com said:
[...] ● To few’s surprise, Urban Outfitters is stocking yet another questionable tee shirt. It’s almost like racism is a part of their agenda or something. [D+T] [...]
April 17, 2012 at 2:30 pm, Henry J Smiter said:
Chicken is slang for money / drugs in certain places. I wonder if the designer is using it in the slang way
April 17, 2012 at 2:41 pm, Brian Miller said:
Uff…it's a food label! What do you think it means?
April 17, 2012 at 4:30 pm, Henry J Smiter said:
The slang phrase " I'm getting to the chicken" means I'm getting to the money so get some chicken could mean get some money but you sensitive black folks won't see it that way because it's a smart business move to insult the market your targeting to purchase your product??? If your insulted don't buy it that simple
April 17, 2012 at 4:43 pm, Brian Miller said:
Henry J Smiter I can't do this one and no one can make me! Mia already took all I have to give. So again, I will leave you this to ponder, "It's a food label! What do you think it mean?"
April 17, 2012 at 5:02 pm, Henry J Smiter said:
It mean if your offended don't buy it. Don't buy chicken either since your so sensitive
April 17, 2012 at 5:15 pm, Brian Miller said:
Henry J Smiter, "brilliant and thought provoking", compliments I am certain you are accustomed to hearing!
April 17, 2012 at 7:23 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Brian Miller Lol !! Yeah the designers at Urban Outfitters consulted "the certain places" when coming up with the T-shirt concept.
April 17, 2012 at 2:33 pm, Mia Glenn said:
I don't see anything racist. People just reaching as usual for a story to start a race war…. Just because someone says CHICKEN doesn't mean that it's applying to BLACK people.
April 17, 2012 at 2:50 pm, Shea Hasan said:
Hip hop is a black art form so the comment certainly applies to blacks. The hope is that they can be creative enough to spew their hate without being detected. They want us to say, "No, it's not racist." Silly you for playing the game. I am not saying I am going to be all up in arms about it, but I will never play dumb. Being aware is the best weapon against this type of tom foolery.
April 17, 2012 at 2:53 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Shea Hasan You don't know me an don't know what I'm aware of. This isn't RACIST. Do you even know the definition of RACISM? Probably not if you think this is racist. RACISM is the belief that one race is greater than another… Sooo how can a shirt be racist? Does the shirt believe that it's greater than black people? I don't think it does.
April 17, 2012 at 3:09 pm, Shea Hasan said:
Mia Glenn My my…lol…being racist is not only a noun hun but an action…and I am not claiming to know you, only going from what I read. Funny how you are so quick to try to go at me, defending something that believe it or not affects us both, but are so resistant to the idea that perhaps, there are sum racist undertones in the shirt. The shirt itself is not racist…how is that even a valid argument…smh…racism is anything that seeks to lower or put one race beneath another…the implication of inferiority (i.e. Calories 0 (implies a sense of void, emptiness, substancelessness) is present. The tone and racist nature of the shirt is clear. What does chicken have to do with hiphop??? I'll wait….
April 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm, Maliek Ball said:
Mia Glenn No, but the makers of the shirt believe they are. Something that Urban outfitters has alluded to on several occasions in the past.
April 17, 2012 at 3:12 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn OMG! I initially ignored your comment about people reading into things but I could not ignore your second response. However, it is painfully clear that you do not get it. Let me frame the issue for you, dear. Urban Outfitter's is trying to make a profit by comodifying racist stereotypes. Why is this a problem you ask? Because it perpetuates the perception that black people are all gangster rappers and chicken fetishists! These stereotypes are used by our "other" brothers and sisters as weapons in our continued denigration and dehumanization!
April 17, 2012 at 3:12 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Maliek Ball I understand that but I just feel like people should be speaking up for more important things, not a fucking shirt that says "chicken".
April 17, 2012 at 3:15 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Brian Miller it's not that i don't get it, it's just that I DON'T CARE ABOUT A DAMN SHIRT. THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING KILLED FOR NO REASON, KIDS BEING RAPED AND KIDNAPPED, CHILD SOLDIERS AND YALL ARE BITCHING OVER A SHIRT. DON'T LIKE IT DON'T BUY IT. PROBLEM SOLVED.
April 17, 2012 at 3:20 pm, Jonathan Tracy Wesley said:
Mia Glenn It's not racist, But it deff is ignorant as hell, All they were missing was the kool-aid.
April 17, 2012 at 3:22 pm, Sean-Anthony Hinkson said:
Mia Glenn people are just to iffy over irrelevant shit where am from racism is more of a joke than anything kinda common to say something racist but cause of the culture its accepted
April 17, 2012 at 3:22 pm, Shea Hasan said:
Mia Glenn When things are allowed to linger, they cause bigger, more dangerous problems…some of which u mentioned. It would be wise not to take the "smaller" things so lightly…that is where we go wrong as a people…#respect people…Ya'll have a beautiful day!
April 17, 2012 at 3:25 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn For a woman who doesn't care, thou doth protest too much! Also, your subverting the issue is an epic fail. When it is time to talk about rape and murders, I am down to have that conversation too. But, to use those topics to invalidate this one is a glaring sign that you have no legs to stand on. "Oh look over there! Something shiny! **pwm**", is tantamount to your argument!
