|
By Scanews staff
This week the St. Louis Asian community garnered support quickly and righteously to defend nondiscrimination practices on local radio.
Organization of Chinese Americans-St. Louis
chapter, (OCA) President Matthew Yu reported a local radio station's misconduct and took immediate action on behalf of the entire Asian community to have the attention be drawn and reprimanded.
The events leading up to this public apology are as follows as extracted and paraphrased from Mr. Yu's comments:
Last Friday, July 19th, Yu and his family were listening to a show hosted by David Glover on the radio station KFTK 97.1. During the show, comments were made about Chinese restaurants. Glover's flippant comments responding to this subject included:
"Who is going to pay $11 for something that tastes like crap?"
He also spoke with a strangely-exaggerated Asian accent of
how the restaurant owner was unhappy with him when he loaded up his plate. He proceeded to say that he only left a couple of bucks for tips whenever he visited Asian restaurants but usually left 25% tips when he visited Italian restaurants.
"This was a tremendous insult to our community and it was hurtful to hear a popular radio station berating and thus, humiliating the Asian community", as spoken by Mr. Yu.
Upon reflection, Mr. Yu then contacted the radio station's program director, Mr. Jeff Allen to discuss the unfortunate incident of Mr. Glover's comments. To Mr. Yu's delight and appreciation, Mr. Allen took immediate action to talk with Mr. Glover, who responsibly admitted to his insensitivity and scheduled an apology to the Asian community on Monday July 22nd's show (broadcast from 4-7pm).
That afternoon, Mr. Yu had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Glover over the radio for a brief time. Mr. Glover appreciated Mr. Yu speaking on the show to clarify a few things. Mr. Glover commented that his brand of off-the-wall humor made fun of everyone. He did apologize for his remarks that offended Mr. Yu's daughters as they had listened to the show. Mr. Glover however, did admit that he still felt the same way about tipping at Asian Restaurants though. Mr. Yu noted that his humor should not degrade a particular part of the community and that nobody should be ridiculed based on their race and ethnicity. Mr. Yu also went on to explain that it was because of this insensitivity that our children are being picked-on at schools, over careless comments that often may mean no harm but do far more damage. Mr. Grover emphasized that he was not a racist, and does not hate Asian or any other races.
While we appreciate KFTK's quick public apologies we still work diligently toward the day that these kind of comments are not even considered, let alone uttered in a public forum.
Mr. Yu's said that after this incident he will continue to monitor this station's programming, get more people involved and will report this station's conduct to the National OCA. Mr. Yu appreciated everyone's concern and support and said that this is exactly the reason why organizations like OCA exist. He goes on to suggest that to be vigilant and vocal when you hear or experience any unequal treatment. His advise to everyone is as follows:
1. Don't let it go!!
2. Stay calm and document the fact.
3. Report the incident to organizations such as CAPA, NAACP, or OCA
4. Establish dialog with the offender
5. Win the offender over with our actions
During that Monday afternoon, through the immediate link of e-mails, word passed through the Asian community like wildfire, and there was a universal cry of support for Mr. Yu's actions and for the Asian community to stand united against further discrimination. Words of encouragement and further support came not only from the various ethnic groups within the Asian community but also from African-American and Caucasian supporters. This was truly a community chain of support begun by the actions and words of one man. Put simply, that is all it takes. Speak up against discrimination, even if you are only one voice for you know there are many voices behind you!
The First Amendment, while it does allow freedom of speech, does not condone discrimination.
Mr. Matthew Yu took action valiantly and effortlessly, and it is that determination that should prevail within the entire community that no racial slur or other inappropriate comment should be allowed to be aired without punishment, for this is supposed to be an equal and just society that does not condone any discriminatory practices. It is up to each of us to not let any such actions slip by, for each one is a small victory unto itself toward the greater cause of racial/cultural tolerance and acceptance.
Suggestions have been made by members of the community to write to the radio station individually or collectively soliciting signatures to show our solidarity. To contact the radio station, please write:
KFTK 97.1
800 St. Louis Union Station
Powerhouse Building
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 621.0095
*Radio owner is Ennis Communication
(Special thanks to Olivia Pieknik for supplying the radio contact info so quickly and to
Dr. Harold Law for his suggestion of contacting the station individually or collectively)
|
