LOS ANGELES- The Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA) is pleased that due to the overwhelming response from the community through phone calls and e-mails to Abercrombie and Fitch, that the clothier has issued a public apology and promised to pull its line of Asian-themed T-shirts from its stores and website. MANAA feels that although this is a good start, it is not enough.

MANAA Vice President Ken Kwok wrote to Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries that "MANAA is urging Abercrombie and Fitch to destroy all remaining T-shirts and donate profits from the product to worthwhile Asian-American organizations that work to promote positive images in mainstream media. The group is suggesting that Abercrombie and Fitch fund a documentary that focuses on the powerful impact of racist portrayals of Asians. Because these T-shirts stereotype Asian Americans, MANAA feels that the damage done must be redressed with appropriately positive actions. "In other words," says Kwok, "we are asking the leaders of Abercrombie and Fitch to put their money where their mouth is."

MANAA, founded ten years ago to monitor the negative and positive portrayals of Asian Americans in the mainstream media, is offended by the series of Asian-themed T-shirts produced by the Ohio based clothier. The shirts, which depict Asian males as caricatures with slanted eyes and conical hats, are insensitive and stereotype the Asian culture while trivializing Buddhism, Chinese laundries, and Chinese food. They are a throwback to the demeaning caricatures Asian Americans were subjected to in the early 1900s.

One shirt entitled "The Wong Brothers Laundry Service" jokes in the banner that "Two Wongs Make it Right." Another shirt entitled "Buddha Bash" displays a rotund Buddha with the words "Get Your Buddha on the Floor." Another reads "Wok-N-Bowl -- Let the Good Times Roll -- Chinese Food & Bowling." "It is highly unlikely that Abercrombie and Fitch would dare issue T-shirts that made fun of African Americans and Latinos in the same manner," says Kwok. MANAA believes that the racially offensive jokes may seem harmless and humorous on the surface, but its constant reinforcement in the media work to dehumanize Asians, perpetuating the notion of them as constant foreigners, and contributing to a negative self-image in young people."

The media-watchdog group is also asking the company to issue a company-wide mandate to include more diversity in their advertising campaigns and catalogs which are presently devoid of Asian Americans and other ethnic groups. "We believe that by including people of color in their catalogs, not only is it good for business, but it will send a message that Abercrombie and Fitch is a company sincerely sorry for the hurt done by these T-shirts and that they are dedicated to reflecting the true diversity of America and appreciating its diverse consumer-base that contribute to the company's profits," says Kwok.

MANAA, an all-volunteer non-profit organization, is reachable at (213) 486-4433, manaaletters@hotmail.com, or P.O. Box 11105/Burbank, CA 91510.