April 17, 2012 at 3:27 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Jonathan Tracy Wesley OMFG THANK YOU! It's IGNORANT! People are so quick to call something racist and not know what racist or the definition. I don't know how "chicken" automatically means "blacks are inferior to whites". It's not clicking with me.
April 17, 2012 at 3:27 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Brian Miller This is stupid though… It's a shirt. -___-
April 17, 2012 at 3:29 pm, Mia Glenn said:
All of this uproar because a shirt says "get some chicken".
It's funny how all of you are getting into your feelings over this
April 17, 2012 at 3:31 pm, Maliek Ball said:
Mia Glenn One thing I always try to do in my life is to understand the "why" and not the "what." Meaning, what it is, is a tshirt and that doesn't bother me, but why the tshirt was created in the first place is the real problem. That is what many of us are saying to you. A message that reduces us to chicken eating, gangsta rappers is what contributes to society thinking it is ok to kill us for no reason, discriminate against us, treat us as sub-humans. These are many of the feeling towards us that contribute to the larger problem you say we should be more concerned with. You are getting lost in the surface message.
April 17, 2012 at 3:32 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn Ignorance aimed at whom? At who's expense? Why is this so hard for you?
April 17, 2012 at 3:34 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Maliek Ball that shirt has absolutely NOTHING to do with gangsta rap though… I could see if it'd said "shucking and jiving". Then I woulda been like "woah, that's fucked up" and it still wouldn't have been all that from me.
I get what you're saying but I just feel like it's a shirt. Nobody's gonna get hurt over it.
April 17, 2012 at 3:37 pm, Brian Miller said:
Mia Glenn Please take a look at Shea Hasan's last comment. I implore you!
April 17, 2012 at 3:40 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Sean-Anthony Hinkson Majority of people born after 1980 probably never or will never have a real life personal racist encounter, therefore, will nit pick at little things until it gets big. I had a lady follow me around a store and I asked her "may I help you" and she walked off. That's something that boils my blood, not a shirt that says "get some chicken"
April 17, 2012 at 3:42 pm, Maliek Ball said:
Mia Glenn Actually, is had everything to do with gangsta rap. Go anywhere on the internet and read an article about a rapper, even when he never talks about gangs and guns, the majority of comments from white people are they hate these thugs and their gangsta rap, they should be in jail where they belong with the other monkeys, they will be robbing your home in the next year or two, etc. I have seen some of the most racist comments about black people come from an article about a black person even when the article wasn't negative. Many see no differentiation in hip-hop and to many we are all thugs.
April 17, 2012 at 3:46 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Maliek Ball I see all of that all the time. It's ignorant as fuck. But this shirt doesn't give me the same pissed off feeling as reading racist comments. Ignorance is bliss… Racism is a whole different subject. This shirt, while it may be IGNORANT as hell, it isn't racist.
April 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm, Maliek Ball said:
Mia Glenn "Majority of people born after 1980 probably never or will never have a real life personal racist encounter, therefore, will nit pick at little things until it gets big."
Wow! Just wow! I'm sorry, I have to walk away from this conversation.
April 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm, Shea Hasan said:
Brian Miller Mr. Miller you are a bright and brilliant man…and Mr. Ball, you are also on the money. The true waste of time is attempting to convince someone with a closed mind. We have presented the information and from what I can tell, everyone on this thread is wise enough to see the truth if they choose…at least I think we are a brilliant ppl and will get it…some sooner than others. Can I ask a quick question?? How old are you Mia Glenn??? And I am in no way trying to go for a jab at you. Nothing but respect as I am curious…
April 17, 2012 at 3:53 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Maliek Ball I meant 1990, but whatever. You'd be surprised at how many kids I tutor and mentor that never been through anything discriminatory.
April 17, 2012 at 3:54 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Shea Hasan My mind is closed because I'm not upset over a shirt? Cool…
April 17, 2012 at 4:08 pm, Shea Hasan said:
Mia Glenn I am not saying be upset. If you read my original comment I said I will not allow the incident to get me up in arms…and it is more than a shirt…I guess ur view of it as a mere shirt is the reason you hold the view you do. I am just saying be aware. But you have a good day dear.
April 17, 2012 at 5:31 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Mia ? I suggest "reading up on African- American stereotypes in your free time.
Apparently, you have turned a "blind eye" and a "deaf ear" to boot as to what is suggested on the afore mentioned T-shirt. Please don't be offended we are only trying to maybe see it in different way.
April 17, 2012 at 6:04 pm, Sherry Harris said:
correction- "Please don't be offended we are only trying to get YOU to see it in a different way.
April 17, 2012 at 7:27 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Also, a t-shirt does not equal a race war FYI.
May 22, 2012 at 7:36 pm, Roz Beri said:
LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH
April 17, 2012 at 2:40 pm, Corey Oxley said:
Just another stupid thing to be ignored….. To be laughed at… I can atleast half way salute the KKKweers for telling me what they really feel about me (ofcourse they do it from the safety of their trailer homes, but a bold move nonetheless). Shout out to Uncle Elmer and the rest of the "good ole boys in them thar woods"!
April 17, 2012 at 3:24 pm, Cornell Dunlap III said:
WOW…Sorry but you can not put that on a shirt if the board of directors for your parent company are 90% white…that's just the rules.
April 23, 2012 at 2:32 am, James Hankins said:
I don't think you should do it even if the entire board of directors is black. Then it becomes like the whole n-word issue, where it's an inside joke to black people, but no one else is supposed to laugh. Things like this just shouldn't be done period. It's tacky, disgraceful and not remotely funny.
