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NYTimes Holiday ‘Of Color’ Gift Guide Racist?
The NYT’s annual Holiday Gift Guide includes a page called “Of Color/Stylish Gifts” aimed at the paper’s non-white readers. The nytpicker suggests racism:
Found in the “Style & Travel” section of the Gift Guide, it stands alongside sections called “Frugal Travel,” “Chic and Cheerful,” and “Cosmetic Enhancements.”
But this page is the only one aimed squarely at readers whose skin isn’t white in color — and it’s the first time we can remember a gift guide, anywhere, openly defining its offerings by their appeal to a specific racial group.
Can you imagine the NYT designating a section of its Holiday Gift Guide to presents made “for and by white people”? Or Jews? Or Chinese? Of course you can’t.
What do you think?
Via Romenesko.
4 Responses to “NYTimes Holiday ‘Of Color’ Gift Guide Racist?”
Isn't FUBU a brand name that means “For US By Us”?
It seems so…lazy, I guess. The NYT has a “general” gift list as well. It looks like the 'Of Color' guide is a pretty awesome list, actually — better, in my opinion, than the general list. Why in the world wouldn't they just put these items in the normal gift giving guide? The fact that items that would appeal specifically to people of color were sectioned off seems to imply any number of things. Perhaps white people would be uncomfortable seeing a “Wise Latina” T-Shirt, perhaps people of color are too stupid to see a book about African Americans and realize it was targeted to them, perhaps only people of color would ever buy Henna or scarves? Um…no. I can see why some would take this as being racist.
I mean, when I see on their standard guide a “gold-plated door stop” or a “perfect tweed cap”, I'm perfectly capable of deciding in 2 seconds whether or not I know anyone who would appreciate such a thing and move on if I don't. When looking at the “Of Color” guide, I know that I wouldn't give a relationship guide to anyone of-color or not, so I'm going to pass that up, but I've got a buddy who'd love the Indian Fashion book. I'm imagining both people of color and white people are also equally capable of doing the same sort of thing.
And?
NYT: PC = AOK. Only providing a section for European white males would result in a scandal. (Separate sections for men and women are okay, as long as the contents don't offend women.)