# "Year of the Monkey" NBA promo t-shirts: racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 2, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960 "2016-02-02T15:56:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/21 "2016-02-02T18:48:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > So we try to do something nice for Asians and black people shut it down because there happened to be a monkey on it? News flash, other things happen in February than just Black History Month. Like CHINESE FUCKING NEW YEAR. > > Goddamnit, what a stupid overreaction. Agreed, 100%. John Mace, who happens to be a monkey (per my birth month/year ond the Chinese Zodiac). Also, note that the monkey in question (that is, the logo) is an Asian monkey, not an African monkey. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/22 "2016-02-02T18:53:26Z")
Sometimes a monkey is just a monkey. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/23 "2016-02-02T18:55:08Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > If the Kings do this every year with the appropriate animal then it’s an overreaction. If it’s the first time then it’s a bit insensitive. I believe this is something handed down by the NBA, for every team to promote the Lunar New Year in a manner to be determined by each team individually. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/24 "2016-02-02T18:55:11Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > . No apology is needed, however, because the Kings are correct Bahh… At the bare minimum IMO NEITHER side needs to apologize. If one side WANTS to thats fine. But if one side expects the other to…well screw that shit. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/25 "2016-02-02T18:56:42Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Agreed, 100%. John Mace, who happens to be a monkey (per my birth month/year ond the Chinese Zodiac). We’re all hairless monkeys. > [@](#): > > Also, note that the monkey in question (that is, the logo) is an Asian monkey, not an African monkey. Now that’s racist! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/26 "2016-02-02T18:57:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > We’re all hairless monkeys. > > Now that’s racist! 😃 I take offense at your slanty eyed smiley. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/27 "2016-02-02T18:59:56Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > As a Chinese person, I don’t think its offensive, however I can totally understand the offense when it comes from someone who doesn’t know about the culture. So while its not offensive, I would remove it and replace it with something like Chinese fireworks or something. Taking other people’s feelings into account doesn’t mean you always have to push the limit when you’re right. Sometimes you can be right, but still understanding. No apology is needed, however, because the Kings are correct How about the black players on the Kings take some time to learn about another culture? It’s the year of the monkey. Why do we need to pretend it’s not? It has nothing to do with black people. Is TCM going to be chastised if they show _Monkey Business_ during Feb? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/28 "2016-02-02T19:02:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Is TCM going to be chastised if they show _Monkey Business_ during Feb? As long as it is not the colorized version its probably okay. Or maybe it needs to be the colorized version. I’m not sure anymore. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/29 "2016-02-02T19:07:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > We’re all hairless monkeys. Some of us are becoming more hairless with each passing year… ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/30 "2016-02-02T19:59:41Z")
I am also a Monkey! I like the design and I’m sorry it wasn’t used. But after hundreds of years of negative associations by ignorant morons who argue that black people are a lesser species of ape, it’s not my place to tell a black person to suck it up and wear a monkey shirt. It’s a shame, but it’s the racists morons who have caused this problem, not the black people who have been laboring under their hatefulness. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/31 "2016-02-02T20:19:01Z")
Can Chinese NBA players wear the shirt still? Is this just for the NBA, or is no one allowed to wear a shirt with a monkey on it anymore since apparently the sight of an image of a monkey is racist? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/32 "2016-02-02T20:42:25Z")
So, as a white person, should I be offended if I find someone selling crackers at a sporting event? I fint it a little odd that the NBA is celebrating Chinese New Year, but at the end of the day a monkey is just a monkey. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/33 "2016-02-02T20:46:40Z")
Looks like next year is screwed too. Year of the Rooster… male chicken… fried chicken. Then the Dog… which calls to mind dogfights and pit bulls in “da hood.” Year of the Pig… that one’s out, obviously. Man, this racial sensitivity is hard work. Glad I’m not Chinese! ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/34 "2016-02-02T20:53:20Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Didn’t the Sacramento Kings actually have a gorilla as a mascot at one point? Did people consider that racist? (Yes, I know a gorilla is, scientifically speaking, an ape rather than a monkey.) Phoenix Suns [http://www.nba.com/suns/go-bio](http://www.nba.com/suns/go-bio) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/35 "2016-02-02T20:54:16Z")
So the t-shirt is ok on March 1? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/36 "2016-02-02T21:01:01Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > So, as a white person, should I be offended if I find someone selling crackers at a sporting event? _Should_ you? Probably not. But I don’t see anyone ITT arguing that anyone _should_ be offended by the shirts in question. I do see some folks arguing that offense is _understandable_, if over the top and/or overly sensitive. So sure, if you were a member of a group that had been systematically oppressed and hated for centuries, and been taunted and insulted by the term “cracker” for that time, I’d totally understand your being offended. I might disagree with it, but I’d get it. But your aren’t, and your analogy is silly. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/37 "2016-02-02T21:07:54Z")
> [@andros](#): > > _Should_ you? Probably not. But I don’t see anyone ITT arguing that anyone _should_ be offended by the shirts in question. > > I do see some folks arguing that offense is _understandable_, if over the top and/or overly sensitive. > > So sure, if you were a member of a group that had been systematically oppressed and hated for centuries, and been taunted and insulted by the term “cracker” for that time, I’d totally understand your being offended. I might disagree with it, but I’d get it. > > But your aren’t, and your analogy is silly. Wait a sec. Has anyone actually been offended by the shirts? Or are they all afraid that someone _might be_ offended? If the latter, then this is a textbook example of political correctness run amok. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/38 "2016-02-02T21:10:13Z")
Check the OP. > [@](#): > > Kings star player DeMarcus Cousins asked the team to pull the plug on the promotion because he found the shirts and the timing to be “racially insensitive.” So yes, someone actually found the shirts to be racially insensitive. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/39 "2016-02-02T21:18:32Z")
I can sort of see if I squint real hard a problem giving away a T-shirt for something a week away on the first day of Black history month. Sort of a, why is Chinese culture more worthy of a give away than Black culture thing. If it’s not that and just because it’s the year of the monkey, then well, that’s pants on your head stupid. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960/40 "2016-02-02T21:25:08Z")
FWIW, brief googling shows me that the Chicago Bulls did something similar for 2013, the year of the snake: > **[Bulls to celebrate Chinese New Year at Feb. 11 game](https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-celebrate-chinese-new-year-feb-11-game.html)** > > February 7, 2013 – The Chicago Bulls will join the National Basketball Association (NBA) in honoring its Chinese fans by hosting an in-arena Chinese New Year-themed celebration at their game on Monday, February 11. And here is a t-shirt Adidas is selling featuring a monkey: [http://shop.adidas.com.ph/d-lillard-chinese-new-year-tee-bcp70.html?a=214\_40966](http://shop.adidas.com.ph/d-lillard-chinese-new-year-tee-bcp70.html?a=214_40966) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-of-the-monkey-nba-promo-t-shirts-racist/744960.md?page=3)