April 24, 2012 at 7:53 am, Joshua Fulford said:
James Hankins Inside Joke….?
April 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm, Jayda Shanks said:
This is corney but not racist. It says 0% protein –get some chicken. Doesn't mean its racist. It means get the damn protein from the chicken. Hyper sensitive people always want to see racism in stuff :-/
April 17, 2012 at 3:58 pm, Brian Donaldson said:
Anyone with an ounce of common since knows that anytime a white person mentions black people and chicken, they're trying to make a sly reference to the silly stereotype that all black people somehow like chicken more than anyone else…don't be so naive
April 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm, Brian Donaldson said:
Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that everytime a white person mentions black people and chicken, they're trying to make a sly reference to the silly stereotype that all black people somehow like chicken more than anyone else…don't be so naive
April 17, 2012 at 4:11 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
And people who feel "ignorance is bliss" love to sweep things under the rug as if it doesnt, never did, and never will exist. This shirt wouldn't be such an issue if they did not have such a history of making race a source of contension in their company, and so present in their brand. Not hyper-sensitive, just willing to look at all the contributing factors and make an informed decision on whether or not this was a joke gone awry, or the blatant perpetuance of negative connotations towards the African-American community.
April 17, 2012 at 4:12 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
*contention
April 17, 2012 at 4:24 pm, Rob Lordpartyfoul Snowden said:
Jayda = not too bright.
April 17, 2012 at 4:52 pm, Matthew Mc Kinnie said:
There are many types of meat that you can get protein from. Why would they pick a meat that is known to be affiliated with the stereotype of black people? Everyone knows that people stereotype blacks by saying they like chicken and watermelon. How you can't see this is beyond me.
April 17, 2012 at 5:26 pm, Ed Brigedwood said:
Jayda, whoever you are…you are a true dumbass.
April 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm, Bridget Osborn-Powell said:
YEAH BUT WHY CHICKEN …SMH ….BLINDSIDED
April 17, 2012 at 8:22 pm, Aaron C. Jones said:
Kenishia Kay Matthews What difference does it make? Are you going to publicly protest Urban Outfitters? Are you going to file a petition? Or is this just another fake pseudo-soapbox issue for Black internet activists to whine and cry about on Monday and forget about the next week?
April 17, 2012 at 8:43 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
Aaron C. Jones, if their is something I feel very passionately about, I typically go out of my way to let those in my network know about discrepancies within my society. I often repost information individually on each of my friends pages and I also am developing a group in my neighborhood as well as within the social networking community to help fight against discrimination and injustices within my community. I can in ALL honesty say, I have not before today participated in online "debate" of the such before today. But to answer your question simply, I don't just talk the talk… I walk the walk in regards to fairness and equality. Also to tap into another sector of your question, there is nothing wrong with having Internet conversations regarding these important issues. The fact is, that this forum opens up for dialogue that some are otherwise afraid to have. The forum may be heated for only but a short lived moment, but wisdom spoken will resound futher than what we can conceive with our eyes. We must take the fight to the streets, and allow the popularity of the web be its base. They are now partners in the fightso at such crucial moments, we shall let neither down.
April 17, 2012 at 8:45 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
*If there… I dislike typing on the iPhone!! Lol
April 17, 2012 at 9:47 pm, Jayda Shanks said:
I have plenty of common sense and I don't think that the reference was made as a form a racist prejudice. Perhaps it was, but I don't think this is particularly offensive. There have been worse innuendos and fortunately, I won't buy the shirt anyway. My failure to take offense to this t shirt doesn't make me any less bright than you individuals who have deemed it to be racially offensive. Perhaps it is a shirt with a hidden racial meaning, but it doesn't overtly affect me, and I think the role of victim is overly played. Idgaf about urban outfitters. Perhaps I have been desensitized, but I am still fully aware of the perceptions of me, as a black woman, in society…a reference to a food that most black people DO like is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Boycott their products if you have an issue with the message. My intelligence shouldn't even be a question.
April 17, 2012 at 10:30 pm, Eternally Grateful said:
I agree with you….black folks have become too sensitive with this chicken stuff…face it, black folks love chicken…that is not racist.
April 17, 2012 at 10:31 pm, Rey Loo said:
it's not hyper sensitivity…it's called reading between the lines…no matter how subtle and how sneaky they try to slide into a gray area as to give themselves and out and do exactly what you are doing…waving the" it's not racist" flag. That's just being and ostrich with your head stuck in the sand if you don't understand how this could be seen as racist. The more important question is…within the context of our historical race issues as a country why in the world would a company even get close to a behavior that could potentially be deemed as racist? Trying to profit from a hot button issue perhaps? Either way these are the types of actions that should be called what they are and not supported but be addressed boldly. I mean there are a myriad of other t-shirts they could have made that could have come nowhere near the racist label…but they chose to do so deliberately. There is no way I can imagine anybody involved in this production was ignorant of what they were doing and unaware of the waters they were treading into…UO get's the big PHAT finger on this one!
April 17, 2012 at 10:31 pm, Eternally Grateful said:
Brian Donaldson really Brian? So if a white man invites you to dinner and says we made chicken for dinner they are trying to be racist? oh please.
