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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 02 > Entry
V-103 promotion draws some Asian-American fire
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A small contingent of Asian-Americans protested a V-103 promotion Wednesday night at Midtown’s Shout restaurant, where the radio station held a contest in which it gave away a trip to Hong Kong and China for the best Asian-themed costume.
Gabe Tungol, a 22-year-old Filipino-American and a graduate of Bates College in Maine, said the promotion for a station whose audience is largely African-American revealed cultural “misappropriation.” In an e-mail to the AJC, he wrote, “The premise is based on a perpetuation of misinformed, denigratory racial stereotypes, and harks back to an era in which yellowface was considered culturally appropriate.”
Tungol, who came with four other Asian-Americans, signed in as a contestant and went up onstage, where he told about his objections. He said he was offended that some people were in white powder and slanty eyes, shuffling their feet and pointing and giggling like geisha girls. When someone said this was merely “theatrical,” he compared it with blackface in the early 20th century. The crowd was mostly polite, and a few applauded when they finished.
Rick Caffey, general manager, told Buzz on Thursday that the contest probably wasn’t the most thoughtful. “We’ve learned a lesson,” he said. “We bill ourselves as the people’s station, and we are for all people. My apologies to anyone who had been offended. That wasn’t our intent.”
Morning show co-hosts Frank Ski and Wanda Smith, who hold annual trips all over the world, are taking 200 radio listeners to Hong Kong and China this month, partly to expand cultural awareness.
Summer style warms Grady design benefit
You could see your breath outside Grady High School Thursday night but inside the gym, things were decidedly more summer-like.
With the help of the Grady Marching Knights and the school’s cheerteam and roller girls, Pecan Pie Couture designer Clint Zeagler unveiled his 2007 Summer line.
And much of the elite Buckhead charitable fund-raising community came out to support the evening, a benefit for Grady’s talented Urban Couture student designers.
“No, I’m not telling you the last time I sat in bleachers,” attendee Aida Flamm playfully told Buzz.
The filled gym clapped its approval for both the student designs and Zeagler’s retro-inspired, pastel-hued fun in the sun frocks.
There was one minor catastrophe, however. When Zeagler presented the evening’s co-chairs Kevin Knaus and Carey Carter with complimentary boxed homemade pies, Carter slung his up under his arm.
“I thought it was a T-shirt,” Carter confided. “Now I have some lovely pecan pie pudding!”
Quote of the day
“I bought them their first pair of diamond earrings. Tiny Tiffany diamonds for baby girls.”
New father and Atlanta restaurateur Sean “Diddy” Combs on the recent birth of his twin daughters, Jessie James and D’Lila Star, with girlfriend Kim Porter in People magazine, out today.
Celebrity birthdays
Actress Elaine Stritch is 82. Comedian Tom Smothers is 70. Singer Graham Nash is 65. Actress Farrah Fawcett is 60. Model Christie Brinkley is 53. Singer Shakira is 30.
Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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