Abercrombie

[Mollyright]

I have seen discussions about grassroots activisms, etc. But what black folks really need to do is spend their money in places that it counts. For instance theres about 20+ nail shops in my area and only one is black owned. She charges the avg. prices and runs a good buisness but black folks go to the Koreans who aren't doning anymore than she would. It is important we support black buisness and buisnesses who recognize that blacks are americans and consumers. That brings us to ABERCROMBIE they just settled their discrimnation lawsuit but haven't admitted any wrong doing so I urge everyone to find another company to shop at like the GAP who have endorsement deals with black artist. If you know anyother companies who shouldn't be supported share the info.

[CatSuga]

I'm kinda slow so fill me in on Abercrombie.

[canadiana]

CatSuga, this may help:

Clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch agreed to pay $40 million Tuesday to settle a class-action federal lawsuit filed by black, Hispanic and Asian employees and job applicants that accused the company of promoting whites at the expense of minorities.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission who joined the private plaintiffs in the suit accused the company of violating portions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through the exclusion minorities in recruitment and hiring and also because of its use of a virtually all-white marketing campaign.

The settlement will also require the company to implement new policies and programs to promote diversity and prevent discrimination in its workforce.

Mike Jeffries, chairman and chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch said, "We have, and always have had, no tolerance for discrimination," CNN reported.

Considering this lawsuit and other allegations of racist behavior that have been brought against the company in the past, that statement may difficult for some to believe.

In April 2002 the company released a series of T-shirts that protestors said negatively portrayed and mocked Asian culture. One shirt that was protested read: "Wong Brother Laundry Service - Two Wongs Can Make it White" and included caricatures of two men with slanted eyes and conical hats .

Following the protests the company pulled the contested shirts from the shelves.

Since then allegations of their clothing bearing negative stereotypes and promoting elitism of certain peoples and cultures have not stopped.

In March the governor of West Virginia demanded that the retailer stop its sale of shirts that spoofed the state saying "It's All Relative in West Virginia."

To many T-shirts such as these seem harmless, but to those they mock, offend and alienate they are anything but.

This lawsuit and other complaints against Abercrombie & Fitch and the stereotypes they have chosen to promote through their clothing shows that despite what some unaffected by it may believe, classicism and racism continue to be prevalent and powerful forces in our society.

[cmesweet]

I don't shop at either Gap or Abercrombie. In fact, I am not all into name brands. I read somewhere, maybe i can find it later, that the Gap and Abercrombie were owned by the same people.

[Melanizm]

I don't think Gap and Abercrombie are owned by the same people. Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic are owned by the same people.

[DaisysHair]

Settlement sounds great, but admitting wrong doing would be great too, I guess minorities still have a long way to go, but it's good to know new grouds being broken.

[Valina]

One thing I do is shop at Goodwill - It is one of my all time favorite one-stop shopping places (books, clothes, sports gear), I find the best deals there...it may take a while but it pays off in the long run. The reason why I mention this is because I know Goodwill uses the proceeds of its sales and donations to fund ESL classes, citizenship training, high school diploma equivalencies, job training, etc. In turn, a majority of the people who benefit are immigrants and people of color (In Seattle, many of the people who are benefitting from the Goodwill program are African immigrants). I now frequent the stores more often than I used to because everytime I go, I see evidence that the (little) money I spend is aiding the kind of people places like Abercrombie are continuing to marginalize.

[Scrills]

I have the inside scoop on the all white advertising campaign. Not that this makes it right, but it was all due to the photographer.

My roommate (gay-white-male) used to date one of the models and this is what he said. The main photographer had say over all the shots and all the models. he picked all the models (mostly young white males) and he insisted that they all stay together. So all the models lived in a house together in NY. Basically, it was a house full of gay models who the photographer was interested in. Apparently it was a very coveted gig. If you ever notice, there is more guy-on-guy action in that catalog than anything else. In fact, my roommates friends would go to the store and request all the old posters and hang them in their apartments. They were always trying to get invites to the "Abercombie House".

[Scrills]

TP

[Scrills]

TP