April 17, 2012 at 11:15 pm, Jayda Shanks said:
I'll will cede that subtle racism vs overt racism doesn't make a difference, and this stupid tshirt may very well be a subtle remark linking chicken to the hip hop culture, thereby linking it to blacks. I will not argue that thought wasnt given to the type of protein they used, but the entire shirt is a corney stereotype and a failed attempt at being hype. All stereotypes are not wrong. It's all stupid and Im sorry that one tshirt ruffled enough feathers to get urban outfitters the reaction they wanted and the ability to stay relevant. We feed into it and they profit. It's ridiculous. Let me see some racist comments that keep me from achieving my goals in life, and ill go pull out my soap box, but some utterly ridiculous chicken reference is crap.
April 04, 2013 at 12:54 am, Dana Alan Butler said:
Not racist and the fact that some of you are black and can see this means some of you are just uptight. Sad fact of the matter is stereotypes for every race exist for a reason. Just because I'm white I'm a redneck and love Nascar right? Get a grip.
April 04, 2013 at 12:55 am, Dana Alan Butler said:
And I liked this t-shirt because I found it here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/spectac-amiri-soul-beautiful-vinyl?utm_campaign=project6835&utm_medium=project_badge&utm_source=unknown
OMG they're black.. LOL
April 17, 2012 at 3:38 pm, Kimberly Stephen said:
I don't think is that serious is a shirt -_- who doesn't eat chicken? Is 2012 get over it I'm sorry but SOME people love to play the racist card even when there was nothing racist to begging with!! Like if anyone is been racist at all is some black people and hip hop. Hip hop just keeps putting us down everyday and we don't get mad but when a shirt that says chicken is a war?!? Like really we should be mad at the fact that we actually have artist in hip hop with songs called "stupid hoe" hip hop is putting us down meaning BLACK PEOPLE so get it together and stop blaming white people for all of this you have to respect yourself before others can respect you.
April 17, 2012 at 4:09 pm, Brian Miller said:
Kimberly, we can have that discussion too. However, the violence against our own community, misogyny, homophobia etc. perpetuated by a lot of rap music does not invalidate the issue of companies treating racist stereotypes and commodities! We are not talking about the wrong issue. We're talking about one of man. Everything contributes and small things snowball out of hand. For instance, it is common knowledge that everyone enjoys chicken, however, it is used as a negative stereotype that is attributed to black people. How did this happen? Perhaps when the powers that be decided that we would be painted as obsessed with chicken, other black people decided to ignore it because it was such a small issue. You see how this works? We should not subvert our issues. We have to remain vigilant on all fronts!
April 17, 2012 at 4:15 pm, Brian Miller said:
as*
April 17, 2012 at 4:56 pm, Kimberly Stephen said:
Brian, I understand and I hope you understand what I'm trying to say too but I think that is not so big of a deal well to me I think it was just a joke, I don't think they are trying to put anyone down or show any negative stereotypes. What is so negative about chicken? I seen comedians make fun of that oh black people eat chicken, oh Mexicans eat tacos, Spanish people eat corn and beans, Italians eat meatballs and pasta everyone does it all the time is a simple joke why do black people always have to take it so hard is really not that serious. Now if you tell me that the shirt said oh "I'm selling bricks in the coner" or something then I would say wow that's not right but is just CHICKEN!!!! (bricks are blocks of drugs just in case you don't know)
April 17, 2012 at 5:12 pm, Brian Miller said:
Kimberly Stephen, you prove my point. For you,"it's just CHICKEN." Your experiences, imagination or whatever you draw on that inform your reaction leads you to conclude that "it's just CHICKEN." On the other hand, you admit that if the shirt says, "I'm selling bricks in the corner", that would compel you to declare that it's not right. However, another black person could respond to you and say, "I don't see what the big deal is. It's real life. It happens!" This would be a person drawing upon his or her own experiences to invalidate something that you would recognize as an issue.
So, I totally understand where you are coming from but this is not about the word 'chicken'. Juxtaposing it with a supposed shirt about hip hop has far graver implications. Something will come a long and I will not see what the big deal is but other vigilant people who have some point of reference will see what the big deal is and hopefully shed light on the situation for me as well. I do not think I am about to say something that you do not know but where we as a people are concerned, we can never afford to be complacent.
May 22, 2012 at 7:43 pm, Roz Beri said:
Brian Miller LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH
April 17, 2012 at 3:47 pm, Jamaal A. Bivens said:
I'm baffled as to how anyone could come up with this shirt and NOT think that people would take offense. As for the protein, chicken is NOT the only source of protein, so it is a CLEAR and intentional racial stab, simply because there is no other real connection to hip-hop and chicken. And mainstream folks think that Black people are making this racism thing up. Foolishness.
May 22, 2012 at 7:33 pm, Roz Beri said:
LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH
May 22, 2012 at 7:42 pm, Jamaal A. Bivens said:
Actually, Roz, I'm quite familiar with those songs you've mentioned, and I'd call none of those "true hip-hop", nor would any (self-)proclaimed "true hip-hop head." I didn't say it was racist slang, but it was clearly used as a reference to black people and hip-hop.
May 22, 2012 at 7:51 pm, Roz Beri said:
Firstly I never said the" Song" was True Hip Hop to to begin with therefore don't Miss quote me … What I said was is that "a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this" .. SO BE CLEAR!! And also in Reading the ingredients in that shirt please tell Which reference was to BLACK PEOPLE??? … Keep in Mind Chicken is Slang for Money!!!! …. Proceed…
May 22, 2012 at 7:57 pm, Jamaal A. Bivens said:
MOST people wouldn't refer to money as "chicken", even with those songs. It has definitely not caught on, because I have only heard that in song, not everyday slang.
