Stop Disguise.com From Spreading Racism

We, the undersigned, are shocked and disgusted by the sheer audacity of manufacturer Disguise in releasing their new "Kung-Fool" costume for Halloween.

The costume consists of a black and white (Japanese) kimono, belt, vinyl half-cap, and rubber mask -- a buck-toothed, squinty-eyed caricature donning a headband with the Chinese character for "loser" inscribed. Until yesterday, the company's website ran the following description for the costume: Hiiiiiiiyaaaaa! Become a master of martial arts over night, or… well… maybe not, but have fun wearing the Disguise Kung Fool costume!

Certainly, this type of overt racism, passed off half-heartingly as "humor," is familiar to many Asians. Six months ago, clothing manufacturer Abercrombie and Fitch tried to push their "Wong Brothers Laundry Service" onto young adults and teens, claiming the shirts were "cheeky, irreverent, funny." Unfortunately, they actively chose to overlook that such depictions are blantantly offensive to many who've had to endure them, and indeed, have been used consistently and historically to marginalize an entire community.

More insidious this time, however, is the current attempt to perpetuate racist thought amongst children. While many of Disguise's costumes offer model cartoon heros, fictional characters and even infamous celebrities, no other costume singles out for ridicule a community like "Kung-Fool."

Therefore, we have formed this petition to articulate our growing frustration and impatience with corporate America's persistence in capitalizing on racism; to communicate unequivocally that Asian customers will not tolerate the spread of intolerant thought to children; and finally, to demand that Disguise issue an official apology and remove the Kung-Fool costume immediately from it's 20,000 retailers nationwide.