Editor removed over 'I Hate Blacks' column
Samson Wong (right) has been removed as editor-in-chief of AsianWeek due to the fire storm that erupted over the publication of a column headlined "Why I Hate Blacks," the Chronicle reports. The publication's president, Ted Fang, said Wong will work as a consultant doing outreach for the weekly paper. Kenneth Eng, whose column in February gave reasons why Asians should discriminate against blacks, was dismissed from the 45,000-circulation weekly a few days after the piece ran. (Photo from New America Media's 2003 profile of Wong.)
Our coalition of civil rights organizations has been asking for Samson Wong's removal for weeks.
ReplyDeleteWe asked AsianWeek to hold the editor responsible for publishing the piece accountable. Though the community still needs to hear directly from AsianWeek, we hope this indicates a step towards healing the hurt caused both to African Americans and also the vast majority of Asian Americans who abhor the racism expressed by the previous article.
From the start, this has not been just an issue of hate speech, but an issue of journalistic judgment and responsibility. All communities must be vigilant against bigots and racists, as well as those who hand them microphones.
Considering that Samson Wong's boss is Ted Fang, I'm not expecting too much from AsianWeek. Even if Wong is completely cut loose, as long as AsianWeek is owned by the Fangs, it's going to be a rancid piece of shit.
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