I didn't say you said that, so I didn't "miss quote" you. I don't discount your opinion, just don't totally agree, just as you don't with mine. I'm quite welcome to leaving that as it is.
May 22, 2012 at 8:11 pm, Roz Beri said:
YOU: "Actually, Roz, I'm quite familiar with those songs you've mentioned, and I'd call none of those "true hip-hop", nor would any (self-)proclaimed "true hip-hop head.". V/S ME: So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH"….. . .. (SO I BEG TO DIFFER)
Well I'm Where I'm From It is a Slang that I've Heard Used quite often … Which Happens to be NY … "MOST Ppl" you know may not have heard this …. I'm Sure there are some slangs in Mississippi that I haven't heard… as well as Iowa or Florida… But I wouldn't jump to a conclusion that a Tshirt is Flagrantly racist Just because my ignorance on the a subject matter or in this case Slang terminology … I would do my research before making such a accusation. …. On that Note I will oblige you with leaving the subject matter alone … Besides I'm at work tryna get this Chicken, oops I meant Bread, oh nah Cheese, dang i meant Fetti, or Scrilla…. You know some US Currency … SMH Peace.
April 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm, Mia Glenn said:
Since all of you who are commenting on this is holy and thou and walk the straight narrow path, I bid you adieu because you guys are perfect freedom fighting black panther angels from god's martin luther king's sector of the holy army sent here to prove to me that a shirt is racist… =
April 17, 2012 at 3:58 pm, Monique MissHollywood Evans said:
Unbelievable!!! Im speechless! And to think an African American would buy this shirt let alone shop there… tragic
April 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
Mia Glenn, Touché, I was born and raised in Texas and currently live in Orlando, just 20 miles away from where the slaying of Trayvon Martin occurred. There are indeed more pressing issues regarding racial issues, but every piece of that type of behavior has a starting point. This shirt, which is clearly marketed to the African American male, as depicted in the photo above, perpetuate stereotypes and topple the negative connotations associated with our society. In my own opinion, this is one of the most inadequate stereotypes because people of all races each chicken, but still, it is pushed on to us (black people) as if it is a completely negative happenstance and only we should partake in such doings. It's the negativity that it promotes that will continue to be the incepted thought in the minds of certain individuals, and the contamination of a more accepting generation that upsets me, not the pointless stereotype itself.
April 18, 2012 at 3:01 pm, Chante' Ayona Hill said:
You comments are pretty cool and insightful. I love it, well written.
April 17, 2012 at 4:07 pm, Sasha Sylvia said:
I am not condoning racism in any matter, but no matter what race you are there are people out there who are prejudice. The Jewish people suffered worse than anyone and they don't turn everything into a racial issue. There are plenty of people who are prejudice against Caucasian people mainly for what happened in the past, nobody is saying Forget it, it is a part of history and will always be but move on from it. Racism will be here forever and doesn't just affect any specific group, it is equal opportunity.
April 17, 2012 at 4:20 pm, Brian Miller said:
Racism is far from equal opportunity! Having bigoted beliefs may be but how the institution of racism works is not! Caucasian people, Jewish or otherwise, do not experience glass ceilings at every avenue. Everyone has a cross to bear but asserting that we all have the same burden for the sake of parity in wholly inaccurate!
April 17, 2012 at 4:35 pm, Kenishia Kay Matthews said:
Sasha, but why should racism, a product with such dangerous outcomes, and such harsh and nefarious resonance be the norm. Why should the Jews have to lie down without fight when someone calls them a "Kike"' or the person of Hispanic origin be called a "Spic", or even the Caucasian to be a "Cracker"? Here is why… I worked at a theme park geared towards families and diversity once and received a call saying that a Jewish family had been discriminated against and called a "Kike" by an employee. That parent, at that very moment had to perverse the mind of a child by explaining what the foul stench of racism was. Furthermore, racism and hatred has led to, as you said previously, dangerous situations, such as the genocide of the Jewish community, the imprisonment of the Japanese Americans during wars, and the enslaving of African Americans for 400 yrs. Racism, on any scale, should never be accepted or tolerated, because even at the most menial levels it can have devastating effects.
April 17, 2012 at 4:15 pm, Andrea Griffiths said:
Yet another misrepresentation by presenting a foolish "food" label to LABEL a culture &/or people… nutrician/food labels include nutritional content, manufacturers claims, and FDA requirements —>metephors for what? mmmm~smph~ Sounds like "they" want to convince "us" of the "facts"….i'm tired of one people group making claims to understand and factually claim another people group or culture. <3 Does see Colour xo.
April 17, 2012 at 4:23 pm, Andrea Griffiths said:
Shine hit it on the head…how these are being sold IS beyond me!
April 17, 2012 at 4:30 pm, Andrea Griffiths said:
how these are being sold IS beyond me
April 17, 2012 at 6:00 pm, Myria Gillespie said:
So basically they are saying their demographic is not black people, and market to anyone who is racist…they want to ensure blacks don't wear the clothes or think about walking into their stores…#classic alienation
April 17, 2012 at 6:18 pm, Matt Cowan said:
Myria Gillespie Interesting strategy…
April 18, 2012 at 12:37 am, Myria Gillespie said:
Matt Cowan YEA..well i did like "urban" outfitters at a time…but clearly they want to set the record straight..anytime they think ppl forget…they'll probably just offend…and the marketing team there must have the same consensus…and to bring attn to themselves…ITS A TREND TO OFFEND BLACKS, IN PARTICULAR..IT NEVER WENT AWAY
May 22, 2012 at 7:37 pm, Roz Beri said:
LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH
April 17, 2012 at 4:20 pm, Tauna Johnson said:
This is stupid. It's actually helping them with advertising be it good or bad. I don't shop with them so It's a non issue for me.
April 18, 2012 at 12:26 am, Myria Gillespie said:
OH DEAR BLACK PPL WHO DON'T CARE..I MEAN U DON'T HAVE TO BE HEARTBROKEN..BUT TO HAVE NOT A CLUE..HERE'S THE THING…So basically they are saying their demographic is not black people, and market to anyone who is racist…they want to ensure blacks don't wear the clothes or think about walking into their stores…#classic alienation
April 18, 2012 at 3:05 am, Tauna Johnson said:
First of all I'm black and native American, second, I don't care about racist nor their tactics. Doesn't hurt me or my family. I do not indulge in ignorance. If I did have a problem with this company, I would not buy their clothing , which I don't, never have, and won't. I most certainly wouldn't give a rats ass about their company enough to get upset giving them all the attention so people will increase sells. I care about issues that affect me and my family, a racist t shirt dies not, I'm better than stupid shit. I'd advise you to get a life, I am in control of my thoughts and feelings not you or them. Your opinion, being yours to have is absolutely of no concern to me!!!!
April 20, 2012 at 3:23 am, Ryan E Porch said:
fuck 'em
April 17, 2012 at 4:38 pm, Jimmy Jazz said:
Hey, I love fried chicken. What's the problem?
April 17, 2012 at 4:41 pm, Johny Jacques said:
I must be blind because I do not see the racism in this…I think those who are in an uproar every time the word "Chicken" is printed or sung somewhere need to check their own racial biases…I'm black and sorry but the word "Chicken" doesn't offend me the least bit…perhaps maybe it's because I'm a vegetarian IDK.
April 17, 2012 at 4:45 pm, Brian Miller said:
Of course it doesn't bother you. You are only looking at the word chicken. There's a larger picture and I think you are not seeing.
May 23, 2012 at 2:16 am, Sean SaaVere Moore said:
Mr. Miller…I concur all of your replies and comments…. I'm going to attempt to put this economically…the longer we ignore obvious signs of racism such as this shirt, we will forever financially empower those people that believe people of color are inferior. Sure I wont go out and buy this shirt or anything else this company sells but the fact that other people of color don't see the ENTIRE message in the shirt is scary….. divide and conquer comes to mind…hummm.
April 17, 2012 at 4:47 pm, Jamal Young said:
I love chicken, and I dare a racist hillbilly to say something.
April 17, 2012 at 5:00 pm, Myster Roberts said:
It's sad when people don't know their history.
April 17, 2012 at 5:23 pm, Jamal Monk Abdullah said:
Black folks need to stop acting like we don't like chicken. Never understood why its racist..but overall nothing screams racist about this shirt to me. It's just telling you the facts of hip hop..gutterness and lyrics.
April 17, 2012 at 5:24 pm, Evanda Butler said:
It's not racist at all, in HipHop slang, "Chicken" means money… You should really do research, before placing a label on anyone or anything.
April 17, 2012 at 2:00 pm, Urban Outfitters Sparks Controversy with Yet Another Racist Shirt « World of Pop Culture said:
[...] Death & Taxes Magazine has reported that this latest affront to common decency was designed by the pseudo-talents at Local Celebrity for Urban Outfitters — the brand which epitomizes everything that is wrong with the hipster culture. [...]
April 17, 2012 at 6:06 pm, Juwan OneRoc Thomas said:
The funny thing about it white people eat more chicken than black people
April 17, 2012 at 6:24 pm, LaShauna Tate said:
I took it as if you want protein go and eat chicken.
April 17, 2012 at 6:31 pm, Audrey D. Bryant said:
Making something out of nothing as usual.
April 17, 2012 at 6:34 pm, Dion Boyce said:
I WOULDn't WEAR THAT SHIT ANYWAY……. ANY SELF-RESPECTING AFRO-AMERICAN WOULDn't WASTE MONEY ON THAT SHIT……. I WOULD HOPE.
May 22, 2012 at 7:39 pm, Roz Beri said:
LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH … PS Cause I know this I have one and wear it Proudly
April 17, 2012 at 6:50 pm, Nikki Star said:
I stopped shopping at Urban Outfitters years ago when they sold the game "Ghetto-Opoly"…the game had a degradding cover with a black man with big red lips holding 2 guns a 40 and head scarf tied around his head. I was thankful that Urban Outfitters let me know what they thought of people who look like me or come from humble beginings. So I took my black dollar to ETSY and I am glad I did. I am able to support independent artist who care about their customers and appreciate my black dollar. I am also dissapointed in Local Celebrity. I ahve a few of their shirts and I would have never thought that they would support a racist idea. I truly hope it's a missunderstanding. When will we just let people be people! Racism is exhausting. And one last thing, did that brotha who modeled the shirt not read it? SMH! Knowledge is power!
April 17, 2012 at 6:53 pm, Nikki Star said:
I stopped shopping at Urban Outfitters years ago when they sold the game "Ghetto-Opoly"…the game had a degradding cover of a black man with big red lips holding 2 guns a 40 and head scarf tied around his head. I was thankful that Urban Outfitters let me know what they thought of people who look like me or come from humble beginnings. So I took my black dollar to ETSY and I am glad I did. I am able to support independent artist who care about their customers and appreciate my black dollar. I am also dissapointed in Local Celebrity. I have a few of their shirts and I would have never thought that they would support a racist idea. I truly hope it's a missunderstanding. When will we just let people be people! Racism is exhausting. And one last thing, did that brotha who modeled the shirt not read it? SMH! Knowledge is power!
April 17, 2012 at 7:25 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Whaaaaaat ???
April 17, 2012 at 7:44 pm, Toya Stroman said:
girl girl girl please please please send this to lauren. i have been telling ppl for years about this store and how i stopped shopping there for the ignorance of the owner. give time time…. i knew it. i was thinking about forgetting the past and shopping there again……………so glad i have other stores i like. thanks nikkiSTAR <3
April 23, 2012 at 2:29 am, James Hankins said:
If you're all about letting "people be people", why did you take you "black dollar" to Etsy? Couldn't you have just taken your money to Etsy? Or even your hard-earned, anti-racism dollar? Why is it your black dollar? Just curious if you realize that statements like that accomplish the exact opposite of what you say you want to happen.
April 23, 2012 at 3:24 am, Nikki Star said:
James Hankins You must have not read my statement clearly. I know what I meant and others who get my statement agree. Etsy rocks and they love my black dollar, they enjoy the Jewish dollar too. Look em up, they might take your dollar. Good day!
April 17, 2012 at 7:18 pm, Perry Luke Walker Jr. said:
this could be considered racial, but not racist, idiots.
April 17, 2012 at 8:39 pm, Sherry Harris said:
Racial profiling, stereotyping…smh
April 17, 2012 at 10:07 pm, Perry Luke Walker Jr. said:
Sherry Harris neither one of those can be applied here…it's a shirt, so it can't be racist and can't racially profile stereotype…but beyond that this shirt is only offensive to stupid people…black aren't the only people who like chicken and we aren't the only ethnicity in the hip hop culture…most black people are just way too sensitive and assume anything that has the slightest chance of possibly being a little offensive is completely offensive
April 17, 2012 at 10:11 pm, Perry Luke Walker Jr. said:
oh and most white people are overly sensitive too mainly because they don't wanna be perceived as racist by overly sensitive black people imo
April 17, 2012 at 7:19 pm, Jane Griffin said:
The designer(s) are dumb. The witty thing to put for protein would have been "beef".
April 17, 2012 at 7:25 pm, Jane Griffin said:
The designers are dumb – the witty thing to put for protein would have been "beef".
April 17, 2012 at 7:30 pm, Monchel Robinson Lewis said:
I just tired of the dumb chicken stereotype. Everybody loves chicken!
April 17, 2012 at 7:59 pm, Lala Gomezita said:
Learn from each other rather than criticize. We act as if slavery was thousands of years ago…the shit was just last week. People appear to be super-sensitive when in fact it's only a reaction. A people who were robbed of their culture, language, and any knowledge of self is trying to recover. No one provided any therapy for the PTSD and quite frankly we all need it. Unless therapy is given it will take a few generations for the playing field to be leveled. Patience people not criticism. It's a neck jerk reaction – - – some of us are not affected and some are affected by comments or sayings. Words of wisdom to my brothers and sisters: Gain a knowledge of self and it will free you from all of it. If you're not sure what I mean by "a knowledge of self" please visit…www.naturalroute.org.
My people perish for lack of knowledge….PEACE/HOTEP!
April 17, 2012 at 8:18 pm, Aaron C. Jones said:
I have a question: When are Black people going to stop pointing fingers at dumb T-shirts and stupid video rants made by idiots on Youtube and start taking responsibility for the REAL threat against our culture: BLACK PEOPLE. Between the crime, lack of education, illiteracy, misogyny, and rampant IGNORANCE prevalent in the Black community, the biggest racists against blacks ARE BLACKS.
April 17, 2012 at 8:39 pm, Sean SaaVere Moore said:
All great posts here. I've enjoyed reading thru some of your comments. May I make a suggestion….if you haven't yet please read "The Mis-education of the Negro" by Carter G. Woodson. I've read this book as an teenager and I'm in the middle of reading it again as a grown man. Out of all the comments here I believe Shea Hasan has really tuned into the over all point behind the shirt and is right on point when she said "racism is anything that seeks to lower or put one race beneath another…the implication of inferiority (i.e. Calories 0 (implies a sense of void, emptiness, substancelessness) is present. The tone and racist nature of the shirt is clear". Guys the shirt doesn't bother me, the ignorance to the fact of racism still thriving in 2012 by my younger generation is what bothers me.
May 22, 2012 at 7:36 pm, Roz Beri said:
LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH
May 23, 2012 at 1:52 am, Sean SaaVere Moore said:
LOL….Actually Im really in tune with the current "slang" of the times but like i said…."Guys the shirt doesn't bother me, the ignorance to the fact of racism still thriving in 2012 by my younger generation is what bothers me". Where I failed in my statement was not clarifying that in these times "chicken" IS slang for money and that the shirt itself may not be racist but we should def be aware that unfortunately racism still exist.
April 17, 2012 at 8:46 pm, James Jameson said:
Things like this should wake people of color up. Whites are naturally ignorant and hateful toward other races from Emmett Till to Trayvon Martin, they are still the same people they've always been.
April 17, 2012 at 9:05 pm, Vernecer Martin-williams said:
I don't think we realize where all of this is heading. I think people are constantly testing the "color lines" to see just how far they can go unchallenged. It needs to be nipped!!
April 17, 2012 at 9:09 pm, Randall Barnes said:
I don't even get mad anymore, it just shows there ignorance. It is offensive but life goes on. Anybody that where it should be ashamed
April 17, 2012 at 10:07 pm, George Charalambopoulos said:
the shirts cool until you get to chicken.
April 17, 2012 at 10:34 pm, Eternally Grateful said:
very creative…..black folks need to lighten up..not everything is racist smh.
April 17, 2012 at 11:05 pm, Avenged Mercedes said:
And some idiotic black hipster WILL wear this and defend it till the end.
April 17, 2012 at 11:14 pm, Morgan Bello said:
In New York Chicken is popular slang for money… hence you would need money to fuel a rap career… stop being so sensitive.
April 18, 2012 at 12:04 am, Aurelius Stewart Jr said:
Fuck you idiots! Everything isn't racist DAMN. Fucking quit crying and tackle the other ACTUAL problems in your lives.
April 18, 2012 at 3:37 am, Ken Bigpops said:
this is whack! everybody know whites eat more chicken than blacks. they always up in the chicken spots and will kiss blk butt to get in there especially if it's in the hood. Hell it's a truce for some chicken right? Ain't that some ish.
April 18, 2012 at 4:15 am, Terrance Johnson said:
yes the shirt is very sterotypical! but since when is sterotypical and racist synonyms? everything is racist now days…c'mon son.
April 18, 2012 at 4:34 am, Darnell Woodard said:
SwaG
April 18, 2012 at 1:25 pm, Jay Jackson said:
Anyone who would be dumb enough to wear this shirt deserves the ridicule they get.
April 18, 2012 at 1:11 pm, What not to support….. « T|P|Republic said:
[...] Sometimes you have a few headlines lying about until they inevitably happen again, and “Racist Urban Outfitters Shirt” is one of those gifts that just keep on giving. The beleaguered Hot-Topic-for-people-who-are-in-art-school now stocks an oddly racist shirt designed by the non-talents at Local Celebrity. The shirt is a send-off (cont)…. [...]
April 18, 2012 at 8:56 pm, Mina Dobbs Shytinonem said:
It doesn't both me at all!!! I wouldn't buy it,its not that serious I'm going 2 get a shirt and put white kids in a car like susan smith did her kids!!!! What's good for the goose is good for the gander!!!! An eye for an eye!!!!! Urban outtfitters they shuld hve been sued for using the word urban only the flakes wuld wear some shit like that!!!!!
April 19, 2012 at 2:05 am, Courtney Silvestri said:
It's simple. Don't buy it if you don't like it. Don't talk about it if you don't want to promote it. Simple.
April 19, 2012 at 2:20 pm, Texidor Jr Santiago said:
If you are looking for something to call racist you will find it be it racist or not
April 19, 2012 at 2:23 pm, Texidor Jr Santiago said:
You want racist google the swedish nigger cake now that you cant whine about
April 19, 2012 at 2:51 pm, Edward A. Moore said:
http://www.brownintell.com/2012/04/urban-outfitters-playing-chicken.html
April 20, 2012 at 6:06 am, Chan Ban said:
I can't say I find this racist if Hip Hop is colorless and spans all races and creeds.
April 21, 2012 at 5:35 pm, Licia Gregory said:
Why is a black man modeling this?
April 23, 2012 at 1:28 am, Cari Bear said:
My first thought was that it's a stab at hip cop culture. Every group has people that dislike it.
And then I saw the chicken reference and… really? It's sad, but we all know the stereotype about black people and chicken. I have no idea where it came from, but it exists.
This is kind of… lame? Ignorant? Stupid? Desperate?
I kind of wonder who would want to buy and wear this.
May 22, 2012 at 7:32 pm, Roz Beri said:
LOL actual Get Some Chicken is Slang for Money,.. Just like Bread, Cheese, Dough, for Example The Artist "Black Cobain Ft Wale " Use it the Song "Busy Now" – "Wanna see me devoured want to see me without Cause they see me spending chicken and eating chicken at Chao's"… So CORRECTION it is NOT RACIST its Slang You Probably just haven't Heard! a True Hip Hop HEad Would know this… SMH
May 22, 2012 at 10:32 pm, Tricia Knight Highsmith said:
Why do folks hang themselves. Why would u create a "new slang" talkn about u spending chicken?! He's only creatn one more ignorant stereotypical slang. Which idiot is going to come up w/ a slang or phrase,"I'm cuttn or choppn watermelon"?! Daammnnn THINK about it!!!!
May 23, 2012 at 1:53 am, Sean SaaVere Moore said:
Exactly!
October 03, 2012 at 5:49 pm, Steve Moffett said:
I think if you assume chicken = black people; then you are the one who is racist. Would get some steak or bacon be less racist for you?